Conor McGregor has not fought in more than three years and pulled out of his supposed comeback at UFC 303. Despite claims that his injury is completely healed, there’s no news for his return. His return has been in the works since early 2023. Amid all the talks around the consensus buyout king, new champ Belal Muhammad offers his criticism of the ‘Mystic Mac’ who isn’t back.
‘Notorious’ notoriously pulled out of media obligations at the last moment. Reportedly, a pinky toe injury made him pull out of UFC 303. On a layoff since his 2021 leg break, McGregor has no UFC pound-for-pound ranking or appearances to his name. Others have already voiced concerns over him leapfrogging at welterweight. Now, so does Belal Muhammad.
The dude doesn’t look good in life right now, …He looks like he’s coked out. He looks like he’s on drugs. I mean, if he beats Michael Chandler, like, I wouldn’t even let him skip the line, …there’s guys that work for it…And then even with the last fight with Colby skipping the line for Leon, I’m like, I would never do that because there’s guys that are actually putting the work in.
Belal Muhammad to Denis Shkuratov for the ‘Submission Radio’ Show for SBNation Netwrok (🎥: @SubmissionRadio on YT)
On the subject of the Irishman’s bombastic return and shooting for the title, Belal Muhammad suggests McGregor may be struggling with substance abuse. A popular theory after ‘Notorious’ was blamed for “stumbling around drunk” on the set of TUF: Season 31. That’s why the new 170-pound champ won’t entertain talk of a McGregor fight in his division.
Michael Chandler — former Bellator lightweight world champion and McGregor’s projected opponent, has had his struggles. Meanwhile, McGregor has not been diminishing the flames of his coke-fueled blame as he continues to do anything but fight. Muhammad thinks more worthy contenders are in line for his championship belt than McGregor. While hopeful, he’s also not sure the superstar is fighting any soon.
Belal Muhammad does not think the Conor McGregor fight will happen any soon
Muhammad has no booking yet of a title defense. Realistically, he could surely face Shavkat Rakhmonov with how much they have been squabbling. Belal Muhammad is also open to facing former UFC pound-for-pound king Kamaru Usman at year’s end. The projected options would be UFC 309 on November 16 from Madison Square Garden or UFC 310 on December 7 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Belal Muhammad thinks Conor McGregor won’t fight any soon (Source: IMAGO/irishmirror.ie)One contender ‘Remember the Name’ is not looking forward to is Conor McGregor. The saga around McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) and his return has been going on for a while. The Irishman has no more records, stats, or rankings to his name that matter in the current pound-for-pound listings. Muhammad continued to give his take on the matter.
It took him this long to fight this fight, …took him this long to make this fight happen with Chandler. So for them to even think that, ‘oh, Conor’s going to fight for the welterweight belt,’ then I gotta sit here and wait two years. Nah, it’s not going to happen…I hope he fights Chandler, because I feel bad for Chandler that Chandler waited this long for it. But honestly, I don’t think it happens.
Belal Muhammad further said on the ‘Submission Radio’ Show for SBNation Netwrok
In a relatively recent live Kickstream Q&A Session with duelbits.com, Conor McGregor gave his critical input about the slow runners of the welterweight division. Muhammad is not eager to engage a fighter on an even worse, slower roll and is not fighting. Another thing fuelling the decision is that Dana White said McGregor won’t even fight till 2025. Hence, the champion is in no hurry to give McGregor his shot soon.
