How The UFC Has Changed Completely Since Conor McGregor’s Last Fight
When Conor McGregor last stepped into the octagon, the UFC looked very different from what it does today. McGregor’s most recent fight came back in 2021 against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264, where he suffered a broken leg in the closing seconds of the first round. At the time, McGregor was still one of the biggest active stars in the sport, but the UFC landscape around him has completely transformed since then.
Now, nearly five years later, McGregor is expected to return in July against Max Holloway in one of the most anticipated comeback fights in UFC history. The question many fans continue asking, though, is simple will he actually show up?
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So Much Has Changed Since Conor McGregor Last Fought
The amount of change inside the UFC since McGregor’s last appearance is almost difficult to believe. Back in 2021, Alex Pereira had not even entered the UFC yet. Since then, Pereira has become one of the biggest stars in the company, winning titles across multiple divisions and headlining several major pay-per-view cards.
At the same time, Francis Ngannou was still the reigning UFC heavyweight champion. Since then, Ngannou has left the organisation entirely, crossed over into boxing, and completely changed the conversation around fighter pay and free agency in combat sports.
Another reminder of how much time has passed is the rise of Ilia Topuria. During McGregor’s last fight, Topuria was still competing on UFC prelim cards and was nowhere near mainstream stardom. Today, he is one of the faces of the promotion and currently holds the UFC lightweight championship.
The UFC itself has also evolved during McGregor’s absence. New champions have emerged, divisions have changed dramatically, and an entirely new generation of stars now carries the company forward.
Despite all of that, McGregor still remains one of the sport’s biggest attractions. Every update surrounding his comeback instantly dominates headlines, showing just how much attention he continues to command even after years away from competition.
His scheduled fight with Holloway in July is expected to answer several major questions. Fans want to know whether McGregor can still compete at the elite level, whether the hunger is still there, and whether his body can physically handle a full return after such a long layoff.
If he does make the walk against Holloway, it will not just feel like the return of a fighter. For many fans, it will feel like the return of an entirely different UFC era.
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