Conor McGregor makes his long-awaited return to the Octagon this month.
Las Vegas plays host to the comeback on January 18 and UFC veteran Donald Cerrone has been confirmed as his opponent.
McGregor has been away from UFC since his submission loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 in October 2018. Part of that was his suspension as a result of the post-fight antics and injury played a part as well.
Most MMA fans are expecting a knockout when Ireland take on America.
However, with Cerrone’s camp claiming McGregor has nothing more than a left-hand, – man who became the first two-weight champion in UFC history – a few eyebrows are being raised.
In response to that claim, British fighter Darren Till had some words of advice for camp Cerrone, a man he has beaten before.
“I can not f***ing wait for Conor X Cowboy next week,” Till tweeted.
“Feels like the old Conor is back. Both are right up for this. Cowboy’s camp have to be more concerned with than just Conor’s left-hand though. As a southpaw, it’s not the left-hand. It’s the set ups from the left hand, the spinning kicks, the feints, angles etc…
“It all draws you onto the left-hand. Also, that’s that just what he brings! You don’t beat who he has beat by just having a left-hand. If I would have taken my own advice above against [Jorge] Masvidal rather than just coming out and trying to steamroll him. But he done me fair and good!
Anyways, let’s see a f***ing tear up next week! I’ve got Conor 1st round TKO, feel like the occasion may be too much for Cowboy! But that’s just my opinion, Cowboy has been a lot longer than me and knows a hell of a lot more.”
It’s hard to dispute with the fifth-ranked middleweight in the world here. McGregor is an expert at creating the openings he needs to deliver his devastating left, but he also went the distance with Nate Diaz and found a way to win.
However, his conditioning has been often justly criticised and he is known to fade the longer the fight goes. Losses to Khabib and Diaz support that notion, not to mention the loss to Floyd Mayweather, though in totally different circumstances.
