Daniel Cormier and Conor McGregor (Photo by Imagn Images)

Daniel Cormier Breaks Down Why Wealth Changes A Fighter’s Hunger, Citing Conor McGregor

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Pavan Sharma | Last updated Feb 5, 2026 4:06 PM ET

Conor McGregor is one of the richest athletes in the world. He was even ranked number one on the Forbes list in 2021. Meanwhile, being this rich is what’s stopping McGregor from making his most-awaited return, and this is what many MMA stars believe. And recently, UFC veteran Daniel Cormier weighed in with his thoughts on this.

The former two-division champion is trying hard to make his return, but he suffered an injury when he was scheduled to fight at UFC 303. However, now Cormier explains why it’s way harder for the Irish fighter to fight as he’s already rich. Talking about McGregor, the UFC veteran said:

“I fought in front of millions in my underwear. Nothing makes me nervous anymore. To do that as a very, very rich man. And get hit and get kneed and elbowed – what if you get cut? You start going, ‘God, I don’t really need to do this anymore.’”

"I fought in front of millions in my underwear. Nothing makes me nervous anymore."

Daniel Cormier explains why it’s harder to fight when you’re already rich, talking about Conor McGregor.

"To do that as a very, very rich man and get hit and get kneed and elbowed – what if… pic.twitter.com/zkf24veiwT
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) February 5, 2026

‘DC’ mentioned, why would he want to suffer the weight cuts and get punched in the face when he has so much money? Meanwhile, ‘The Notorious’ is super serious about his White House card return, and even UFC boss Dana White has confirmed his seriousness.

MMA Analyst Floats Conor McGregor vs. Paddy Pimblett as a Realistic Superfight

After Paddy Pimblett’s tough loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 . However, many fans began questioning whether ‘The Baddy’ is ready for championship-level competition. Now, MMA analyst Ariel Helwani recently suggested that a fight between Conor McGregor and Pimblett could make a lot of business sense for the UFC, calling it one of the most marketable options available. In his latest video, Helwani said:

“Of the realistic and winnable options, Paddy’s probably the best one.”

Ariel Helwani thinks the UFC could potentially book Conor McGregor vs Paddy Pimblett

“Of the realistic and winnable options, Paddy’s probably the best one.”

(via @arielhelwani) pic.twitter.com/FVQtBBmhtO
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) January 28, 2026

Some fans remain skeptical, pointing out that McGregor could be more likely to face Michael Chandler next. Still, with ‘The Notorious,’ nothing is ever certain, and his return plans continue to keep the MMA world guessing.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: