Every day that passes is another closer to the return of Conor McGregor.
The biggest star in MMA, McGregor has not fought since suffering a brutal injury in his third bout with Dustin Poirier, more than a year ago. While it is understandable that he would want to take his time in returning to action after what was one of the nastiest leg injuries seen in combat sports, he has provided some updates along the way to show that he has been healing well and is making strides towards being able to compete again.
Conor McGregor Promises A Historic Return
While there were questions recently about whether or not Conor McGregor was still going to be competing in the UFC due to the fact that he has not been tested by USADA all year, he all but confirmed that he was still looking to fight in a recent Q&A on Twitter. Here, the Irishman reaffirmed his previous promise that when he does return, it will be in a bout at welterweight.
āDefinitely,ā McGregor wrote in response to someone asking if 170lb was next.
On top of this, McGregor gave something of a prediction for how his return is going to play out. When one user asked how big his comeback was going to be, he had a bold proclamation to make.
āThe greatest comeback in sports history,ā McGregor responded.
This is a bold claim for Conor McGregor to live up to, especially considering some of the incredible comebacks we have seen in MMA alone, with the likes of Dominick Cruz returning from a laundry list of injuries to reclaim the title being just one example.
Nevertheless, if he were to somehow fight for and win a title at welterweight, this would be a worthy addition to any sportās fanās favorite comeback list.
UFC star Conor McGregor has been away from competition for more than a year now, with no specific guarantee of a return. More speculations arose when it recently came to light that āThe Notoriousā has not been tested by USADA since the third quarter of 2021.
But there continues to be some footage of McGregor in the gym, with his most recent one in the wrestling room. Chael Sonnen ā an NCAA Division I wrestler himself ā got wind of this four-minute clip and was left impressed.
For Sonnen, the fact that McGregor went through the wrestling grind is a good enough indicator of a comeback.
āMy number one takeaway, Conorās not playing. There are guys who would go into a gym, they would go do a whole gym workout and theyāll lift some weights, theyāll hit the pull-up bar, theyāll make sure they snap a photo of themselves for Instagram. Theyāll hit the water fountain. Theyāll even go hit some mitts, oh they love looking good at the mitts. Theyāll go do the speed bag, get a little clip, put this outā¦
āThatās exercise, thatās good stuff. Thatās good exercise. Conor grabbing a guy, pushing and pulling, back-and-forthā¦ you donāt play wrestling.
āYou donāt play wrestling, itās very difficult. Itās very hard stuff, and the fact that Conor McGregor is out there on a weekend, pushing and pulling, and heās wrestlingā¦ Guys, heās coming back.
āThis is the surest thing to a guarantee weāve had. Not his tweets. Not his memes. Not him hitting pads. The fact that Conor McGregor ā whoās down a good 15 pounds ā is pushing and pulling and wrestling, something you donāt play, something you donāt do to burn caloriesā¦ Conor McGregor is coming back!ā
McGregorās last fight happened at UFC 264 in July 2021, in a trilogy against Dustin Poirier. He lost via first-round TKO due to a broken leg.
Justin Gaethje isnāt all that interested in fighting Conor McGregor any time soon, for one specific reason.
Gaethje is looking to return to action in the first quarter of 2023 after having successful nose surgery over the summer. In an interview with MMA Fighting, he was asked about the potential of a matchup between two of the most exciting fighters in the history of the sport once McGregor is ready to return following a nasty leg injury suffered against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.
In Gaethjeās eyes, McGregor had the chance to face him already, but it never came to fruition as McGregor went on to face Donald Cerrone instead after more than a year away from the sport.
āIf everybody would just remember correctly, I fought Cowboy, I beat him and then he fought Cowboy right after that [at UFC 246 in January 2020],ā Gaethje told MMA Fighting. āI was primed and ready to go. It sounds to me like heās off taking steroids right now. He hasnāt been drug tested by USADA in quite some time. Iām looking for fair competition.ā
As far as his fighting career goes, Gaethje is certainly open to fighting McGregor, but he wants to have an even playing field if what he believes about the former two-division champion is true.
āIf heās on steroids, then give me steroids and letās go, Iām down with that,ā Gaethje said. āMy health is my biggest factor. I have never taken a performance-enhancing drug, and I do not want to fight people that are taking performance enhancing drugs.ā
MMA Fighting reached out to McGregorās management team Paradigm Sports, who declined to comment on Gaethjeās thoughts.
For Gaethje, McGregor isnāt even a concern. Heās focused on getting back to the road that could lead him to another lightweight title opportunity.
But he understands the questions about McGregor will likely keep coming up.
āI donāt even know how it works, I donāt even know how steroids work,ā Gaethje said. āIām sure thereās windows, Iām sure it will [eventually] be fine, Iām sure he can come back and be clean, but the fact that he hasnāt been drug tested tells me heās taking steroids, whether itās to heal his leg or not.
āIf I break my leg, Iām not taking steroids to heal my leg. He had the chance to fight me, he didnāt fight me. He picked āCowboy,ā so whatever. Who knows? Maybe. Iām sure heās much more confident now that he can beat me, he certainly didnāt take the fight then because he wasnāt confident, so maybe heās more confident now and more willing to dance.ā
1-3 in the last 4 years.
āIāve KOād every Brazilian Iāve fought. Iād KO Charles too.ā
When the Irishman was asked to predict the result of the upcoming match between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev, he said:
āOlly and easily.ā
So there you have it, McGregor believes he could KO Oliveira but also believes it will be Oliveira who will take down Makhachev on October 22nd.
Who would you like to see McGregor fight upon his return to the Octagon? Do you agree that the Irishman would have no problem taking ādo Bronxā down? Will you be watching Oliveira vs Makhachev at UFC 280?
YAWN
Is he related to Charlie Zelenoff?
Born: July 14, 1988 (age 34 years
his best fighting years are behind him
dont expect much
Please retire and go away.
Conor is so boring.
What a sad little man he became.
Look out Dennis Siver.
Heāll get beat handily by anyone in the UFC. His only chance would be catching someone quick but thatās a very low probability.