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'Out of control': Conor McGregor transformation photo sparks debate

Riley Morgan
·Sports Reporter
·3-min read
Conor McGregor (pictured left) at UFC weigh in and (pictured right) posing for a photo.
Conor McGregor (pictured) has put on up to 15kg on his road to recovery. (Images: Getty Images/Twitter)

Conor McGregor's huge weight gain during his road back from injury has raised eyebrows among the MMA world.

McGregor has been on the comeback trail after snapping his ankle in his loss to Dustin Poirier earlier this year.

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The Irishman has remained in the spotlight during his recovery and recently posted a number of photos of himself.

In the photos McGregor claimed he is weighing 86kg, which is 16kg heavier than the lightweight class he has competed in.

However, Dustin Poirier - ahead of his championship title fight against Charles Oliveira - weighed-in on the topic and took a sly dig at his old rival.

"I did see a picture. He does look a little puffy, man," Poirier said.

“He might want to slow down on the Black Forge, whatever he’s got going on.”

UFC legend weighs in on Conor McGregor photo

UFC great Chael Sonnen also weighed-in on the debate around McGregor's unexpected weight gain.

Sonnen said McGregor looked 'extremely bloated' and he wasn't sure if the pictures did him justice as he looks to make his UFC return.

“And when somebody weighs 190 – that’s used to weighing 155, 175; what you have to wonder is how. How did you get this big? Why? The answer to me seems redundantly obvious," Sonnen said on his podcast.

“You’re not training. You cannot train the way you need to prepare in MMA, which we’re well aware. We are well aware that Conor is not.

"He’s got the hurt leg and he’s not doing what he is used to. He’s not jumping rope. He’s not running. He’s not pulling the sled. He’s not sparring. We get it. He’s having to do other exercises.

“If you’re not doing our sport, who gives a damn what you weigh? If your calorie deficit to intake got so far out of control, that you’re bigger than you’ve ever been, that’s not a good thing.”

McGregor hasn't fought since his loss to Poirier in July.

Dustin Poirier (pictured right) reacts on stage alongside Joe Rogan (pictured left) during the UFC 269 ceremonial weigh-in at MGM Grand Garden Arena on December 10, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Dustin Poirier (pictured right) reacts on stage alongside Joe Rogan (pictured left) during the UFC 269 ceremonial weigh-in at MGM Grand Garden Arena on December 10, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) (Carmen Mandato via Getty Images)

Poirer is competing for the lightweight title against Brazilian Oliveira.

Oliveira was confident ahead of the clash after recalling how he won the belt in the first place.

“It was a message to the division. I knocked a guy out (with my) left hand,” Olivera said, through a translator.

“But you saw what happened at the start of the fight, I turned it around ... I sent a message that I can do it all.

“Everyone knows I came from jiu-jitsu and you’ve seen the evolution and that’s standing up.”

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