UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley believes Conor McGregor can make “the greatest comeback in sports history” in his return fight in June, provided he is fully focused and dedicated to his training.
Sean O’Malley, UFC bantamweight champion, is a big fan of Conor McGregor. He’s got this wild idea that McGregor could stage “the greatest comeback in sports history” when he steps back into the ring in June.
But hold up. There’s a catch.
“McGregor’s got skills, no doubt about it. But what really makes a fighter is the mindset,” O’Malley spilled to UFC.com in a chat last November in the Big Apple. “If he can get his head back in the game, that’s it. But, you know, you can’t expect to be at your peak if you’ve been lounging on a yacht instead of sweating it out in the gym. You’re just not the same guy. So, it’s all about what you do with those three months.”
McGregor’s got more than three months, if everything goes as planned. On New Year’s Eve, he dropped the bombshell that he’ll be fighting The Ultimate Fighter 31 rival coach Michael Chandler on June 29. This pay-per-view event is set to be the highlight of International Fight Week in Las Vegas.
McGregor’s plan is to fight Chandler at middleweight, which is three divisions higher than the featherweight class he once ruled. But, it’s unclear if he’s just pulling our leg, and UFC officials are yet to confirm the fight or its weight division. The rumor mill suggests they were supposed to meet at welterweight.
One of the big stories around McGregor’s return is his flashy lifestyle, which took off after his mega pay-per-view boxing match against Floyd Mayweather in 2017. The Irish star’s social media is filled with snaps of him partying and drinking, raising doubts about his commitment to his comeback. These concerns are amplified by the physical setbacks he’s faced, like a broken leg he suffered in a trilogy against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.
O’Malley, though, likes what he sees in McGregor. He’s a hardcore fan of “Notorious” and has even modeled his own career after the ex-champ. He’s watched every interview McGregor has given, and he’s convinced there’s one thing McGregor won’t let slide in his return.
“If he can stay focused and committed for three months, I think he’ll come back strong,” O’Malley said.
You can bet O’Malley will be glued to the screen when McGregor squares off with Chandler. Because, let’s face it, there’s nothing quite like a McGregor fight week.