Conor McGregor’s psychological trauma could hinder UFC return says sports fitness expert

Is psychological trauma holding Conor McGregor back from UFC greatness once again?

Dave Hancock – renowned athlete fitness expert most notably known for his work with football teams Chelsea, Leeds and England, urges ‘The Notorious One’ Conor McGregor to address potential psychological trauma ahead of his UFC return.

Speaking to OLBG, Hancock said:

• Conor McGregor’s psychological trauma could be a bigger problem than his physical condition ahead of UFC concern

Conor McGregor’s rehab must address psychological trauma, not just physical injury, if he is to make UFC return

“Conor McGregor really has to really go through the mill on his return into the Octagon and run through the things that he’s going to be doing on a regular basis during his return after his injuries.

“That will relate to things that he actually does when he fights, which might be pushing off, landing, jumping, grappling, know, any type of martial art, but specifically around the injuries that he’s had. 

“It could be a ton of balance and control work, the ability to be able to land on that big toe and push off on that big toe, the ability to take hits on the foot.

“You have to go through a whole remit of hits and trauma and getting the foot and the ankle and the toe through every single scenario and then repeat and repeat and repeat and repeat and repeat so that he builds up confidence in it. 

“It’s not like you break your foot, get back, go and do some running and then do some kicking and then go straight back into the Octagon. 

“That’s the worst thing that someone like that could do. So the more he tests the problem and the more he rehabs the problem in the right way with the right types of techniques, the more confidence he will have on it to be able to go and do what he needs to do. 

“But as you get older, you’re not the same as what you were 10 years ago. You’ve taken trauma, you’ve had surgery, you’ve broken a leg, your biomechanics have changed, your tendons have changed, your joints have changed, your nutrition’s changed, your psychology might be better because you’re able to more experiences of what you’ve been through, but your body might not necessarily be able to do what your mind wants it to do. 

“All of that is training, repetition, progression and him being guided by the right people to get back and be able to do what he does and make sure everything is covered.

“If corners have been cut, what happens is you see someone exposed and then they break down during the fight,

“So it’s really important that there’s a strategy in place about his return and that he’s ticking all the boxes and he’s doubling down.

“Good rehab is actually understanding what he needs and then implementing that type of methodology in the early stages of his rehab all the way through his rehabilitation.”