Conor McGregor has been told to be more motivated than ever ahead of his return to the cage, but even that might not be enough, according to UFC legends.
The former two-division UFC champion will make his stunning comeback at UFC 329 on July 11. McGregor, 37, will face Max Holloway in a welterweight showdown, 13 years after their initial clash, which the 'Notorious' won by a narrow points decision.
McGregor has not fought since breaking his leg in a first-round defeat to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in 2021. His last win inside the octagon came six years ago, a 40-second knockout of Donald Cerrone. He was scheduled to fight Michael Chandler two years ago but withdrew due to injury.
Given McGregor's inactivity, UFC legend Daniel Cormier believes it will be a tough ask for the 37-year-old to return and defeat an active Holloway. 'My thought is we see a Conor McGregor that's as focused and committed as he has ever been,' Cormier said on the 'WEIGHING IN' podcast with Josh Thomson. 'I don't know with the injuries and the time away and the weight gains and now the weight loss and all these things, if that Conor McGregor, even if he is more motivated than ever, is enough to beat a Max Holloway. Now that's no prediction, I'm just saying.'
The popular UFC commentator added: 'You don't get better at something by not doing it. You can train as hard as you want, but at the end of the day it's still been about five years since he was last in an octagon.'
While many fans are eager to see McGregor's return, several within the MMA fraternity question how much he has left. Former welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre expressed concern that the Irishman may be past his best. 'You need to make sure when you prepare yourself that you recreate that environment and that level of discomfort that you will face,' St-Pierre told MMA Junkie. 'If you stay in your comfort zone during your training camp, it's not good. You need to make sure you bring guys who make you uncomfortable.'
St-Pierre continued: 'He comes back for big things, and he doesn't come back for small things. It's appropriate. Of course, if I were in Conor's camp, I would say, 'Strap in because it's a hell of a fight.' But he can do it. It's going to be interesting. It would break my heart to see him come back and not be as good as he was or close to what he was. That's heartbreaking.'
McGregor's showdown with Holloway is one of the most anticipated fights of the year, with the MMA world watching to see if the Irish superstar can recapture his former glory.
