Conor McGregor’s UFC comeback could still be on for this 12 months, in response to his photographer Dave Fogarty.
The legendary two-weight world champion has been out of motion for over three years after suffering a broken leg in his last fight against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. Since then, he has returned to fitness and was as a result of return in June at UFC 303, before being forced out with a broken toe.
Despite UFC boss Dana White insisting that he wouldn’t be fighting in 2024, the Irishman remains to be making a giant push to compete in December. And Fogarty, who is ready to fight on this weekend’s Misfits Boxing pay-per-view in Dublin, believes that he’s making a giant push for a slot at UFC 310.
Conor McGregor is ‘pushing for December’ as UFC comeback nears
With Dana White recently teasing fans about imminent news regarding Conor McGregor, fans have been ecstatic to see what he’ll do next. And one man who knows higher than any is Dave Fogarty, who’s arguably the closest man to McGregor outside of his immediate family as they jetset around the globe.
Speaking exclusively with Bloody Elbow ahead of his Misfits 17 lightweight title fight with Deen The Great, Fogarty noted that his close friend has been making a giant effort to get back within the cage by 12 months’s end.
“Indisputably,” Fogarty replied when asked if he can be straight back right into a camp after his own is finished on Saturday post-fight. “I do know Conor is pushing for December or something towards the tip of the 12 months.
“That’s what I believe will occur, he’ll fight when he’s ready. I don’t do much training after I’m there, but not much. To be honest with you, after I take this belt I’ll proceed doing the pads with Phil [Sutcliffe, boxing coach] and just keeping the talents sharp.”
Dave Fogarty details advice he received from Conor McGregor ahead of boxing debut
As he prepared for his boxing debut on an enormous pay-per-view stage in his hometown on the sold out 3Arena, Fogarty was capable of pick the brain of one in all combat sport’s biggest names. And he has been given some advice tactically, in addition to regarding the mental side of the brilliant lights.
Having photographed iconic moments for a few of the UFC’s most famous nights, he is not any stranger to the large occasion. But now fighting in front of 13,000 in his home town, he noted that it has been invaluable learning from one in all the greats.
“Conor has given me some great advice,” he said. “Especially about working within the clinch, another things. So I’m going to take the knowledge Conor’s given me, the knowledge I’ve got from Crumlin Boxing and massive shoutout to Emmett Brennan who I’ve been doing pads with.
“Emmett’s an exceptional fighter, a Celtic champion, and I believe once he’s finished fighting he has a brilliant future in front of him. We’ve had countless hours, there’s been dedication from the entire camp towards me.
“When Conor fights, I’m sweating, I’m nervous because I’ve seen all of the work that he’s put in, I’ve been there every session. I do know the dedication it takes to get him to that level. So all I would like is the most effective for him.”
Conor McGregor ‘is big fights’ says Dave Fogarty
If you take a look at the list of all-time highest gates in UFC history, three of the five feature Conor McGregor within the headline slot. And even UFC 303, which ultimately featured Alex Pereira vs Jiri Prochazka, was primarily sold as his comeback bout against Michael Chandler.
“In modern fight sports, he’s big fights,” Fogarty added. “He simply is big fights. There’s no person greater than him. And there have been things like that that he’s talked to me about [for the Deen The Great bout].
“He’s told me about when your legs start feeling heavy, tips on how to get your bearings. The right way to get your breath back. How to not overwork yourself, the positions you possibly can put yourself in, accept some positions and never others.
“He makes opponents work the way in which he wants them to work. That’s what I’m going to do, I’m going to make him work, get him drained and I’m going to stop him.”
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