Conor McGregor trains on exercise bike ahead of UFC return as Dustin Poirier calls for duo to fight for lightweight belt
CONOR McGREGOR has been putting in the hard yards ahead of his UFC return having revealed a training session on an exercise bike.
The UFC confirmed McGregor will rematch Dustin Poirier – who he beat in 2014 – on January 23.
The Irishman has already spent months preparing for the fight, but has ramped up his workload as of late.
McGregor, 32, uploaded a series of pictures online as he put in a shift during an anaerobic session.
He captioned the post: “Another @mcgregorfast training mesocyle complete!
“Up in levels all across the board. 8 weeks to fight. Active rest activate.
“Onwards and upwards we go!”
McGregor has not fought since January, when he knocked out 37-year-old Donald Cerrone in just 40 seconds.
But that fight was at welterweight and now the former two-division champion is preparing to move back down to lightweight.
He has not fought at the 155lb division since losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018.
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Nurmagomedov, 32, still reigns as champ, despite announcing retirement after beating Justin Gaethje, 31, in October.
It was the first fight since the loss of his influential father Abdulmanap, who passed away aged 57 in July after contracting coronavirus.
Before the win, Khabib had confirmed his father wanted him to retire unbeaten in 30 fights.
As a result, UFC president Dana White is backing the Russian to return for one more.
But Poirier, 31, believes with Nurmagomedov on the sidelines, he should be challenging McGregor for the vacant title.
He told MMA Junkie: “I think if Khabib’s retired and not coming back, then I’m next in line for the title shot, and this could be the title fight.
“This could be for the undisputed belt. I think that’d make sense.
“Dana’s saying one thing, Khabib’s saying another. Who knows what the truth is? Time will tell.”
