Conor McGregor is back in training ahead of his UFC 303 showdown with Michael Chandler and footage has got fans talking.
McGregor’s return was finally made official by UFC president Dana White during the official post-fight press conference for UFC 300.
The highly-anticipated bout will take place at welterweight after months of speculation, with McGregor ready to return to competition for the first time since 2021 where he suffered a broken ankle in the third-round.
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The Irishman is already back in training ahead of the bout on June 29 in Las Vegas and fans are analysing his training footage, eager to see how he will deal with his injury.
Posted on the official Instagram account for TIDL Sport - an innovative sports recovery line launched by the UFC star - McGregor is showcased kicking the heavy bag with his now-recovered left leg, displaying some ridiculous power.
McGregor was criticised during his UFC defeat to Dustin Poirier for adopting a boxing-heavy stance, a far cry from his unorthodox style that made him so difficult for opponents to counter during his rise to two-weight world title glory.
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After watching the footage, fans believe he could adopt a muay-thai approach for his upcoming bout against Chandler.
One wrote on Instagram: “We’ve seen karate McGregor, boxer McGregor, and here comes Muay Thai McGregor?”
Another added: “He’s on his Muay Thai arc.”
“Muay Thai Conor is a different breed,” said another.
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On his injury, one fan said: “Pretty incredible he can hit that hard with it. Glad he took the proper time to recover.”
McGregor required surgery after his horrific injury against Poirier but has vowed to use the metal rod now inserted in his leg as a weapon in future UFC bouts, starting with Chandler.
He said: “I am Terminator now.
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“I have a Titanium rod that goes into the knee and down to the bone, right down to my ankle.
“It’s unbreakable, I wish for and I will work for landing this kick with this steel bar in my leg against an opponent and get them out of there.
“I want to see a picture of myself in the octagon with my broken leg, and then I want to see a picture of myself in the octagon with my leg wrapped around my opponent’s neck or neck and putting him out side by side.”
Topics: Conor McGregor, UFC, MMA
Marcus Banks