Conor McGregor says “July seems OK for me” for a return, demands respect for his different fighting styles
Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor recently spoke about his recovery from an injury and when he could return to action.
UFC superstar and former two-weight champion Conor McGregor continues to work towards his return from an injury he sustained at UFC 264 in his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier. The Irish superstar suffered fractures in his tibia and fibula and has been out of action since July of last year while he works on his recovery and rehabilitation.
While in attendance for Bellator 275 which took place at 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland, Conor McGregor spoke with Sean Sheehan of SevereMMA.com and discussed a timetable for his return, what weight class he expects to compete at, and calling for more respect from the fight game for his different styles of fighting.
There has yet to be a firm timetable for when McGregor plans to return to action, but he revealed that doctors told him he needs to pull back in his recovery, and while that’s currently what he’s doing, he plans to get back to sparring sooner than later.
“Day-by-day I feel better. They’re [doctors] telling me to just take it easy, but I feel I can go so I have to pull the reigns back on myself. I’m happy with it, I’m almost back. April they said I can spar again and I can box again basically, so I’m just going to take it day-by-day.
Once I get back sparring I’ll know weight, I’ll know feel, I’ll know my own style. I’m gonna develop a different style, I’d imagine. I feel good, I’m grounded on my feet.”
During his rehab, there’s been obvious bulking in McGregor’s weight, but when asked where he plans to compete upon his return, he left the door open for opportunities.
“I’m not sure yet to be honest, 155, 170, I’d imagine.”
When asked about the upcoming lightweight title fight between champion Charles Oliveira and top-contender Justin Gaethje, Conor McGregor questioned if the fight was set in stone, and mentioned July as a possible return for him.
“Maybe if your man’s [Oliveira] wise he’d give it another month or two. July seems OK for me. I can’t say too early. If I’m sparring April, May, June, July, I can get in and slap the head off most these guys at the end of April, but a spar could be a fight.”
Even if the scheduled fight between Oliveira and Gaethje does take place as it has been reported and planned in May McGregor demanded respect for his unique and different styles of fighting.
“It’s about time this game starts giving me respect for my different syles of fighting. My shots downward, my shots upward, no matter what’s going on with the leg. People are going to give me my respect from all the facets of my game. The game is going to understand give me my respect from the facets of my game.”
Although he’s very active on social media, this was one of the most recent interviews McGregor has given since the injury and it sounds like the UFC superstar is nearing a return this summer, and he’s out to get respect from the fight game.
