Conor McGregor back in title contention after learning to respect 'that liquid'

Conor McGregor wasted no time climbing back into the title picture. (Steve Marcus/Getty Images)LAS VEGAS — As he prepared to fight his most bitter rival, to regain the belt that had been stripped from him in a bout that would ultimately become the best-selling MMA pay-per-view in history, Conor McGregor lived anything but a spartan lifestyle ahead of challenging Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229.

He was drinking. He was not as committed to his training.

It makes no sense, but he treated the biggest fight of his life almost like an afterthought. He wound up submitting in the fourth round, got himself suspended for getting involved in a post-fight brawl, then took part in a series of unseemly…