McGregor Reveals New Mindset Ahead of UFC Return

McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) suffered a broken leg during his TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021 and has not competed since. After five years away from the octagon, he is set to return against Max Holloway (27-9 MMA, 23-9 UFC) in the main event of UFC 329 on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, streaming on Paramount+.

Fighters such as Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman were never quite the same after recovering from similar leg injuries, but McGregor says he has mentally prepared himself for every possible outcome.

“Now that I’ve gained much more experience in the sport, I actually prepare by working backward from the perfect scenario,” McGregor said on “Mac Energy” (via Championship Rounds). “I’ve experienced a limb breaking inside the octagon, so now I need to have an answer for that. Of course, the ideal scenario is knocking your opponent out with a big shot while the crowd erupts. But I also think about the worst-case scenario: What happens if my shoulder dislocates midway through the first round? What are my mechanisms then? What movements do I make? How do I react? Do I switch stances? Do I fight off my back?

“I’ve developed a full range of responses for worst-case scenarios — not because I obsess over them or dwell on them, but because I want to be prepared. If the ankle goes, if the knee goes, if the shoulder goes, what’s my response? Because the fight isn’t over unless you quit. If you have a strategy, you can survive, adapt, and still find a path to victory. As I’ve gained more experience in fighting, I’ve learned to work backward from the worst-case scenario to the best-case scenario, and then focus my preparation on achieving the best outcome possible. Right now, I feel ready for every situation that may arise and confident in how I’ll respond.”

The former two-division UFC champion enters the fight as a significant underdog against Holloway. The bout will take place at welterweight, unlike their first meeting in August 2013 at featherweight, which McGregor won by unanimous decision.