The conversation largely focused on McGregor's return to competition. “I’m excited,” the 37-year-old fighter said. “Five years out of the game. I’m ready to rock.” Discussing his approach inside the cage, McGregor added, “You have to be calm; you have to be composed. You have to trust your training and your discipline. There’s no hiding in the Octagon.” But clips from the interview quickly drew backlash online, with critics accusing Fallon of helping rehabilitate McGregor's public image without addressing the controversies that have surrounded him in recent years. The renewed scrutiny comes less than a year after McGregor lost his appeal in a civil sexual assault case brought by Dublin woman Nikita Hand. In November 2024, an Irish jury found the former two-division UFC champion liable over an incident dating back to 2018, awarding Hand nearly €250,000 in damages.…