Conor McGregor revealed he made a surprising lifestyle change ahead of his long-awaited UFC return, saying he gave up sex during training camp. The former two-division champion believed the decision could give him an edge as he prepared to face Max Holloway at UFC 329 after five years away from the Octagon.
The Irish fighter returned to competition under intense scrutiny, with questions surrounding both his motivation and the controversy that followed him outside the cage. McGregor insisted he remained as driven as ever heading into Saturday night’s rematch.
Conor McGregor says avoiding sex is part of his preparation for his long-awaited UFC 329 fight against Max Holloway
Speaking to reporters ahead of UFC 329, McGregor dismissed suggestions that he no longer possessed the hunger that fueled his rise through the sport.
“If I didn’t have the fire or the hunger, yet I’m up against one of the most active bodies in the fight game in Max Holloway, I just think it’s silly to say this,” McGregor said, as per TMZ.
He described the rematch as one of the toughest challenges of his career. “The challenge is colossal. It is a colossal challenge ahead of me that I am entering with supreme confidence,” McGregor continued. “The fire is in my belly roaring, and it’s about to be released on Saturday night.”
McGregor also revealed he adopted a new routine during training camp. “I’ve practiced abstaining also in this camp. It’s the first time I’ve ever done it, from any type of physical touch if you will,” he said. “That’s been intense. And I’m excited to see what it brings Saturday night.”
He ended the remark with a grin, adding, “I’m going to have a good night Saturday all across the board.”
The Sun noted that McGregor had previously dismissed pre-fight abstinence as a superstition. In a 2015 interview, he said, “That [sexual abstinence] is most certainly a superstition that I do not abide by. I definitely have as much sex as possible!”
The outlet also reported that McGregor spent much of this training camp sleeping at coach John Kavanagh’s gym rather than at home with his wife, Dee, and their four children.
McGregor also addressed the civil sexual assault case that has continued to shadow his comeback. He maintained his innocence, saying, “I know the truth,” while noting that no criminal charges had been filed against him. He added that he trusted “anything done in darkness will soon come to light.”
McGregor and Holloway were set to meet in a rematch of their 2013 bout at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK CONOR MCGREGOR’S NEW TRAINING APPROACH WILL HELP HIM AGAINST MAX HOLLOWAY?
