There are few fighters on the current MMA landscape who are more polarizing than Conor McGregor.
The scrappy Irishman has shot to the forefront of the UFC’s global push and has done so on the strength of a personality fueled by unshakable confidence and what has thus far proven to be an unstoppable offensive attack once the cage door closes. Furthermore, beyond the work the Dublin native has done inside the Octagon, he’s given the biggest promotion in MMA a ready-made star to push, one who will do every bit of legwork he’s allowed.
In all fairness to McGregor, the SBG Ireland representative has no qualms with taking his skills and his ability to generate a seemingly endless stream of headlines on his own path as well.
Those elements have combined to make the surging featherweight talent one of the hottest commodities under the UFC banner, and his rise has left both fans and fighters alike in a place where they are forced to choose their stance on how they view the former two-divisional Cage Warriors champion. Yet, love him or hate him, McGregor‘s trajectory is not only something that has unfolded in public view but has been an ascension the fighter himself prophetically called upon reaching the sport’s biggest stage in 2013.
He said he would headline the UFC’s return to Ireland and the show would sell out in record time. He said he would become one of the major draws and earn a title shot against reigning featherweight king Jose Aldo in 2015. While that particular achievement is still beyond McGregor‘s grasp, a win over Dennis Siver at Fight Night 59 this Sunday in Boston will bring that particular projection to reality.
Those circumstances have been known to crumble elite-level fighters in the past, but this is the exact situation McGregor wants to be in. This is the grand vision he’s laid out for himself, and the only thing left to do is take the steps he’s already laid out in his mind. The brash-talking contender has publicly stated he will finish Siver in two minutes or less, adding one more bold prediction to an already impressive list.
“I think I can see the future,” McGregor told Bleacher Report. “When people ask me I tell them. I think I can predict the future.
“Wherever the contest goes I will excel. I gave him two minutes, and I feel that is a very fair prediction to give him. Judging by his movements and his restricted abilities, I feel I am going to crack him with something he will not be able to come through. And that is that. I’m confident wherever the contest goes. I’m prepared for wherever the contest goes, or however long the contest goes. But I feel it will not take me longer than two minutes.
“Yes sir,” he answered when asked about the promised title opportunity with a victory Sunday night. “We are going to break more records, break more chins and carry on.”
While the UFC machine has been in full swing in the lead up to McGregor‘s next showing, one thing that has been noticeably absent has been the rising star’s signature badgering of his scheduled competitor. In the run-up to his previous four showings, McGregor has not only taunted his opponent on social media and interviews but typically had enough vitriol to dish out to his fellow contenders in the upper tier of the featherweight fold.
Aside from a handful of verbal barbs aimed in Siver‘s direction shortly after the fight was announced, McGregor has been relatively quiet by all measurable standards and certainly for what MMA fans have come to expect from him. Yet where Siver‘s refusal to engage is largely figured to be the reason for his tameness, McGregor admits he’s simply been too busy to travel those avenues before his next bout.
With increased visibility and popularity comes opportunity, and McGregor has been too busy forging new endeavors to worry about bantering with his opponent in the pre-fight realm.
“I suppose it’s more business,” McGregor said. “I have more business to take care of now. I have many titles in my life. I am executive producing my own show. I managed my own financial situation. I manage everything and I multitask. There is more business so there is less time for anything else.”
While there is no doubting that McGregor is the most prominent soundbite machine in the fight game these days, it may be surprising that his work in the promotional realm isn’t something he’s prone to giving much afterthought to. Where other fighters with that particular skill have been known to pump out or recycle punchlines and quotes that hit the mark with the fighting fanbase, McGregor simply moves on and keeps things rolling.
Doing so may seem to be an element of focus, but the truth of the matter is that McGregor isn’t fond of hearing his own voice in interviews and appearances. He’d rather watch the highlight-reel knockouts and finishes he’s amassed inside the Octagon rather than listen to a verbal gem he’s dropped along the way.
“I actually don’t like listening to myself speak,” McGregor explained. “I would rather watch myself move than speak because I don’t like the way I sound or something. I sound different when I talk to different people. Like if I were to talk to a person from Dublin, I would talk to them completely different than I am talking to you right now. I don’t know why that is, but it’s true. When I hear myself talk in a different way, it freaks me out a little bit, so I just don’t really look back on it too much.”
With the attention surrounding him at an all-time high and heavy expectation hovering above his shoulders, McGregor will return to Boston in a high-risk affair with the Russian-German striker. There is literally everything to gain or lose in his upcoming main event tilt at Fight Night 59, and McGregor has complete focus as the bout draws near.
Where some athletes are insistent on keeping their focus locked on the challenge directly in their path, McGregor has dared to chase the grander vision in his mind. The bout with Siver and his return to Boston is just the next step in a much bigger plan, one that hinges on McGregor rising to the occasion once again.
With that in mind, that’s what he plans to do and promises to be at his best when the cage door closes Sunday night.
“I feel great and feel I have evolved from my previous contest, which is what it’s all about,” McGregor said. “Evolution and growth are what it’s all about. I’m in phenomenal condition right now, and I’m ready to put on a show for the people of Boston.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
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