Conor McGregor Explains the Reason Behind Shifting His Approach Against Max Holloway

UFC superstar Conor McGregor explains his new approach to fighting as he gears up to face Max Holloway at UFC 329.

Conor McGregor Explains the Reason Behind Shifting His Approach Against Max Holloway

Conor McGregor has a new approach [via Yahoo Sports and UFC.com]

In Short
  • Conor McGregor is returning to the cage after a 5-year layoff to face Max Holloway at UFC 329.
  • His new fighting approach focuses on preparing for worst-case scenarios following his leg injury at UFC 264.
  • McGregor aims to adapt his strategy by working backwards from potential injuries to maintain his performance in the octagon.

Conor McGregor is finally returning to the cage after a 5-year layoff. A lot has changed in the MMA landscape since ‘The Notorious’ last laced up a pair of gloves. But most pressingly, the Irishman himself has changed his approach to the game heading into his return fight at the T-Mobile Arena.

McGregor is set to face Max Holloway in the UFC 329 main event in his MMA comeback. The Irishman is a sizable underdog against the former BMF titleholder, given his extended absence from the sport. Even so, the former double champion has insisted that he remains at the top of his game.

Recently, in a video on his new energy drink’s YouTube channel, Mac Energy, the 37-year-old revealed his new approach to fighting. This change was seemingly spurred on by the gruesome injury he suffered in his last fight at UFC 264 against Dustin Poirier. As he has gotten more experienced in the octagon, the Irishman has adapted his approach so that the worst-case scenario is not a hindrance to him.

I have had a limb break inside the octagon. So now I must have an answer to that. I have a whole selection of responses to the worst-case scenarios now, not that I sit and dwell on or overthink them. But I just have them. So if the ankle goes, if the knee goes, if the shoulder goes, what’s my response? Because the fight’s not over.

Conor McGregor via the Mac Energy YouTube channel

The Irishman then revealed exactly what his new approach to fighting was.

I have found as I have gotten more experience in the fight game to work my way backwards from the worst case scenario to the best case scenario.

Conor McGregor via the Mac Energy YouTube channel

Recently, UFC legend Chris Weidman, who suffered a similar injury to Conor McGregor, offered a grim prediction for the Irish star’s return. The former middleweight champion revealed that he was not the same fighter he was upon returning from his debilitating injury.

However, McGregor seems to be making the most of his current situation with this novel approach. Nonetheless, there was a time when the Irishman was on the other side of an injury similar to the one he suffered at UFC 264.

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Conor McGregor once left his opponent with a gruesome leg injury similar to Chris Weidman

After getting knocked out by Chris Weidman in their first encounter, Anderson Silva was out to regain his middleweight belt in the rematch back in 2013. However, less than ten minutes into the fight, the ‘Spider’ had his shin snapped when his American opponent checked one of his leg kicks. It was a gruesome injury that, in an ironic twist of fate, Weidman would also suffer in a later fight against Uriah Hall.

Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor (via BBC)

In a similar vein, before his leg buckled under his own weight at UFC 264, Conor McGregor was the one delivering a brutal injury to his opponent. Back in October 2010, the Irishman fought his namesake, Conor Dillon, at Chaos FC 7 in Ireland. This was only the fourth MMA appearance of the then-21-year-old’s career.

Nonetheless, he showed a glimpse of the phenom he would become in this fight. ‘Mystic Mac’ had his hands down, was light on his feet, and taunted his rival while landing clean counters. Soon, the fight ended with a freak accident when Dillon’s leg kick connected with the Irishman’s knee after he checked it.

McGregor’s namesake seemed to know something was wrong immediately as ‘Done Deal’ struggled to stand. He then fell back with McGregor seizing the opportunity to secure the TKO victory, requiring medical assistance to leave the ring.

Eleven years later, and McGregor was on the receiving end of a similar freak accident being carried out on a stretcher. Even so, the Irish phenom bounced back from his injury and is now returning to MMA after 5 years.

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