Conor McGregor is all set to return to the Octagon after a considerable layoff from the sport. Owing to a nasty leg break suffered in his last outing, the Irishman has been out of action for nearly three years. That said, his injury woes have seemingly affected his training for the upcoming fight as well.
For those unaware, the UFC recently announced that Conor McGregor will be making his comeback at UFC 303 on International Fight Week. Following a long saga, the former two-divisional champion will face Michael Chandler, as had been touted ever since the two coached opposite each other on The Ultimate Fighter 31. Headlining the show as expected, there are a lot of expectations from McGregor to impress in his return.
MYSTIC MAC IS BACK 🔮🇮🇪@TheNotoriousMMA takes on @MikeChandlerMMA at 170lbs! #UFC303 pic.twitter.com/kt3a12qM6x
— UFC (@ufc) April 14, 2024
Owing to the long-drawn build-up to the fight, primarily due to Conor McGregor’s recovery and subsequent drug testing, the fight had been put on hold for a long time. Considering the nature of his injury against Poirier in 2021, it was the right call. That said, McGregor still may not be coming in at full strength for this one, seeing how limited his training has had to be.
Conor McGregor’s car accident has changed the way he is training for the Michael Chandler fight
For those unaware, Conor McGregor has always been an avid cyclist. In the past, we’ve seen Conor cycling to and fro in Abu Dhabi and California, coming across fans in the process. However, one such encounter nearly resulted in a harrowing fate for the Irishman. Amid his recovery early last year, McGregor once again got into an accident whilst cycling on a road just outside Dublin.
In a video posted by McGregor shortly after, he documented the aftermath of nearly being run over by a car. Fortunately, the UFC star, who was felled off of his bike, managed to escape with only a bruise on his right buttock. Moreover, the person responsible for it was gracious enough to give the fighter a lift back home and get him to safety. McGregor thanked the person for taking responsibility and helping him afterward.
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Recently, McGregor took to his Instagram story to reveal that he hadn’t gotten back on the bike ever since. In what serves as a constant reminder of how short life is, Conor McGregor, one of the most renowned combat sports athletes on the planet and now a Hollywood star as well, feels hesitant to hit the road again. Seeing that it was a key part of his regiment, it will be a big miss in the preparations for his next fight.
Dan Hardy claims that Conor McGregor is capable of easily beating Michael Chandler
Coming into the fight against Michael Chandler, there have been a lot of doubts about the Irishman’s ability and wherewithal in terms of fighting. Seeing that he has been out of action, and giving time to other ventures and exploits, many question his dedication to the sport. That said, Conor McGregor has proven his doubters wrong before, that too on multiple occasions.
As a result, some believe that ‘The Notorious One’ will be much better than what many expect him to be. Taking on one of the most explosive and heavy-handed fighters in Michael Chandler, Conor is surprisingly the underdog to some. Due to a poor record of only one win in his last three outings, the 35-year-old has seen stock dip tremendously as a fighter.
However, that hasn’t stopped Dan Hardy from picking Conor McGregor to win against Michael Chandler at UFC 303. As the former UFC man believes, McGregor’s style, knowledge, and skill will prevail, despite his tendency to party and his lavish lifestyle:
“…you look at him when he was fighting Eddie Alvarez and he throws a jab and hangs his hips back to make it appear from Eddie Alvarez’s perspective like he’s at the length of his reach. So Alvarez then, ‘Oh, I’m OK. I’m safe here.’ And then (McGregor) steps through that reach and knocks him down.”
“That’s a very, very high-level operating system and that’s not something that you lose by hanging out on a yacht and enjoying your life. I still feel like he’s got that refinement in his game.”
In addition to this, Hardy also believes that having an opponent like Michael Chandler who had become near desperate for the fight to happen at one point, will be beneficial for McGregor. Seeing how he dealt with Jose Aldo, Conor McGregor once again holds the keys to toy with his opponent’s emotions, baiting them to make irrational decisions. If he does manage to do so, there are a few better than him at picking people apart on the feet.