Conor McGregor has been working on his ground game.
‘The Notorious’ released training footage of him wrestling via Instagram on Thursday and it has received mixed reviews in the MMA community.
McGregor hasn’t been spotted inside an octagon since he broke his leg in the first round of his bout with Dustin Poirier in July 2021 at UFC 264.
He was scheduled to return and face Michael Chandler at UFC 303 on June 29, but pulled out after suffering a toe injury.
Chandler now faces Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 in a five-round co-main event, before Jon Jones takes on Stipe Miocic with the heavyweight title on the line in New York City.
McGregor has never been renowned for his grappling skills in Dana White’s promotion, but rather his deadly knockout power.
He was infamously submitted by Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 in October 2018, which caused a shocking brawl to erupt in the immediate aftermath of the lightweight title bout.
The 36-year-old released footage of him going head-to-head with a sparring partner, showing off various skills on the ground.
He can be seen attempting different submission manoeuvres, like the guillotine choke, while controlling his opponent on the ground and making him tap out numerous times.
MMA fans were quick to react to McGregor’s grappling skills that surfaced on the internet.
One took to X and said: “Conor’s grappling has lowkey always been underrated. We just never saw much of it.”
Another added: “You see a good training video one day. Then the next day you see him out partying again.”
A third commented: “Go to sleep Conor, go to sleep, Khabib ‘The Eagle’ is coming.”
And in similar fashion, a fourth said: “Khabib is typing…”
Nurmagomedov retired from the UFC in October after retaining his lightweight belt against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in Abu Dhabi.
The Russian defeated Gaethje, who was the interim champion of the division, with a second-round triangle choke to claim his 29th victory and unify the 155lb title.
‘The Eagle’ cited his father, who had passed away in July of the same year from Covid-19, as a driving force behind his retirement.
The 36-year-old made his debut with White’s promotion in 2012 and won all 13 of his UFC bouts, claiming the lightweight title en route to the roster’s summit.
McGregor also teased fans with a potential appearance in Newcastle this weekend for BKFC 68.
The Irishman became a part owner of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships in April, which he announced during the BKFC KnuckleManie 4 card.
BKFC posted a photo on Instagram of the main card poster with the caption: “Could ‘The Notorious’ be crowing the champs this Saturday?” and McGregor proceeded to share the image.
West Cumbrian Agi Faulkner is at the top of the bill as he challenges Dawid Oskar in a bid to be crowned BKFC European heavyweight champion.
Meanwhile, Leeds’ Matthew Hodgson battles Northern Ireland’s Conor Cooke for the vacant BKFC UK light heavyweight title.