Conor McGregor Honest About Level Of Competition He Is Seeking: 'I'm Not Going To Be 40-Odd & Looking At The 19-Year-Old Wonderkid...'

UFC megastar Conor McGregor recently shared some insight into the kind of competition he's looking at. 

"The Notorious" has not fought since suffering a horrendous leg injury back at UFC 264 in July 2021. The setback led to a first-round doctor's stoppage loss for McGregor in his trilogy grudge bout with Dustin Poirier. 

Last year, McGregor served as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter opposite Michael Chandler. The series came with the promise that the pair would meet in the Octagon, something that is yet to come to fruition. 

'Rest, Recuperation, Recalibration' - Conor McGregor

During a recent interview with TNT Sports, McGregor discussed how successful fighters often struggle to stay at their best after long periods of combat.

He used the examples of Georges St-Pierre, who initially retired after nine consecutive defenses of the UFC welterweight championship, and Alexander Volkanovski, who has come unstuck over the past year after a long run of featherweight dominance. 

For McGregor, taking his time and being picky about his opponents are ways to help avoid this issue.

"It's like a weight of something atop them," McGregor said. "And they just allow it, and to just, boom, take them right out of the game. I'm aware that that's present, I am aware that is present, that feeling, that thing, whatever it is.

"But I'm also aware that, you know, rest, recuperation, recalibration. I'm not gonna be 40-odd and looking at the 19-year-old wonderkid from f***ing wherever he's from, you know what I'm saying? Even though they might be calling me out."

"The Notorious" then pointed out that most of his likelier opponents are of a similar age and experience level to him. Beyond Michael Chandler, a fourth showdown with Dustin Poirier and even a trilogy bout with Nate Diaz have been floated in recent months. 

"Look at all of my potential opponents," McGregor said. "I have gangs of opponents, literally, I could fight, and that I have history with. Trilogies, secondary fights, fresh fights even, these are all a similar age to me, these people are a similar age to me, and I have an audience interested, which I do."