‘I forgive myself’: ‘No regrets’ McGregor defiant on doping claims
Updated . First published at
Ahead of his return against Max Holloway at UFC 329 on July 11, Conor McGregor says he has “no regrets” about how his journey has unfolded during his time away from the sport.
The Irish fighter, 37, has not fought since he broke his leg in a first-round TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021 and has experienced several legal issues in the years since, including a high-profile Irish civil trial where he was found liable for the 2018 sexual assault of Nikita Hand.
Conor McGregor. Ariel Helwani show
He also was accused of taking prohibited substances during his time off to aid in the recovery of his broken leg.
The New York Times reported last week that McGregor’s alleged PED use was in part aided by the UFC, as the company allowed the former champion to pull out of the pool of athletes available for testing from their then drug testing partner, United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
According to the report, McGregor’s situation led to conflict between the UFC and USADA, and it eventually led to their partnership at the end of 2023.
Speaking to The Ariel Helwani Show, McGregor said he has forgiven himself for his past behaviour and expressed optimism about his future.
“God knows my heart and the things that I’ve gone through,” he said.
“I’m a young man, I came into all this, I forgive myself for what I — I forgive myself for disgracing the position that God put me in, which I’ve done many times, and I won’t do it again,” McGregor said.
“And that’s where I’m at today. I don’t have regrets. I’m happy and thankful for the lessons that I learned on the way.”
McGregor said he reached “rock bottom” during the past five years and that “money isn’t the end-all, be-all.”
“I am a religious man. I was raised Catholic by my mother and my family. We’re a religious family.
“It takes a deeper meaning when you hit rock bottom and there’s nothing else there but God. And then, just the divine coincidence is everything — I keep seeing it. I keep being shown it, and I’m going all in on it.
“There were a few dark moments. But I relished the opportunity to show my strength. I was put in a position to showcase my strength. So I stood up and showed it, and that’s what I’ve done. A few dark moments, I’m through them, I’m in the light, I’m walking the tightrope, and I’m keeping my balance. And please, God, I [pray I] keep it.
“People don’t understand the darkness of being in that situation with that injury. It ain’t easy. So I’m very happy that I’m f---ing through it.”
McGregor nurses his broken foot. AP
He added: “I’ve done the Forbes [highest-paid athletes] list, I won the Forbes list. You won’t see me on it again. I won’t register to go on it again.
“Look what it brought to me. Still, even now, I can feel it somewhere. ‘Oh, he’s back.’ This is coming in, there’s forces. They’re trying to get their claws on you in this life.
“And I don’t want to give it energy. I don’t want to give it life. I’m happy where I’m at. I’m not mad on discussing finances and things [anymore]. Keep myself modest. That’s how I live my life.”
The former two-time champion was not so diplomatic when asked about his alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs.
He expressed surprise over the New York Times report but didn’t confirm or deny taking banned drugs. However, McGregor pointed the finger at USADA for not allowing him to honour medical advice on how to treat his injury.
“A man’s private medical (information): the most devastating injury that you could see in combat sports. The whole thing is strange to me. You have an injury like that, you’re not going to walk again.
“The objective should be to get that athlete, that fighter, who’s given his life, his limb, his livelihood for the entertainment of the people and the profit of the company, it should be to get this man back on his feet, and that was not the case. Not with the UFC, but the former body (USADA) that was there prior – and I find that strange, and I find that wrong.
“If a doctor is prescribing certain things and medications and stuff like that, otherwise you’re not going to walk again. There’s like a 20 per cent chance that leg doesn’t join together,“he added.
“It’s called nonunion when the bone doesn’t join, and you’re left on a wobble forever. That’s what’s at stake here? F--- this fighting game. Are you crazy?
Poirier gets the better of McGregor at UFC 257. (Getty) nna\YVlotis
“I have children to raise and play with. I was a bit shocked that was the case. So whatever, I took myself out of the pool and listened to my doctors. I didn’t even ask questions.
“If you’re going to ask what was it, I don’t even know. I don’t want to know. All I want to know is what’s going to get me back on my f---ing feet to be able to play with my children in a normal capacity again. That was it.”
McGregor hasn’t won in the UFC since his 40-second TKO of Donald Cerrone in 2020 and is currently on a two-fight losing streak.
In the same interview, he said his next fight after Holloway is booked for April 2027, which will be the last fight on his UFC contract.
