Conor McGregor skips Stephen A. Smith’s ESPN interview as questions grow ahead of Max Holloway comeback fight | International Sports News
Conor McGregor was expected to appear on ESPN’s popular morning show First Take with Stephen A. Smith this week, but the former UFC champion never showed up. According to a report from Page Six, McGregor had been booked for the appearance as part of his media tour ahead of his upcoming return to the Octagon. However, sources told the outlet that he did not arrive at ESPN’s Hudson Square studios in New York and no explanation was given by his team. The reported no-show quickly became a talking point because McGregor is currently promoting one of the biggest fights of his career. Fans were expecting to hear him discuss his comeback plans, but instead the scheduled appearance ended without the Irish fighter making it to the studio. Neither ESPN nor McGregor’s representatives publicly commented on the situation, according to Page Six.
Why Conor McGregor missed Stephen A. Smith’s First Take appearance remains unclear
At the moment, there is no official reason for McGregor’s absence. Page Six reported that when the outlet contacted the fighter’s team, no explanation was provided for why he skipped the interview. The situation reminded some observers of another missed television appearance in 2023. At that time, McGregor was scheduled to appear on ABC’s Good Morning America but did not attend. Page Six reported that his camp informed producers shortly before the show that he would not be appearing.This latest incident comes at a busy time for McGregor. The former two-division UFC champion is preparing for his return to competition after spending several years away from the Octagon. According to the Page Six report, he is scheduled to face Max Holloway in Las Vegas in a rematch of their 2013 fight. Sports Illustrated described the matchup as “a rematch 13 years in the making.” McGregor has also been speaking about his future plans during recent media appearances. The report noted that he announced another fight is already planned for July 2027, although the opponent has not yet been revealed. For now, the biggest unanswered question is simple: why did McGregor miss one of the most high-profile interviews on his promotional schedule? Until he or his team addresses the situation, fans are left wondering what happened behind the scenes.
