Athletes and fans always wonder which sport is the toughest. There have often been debates about which sport is the toughest, but there has never been a clear winner. Every sport has its difficulties. Recently, NBA Legend Shaquille O’Neal laid out his opinion on the toughest sport in the world.

When asked on a podcast about which sport he thought is the toughest, O’Neal said, “MMA is the hardest sport. Because you gonna be working every muscles…Listen, basketball and sometimes in football, we can go boom. You get a break. In MMA for 3 to 5 minutes, you don’t get no break. So try not getting a break and then somebody choking you and hitting you. That was the hardest sport.” 

He further added. “When I stopped training basketball, I used to start training MMA. That’s when I started winning championships…As soon as I trained like a wrestler, that’s when I started dominating. So the hardest sport according to me, is MMA.”

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Being a basketball legend, it is interesting to see Shaquille O’Neal make this statement. To give an example, his statement hints that MMA fighter Conor McGregor is tougher than basketball athlete LeBron James. However, Conor McGregor in the past has credited LeBron James.

Conor McGregor credited LeBron James for bringing a change in his training

Being an athlete at the top level in any sport is very difficult. Athletes at the top level have to work very hard and keep a strict diet and training regime. Often, they also take inspiration from fellow athletes in different sports.

While speaking to Ariel Helwani, Conor McGregor revealed that over the years, the way LeBron James managed his body inspired him. Seeing the longevity of LeBron James inspired McGregor to change his training regime.

McGregor said, “I read something about LeBron James a while back about maybe a year ago,” McGregor said. “That he spent $1.5 million annual on his health, himself. His everything. His nutritionists, trainers, everything. And I spent nothing. Only in camp.”

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He further added, “I drop money on a bleeding car, or a watch, So I’m like, spend on myself. My health, my fitness, and that’s helped me.”

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The level LeBron James plays at is inspirational for every athlete and fan. Over the years, James has worked hard to keep himself fit, and this is one reason he is still dominating his sport. While James continues to dominate in Basketball, the UFC octagon is yet to see the return of Conor McGregor since his last fight at UFC 264 against Dustin Poirier.

Let us know which sport you think is the toughest in the world.