Conor McGregor openly admitted to not giving his training for his UFC rival, Khabib Nurmagomedov, the level of seriousness it deserved. The 34-year-old fighter, famously known as ‘Notorious,’ was submitted by Nurmagomedov in the fourth round of their highly-anticipated UFC 229 showdown in October 2018. McGregor’s return to the octagon against Nurmagomedov followed a two-year break, during which he ventured into the world of boxing for a lucrative bout against Floyd Mayweather.
In his recently released Netflix documentary titled ‘McGregor Forever,’ the UFC legend acknowledged his lack of complete dedication in preparing to face Nurmagomedov. McGregor further revealed that he suffered a foot injury mere weeks before the fight, necessitating his coach to forcefully realign one of his dislocated toes. Reflecting on his loss to Nurmagomedov one year later, the Irishman candidly admitted, “Last time, I simply wasn’t fully committed. It’s as simple as that. This lack of commitment resulted in injuries and self-doubt. The formula is straightforward: invest time, reap the rewards. Set training schedules and stick to them. Establish a sleep routine and adhere to it. Wake up and get up at the designated time.”
He emphasized the importance of following through on one’s intentions and avoiding self-deception. McGregor acknowledged that he would mentally commit to certain actions but fail to follow through, creating a series of small defeats that ultimately affected his mental resilience. Determined to overcome these challenges, McGregor expressed a newfound understanding of himself, striving to rectify past mistakes.
Subsequent to his defeat against Nurmagomedov, McGregor returned to the octagon and secured an impressive 40-second knockout victory against Donald Cerrone. However, he has since struggled to secure a victory, suffering knockout losses against Dustin Poirier in their January 2021 rematch and enduring a leg injury in their trilogy bout six months later.
Although the exact date for his next fight this year has yet to be announced, McGregor is expected to face Michael Chandler following their coaching stint on season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter. A win against Chandler, who holds a UFC record of 2-3, would mark McGregor’s first victory in over three years, signifying a potential turning point in his career.