Conor McGregor hints at UFC return to get jiu-jitsu black belt and get into Hall of Fame to complete 2013 goals
CONOR MCGREGOR has taken to Twitter to remind fans of his goals from 2013, while raising hope of a UFC return by determinedly assuring followers that he will complete them all.
These include attaining a prestigious jiu-jitsu black belt, as well as a Hall of Fame plaque – potentially hinting at a UFC return.
Having defeated Max Holloway three months earlier, McGregor tweeted in November 2013: “I just want two gold belts, a jiu-jitsu blackbelt, a hall of fame plaque and 25 million in the bank. Is that too much to ask? Gym time!!”
And reminding fans of these goals today, he wrote: “My 2013 dreams and aspirations. Close on some. Exceeded on others. The ones I’m close on are still in play though.
“God bless and happy Tuesday everyone!WORK TOWARDS YOUR DREAMS! #GymTime”
McGregor, 31, has well and truly exceeded his £25m target, with Forbes stating that he has earned more than £38m just this year.
Most fans will believe that the Irishman is already surely a shoo-in to reach UFC Hall of Fame status.
But with just six fighters having ever made the Modern Wing of the HoF, and president Dana White having recently excluded Conor from his “Mount Rushmore” of UFC fighters, a comeback could help enhance his case even further.
MMA legends Forrest Griffin, BJ Penn, Urijah Faber, Ronda Rousey, Michael Bisping and Rashad Evans are the only current “Modern” incumbents of Hall of Fame status.
As for his jiu-jitsu black belt, it is not mandatory to earn such a thing through competing.
But it can certainly help.
McGregor is currently the proud owner of a jiu-jitsu brown belt, and will no doubt work like crazy to achieve the rare honour of attaining a black edition.
The former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion retired from competitive action again last month after claiming that the sport “does not excite him” anymore.
He told ESPN’s Ariel Helwani: “The game just does not excite me and that’s that.
“All this waiting around. There’s nothing happening.
“I’m going through opponent options, and there’s nothing really there at the minute. That’s nothing that’s exciting me.
“They should have just kept the ball rolling.
“I mean, why are they pushing [Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Justin Gaethje] back to September?
“You know what’s going to happen in September, something else is going to happen in September, and that’s not going to happen.
“I laid out a plan and a method that was the right move, the right methods to go with.
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“And they always want to baulk at that and not make it happen or just drag it on.
“Whatever I say, they want to go against it to show some kind of power.
“They should have just done the fight – me and Justin for the interim title – and kept the ball rolling.”