Conor McGregor faces an uphill task to return to the UFC tonight and beat Max Holloway in what will be his first fight for five years. For a brief moment, McGregor was transported back in time on a sea of green, orange and white, back to a time when he ruled the roost as one of the biggest sports stars in the world, and his talent, not his reputation, was the talk of the Las Vegas Strip.
McGregor, 37, soaked in the adulation from those who have stuck by him as if he believed it would cleanse his soul. But his time of reckoning has come. The Irishman may have convinced himself and his loyal followers of his ability to revive his glory days. There has even been delusional talk of winning a world title in a third weight division. But the phenomenon who captured featherweight and lightweight world titles within 12 months a decade ago is now just a lingering memory.
Reality Check in Sin City
All that is surely left is for Max Holloway to lay bare that reality in Sin City tonight. McGregor may have shrugged off the fact a civil court found him liable of sexual assault less than two years ago. He continues to protest his innocence despite a jury concluding he attacked Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel. But he will not be able to hide the toll his lifestyle has taken on his body.
He conceded this week he struggled to curb his drinking after launching his own whiskey brand following his fight with Floyd Mayweather in 2018. During his court case, he also admitted to taking cocaine. But those vices predate the centrepiece of his athletic downfall.
Broken Leg and Doping Allegations
The broken leg McGregor suffered in the first round of his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in 2021 was so bad he feared he would no longer be able to play with his four children. He has refused to deny allegations he took banned drugs to aid his recovery after removing himself from the UFC's anti-doping program. McGregor now finds himself a bigger underdog tonight than at any point in his 13-year UFC career.
Not that he is paying attention to the bookies' odds. "I can destroy Max inside 10 seconds," he roared. "I have knockouts inside three seconds on my record. But don't get it twisted; if we go into deep waters, Max is going to be in a lot of trouble."
Only Chance: Early Knockout
McGregor's best and only chance is an early knockout as Holloway adjusts to stepping up to welterweight for the first time. More likely, his timing and agility will fail him, allowing Holloway to avenge his defeat in their first encounter. McGregor insists he has cleaned up his act after finding God. But not even a higher power can save him from what threatens to be a sad and limp conclusion to a once great career.
Watch UFC 329: McGregor vs Holloway 2 exclusively live on TNT Sports Box Office via HBO Max, EE TV, Virgin Media TV, Prime Video and Sky.
