

Now, experts say, McGregor's style resembles that of a traditional boxer. The wide-open, karate-esque stance McGregor used that night was a staple of his early UFC fights. McGregor's knockout of Jose Aldo with a brilliant counter left to win the featherweight title in 2015 is an iconic image in mixed martial arts. Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images Coaches see flaws in his game, but also an opportunity to turn things around.

12, 2016 when he beat Eddie Alvarez to become the UFC's first fighter to hold two belts simultaneously. 'Lost his bounce' Conor McGregor's last major win was on Nov.

1 guy in the world, he can get a title shot." He's fighting because he loves it and has an opportunity. "Because the big question about Conor right now is the guy has so much money, 'Is he the same Conor? Is he focused?' "There's so much at stake in this fight, and I love that," White said. In fact, UFC president Dana White said McGregor is one win away from a lightweight title fight and the opportunity to become the first UFC fighter in history to win the prestigious lightweight championship on two occasions. What happened to the fighter once considered destined to be ranked among the greatest ever? Is his decline temporary, or have we seen McGregor's career arc hit its peak?Īccording to some of the sport's top coaches and analysts, McGregor's problems range from inactivity to the inability to stay motivated while ranked as one of the richest athletes in the world, and there are technical issues.īut experts say there is still time for the 32-year-old McGregor to turn things around. 24, McGregor suffered the first KO/TKO loss of his 13-year MMA career when Poirier stopped him in the second round. In his most recent fight, at UFC 257 on Jan. McGregor has not beaten a fighter at the top of his weight class since he toppled Eddie Alvarez to win the lightweight title at UFC 205 on Nov. Since that record-setting start, McGregor is just 1-2 - his only victory against a past-his-prime Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone - in nearly five years. On Saturday, McGregor faces a defining point in his career when he and Dustin Poirier complete their trilogy in the main event of UFC 264 in Las Vegas. Along the way, he became the greatest pay-per-view attraction and ticket-selling draw in UFC history. He became the first UFC fighter to hold belts in two weight classes at the same time. In his first 10 UFC fights, McGregor went 9-1 with seven knockouts and a UFC-record - since tied by Justin Gaethje - nine bonuses. McGregor's rise was unlike anything witnessed before in MMA. I thought he was one of the best fighters I had ever seen to that point."
CONOR MCGREGOR WEIGHT CLASS UFC 2 SERIES
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On April 6, 2013, MMA coach Mark Henry was at Ericsson Global Arena in Stockholm to corner one of his fighters.
