UFC GOAT Candidate Feels ‘Break My Heart’ Moment Incoming for Conor McGregor After 5-Year Layoff

Conor McGregor changed the sport of MMA like no fighter before him. The Irishman globalized the sport through enormous PPV success and popularity. His trash talk and presence made him a superstar. As McGregor prepares for his UFC 329 return after five years away, excitement remains high. However, UFC legend Georges St-Pierre believed that the comeback may not be the fairytale many expect.

McGregor rose to prominence as the first fighter holding two UFC championships simultaneously. The Irishman captured featherweight and lightweight gold during his dominant rise in the promotion. However, McGregor suffered a leg injury against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 during their trilogy bout. McGregor later withdrew from his UFC 303 return against Michael Chandler because of a toe injury.

Now, five years later, ‘The Notorious One’ faces former UFC champion Max Holloway in a UFC 329 rematch on July 11. McGregor returns at a comfortable 170 pounds for the International Fight Week headliner. However, many believe the Irishman could struggle with ring rust after remaining inactive since 2021. St-Pierre admitted it would hurt seeing McGregor look like a shell of himself inside the octagon.

If you stay in your comfort zone during your training camp, it’s not good. You need to make sure you bring guys that make you uncomfortable. I’m not only talking about skills and sparring. Sometimes it’s good to bring guys that you’ve never trained with, and you have the butterflies, and you don’t know how they move. ‘They’re dirty, and they’re going to try to hurt me.’ It’s important. It would break my heart to see him come back and not be as good as he was or close to what he was. That’s heartbreaking.

Georges St-Pierre via MMA Junkie

Georges St-Pierre fears 'heartbreaking' Conor McGregor return at #UFC329 (via @MikeBohn) https://t.co/lzDUmuPOlZ

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) May 19, 2026

It is also important to note that McGregor enters UFC 329 riding a two-fight losing streak. The Irish fighter last secured a victory in 2020 after defeating Donald Cerrone at UFC 246. Following that performance, McGregor suffered consecutive losses against Dustin Poirier at UFC 257 and UFC 264. Those defeats raised further doubts surrounding McGregor’s long-awaited return to active competition.

McGregor was originally expected to return at the upcoming UFC White House event later this year. The Irishman also briefly nominated himself as a candidate for the Irish Presidential election. McGregor later announced a six-month training camp alongside longtime coach John Kavanagh ahead of the June 14 event. However, those plans ultimately failed to materialize for the former two-division champion.

Georges St-Pierre remains widely regarded among the greatest fighters ever to step inside the UFC octagon. GSP previously praised the Irish superstar for helping expand the sport’s worldwide popularity and commercial success. His recent comments reflected concern that Conor McGregor’s long-awaited comeback could damage the legacy he built throughout his legendary career.

UFC welterweight veteran reveals why Conor McGregor’s return could end badly for the Irishman

Conor McGregor’s lifestyle outside fighting has remained surrounded by controversy throughout recent years. The Irishman faced assault allegations linked to incidents in Miami and Ireland alongside multiple civil lawsuits. McGregor also punched Miami Heat mascot Burnie during a promotional skit at the 2023 NBA Finals. Outside competition, he frequently shared nightclub appearances and yacht parties.

Jorge Masvidal was once considered a major potential opponent for McGregor during his UFC run. Their similar personalities and striking styles generated strong interest around the matchup for years. However, the superfight between ‘Gamebred’ and ‘The Notorious’ never materialized. Masvidal recently weighed in on Conor McGregor’s UFC 329 return, referencing the Irishman’s past behavior and lifestyle habits.

It’s also the lifestyle. I think Conor lives a certain lifestyle we’ve all seen and you can tell it’s not for show and it’s really his lifestyle… Max lives a completely different lifestyle. I’ve never seen Max at the club drunk. You never see him in the headlines for anything bad. That guy lives a different life where he is in the gym, family, gym family… I think that’s gonna pay the biggest dividends. Cause you can be away from the sport for five years and come back like nothing happened, if you live that life.

Jorge Masvidal via UFC on Paramount

Jorge Masvidal says the difference in lifestyle will play out badly for Conor McGregor:

"It's also the lifestyle. I think Conor lives a certain lifestyle we've all seen and you can tell it's not for show and it's really his lifestyle…

Max lives a completely different… pic.twitter.com/8URRyMuXug

— Full Mount MMA (@MMAFullMount) May 18, 2026

Recently, Conor McGregor has spoken about turning a new leaf before his UFC comeback. The former two-division champion said he underwent psychedelic rehabilitation treatment and embraced spirituality in recent months. McGregor also emphasized personal growth and renewed discipline ahead of his return. Those changes could show a different version of him at UFC 329 on July 11.

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