This past Saturday night, Conor McGregor made the most of an opportunity, going on a tirade on social media targeting Justin Gaethje after his impressive knockout victory over Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 291.
Although anticipated to take on fellow Ultimate Fighter coach Michael Chandler on his comeback, McGregor challenged Gaethje, taunting him with “Justin, I’ll thrash you” and claimed to be the real ‘BMF’. Gaethje rebuffed McGregor, remaining primarily focused on his quest for the UFC lightweight title and accusing the erstwhile two-division UFC champion of doping during his absence from the organization’s anti-doping program.
“I appreciate Gaethje’s response,” commented UFC welterweight Matt Brown on the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer. “His sentiment was ‘I’m not bothered about Conor McGregor, I want the title.’ He said the right thing.”
Considering McGregor’s two-year hiatus with no confirmed comeback date, Brown berated the Irish superstar for straying from the actions that originally catapulted him to fame in the UFC: talking big, then reinforcing those words inside the octagon.
Now, Brown feels McGregor is still talking a big game but not acting on it, which he finds tedious.
“Conor enjoys the limelight,” Brown remarked. “He savors the mention of his name. We’re discussing it right now. That’s McGregor’s strategy. He ensures he’s in the limelight, which has led to a recent surge of criticism. He’s all talk, behaving like Dillon Danis. But it’s not happening. Just get in there and fight.
“In this sport, there’s only so much talk you can do before you need to prove it. That’s how Conor made his mark. Talking the talk and walking the walk. That’s why we admired him. Now he’s all talk, lounging on a yacht using cocaine or sipping Proper 11, and nobody really cares.”
Brown acknowledges that McGregor can shift the narrative if he actually makes a return and reestablishes himself as a premier fighter. But for now, over three years have passed since his last victory in the UFC.
While McGregor gained notoriety for his verbal onslaught against his rivals, he consistently followed it up with an impressive performance in the ensuing fight.
His social media shenanigans may still draw some interest, but Brown insists McGregor needs to step back into the octagon before making any more statements.
“Everyone wants to see Conor fight,” said Brown. “I do, you do, we all do, except Conor himself. He’s the only one who doesn’t seem to want to. It’s time to take action or stay quiet. That’s the bottom line. You have to throw some punches or your words will become increasingly insignificant, and we’ll care less and less. That’s the nature of this sport.
“People are less interested in me now because I haven’t been active this year. After you fight, interest wanes. That’s just how it is. Even with Conor’s audacious personality and humorous remarks, if he had a podcast, everyone would listen. He’s an entertaining character, but this sport is ruthless. There are so many fighters out there putting on shows everyone’s watching and enjoying. You have to get in there and fight. That’s what people want.”
Although McGregor still holds an audience, Brown notes a significant difference in how his words are perceived now compared to when he was dominating two divisions.
“I don’t think people care about him nearly as much,” Brown commented. “It gives us a bit to chat about, but the impact is diminishing.”
Be sure to catch new episodes of The Fighter vs. The Writer every Tuesday. Audio-only versions of the podcast are available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and Stitcher.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Conor McGregor criticism
What did Conor McGregor recently do on social media?
Conor McGregor recently went on a tirade on social media targeting Justin Gaethje following Gaethje’s knockout victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 291.
What was Matt Brown’s opinion about Conor McGregor’s social media outburst?
Matt Brown criticized Conor McGregor for his recent social media outburst, stating that McGregor needs to return to action rather than just talk, thereby urging him to prove himself through his fighting skills.
Who is Conor McGregor expected to face upon his return?
Although it was anticipated that Conor McGregor would face fellow Ultimate Fighter coach Michael Chandler upon his return, McGregor called out Justin Gaethje in his recent social media outburst.
Has Conor McGregor been active in the UFC recently?
No, Conor McGregor has been out of action for over two years and has not yet given an exact return date.
What was Matt Brown’s advice to Conor McGregor?
Matt Brown’s advice to Conor McGregor was to step back into the octagon and fight again before making any more public statements. According to Brown, McGregor’s words will have less and less impact unless he backs them up with action.
More about Conor McGregor criticism
- Conor McGregor’s Twitter
- Justin Gaethje’s stunning knockout win at UFC 291
- The Fighter vs. The Writer Podcast
- Conor McGregor’s previous matches in UFC
- Matt Brown’s career and fights
