TLDR
- Conor McGregor lost to Max Holloway via TKO in just 69 seconds at UFC 329
- Michael Bisping suggests it may be time for McGregor to retire but says his legacy will never be forgotten
- TJ Dillashaw believes McGregor needs to reclaim his old ‘Notorious’ edge
- Bisping criticized McGregor’s ‘God’s plan’ comments after the loss
- Both fighters agree McGregor’s ego likely won’t let him walk away on a loss
Sources: middleeasy.com | fightbookmma.com
Conor McGregor’s devastating loss at UFC 329 has sparked debate among UFC legends about whether the Irish superstar should continue fighting. The former two-division champion suffered a TKO defeat against Max Holloway in just 69 seconds, raising serious questions about his future in the sport.
Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping shared his thoughts in a recent interview with casino.org/us. He suggested that McGregor may need to consider retirement after the quick loss.
Bisping Questions McGregor’s Mindset
Bisping criticized McGregor’s comments about the loss being part of ‘God’s plan.’ He believes fighters need people around them who will tell them when it’s time to step away from competition.
“Fighters need protecting from themselves,” Bisping said. “They need a good manager, to stop and tell them, ‘Hey bro, you had your heyday, it’s time to step away.'”
Despite suggesting retirement might be best, Bisping doesn’t expect McGregor to walk away. He pointed to the ego that all fighters possess as a reason why.
Michael Bisping says Conor McGregor's final UFC fight shouldn't be about giving him a fairytale ending. 😲‼️
"Think of it as a business," Bisping said, arguing that both McGregor and the UFC have benefited tremendously from one another over the years.
"Are you going to give him… pic.twitter.com/9bioEFq73o
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) July 15, 2026
“There’s no way that he’s gonna walk away,” Bisping explained. “Why? Because of the ego of fighters. We never want to walk away on a loss. We never want that to be our lasting impression to the world.”
TJ Dillashaw also weighed in on McGregor’s performance and future. The former bantamweight champion believes McGregor needs to find his old confidence and aggression that made him famous.
Dillashaw suggested that McGregor has lost the ‘Notorious’ edge that carried him to championships in two weight divisions. He thinks McGregor needs to recapture that mentality if he wants to compete at the highest level again.
McGregor’s Legacy Remains Intact
While Bisping thinks retirement might be the right call, he stressed that McGregor’s legacy in the sport cannot be erased. He reminded fans of McGregor’s historic achievements in mixed martial arts.
“He will never be forgotten,” Bisping stated. “For what he’s done, he’ll always be remembered. The way that he took over the sport, the impact that he had, the entertainment that he had, the way that he influenced fighters, and becoming the first ever two-weight division champion simultaneously.”
Bisping compared McGregor’s situation to other aging fighters who struggled to accept their declining abilities. He mentioned Anderson Silva, who went on a five-fight losing streak late in his career despite being one of the greatest fighters ever.
“It’s like Anderson Silva,” Bisping said. “Yes, he defended the belt a record number of times, and then towards the end of the sport, he went on like a 5-fight losing streak, but that’s because fighters get older, yet they still believe in themselves.”
Bisping emphasized that McGregor’s accomplishments can never be taken away. He specifically mentioned the 2016 knockout of Jose Aldo and the dominant victory over Eddie Alvarez to become a two-division champion.
“The way that he just destroyed Eddie Alvarez, the way that he knocked out one of the greatest featherweights of all time in Jose Aldo, and the rise that he had through the sport, and how he caught the world’s attention, that’s undeniable,” Bisping said. “That’s set in stone. That’ll never be taken away.”
The quick loss at UFC 329 marks another setback in McGregor’s recent career. The fight against Holloway was supposed to mark a return to form for the Irish fighter, but instead raised more questions than answers about his ability to compete at the championship level.
