5 reasons why Conor McGregor is unlikely to fight again

#2. McGregor's injury might not heal

Anderson Silva's leg break is a cautionary tale for the likes of Conor McGregor. At UFC 168, the Brazilian legend was on a quest to reclaim his middleweight championship from Chris Weidman, who had bested him in their previous outing at UFC 162. Unfortunately, the bout ended with a brutal leg break that sidelined Silva for almost 2 years. Upon his return, 'The Spider' was a shell of his former self, going 1-5-1 in his next 7 UFC bouts.

In his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier, McGregor suffered a similar fate:

Due to the career-threatening nature of his injury, Conor McGregor is facing more than just a long road to recovery.

The Irishman is also facing the possibility of not ever being the same fighter upon his return. It is possible McGregor will decide against returning to the octagon. A long-layoff and diminished physical abilities can prevent him from ever making a comeback.

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#1. McGregor has nothing else to prove

There is no need for Conor McGregor to return to the sport of mixed martial arts. The Irishman has more than enough money to last him several lifetimes, so the financial incentive is low.

McGregor has nothing to prove from a competitive standpoint. The Irishman is responsible for breaking José Aldo's 18-fight win streak en route to capturing the UFC featherweight championship. He is the first simultaneous two-division champion in UFC history, opening the door for Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes and Henry Cejudo. Furthermore, he is one-half of two of the most storied rivalries in modern MMA with Nate Diaz and Khabib Nurmagomedov.

McGregor also holds the record for the fastest knockout win in UFC championship history, and he will almost certainly remain the most successful PPV draw in MMA history for years to come. On top of all that, he popularized the sport of MMA across the whole world - generations of fighters to come should be thankful to his 'pioneering' efforts.

These accolades cannot be taken from the Irishman. He has nothing left to prove and his legacy is secure. If anybody deserves to feel content and hang up the gloves after a long and successful career, it is the Irishman.