Article by Robert Vîrdol – Published on Thursday, 02 April 2026, 21:46 / Updated on Thursday, 02 April 2026 21:46
Conor McGregor (37 years old) is preparing for his return to the octagon, but after the long break he had, he is encountering certain problems that can be fatal for him in front of a difficult opponent.
The return of MMA's most eccentric fighter is being prepared by Dana White for the summer, but McGregor is not at his former level. Now, fighters are active into old age, but it is not the fact that he is 37 years old that confuses McGregor, but the lifestyle of late.
After the fiery duels with Dustin Poirier, which he lost, the Irishman let it go with the discipline, and parties on yachts and in luxury clubs replaced the matches he had weekly. Now, with the move to the gym, literally, because most nights are spent there, McGregor has as much work as a contact sports executive.
Conor McGregor/Photo: Imago Images
Conor McGregor has muscle memory issues ahead of MMA return
Dana White recently spoke about McGregor's comeback, and his response has the Irishman's fans on fire: “Possibly back in July. Nothing is set. It's not even close to being settled, but I'm optimistic.”
Dana White / PHOTO: GettyImages
Well, Gazeta Sporturilor has information from Ireland itself, and Conor's situation would not be ideal. In training, McGregor is still treated like a god, even having gloves put on his hand by his men. However, in the ring it is clear that he is no longer the same man.
“During a light fight, Conor couldn't dominate his opponent. He was constantly getting jabs (straight lefts) and the opponent had a major flaw in that he didn't protect himself and always had to duck when he punched because he was so much taller. The old Conor would have knocked him out instantly.
After the match, the trainers, who had noticed his problems several times, explained to him that he no longer has the same muscle memory and needs training for technique”, are the explanations on the spot.
Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier // Photo Source: Imago Images
It is well known that in an MMA match thinking time is very short and intense training makes the difference. During the incoming punches, only studying the opponent and executing the blows at the key moments will bring you victory.
For example, there are certain big fights in MMA that are over quickly due to study and repetition. McGregor knocked out Jose Aldo with just one heavily practiced punch. Thus, with the loss of muscle memory, he would not be able to put into practice all the shots in his arsenal at key moments of the match.
McGregor returns
What is muscle memory and how important it is to an MMA athlete's career
Muscle memory is the ability of muscles to “remember” certain movements after a period of inactivity. This does not mean that muscles have conscious memory, but is a biological phenomenon that combines neurons and the nervous system together with muscle cells.
For an athlete, muscle memory is very important because it helps them to come back after long breaks, such as injuries, and perform their movements in the same way. However, it is not invincible, and an extremely long break and a disordered lifestyle can be fatal to it.
In addition, the lack of technique training can be a big disadvantage for contact sports fighters.
Dee Devlin and Conor McGregor/Photo: Imago Images
