Sports
Conor McGregor Returns to UFC After Three Years
It’s been a long time, or we can say nearly three years, since MMA fans last saw Conor McGregor in the octagon, when he snapped his leg against…
It’s been a long time, or we can say nearly three years, since MMA fans last saw Conor McGregor in the octagon, when he snapped his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.
After that, McGregor was mocked, returning in 2023, even coaching The Ultimate Fighter opposite Michael Chandler, setting up a rumored fight between the two in December.
That never happened. Nor did the rumors of that same fight happening in January, nor will it happen at UFC 300.
Conor McGregor confirms returning to UFC
Most recently, McGregor claimed he would return at International Fight Week this June, but UFC CEO Dana White has consistently shut down any specifics as to a McGregor return.
Speaking with The Mac Life while on the red carpet for the premiere of his new movie Road House, he seems to be a little frustrated with what’s happened, saying he’s repeatedly prepared for a fight only to have it not come through, leading to a loss of interest on his part.
Conor McGregor announces UFC return. (Credit: Instagram)
“I’m wrapping up this tour, I’ve got St. Patrick’s Day festivities going, and then I’m going to get back and regroup,” McGregor said. “I’m going to test myself physically on the treadmill, do the round test, go about the McGregor Fast way, and get myself right back.
Why did Conor take a break from MMA for so long?
McGregor has dealt with injuries that required time off for recovery and rehabilitation. Notably, after his fight with Dustin Poirier in July 2021 at UFC 264, he suffered a severe leg injury (broken tibia) that required surgery and a lengthy recovery period.
While the fighter has undergone surgery, there is still some uncertainty about exactly how the fluke injury happened. In an initial reaction video on his YouTube channel, physical medicine and rehab specialist Dr. Brian Sutterer speculated that McGregor’s leg may have already been weakened by trauma prior to the injury, leading to a more severe break than might have been expected.
In a new video, Sutterer reviews the fight footage that led up to the broken leg in more detail. Poirier, on his part, has stated that he believes the first fracture occurred at the top of the first round when McGregor threw a kick which he then checked with his knee. “I have to disagree with Poirier here,” says Sutterer.
“If we look at the contact on this kick, it doesn’t even hit McGregor’s shin, or the tibia, which was the primary bone that was injured.” He adds that it’s unlikely McGregor would have been able to continue to fight and place weight on his left leg for as long as he did if this was when the injury took place.
Another explanation comes from John Kavanagh, McGregor’s coach, who has said that the injury happened when McGregor’s leg came into contact with Poirier’s elbow, but again, Sutterer isn’t so sure. “It was this partially glancing blow,” he says. “The primary contact here is on the fibula. That’s the bone on the outside portion of the leg. I don’t suspect this will have been enough energy to break the fibula, as well as transfer enough through to break the tibia.”
The success of Conor Mcgregor
McGregor’s combat sports journey began with boxing, which he took up as a teenager in Dublin before transitioning to MMA. His professional MMA debut came in 2008, and he quickly made a name for himself on the local circuit.
His dynamic fighting style, coupled with an uncanny ability to predict the outcomes of his fights, helped him capture both the Cage Warriors Featherweight and Lightweight Championships by 2012, making him the first European professional mixed martial artist to hold titles in two divisions simultaneously.
His success in Europe caught the attention of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and he made his promotional debut in 2013. His charismatic personality, devastating left hand, and knack for psychological warfare quickly made him one of the most talked-about fighters in the sport.
He is the first fighter in UFC history to hold titles in two weight divisions simultaneously. He won the Featherweight Championship in December 2015 by knocking out José Aldo in just 13 seconds, which at the time was the fastest title fight victory in UFC history.
Two Weight Division Champion
By defeating Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 in November 2016, McGregor became the first fighter in UFC history to hold titles in two weight divisions simultaneously, capturing the Lightweight Championship.
In 2017, he announced a partnership with David August Tailors. The brand, called August McGregor, makes fashionable suits targeting an audience of male millennials.
He owns a few pubs in Dublin, including the Black Forge Inn and the Marble Arch. He started the whiskey brand Proper No. 12 with investors in 2018 and sold his shares in the company in 2021. He’s also a co-owner of several restaurants, mostly in the Dublin area.
In 2022, McGregor was cast along with the actor Jake Gyllenhaal in a remake of the 1989 film Road House.
Overall, his success story is a blend of sporting excellence, savvy business acumen, and a knack for self-promotion that has enriched him and significantly impacted the sport of MMA.