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Manager Audie Attar talks about Conor McGregor’s future.
Conor McGregor looked to be in tremendous form at UFC 246, where he disposed of Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone in just 40 seconds to re-cement his status as one of the most dangerous strikers in the UFC.
McGregor’s longtime manager, Audie Attar, believes part of the reason for McGregor’s success at UFC 246 was due to ‘The Notorious’ not having to cut any weight. In fact, McGregor had to eat more food to make the 170-pound weight limit and says the Irishman is happiest, and healthiest, when competing at welterweight.
With that said, Attar believes McGregor could return to 155 in the future but says 145 is likely out of the equation.
“I look at all my clients as human beings and I’ve seen him at 145, 155 and 170 in mixed martial arts and he just appears to be a lot happier at 170,” Attar told MMA Fighting in a recent interview. “It’s not as strenuous on the body as it relates to the weight cut. That does not mean he wouldn’t be able to make 155. 145, I just think it’s unhealthy. To go back down to that weight class would just be unhealthy.
“But 155 is doable and something I know he’s keen on doing again so that’s not out of the realm of possibility. But you can’t deny how comfortable he was 170. That was his normal frame. So not having to put your body through a rigorous weight cut, there’s something to be said about that.”
Although McGregor looks to be massively undersized against reigning UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, Attar believes there’s much more to fighting than just the physical. The Paradigm Sports Management CEO believes McGregor would have a mental edge over other welterweights on the UFC roster due to him not having to cut any weight.
“I think that particularly if you’re able to keep your strength or improve your strength and your muscle mass, and more importantly be able to carry your weight to keep your speed and quickness and explosiveness, well then why not?” Attar said. “It’s all about how each individual athlete feels on the night and that’s the most important thing.
“Gaining a competitive advantage is not always having a size, height, speed advantage but also having the right mindset and the right energy come the night of competition. It’s really a subjective thing and you’ve got to leave it to each athlete to decide what’s best for them.”
McGregor has yet to announce his next opponent, but the former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion would like to return to the Octagon by March or April of this year.