It appears Conor McGregor has made some major changes ahead of his welterweight return.
UFC president Dana White said the UFC doctor has told him that McGregor is looking better than ever as he gears up for his UFC 246 headliner against Donald Cerrone on Saturday.
“I’m hearing he’s in phenomenal shape right now,” White told TMZ Sports. “The UFC doctor is actually saying he thinks Conor is in the best shape he’s ever seen him in.”
“(His) head seems to be in the right place. Ring rust is real – I believe in it. We’ll see how that goes. And I think that the level of disrespect shown to ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone by the media, a lot of the fans, and definitely the sports books in Las Vegas, is insanity.”
McGregor’s choice to face Cerrone at 170 baffled many, as 155 pounds seems to be the perfect weight class for the former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion. The two times McGregor competed at 170 against Nate Diaz, he came in under weight, weighing in at 168 pounds.
And McGregor even said in a recent interview with ESPN, that at the time of the interview, he was weighing in at “160, 160 and a bit.”
White doesn’t see it as an issue though.
“This fight is interesting in a lot of different levels,” White said. “Obviously, Conor’s been out for a while. Conor has fought two times at 170. He’s got a win and a loss at 170. I believe in ring rust. ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone has gone on these two-fight skids before and come back. ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone is almost one of those guys that needs something big to fight for. It’s more than just the money, all the things that go along with it. This is the type of fight that ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone is an absolute spoiler in. This is his deal. These are the type of fights he likes to be in.
“(Cerrone has) fought at 170 many times, (and) is comfortable at 170. Conor McGregor will probably weigh in at 169 or 168 or somewhere around there. It’s even hard for Conor to hit 170. So (it’s a) very interesting fight (with) two of the baddest in the business to ever do it, and this is a fun one.”
UFC 246 takes place Jan. 18 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
Dana White: UFC doctor says Conor McGregor in best shape he's ever seen him in
