Conor McGregor is one of the most masterful strikers in MMA. ‘The Notorious’ has a million-dollar left hand that won him five world titles across two promotions. But it has been a while since fans witnessed the dynamic striker in action. Ever since his injury sidelined him in 2021, fans have only been getting glimpses of his skills from training clips shared on social media. One such recent clip from the Irishman shows him demonstrating the concept and execution behind defensive striking.

A recent video McGregor uploaded on Twitter (now rebranded as X) has gathered attention lately. This behind-the-scenes clip from TUF 31 throws some light on the coaching skills of the former two-weight champion. While he faced accusations of not being invested enough in training his prospects, this clip points in the opposite direction. Let us take a look at McGregor’s striking tips.

Conor Mcgregor and the art of counter-striking

Conor McGregor holds the record for the fastest finish in a UFC title fight. He finished the legendary Jose Aldo in 13 seconds to claim the undisputed featherweight title at UFC 194. ‘Mystic Mac’ caught Aldo with a picture-perfect counter left hook as the Brazilian rushed in, and sent him to the canvas. The case was similar when McGregor fought Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 for the lightweight title.

In the clip he shared on X, McGregor delved into his vision behind his counter-striking. According to the Irishman, every movement inside the cage has to be measured. The clip shows him advising against wanton “hit and move” styles, stating that “there is no commanding the Octagon that way.”

“Think of it as if you have them [the opponents] on a string. That’s the mindset to have,” coach ‘Mac’ said. In his typical animated style, McGregor demonstrated keeping his opponents on his string, being constantly wary of incoming offense. At the end of it, he showed how to counter an incoming high kick or a backhand by stepping to the side and firing back one of your own.

“Guiding them and then setting them up [for the counter],” McGregor explained. Quite a few fans in the comments under the post appreciated seeing McGregor in his element. But there were also those that wondered if any of these techniques would make a difference, essentially asking if McGregor would look like his former self after a 2-year-plus layoff.

Will McGregor be the same again after his comeback? 

Making a comeback into the sports after a gap of two years is always challenging. The fighting world changes very quickly, and fighters need to adapt to it. Known for his work ethic and fighting intelligence, McGregor will look to make the most of his remaining fighting days.

His last few outings did not turn out well for him and that is what fans expect him to change with his comeback. With only two fights left on his contract, it will be interesting to see how the UFC deploys their biggest star in the upcoming year.

Read More: Entire Team Khabib Gets Ridiculed by Conor McGregor’s Ally After Usman Nurmagomedov Handed Suspension for Failed Drug Test and Removed From Bellator Grand Prix

All signs point to his fight with Michael Chandler happening at UFC 300 in April. Will he win his comeback match? Does McGregor have one last run left in him? Let us know in the comments below. 

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