How did Conor convince fans, pundits and even fighters that he was bored? And why do people buy it? He lost against Khabib which is the toughest fight in the division. Although he lost pretty handily, he did hold his own in pockets of the fight.
Conor wasn't even the betting favourite against khabib.
He simply lost to the better man. I believe he was motivated against khabib. If you can't get motivated to take someone's 0, I don't know what to tell you. He knew the fight was going to do huge numbers.
If Conor faced another journeyman and lost, that's where I can see the excuse or people buying the excuse. But it's like people pretend he didn't lose to khabib and act as if he lost to Paul Felder or something. This is not a jon jones being bored with Anthony smith situation.
Losing to Khabib shouldn't be a that much of a knock. Conor wasn't in the goat conversations.
I'm seeing things pundits and fighters build up the 257 fight as a motivated Conor wins against Poirier.
Tl;dr the motivated narrative is weak. Conor didn't lose because of lack of motivation and should be beat Poirier it's not because he's extra motivated/super focused.