[autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] isn’t viewing his comeback as a single event, but rather a series of them.
The former dual champion isn’t solely driven by his upcoming UFC 246 return against Donald Cerrone. Instead, McGregor (21-4 MMA, 9-2) is motivated by a “2020 season.”
In his first interview since his comeback was made official, McGregor (21-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) laid out his upcoming plans.
“For me, I’m back in my old frame of mind,” McGregor told TheMacLife.com. “I just want consistency. I just want competition. It’s what I look to do – to be in that healthy state of mind, and my body, also. That’s it. So whoever, wherever … I have many shapes, many styles that I’m assessing from afar. But they’re all just blank faces.”
McGregor revealed he’s made mental and physical adjustments ahead of his return. In a sense, the mental adjustments can be more aptly qualified as reversions. According to McGregor, his UFC 229 camp was poor and ultimately resulted in a loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov. That’s changed. Fighting, he said, once again is his sole focus.
“That last camp was horrendous,” McGregor said. “I have no one to blame but myself. I did blame myself, and I did make the corrections. Thankfully, I have a strong team behind me that are pushing me and guiding me the right way. I’m guiding myself – (that’s) the main thing. I’m listening to myself and doing the work I know I need to do.
“Fighting is always close in my mind now. And I know I’ve got many businesses and these types of things that are driving at the minute. But fighting is my bread and butter, and that’s what I’m focused on.”
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In addition to focusing on self-improvement, McGregor has decided to remove himself from the “politics” of MMA. He’s going to let the UFC decide whom he fights and take it from there.
“I put it in the UFC’s hands,” McGregor said. “I do not care. I am back. I am back to who I am. I look forward to showcasing that on Jan. 18. Whoever is after that, it does not matter. I’ll be ready. This is the beginning of my 2020 season.”
For his 2020 season opener, McGregor chose welterweight because that’s his walk-around weight. Post-fight, he plans on cutting weight in anticipation of an April fight with either Nurmagomedov or Tony Ferguson if one of them pulls out of UFC 249.
The April 18 booking in Brooklyn, N.Y., is the fifth time Nurmagomedov and Ferguson have been matched up, so McGregor likes the chances he’ll have the opportunity to step in.
“I’ll cut weight to (lightweight), and then likely something will happen there,” McGregor said. “I’ll be likely to slide in there for that belt. I’ll just have a solid camp at 170 with no weight cut – a good fight … It’ll take me into the year. I’m looking into this as a season. This is the beginning of the season.”
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Upon the conclusion of the “2020 season,” McGregor thinks he’ll be on top. In actuality, McGregor said he’s never left the top. This season, he’s simply focused on reminding those who have forgotten where he sits.
“I look forward to getting that competition under my belt – get that sharpness back,” McGregor said. “I’m going to put on a beautiful display on Jan. 18, get my fans excited, and get the forgetful MMA industry (excited). It’s such a forgetful game. One guy can have a win or two wins and they’re on top of the world. Then a guy can have a loss and he’s at the bottom.
“I’m going to remind everyone, then continue to climb, continue to get my sharpness and build on it – see where it goes. ”
UFC 246 takes place Jan. 18 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
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