Makwan Amirkhani trains with Conor McGregor at SBG Ireland and has confidence that “The Notorious” has learned from his long layoff 

New York, NY— With Conor McGregor’s claim of a January return, SBG Ireland teammate Makwan Amirkhani outlined what “The Notorious” might have learned about himself during his time off.

“I think he noticed the only thing that makes him happy is fighting,” said Amirkhani, at Thursday’s UFC 244 media day. “Now he knows that and has learned from that. He will come back as a better fighter than before.”

All of Amirkhani’s 18 professional contests, including his last, a second-round submission victory (anaconda choke) victory against Chris Fishgold at UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Smith back in June, have come over seas. 

Saturday’s featherweight bout against Shane Burgos will mark the first time the 30-year-old will compete on North American soil, and he couldn’t have been more content, no matter who he was going to be standing across the octagon from.

“I was happy, first of all it was when I saw where I was going to fight. That was enough. When I saw who I was fighting it didn’t make any big difference. I was just happy that my opportunity to step on U.S. soil was New York and Madison Square Garden. It can’t get better,” Amirkhani continued.

Although the Turku, Finland native has just six fights in the last eight years, he is now looking forward to a fully focused new year filled with a new achievements ready to be met.

“Not because of my age but I just felt the time is now. That’s it.”

“Something outside the cage, I don’t [know] what it was but it told me to ‘it’s time to take this seriously.’ That’s what I did,” he added, “dedicated to one thing only and that’s the UFC.”

“By the end of 2020 I’ll have that belt. Let them doubt me. Let them doubt me. I will show them.”

Makwan Amirkhani vs. Shane Burgos takes place Saturday, November 2 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The fight takes place on the televised preliminary card on ESPN 2 (TSN in Canada).