Conor McGregor revealed he was not fully prepared when he challenged Khabib Nurmagomedov for the Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight title.
In October 2018, the former two-weight champion locked horns with ‘The Eagle’ in the main event of UFC 229 at the T-mobile Arena.
The lightweight title fight served as McGregor’s return to the Octagon, following a two-year hiatus and his blockbuster boxing showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr, where he suffered a tenth-round technical knockout loss.
Unfortunately, McGregor came up short of reclaiming the 155-pound strap as he was submitted by Nurmagomedov in the fourth round via rear naked choke, giving him his second straight professional loss in two years while the defending champion remained perfect in 27 MMA fights.
Since that disappointing loss, the Irishman has been vocal about his desire for a rematch as he eyes to reclaim his glory days in the UFC.
Hungry
Last January, ‘The Notorious’ returned to the win column, finishing Donald Cerrone in just 40 seconds in one of his best performances that made him the only fighter in the UFC to score a knockout across three weight classes.
He is now being linked to a potential rematch with Khabib for his next outing.
If this happens, McGregor promises not to repeat the same mistakes he did in their first meeting.
“I will admit the fight before UFC 246, I did not train properly and was not in perfect condition,” McGregor told Bleacher Report in a recent interview.
“Call it what you want. I am hungry today. Hungry like a man who has not eaten for weeks. … When I set my mind to something, there is nothing I can not accomplish. It is that power of belief that makes up the winners.
“I will simply say I was not fully prepared.”
“It proves that anything can happen in the fight game. You can trust that I will not make the same mistakes next time. I came out well, and in an instant, things changed. It’s as simple as that.”
Pleasing The Fans
A deal for the lightweight rematch isn’t yet cast in stone but McGregor assures he will treat MMA fans to another exciting fight on his comeback.
“What the fans, and frankly the fighters, don’t want is a dull fight or a dull lead up to a fight,” McGregor continued.
“I enjoy every aspect, and the fans deserve to see and hear the real me. I am very passionate and eager to please the fans and win for them and my family.”
“I am willing to fight anyone and have proved that time and time again. I look for a good scrap, and if it isn’t going to be that, I have no interest.”
Would you like to see Conor McGregor fight Khabib Nurmagomedov later this year? Who do you think will win the rematch?
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(Featured Image Source: Instagram/ Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov)