Conor McGregor has made the claim that he is currently weighing in at 265lbs.
The Irishman recently took to Instagram Live to answer questions from fans, but it was fellow fighter Yoel Romero who asked how much the former UFC featherweight and lightweight double-champion weighs.
“How much am I weighing right now?” read out Notorious, who had laughed after reading the question, “I’d say I’m about 265.”
Though McGregor has visibly gained muscle over the last year, this bold statement will have come as a shock to fans.
Conor McGregor's body transformation journey
McGregor has never competed in a weight class higher than welterweight, which requires fighters to be no heavier than 170lbs.
In fact, at the time of his last fight, against Dustin Poirier in July 2021, McGregor weighed in at 156lbs - making him eligible for the welterweight class by just 2lbs.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 10: Conor McGregor of Ireland walks in the octagon before his lightweight bought against Dustin Poirier during UFC 264: Poirier v McGregor 3 at T-Mobile Arena on July 10, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
If McGregor’s recent claim is accurate, it will mean that he will have to compete in the heavyweight class. This would be an enormous three-class jump in just 15 months.
Though it is relatively normal for UFC competitors to fluctuate in weight categories, this kind of stark increase in muscle is far from common.
However, this is not the first time McGregor has allegedly gained a significant amount of weight in a short period of time.
In December 2021, it was reported that McGregor’s trainer had claimed that the UFC fighter had gained two and a half stone (34lbs) of muscle in only six months.
Video: How much does Conor McGregor currently weigh?
The Irishman also claimed in March 2022 to be weighing in at around 190lbs due to “only lifting weights” after suffering a broken leg in his fight against Poirier.
It is undeniable that McGregor has gained a substantial amount of muscle over the last year. However, to put on around 75lbs of muscle over a six-month period seems like an impossibility.
When will Conor McGregor return to UFC?
If McGregor does want to compete in the heavyweight category on his return to UFC, he will have to maintain his alleged weight for a while.
UFC President Dana White recently confirmed that McGregor will have to re-enrol in the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and undergo regular testing for at least six months before he can return to the sport.
Video: Conor McGregor confirms current weight
As McGregor is currently not enrolled in the USADA programme, the earliest he can compete, if enrolled this month, would be April 2023.
Until then, it is likely that the only people who will know for sure how much the UFC star really weighs are himself and his team.
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