Fighters of All Kinds Want a Piece of Conor McGregor

“I’m going to have a look at the calendar and see where we’re at,” McGregor said after the fight on Saturday. “I’ll be ready.”

McGregor suggested that he could return as quickly as March 7, for U.F.C. 248 in Las Vegas, and he told reporters that he planned to resume training on Monday.

Before Saturday, McGregor had last competed in October 2018, when he was neck-cranked into submission by Russian wrestling ace Khabib Nurmagomedov in a championship grudge match that ignited a post-fight brawl. The melee earned McGregor a fine and a six-month suspension from Nevada regulators, and the fighter’s time off featured a series of legal issues. McGregor pleaded guilty to smashing a tourist’s camera in Miami, and to punching a bar patron in Ireland.

During fight week, McGregor and his backers at the U.F.C. unveiled a rebranded version of the fighter’s persona. The trash-talking heel who grew into the promotion’s biggest star renewed himself as a congenial sportsman who, with most of his legal issues settled, could focus on becoming the best fighter possible.

In the octagon, McGregor appeared to be the same fast, accurate striker who won titles in two weight classes, even if he opened the fight by missing Cerrone with a wild left hand.

“Fifteen months outside of the octagon, a little eager,” McGregor said.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/20/sports/conor-mcgregor-ufc-boxing.html?emc=rss&partner=rss