Eddie Alvarez is curious about how Conor McGregor’s UFC journey will ultimately conclude.
McGregor (22-7 MMA, 10-5 UFC), age 38, made his return to the octagon after a five-year hiatus at UFC 329 this July, facing Max Holloway (28-9 MMA, 24-9 UFC). Unfortunately, McGregor suffered a torn ACL and meniscus on the very first kick he threw.
Following surgery, McGregor is determined to come back. However, Alvarez, who has faced McGregor before, believes Conor needs to accept that his body is starting to wear down.
“It just seemed like the end of the road,” Alvarez shared with MMA Junkie. “Your body signals the limits before your mind does. Even now, fighting in BKFC, my face keeps getting busted up. I’m winning rounds, moving well, but the damage keeps adding up. Your body basically says, ‘You’re not 20 anymore, it’s time to call it quits.’ But being a fighter, you always feel like you can still compete and win. Maybe you can, but the toll is real. An injury like that at 20 is one thing, but at your mid-30s, it’s a much bigger risk for Conor.”
McGregor only has one fight left on his contract, and Alvarez wonders if the UFC will give him a favorable matchup, though he suspects the promotion may not cooperate easily.
“I think the plan is for him to finish his contract,” Alvarez said. “But he’s the UFC’s biggest asset. Are they going to just give him an easy fight and let him walk away? I’ve been through this with Bellator – I got sued just to leave. Once you announce you want to leave, you become the enemy. The company’s goal is to break you down so you have no leverage anywhere else. So will they agree on a matchup? Probably not the one he wants. UFC isn’t likely to just let go of their $100 million star quietly. It never works smoothly – there’s always friction when you try to leave.”
This article was first published on MMA Junkie: Eddie Alvarez: Conor McGregor’s final UFC fight could get very interesting
Fan Take:
This update is huge for fight fans because it highlights the crossroads of a true superstar’s career and the harsh realities of the sport’s business side. How McGregor’s story ends could reshape conversations about athlete longevity and UFC’s control over its biggest names, influencing the landscape of MMA going forward.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
