As Conor McGregor prepares for his long-awaited return at UFC 329, Georges St-Pierre believes success will depend on how much the former two-division champion is willing to sacrifice.
McGregor is set to face Max Holloway in a welterweight main event on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It will mark his first fight in five years.
St-Pierre Urges McGregor to Recommit Fully
Speaking with The Break Talk, St-Pierre said McGregor still has the tools to compete at the highest level. However, he believes the Irish star must fully immerse himself in the demanding lifestyle required of an elite fighter.
“I think if Conor can put himself back into the grind and be hungry, into that hell zone,”
“If he puts himself into that zone, we’re going to have a hell of a fight.”
The Challenge of Returning to the Top
McGregor has remained one of MMA’s biggest names despite competing just four times since 2016. His lone victory during that span came against Donald Cerrone in January 2020.
According to St-Pierre, returning to championship form becomes more difficult once a fighter achieves financial success and no longer faces the same daily struggles that fueled their rise.
“I think if he wants to be successful, because it’s hard once you made it—you’re a millionaire, you wake up in a nice bed, warm—to go back into a discomfort zone.”
“You need to be willing to go through an army of guys that are waiting for you in the gym to kick your ass.”
Let the Coaches Take Control
St-Pierre also stressed the importance of allowing coaches to push fighters beyond their comfort zones instead of controlling every aspect of training camp.
“He certainly has the skills to do it if he really wanted to,”
“The question is just that he needs to put himself into that position.”
“Not be the boss, let your coach be the boss, because when you fight, it’s a very unpleasant environment. You don’t control nothing, there’s a lot of stuff that happens.”