Joe Rogan Explains Why Conor McGregor Couldn't Walk Away From the Octagon
Joe Rogan knows exactly why Conor McGregor could not walk away from the octagon despite having so much monetary success outside the octagon.
When you have hundreds of millions in the bank and your legacy as the sport's biggest megastar carved in stone, most people would happily ride off into the sunset. Conor McGregor isn't most people. Following his long-awaited return at UFC 329 against former featherweight champion Max Holloway, long-time UFC color commentator Joe Rogan broke down why the former two-division champion simply couldn't walk away from combat sports.
Despite entering the Octagon with a decorated UFC record of 22 wins and iconic title runs across two weight classes, McGregor’s high-profile comeback ended in frustrating fashion after an injury cut the fight short. For fans and analysts alike, the question wasn't just how the setback happened, but why McGregor put himself through the grueling physical grind in the first place.
The Need to Reach the Top Again
According to Rogan, the driving force behind McGregor stepping back inside the cage wasn't about money or necessity. Instead, it was an internal psychological urge to prove that his prime hadn't passed him by.
“Conor’s last fight, it seemed like Conor was doing it to show that he could still do it,” Rogan explained during a recent breakdown. “And I don’t know, you know, I didn’t talk to him. I haven’t had a conversation with him as a person, but it seemed like he wanted to be on top again.”
Rogan pointed out how elite fighters often struggle with the transition away from the spotlight. Reaching the absolute summit of mixed martial arts, holding simultaneous belts and shattering pay-per-view records, creates a natural high that everyday life simply cannot replicate.
Trying to recapture that magic against top-tier competition like Holloway highlighted how difficult it is to step away from the sport. For a fighter who has already conquered every milestone imaginable, returning isn't about financial gain; it's about chasing that feeling of standing at the pinnacle of combat sports. Whether McGregor decides to fight again or officially close the chapter, Rogan’s perspective underscores a hard truth in MMA: walking away from the stage on your own terms might be the toughest battle of all.
