Ben Askren had plenty to say about Conor McGregor after the Irish megastar’s long-awaited fight against Michael Chandler fell through… Again.
Originally, McGregor was scheduled to make his “greatest comeback in combat sports history” at UFC 303 in June. Unfortunately, the fight never came to fruition after McGregor suffered a broken pinky toe in the weeks leading up to his headliner with the former Bellator champion.
Seemingly out of patience, Chandler has opted to move on from his fight with McGregor and will instead run back his UFC 262 scrap with former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira this November when the UFC heads back to the world’s most famous arena—Madison Square Garden.
Offering his take on the news, Askren believes that McGregor’s non-stop partying is to blame for the former two-division titleholder’s lack of activity inside the Octagon.
“It’s pretty obvious to me that Conor McGregor is an addict,” Askren said on his Funky and the Champ podcast with Daniel Cormier. “And he is rich enough that it doesn’t really have a hugely negative impact on his life. Everyone kind of lets him do what he wants to do, but this guy clearly is out partying, can’t show up for training camp. And then because he can’t show up for training camp, he can’t get ready to fight. There’s videos of him partying constantly.
“And listen, if you’re rich and famous and you’re not murdering anyone or anything worse where you’re going to go to jail, I guess fine, whatever. Go live your life. But he did kind of drag on that he was going to fight for two years. So it’s really annoying, but I was on record saying he’s not fighting in 2023. I was on record saying Michael Chandler should move on and just say, ‘Hey, you’re not a serious fighter anymore, you’re an addict and you can’t train.’
“I’ve said that many times. …Probably both [drugs and alcohol]. I don’t know that I can make any pronouncements without actually seeing him do it, but I’ve watched videos enough to know that this guy is out of control, he’s partying constantly, and from all rumors, he’s on multiple substances.”
🕺 Conor McGregor was bartending and partying at a New Jersey bar last night 😂#MMA pic.twitter.com/JOgyfxaWP1
— MARCA in English 🇺🇸 (@MARCAinENGLISH) September 12, 2024
Who’s Really to Blame for the Lack of Conor McGregor Fights?
Who’s really to blame for McGregor’s delayed return seems to vary depending on who you are talking to. Dana White has routinely placed the ball in the UFC star’s court, suggesting that the Irishman’s bottomless bank account has contributed to his lack of motivation.
On the other hand, McGregor has portrayed a perplexed and downright frustrated attitude towards the UFC for their lack of interest in booking him. McGregor event went so far as to ask Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia, to intervene and get him a fight.
Of course, Alalshikh has no official role with the UFC, but the Riyadh Season organizer recently sponsored the promotion’s Noche UFC card at Sphere in Las Vegas and appears to be primed for a partnership with Dana White in the world of boxing.
Only time will tell whether or not we see McGregor ever dawn the four-ounce gloves again, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that everyone—especially Michael Chandler—is tired of waiting.
Watch the full episode below:
