Georges St-Pierre has warned that Conor McGregor's UFC comeback could be 'heartbreaking' if the Irishman fails to recapture his former glory. McGregor, 37, is set to face Max Holloway at UFC 329 on July 11 in a welterweight bout, marking his first fight since breaking his leg in a 2021 defeat to Dustin Poirier.
The former two-division champion has not won a fight since 2020, with his last victory coming against Donald Cerrone in 2020. His return has been delayed by injury, and many within the MMA community question whether he can still compete at the highest level.
St-Pierre, a former welterweight and middleweight champion, expressed concern about McGregor's preparation. 'You need to make sure when you prepare yourself that you recreate that environment and that level of discomfort that you will face,' St-Pierre told MMA Junkie. 'It would break my heart to see him come back and not be as good as he was or close to what he was. That's heartbreaking.'
Former middleweight champion Chris Weidman, who suffered a similar leg injury in 2021, also warned McGregor about the psychological challenges of returning. 'It is hard to be the person you were beforehand,' Weidman said. 'When I got into the actual first fight since that leg injury, I was getting kicked, and as soon as I went to throw my kick back... my body wouldn't let me do it.'
McGregor's fight against Holloway is a rematch of their 2013 bout, which McGregor won by decision. Despite the concerns, St-Pierre acknowledged McGregor's potential, saying, 'He can do it. It's going to be interesting.'
