Conor McGregor claims to have entered a new chapter in his life.
The former two-division UFC champion and now part-owner of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship may have turned over a new leaf. McGregor has recently been campaigning to resume his fighting career at the UFC event planned to take place at the White House next summer. On the business side of things, “The Notorious” has been touting BKFC as a promotion that is a tight-knit group that is growing together.
Two weeks ago, at BKFC 82 in Newark, N.J., McGregor spoke during and after the event about the family nature of the promotion. Thursday, the Irishman repeated the same sentiment during the BKFC 83 pre-fight press conference, ahead of the event taking place Saturday in Rome, Italy.
McGregor was asked if there was a connection to his personal journey and the spirit of BKFC, which prompted an answer that suggests he is becoming a new person.
“I am not here just by chance,” McGregor said. “There is a higher power, God, that dictates my journey and all of our journeys, and I live my life by God’s word. Since around the time of the last event, I’ve engaged on a spiritual journey, and I am saved. I’m saved, and I am healed. On the back of that, the world is in for a treat. My competitive spark, that was once in my heart, is now a roaring blaze. So, I’m very excited.
“I envy these men and women up here on this dais. They’re right about to make weight, and enjoy and entertain, and do what they were called to do – as am I called to do it. I’m eager to get back. Right now, I’ve had to dial myself in and go inward – and that, I’ve done. I’m very, very excited to come back my own self.”
McGregor has accomplished more than most in his career as a fighter.
He claimed two UFC titles and landed a lucrative blockbuster boxing bout against undefeated legend Floyd Mayweather, becoming the biggest star in MMA. Along that path, multiple business ventures generated more wealth. There were also numerous legal issues over the years, ranging from traffic violations to more egregious problems such as being found liable for sexual assault.
“I would like to leave a legacy that can be looked upon as a lesson,” McGregor said. “You seen with me what works. I showed what works, and also, I showed what doesn’t work. Now I’m in a stage where I come back and show again what I’m about.”
The new outlook for McGregor comes as he prepares for a return to the UFC, which the promotion has not officially confirmed. He last fought at UFC 264, breaking his leg in a trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier.
