Did Conor really show up?

Let me state I'm no deluded McNugget man fan. Or worse yet, a super casual fan who's just a McNugget fan and not an MMA fan. Yes, I respect the man tremendously for what he has been able to do in the sport of MMA and beyond. He's definitely set the bar HIGH and I don't think there's going to be another super star like Conor McGregor anytime soon. Love or hate him he's taken the sport to new heights and has done incredible things (and not so incredible) things within MMA. With that said I wasn't some super fan of his and being apart and a fan of MMA, there's other fighters who I definitely favor over McGregor but I cannot deny McGregors talent.

And last night I felt McGregor didn't fully show up. NOT at all am I taking anything away from Khabib, I knew Khabib was going to come into this fight the best he's ever been, being its the biggest fight of his career ever. I just felt Conor just didn't have that real hunger and showmanship he usually does. He had some small but good moments in the fight and having gotten up to his feet and stuffing the takedowns, he never made tried making Khabib feel discouraged and playing any mind games. Granted we all know Khabib's mental game is bulletproof still, Conor just looked defeated to me the moment he was making his way out. He just didn't have that fire in his eyes to me.

One of those reasons is obvious; he's made MASSIVE amounts of money and is still making massive amounts of money within and outside of MMA. He's accomplished his goals and at this point, there's really not much for him to gain monetary wise. He's simply not a fighter right now, he's just an athlete. Conor has gotten what he's wanted and much more so he's already left his legacy in the sport. I don't want to do MMAth but much lesser guys (in terms of MMA) have been able to hang with Khabib. For instance, Al Iaquinta is no McGregor and was able to go 5 rounds with Khabib, albeit he was dominated from bell-to-bell. 

This is not to say I was expecting McGregor to win but I definitely thought it'll at least be a more competitive fight. And despite signing an 8 fight Contract, I don't see McGregor fulfilling that. I do see the UFC milking a possible rematch between Conor and Khabib just because of all the drama and aftermath of their first fight. So a rematch will make $$$$. I would love to see Conor fight the likes of Ferguson, Kevin Lee, Holloway, maybe Ortega, even much less likely a Poirier rematch but I just don't see those fights happening. Maybe I'm wrong but I don't see Conor having the fire to fulfill so many fights besides the Khabib rematch and MAYBE a Ferguson fight. He simply doesn't need too from a monetary and legacy stand point since but as a fighter, I don't see the fighter in him right now. 

What do you guys think? 

* Edited at 10.07.2018, 9:10 AM ET *

Newsflash: McGregor isn't the best lightweight in the world, Khabib is.  McGregor isn't even the second best, Ferguson is.