Oh, how time flies. Eight years ago, a hot prospect from Dublin, Ireland walked out onto the stage for his first UFC weigh-in. The event: UFC on Fuel TV – Mousasi vs. Latifi. Tucked away in the middle of the prelims: Conor McGregor vs. Marcus Brimage.
McGregor would make quick work of Brimage, TKOing “The Bama Beast” just over a minute into the first round. And with that the Conor McGregor era was officially underway in the UFC.
UFC Europe commemorated the moment, which led to McGregor reminiscing about his early days in the promotion.
Today in 2013 I weighed in for my UFC debut. What a journey! It would become my 12th KO in MMA competition. Dustin Poirier would then become my 12th first round KO in MMA competition.
This next fight will be my 12th UFC main event.
Rare company!
Proper Twelve baby! All day!— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 5, 2021
My ufc debut I found out 9 weeks out. I took a week to get right from not training/partying, and then 8 weeks out I moved to my sisters apt which was close to the gym. I woke up, trained, walked back to apartment, ate my meals and rested, trained again, back to apt, sleep, repeat
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 5, 2021
Double skills work. I also didn’t take rest days unless I absolutely had to. Not one. Not even a Sunday.
I will take this approach again for my comeback fight.
I didn’t become ufc champ champ with this method but I did become ufc 145 champion. Also the cage warrior champ champ.— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 5, 2021
McGregor is set to face Dustin Poirier for a third time this July 10th at UFC 264, and the Irish sports superstar is clearly hoping this rubber match goes more like their first meeting (a first round KO for McGregor) than the second fight (a second round KO for Poirier).
There’s all sorts of questions surrounding whether Conor can actually get back to being that hungry animal he was that first entered the UFC in 2013 to go on a seven fight winning streak. Based on this tweet, McGregor hopes to channel a similar training schedule to those days in order to recreate the conditions for his success.
“Adjust and absolutely f**king destroy!” is the mantra for this fight, but he’ll have a stiff test in front of him. Dustin Poirier is looking deadlier than ever and there’s no wondering whether he’s taking his eye off the ball as he guns for a second win over McGregor and then another shot at the UFC lightweight title. It’s gonna be one of the craziest fights of the year!