Latest news with #TheFightervs.TheWriter
Irish Daily Mirror
07-08-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Conor McGregor had 'identity ripped apart' and told he's 'not a winner'
UFC legend Matt Brown has told Conor McGregor he had his 'identity ripped apart' and that he's 'not a winner'. The Dubliner has once again teased that he will return to the octagon after spending over four years away from action. McGregor was due to fight Michael Chandler last June but the fight was cancelled due to a toe injury and it seems increasingly unlikely he will ever fight again. Brown, who has a storied career with 43 fights, reckons McGregor's identity took serious damage after back-to-back losses to Dustin Poirier. 'Every fighter knows it becomes your identity," he told The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast. "When you're a fighter, it becomes who you are. We talk about it all the time with sports psychologists and other fighters. You can't let this be your identity. "You're more than that. It becomes your identity. I don't give a f*ck what everybody tells you or what you try to believe in your own head," he continued. 'Now his identity kind of got ripped apart by Dustin Poirier. Dustin took his soul. Khabib [Nurmagomedov] probably first, but Dustin kind of put the nail in the coffin on that. 'Now he's not a winner with that identity. Now he's not even competing anymore. That's a lot to deal with for anyone. So you've got to have a little bit of sympathy on that side. It is a lot to deal with.' McGregor turned 37 last month and has not fought competitively since 2021. When he returned to the ring four years ago, he lost both of his fights to Dustin Poirier. He was scheduled to fight Michael Chandler in front of a sell-out crowd last June, but withdrew due to a toe injury. Away from MMA, McGregor has been in the news recently after losing his appeal against Nikita Hand.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
No Room for Sentiment - Matt Brown Opposes Retirement Bouts in UFC
UFC veteran Matt Brown has come out against fighters who announce retirement bouts beforehand, specifically aiming for Anthony Smith 's first-round TKO loss to Zhang Mingyang at UFC Kansas City. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Retired after a 15-year UFC career, Brown said planning farewell fights is a dangerous mental disadvantage for competitors, and the 42-year-old welterweight legend said fighters who announce retirement plans fight with a fundamentally different mindset than opponents who haven't. Matt Brown advocates for quiet departures from UFC competition Matt Brown bases his criticism on the fact that pre-announced retirement fights rarely end in storybook fashion. Matt Brown retired privately after he realised his competitive drive had faded, unlike Smith, who announced his retirement fight with UFC matchmakers. "I was like, if I've got a foot out, I'm not going to go in there with a guy with both feet in. You're risking a lot, especially when you've got kids and stuff," Matt Brown explained. He referenced the inherent dangers of mixed martial arts competition, noting that fighters must maintain complete focus to minimise risks. The Ohio native cited UFC President Dana White 's similar perspective, agreeing that once retirement thoughts begin creeping into a fighter's mind, it's often already time to step away from competition. Motivational differences create a dangerous competitive imbalance Matt Brown talked up the difference in thought processes between a fighter who is thinking about retiring and one who is still on the divisional ladder. This dynamic played out in Smith's fight with the rising Chinese contender Zhang, a result that mirrors Matt Brown's experience as a fighter. "When you do start voicing it, or you are even having that thought in your mind, you're going in against a guy that is in a completely different mindset," Matt Brown stated. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "This guy is leaving it all in there because he wants to move up. You're leaving it all in there so that you feel cool... your motivation is different." Fans can watch Matt Brown's full analysis on the latest episode of "The Fighter vs. The Writer" podcast, available on all major streaming platforms beginning April 30, 2025. Also Read: Matt Brown's perspective raises important questions about fighter safety and career management as more UFC veterans approach retirement age in the coming years.
