It's the question that seemingly everyone with even a passing interest in mixed martial arts has been wondering recently: When is Conor McGregor going to fight again? McGregor appeared in a much-hyped boxing match with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in August—and he actually put up a decent fight, which many doubted he could—but the UFC wunderkind has not fought in MMA since August of 2016, when he knocked out Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205.
Could a rematch with Nate Diaz, against whom McGregor has split two decisions, be in the cards? We'll have to wait and see.
As he takes stock of his future, McGregor is considering his overall health—including the health of his brain. It's no secret that MMA is a violent sport with clear links to CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, a progressive degenerative disease of the brain that has been linked to contact sports, such as football, that involve hits to the head).
McGregor stated he's been thinking about his overall health and longterm wellness in an interview with Sky Sports.
"I always look at the end from a damage-taken standpoint," McGregor said. "How much damage have I taken? How is my brain? How is my mental health? How is my physical body? How is my training? How is my preparation? How is my hunger for it? That is where I gauge how long I will do it and there is still a lot left in me."
Considering McGregor's above comments, it doesn't seem likely that he'll be retiring soon, which some had speculated could happen considering how much money he's made this early in his career. Still, it's clear he's put a lot of thought into when he will hang it up.
"I will not be stupid though," McGregor said. "I will not notice things about myself and then continue to do it like many others before me. It is a dangerous, ruthless business and I am aware of that. Thankfully I am in a position of great wealth. I do not need to do it. I am doing it for the love of it. I will make my decision when the time comes."
Read the full interview here.
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