Former two-division champion Conor Mcgregor on his UFC debut anniversary talked about his approach in his early MMA days that made him the superstar he is today.
The UFC has booked Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor trilogy for later this year. Dustin Poirier has reportedly signed the contract for a rematch against Conor McGregor on July 10, according to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani. The fight will complete a trilogy for Poirier and McGregor, as they previously clashed at UFC 178 in 2014 and UFC 257 in January.
Poirier defeated McGregor in January via second-round TKO in a rematch of their 2014 fight. Back then, at UFC 178, McGregor defeated Poirier via first-round TKO.
The trilogy, which is expected to be one of the most lucrative in UFC history, is slated to serve as a five-round main event at 155 pounds, just like the rematch was. The original fight took place at 145 pounds.
McGregor (22-5) would be looking to secure his first win since January 2020, while Poirier (27-6, 1 NC) will hope to extend his winning streak to three in a row.
“The fight is booked!” McGregor wrote on Instagram. “July 10th you’re gonna see what the Mac is about. Adjust and absolutely f*cking destroy!”
Conor Mcgregor Debuted in UFC 8 years ago
Eight years ago today, Conor McGregor made his first appearance under the UFC’s lights.
McGregor (22-5 MMA, 10-3 UFC) stepped in the octagon for the very first time on April 6, 2013, in the preliminary card of UFC on FUEL TV 9. The Irishman completed in a featherweight matchup against Marcus Brimage. McGregor won the fight impressively, stopping his opponent in a little over a minute and winning a $60,000 bonus for “Knockout of the Night.”
The win would kick off a historic run for McGregor, where he claimed both the UFC featherweight and lightweight title to become the first to ever hold two UFC titles simultaneously.
Now, on the eighth anniversary of McGregor’s first UFC weigh-in, McGregor reflected on his time in the promotion.
Today in 2013 I weighed in for my UFC debut. What a journey! It would become my 12th KO in MMA competition. Dustin Poirier would then become my 12th first round KO in MMA competition.
This next fight will be my 12th UFC main event.
Rare company!
Proper Twelve baby! All day!— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 5, 2021
“Today in 2013 I weighed in for my UFC debut. What a journey! It would become my 12th KO in MMA competition,” Conor McGregor wrote on Twitter. “Dustin Poirier would then become my 12th first-round KO in MMA competition. This next fight will be my 12th UFC main event. Rare company! Proper Twelve baby! All-day!
My ufc debut I found out 9 weeks out. I took a week to get right from not training/partying, and then 8 weeks out I moved to my sisters apt which was close to the gym. I woke up, trained, walked back to apartment, ate my meals and rested, trained again, back to apt, sleep, repeat
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 5, 2021
“My ufc debut I found out 9 weeks. I took a week to get right from not training/partying, and then 8 weeks out I moved to my sister’s apt which was close to the gym. I woke up, trained, walked back to the apartment, ate my meals and rested, trained again, back to apt, sleep, repeat,” Conor McGregor added about his old training regiment.
Double skills work. I also didn’t take rest days unless I absolutely had to. Not one. Not even a Sunday.
I will take this approach again for my comeback fight.
I didn’t become ufc champ champ with this method but I did become ufc 145 champion. Also the cage warrior champ champ.— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 5, 2021
“Double skills work. I also didn’t take rest days unless I had to. Not one. Not even a Sunday. I will take this approach again for my comeback fight. I didn’t become ufc champ with this method but I did become ufc 145 champions. Also the cage warrior champ,” McGregor concluded.
Conor and Dustin last met in January when Poirier because the first fighter in history to finish McGregor by strikes. The former interim lightweight champion was able to employ a series of nasty calf kicks throughout the fight that left McGregor with a damaged leg before the knockout blow delivered in the second round.
Now McGregor is determined to exact his revenge and he requested this third fight similar to his previous rivalry with Nate Diaz where the Irish superstar lost in their first meeting but then returned with a victory in the rematch five months later.
As of now, there’s no location for the July 10 card, although UFC president Dana White has said he would like to hold the event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas if crowds are allowed back in attendance.
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