Conor McGregor’s return could be for 3 rounds after admission to ring rust

The UFC return of Conor McGregor is long due. The Irish superstar has teased an MMA comeback for years. But, for various reasons, the talks never came to fruition. Now, ‘The Notorious’ has made his point for a comeback in numerous interviews. As such, he revealed wanting only three rounds instead of a five-round action on his return.

In an interview with Ariel Helwani, Conor McGregor spoke about the importance of consistency in the fight game. He took references to contemporary boxers Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker. As such, he didn’t want to enter the cage and go full throttle straight away. Here is what he said:

Look at Anthony Joshua right now, with consistency! Look at Joseph Parker. Consistency breeds quality. So, I'm coming in here years out of the game...I have to get my in-league sharpness...Maybe I might say to them [the UFC], ‘Look, I’m just doing three rounds, lads, for this one. And I wanna just wet me beak.’ I’ll do three rounds really nicely now, rather than pushing through to get to five.

Conor McGregor (Via The MMA Hour)

Spending years in the fight game, Conor McGregor acknowledged the existence of ‘ring-rust.’ Fighters who make a comeback after years have shown some hesitancy in the initial rounds. As such, the Irishman believed a three-round fight suited him at this point and would initiate consistency in his game. However, this left the question of whether the Irish superstar won’t headline an event since the main event consists of a five-round fight in recent memory.

Nonetheless, the rounds didn’t matter for the fight fans as they just wanted to see ‘The Notorious’ in action. Conor McGregor has hinted at a blockbuster summer return against Michael Chandler. However, the UFC has yet to announce it officially. With the contradicting statements from the Irishman, fans were reserved about believing any news regarding his comeback.

Conor McGregor shares what it took to reach the pinnacle of MMA

Hollywood star Jake Gyllenhaal recently joined Conor McGregor for a 1-1 conversation sponsored by the GQ Magazine. It was on the occasion of the release of their film Road House. In the interview, Gyllenhaal expressed his admiration for the accomplishments of the Irishman. This led McGregor to look back on his career and the fight game.

Conor McGregor is the biggest star the sport of MMA has ever witnessed. Now, the Irishman unveiled the difficulties the fight game presented and how hard it was for him to reach the top. As such, he humbly expressed a single-line recipe for his success. Here is what he said:

(Fighting) is an intense game for sure. A very difficult game to achieve even a fraction of success. All it took me was every single waking second of my life and my thinking. That's all it took, voila!

Conor McGregor (Via GQ Magazines)

While Conor McGregor faced numerous controversies recently, his rise in the UFC was one sight to behold. He tore apart the competition before him and became the first double champion in the UFC. He also grew bigger than the sport and attained superstardom by doing so. As such, he now has a multi-million dollar business and made his Hollywood debut. But his heart stayed in the fight game, and he itches to get back into the octagon.

In case you missed it:

• Graphic Warning! Benoit Saint-Denis shares GRUESOME staph infection photos leading up to UFC 299 loss
• “Act in Roadhouse or fight Khabib again?” Joe Rogan dismisses Conor McGregor claiming acting was harder than fighting

Stay Updated!

Join our newsletter to receive exclusive updates and curated insights directly to your inbox.

Subscribe NOW