It’s no secret that 2020 has been a very difficult year for most. The COVID-19 pandemic has wrought havoc on the world at large and fundamentally changed many aspects of day-to-day life. People have lost jobs, businesses, and loved ones. But though the coronavirus still rages on in some parts of the world, over the last few months things have begun to return to normal and many people are looking ahead to 2021, among them, Conor McGregor.

Speaking with Parimatch recently, the former two-division champion addressed the difficulty of this year with a positive mindset, saying 2020 has provided an excellent opportunity for growth and that he’s optimistic that good things are on the horizon.

“You know I’m saying, you know there are challenges, of course, every year, every day, every second, there are always challenges,” McGregor said. “But for me I an optimist true and true, and although there are lots of things going on around the world, there is a lot of opportunity. There are lots of opportunities to adapt to evolve in something else. All businesses are forced to adapt and evolve and that is only good. Any time, even if you’re forced to look at yourself in the mirror and your own practices and how ways of how you’re carrying yourself and you’re forced to assess that and make growth through that, that is only a positive.

“So I look at this year as an opportunistic year. There are a lot of things moving and shaking and you best believe through this situation we are faced with, you will see some amazing things take place. I just look at it with an opportunistic mindset and I’m very optimistic that good things will happen from it.”

Like many, McGregor’s 2020 plans were derailed by COVID-19. At the start of the year, the former two-division world champion was planning to compete three times in 2020, culminating in reclaiming the UFC lightweight title. However, after stopping Donald Cerrone in January, the UFC then began targeting a rematch between McGregor and champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, however the coronavirus intervened, delaying Khabib’s planned title defense, and causing McGregor to “retire” from fighting for lack of interest.

That retirement was short-lived though and now McGregor is set to rematch Dustin Poirier in January. Not only is he returning again, but in fact, it may be for the lightweight title. Khabib Nurmagomedov announced his retirement from the sport last month following his title defense against Justin Gaethje, and though there are conflicting sentiments that he may fight one more time, the current belief is that if he really is retired, the fight between McGregor and Poirier will be for the vacant title. And though McGregor wasn’t speaking specifically about his upcoming fight in these terms, it’s not difficult to draw the parallels.

“That’s always happened to me. Anytime something bad has happened to me, or anytime I’ve been faced with something that forces me to look at myself or look at the surroundings, it’s always worked out for the better,” McGregor said. “You’ve got to go through the storm to get to the sun, as they say. So that for me is the way I’m looking at this year.”

McGregor is been through his share of storms. Over the last few years, “Notorious” has lived up to his moniker, with numerous legal actions having been brought against him for a variety of reasons. However, through his various controversies, McGregor has remained successful both in and outside of the cage. And so he left this interview with words of advice that he says have helped him through difficult times, including this year.

“Rather than looking out all the time at the doom and the gloom that’s all around us at times - sometimes it feels like it’s so overwhelming - look within,” McGregor said. “Look within yourself. What are the - what feel like minor things but are actually the major things - what are the minor things that you can do in your own self that can make you better? Are you eating correct, are you exercising correct, are you resting correct? Back to the basics, back to the foundation, back to the core. Handle these things and the outlook will begin to appear so much better. It has to begin within.”

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TOP STORIES

Results. Rafael dos Anjos and Khaos Williams scored big wins at UFC Vegas 14.

RDA. Rafael dos Anjos puts on suffocating performance to beat Paul Felder, calls for Conor McGregor fight next.

Fight? ‘El Chap’ Conor McGregor answers Rafael dos Anjos, laughs at Dana White.

Irish Dragon. Paul Felder ‘happy’ with his performance after taking fight on 5 days’ notice and enduring insane weight cut.

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VIDEO STEW

UFC Vegas 14 Post Show.

UFC Vegas 14 post-fight press conference.

UFC 255 Countdown.

Aaron Pico on TMZ Sports.

Fighters predict UFC 255.

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LISTEN UP

On to the Next One. Matches to make after UFC Vegas 14.

Severe MMA. Discussing MMA coverage, UFC Vegas 14, Bellator, and UFC 255.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Big weekend for RDA.

Think you lost that chance.

Also, Khabib still in USADA . . .

Durinho very upset by judging.

Damn, USADA.

Tony.

Cowboy.

Well, this is something.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Merab Dvalishvili (12-4) vs. Raoni Barcelos (16-1); UFC Vegas 16, Dec. 5.

Aliaskhab Khizriev (13-0) vs.Wellington Turman (16-4); UFC Fight Night, Feb. 6.

Thiago Santos (21-8) vs. Aleksandar Rakic (13-2); UFC Fight Night, March 6.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.

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EXIT POLL

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