Conor McGregor found himself in the spotlight once again as he attended a Champions League clash at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium last night, where the Gunners faced off against Paris Saint-Germain in their latest European outing. Post-match, the UFC star couldn’t resist the allure of the pitch, joining Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice for a casual kickabout, which drew mixed reactions from fans.
Despite having proclaimed he broke his pinky toe in June, McGregor’s evident fitness for Football raised eyebrows. After all, a toe injury generally heals in a matter of weeks, but reason seemed to take a backseat as fans voiced their frustrations.
One fan captured the sentiment perfectly with the quip: “Doing every side quest but fighting.” Another declared that the MMA icon simply needs to return to his roots. “Bro needs to get back to fighting,” they insisted.
Commentators took to social media to chronicle McGregor’s off-octagon antics this year, including his acting debut in a Hollywood flick and the launch of his own fight promotion. “We’ve seen him act, we’ve seen him buy his own fight promotion, and now he’s playing football with Premier League stars,” they noted. One particularly cynical supporter concluded, “He’s never coming back for sure.”
Yet, not everyone was critical. Some fans were pleasantly surprised by McGregor’s football prowess. “McGregor showing off his football skills with Saka and Rice, who knew he had moves outside the octagon?” one fan remarked.
While McGregor might be enjoying his time away from the cage, he’s adamant about returning for his final two fights under the UFC banner in 2025. Reports indicate he has set his sights on a bout with Michael Chandler, despite Chandler focused on a potential title shot against Charles Oliveira. McGregor, not one to shy away from a verbal spat, has been calling out everyone from welterweight champion Belal Muhammad to featherweight titleholder Ilia Topuria, proving that while he may be doing side quests, his competitive spirit remains intact.
