Conor McGregor and the 5 biggest returns from hiatus in sports history

Conor McGregor is arguably the most important pioneer for his particular sport among all revolutionaries in the history of all sports. Had it not been for the trash-talking Irishman, the UFC and mixed martial arts as a whole might not have become the staple in the sporting world that they have become. That fact makes his return to the octagon of the utmost importance.

After a five-year hiatus, McGregor is making a comeback and will fight Max Holloway at UFC 329. McGregor’s return is one of the biggest and most important comebacks in the history of sports, but what other athletes took time off, be it because of injury, retirement, or something else, and then shocked the world when they returned to action?

5. Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers

From 1979 to 1991, Magic Johnson became the best point guard in NBA history. Many still view him as such, too. He won a national championship at Michigan State before being drafted number one overall, and then he won five championships in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Johnson was the leader of the Showtime Lakers, one of the most exciting and popular teams in basketball history. He stood 6-foot-9, yet he played the point guard position, making him a nightmare matchup for opponents on a night-to-night basis. Johnson’s playmaking abilities, especially in transition, were unmatched. He averaged 11.2 assists per game for his career. The versatile superstar was able to score and rebound at a high level, too.

It was mentioned above that McGregor popularized MMA, but Johnson’s rivalry with Larry Bird took basketball to new heights, too. Unfortunately, neither hooper lasted as long in the NBA as would be ideal. Johnson, a three-time MVP, was forced to retire after the 1991 season when he revealed he was diagnosed with HIV. Not a lot was understood about the virus at the time, so his return to the hardwood was massive news.

Johnson lost a step when he returned to play for the Lakers during the 1995-96 season. He suited up in 32 games and averaged a career low 14.6 points per game, but his comeback attempt was inspirational to HIV-positive people. Had Johnson not been forced to retire early, when he was still at the peak of his powers, it is possible that not even Stephen Curry would be in debates with Johnson as the best point guard in NBA history.

4. Tiger Woods, PGA

Tiger Woods is tied for first in PGA tour wins, and he ranks second in men’s major championships. Fourteen of his 15 major wins came from 1997 to 2008, before back issues and off-the-green problems started to plague his career. During that span, Woods became more than just a golfer, but he became a global superstar, and the popularity of his sport skyrocketed because of it.

Woods missed much of 2009 and 2010, and he played sparingly in the years to follow. He was off the tour for 15 months from 2016 to 2018, but by 2019, he was ready to make a huge impact again. He won his fifth green jacket and 15th major victory at the 2019 Masters, marking one of the greatest comebacks ever in the process. Woods’ prime is never to be forgotten, but it was inspirational that he was able to put one last cherry on top of a great career after so many years were more so marked by his personal drama and health issues rather than his ability to sink putts.

3. George Foreman, heavyweight boxer

George Foreman was one of the hardest hitters in boxing history. He got to work quickly inside the boxing ring, winning a heavyweight championship just four years into his career at age 24. Foreman wouldn’t suffer his first loss until he took on Muhammad Ali at the Rumble in the Jungle. The heavyweight was also a 1968 gold medalist.

However, he stepped away from boxing relatively early in 1977 after a health scare. It took 10 years for Foreman to put on the gloves again. The namesake of the grill company returned to action in 1987 at age 38. He had an incredible resurgence and even became the Heavyweight Champion for a second time in 1991. By this point, Foreman was 45 years old and by far the oldest Heavyweight Champion ever. His return to boxing truly defied Father Time.

2. Conor McGregor, UFC 329

McGregor’s rise through the UFC was meteoric. From 2013 to 2015, he won seven fights, almost always in iconic knockout fashion. In fact, The Notorious One’s only victory during that stretch, when he didn’t KO his opponent, came when he earned a decision victory over Holloway.

Mystic Mac’s knockout of Jose Aldo in 13 seconds is arguably the greatest knockout in UFC history. He became the first-ever simultaneous double champion when he beat Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205, and the UFC 229 matchup against Khabib Nurmagomedov did more PPV buys than any other MMA fight.

While McGregor’s career has been marked by historic moments and monumental fights, the back half of his career has seen him regularly take time off. He pursued boxing ventures in two years between his Alvarez and Nurmagomedov fights, and nearly another two years went by before he took on Donald Cerrone. The bout against Cowboy was McGregor’s last win, and that came back in 2020.

McGregor’s prime was a decade ago, but there are still high hopes for his return against Holloway. Not only does he already have a win over “Blessed,” but these two match up well stylistically. They are both two of the best strikers in UFC history, and McGregor finally returning to the UFC is great for the sport.

1. Michael Jordan, Washington Wizards

Michael Jordan will forever be remembered for his time with the Chicago Bulls. The NBA G.O.A.T. won six championships, five MVPs, 10 scoring titles, and a  Defensive Player of the Year award before he decided to hang up his basketball kicks. He was also a nine-time First-Team All-Defensive player.

Jordan’s run with Chicago concluded with the last dance after he won six straight championships in seasons in which he played the entire year. With nothing more to add to the greatest legacy ever, the UNC product called it quits after the 1998 season. He soon transitioned into an executive role with the Washington Wizards, but when the team’s on-court product didn’t meet Jordan’s expectations, he decided that only his play could save the team.

Jordan unretired after three years off to suit up for the Wizards in the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons. The six-time MVP proved he still had something left in the tank, too, as he led Washington in scoring, when he put up 22.9 points per game. He also played in all 82 games the following year. Jordan wasn’t quite the same player when he came back, and his Wizards’ tenure isn’t thought of super highly, but he received All-Star nods in both campaigns, and it can be argued that his Washington days are underrated.

Considering the greatest player ever had also retired for a season and a half in the mid-’90s to pursue baseball, Jordan’s eventual retirement from the Wizards was his third and final of his career.

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