Conor McGregor appears to be working hard in the gym ahead of his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 on July 10th and he’s also challenged his opponent to stand and trade with him rather than attempt to take him to the mat.
McGregor initially began his latest flurry of Twitter posts by reminiscing about his UFC debut no less than eight years ago.
“Today in 2013 I weighed in for my UFC debut,” McGregor wrote on Twitter.
“What a journey! It would become my 12th KO in MMA competition. Dustin Poirier would then become my 12th first round KO in MMA competition.
This next fight will be my 12th UFC main event. Rare company! Proper Twelve baby! All day!
“My ufc debut I found out 9 weeks out. I took a week to get right from not training/partying, and then 8 weeks out I moved to my sisters apt which was close to the gym. I woke up, trained, walked back to apartment, ate my meals and rested, trained again, back to apt, sleep, repeat.
“Double skills work. I also didn’t take rest days unless I absolutely had to. Not one. Not even a Sunday.
“I will take this approach again for my comeback fight.
“I didn’t become ufc champ champ with this method but I did become ufc 145 champion. Also the cage warrior champ champ.”
Later that day Poirier himself responded to McGregor’s posts.
“I never slack, I’ll meet you in the middle of the octagon July 10th,” Poirier wrote.
McGregor welcomed that, though he couldn’t resist taking a potshot at Poirier’s fight strategy for their previous meeting.
“Good to hear Dustin, I hope so,” McGregor responded. “As last time you backed up and shot inside the first 30 seconds. I’ll be in the middle from the very go if you want it. You know that. I’ll be ready for the tactics this time too tho. See you in there.
McGregor has made no secret that he’s been working on his leg kick defense after being left badly compromised by Poirier’s clinical calf kicks last time out, which led to his eventual TKO in the second round.
Poirier will no doubt be eager to test just how good a job he’s done of fixing that hole in his game, but it’ll be interesting to see what other tactics he might have up his sleeve this time around, and indeed whether McGregor may have some surprises in store too for this crucial lightweight clash.
