What is it about romantic rivals forging MMA champions?
Way before his days fighting on pay-per-view, No. 1 UFC featherweight contender Conor McGregor was just a scrawny kid getting beat up by the neighborhood crew of older guys.
“Usually it’s to do with women, as I’m sure you know,” McGregor told ESPN’s Highly Questionable. “Growing up as a young kid I was the younger kid and I was going after this girl. She was maybe 15, 16 years of age. Her boyfriend was like 17 or 18. Him and his little crew were driving cars and everything and I was only a young kid, but I sneaked my way in there.”
Predictably, an inevitable beating ensued.
“I was with with the girl and we were walking up the street one night and the car pulled up in front of me and a big load of them jumped out and whooped my ass,” said McGregor. “I curled up in a ball and took my beating. I’d done nothing.
“For me, after that moment I thought to myself, ‘I’m going to really learn how to fight so if anyone ever jumps out of a car or jumps out in any situation they will never do it again.'”
Asked how many untrained civilian males it would take to be ‘a problem’ for him, McGregor made it clear he could at least handle ESPN hosts Dan Le Batard and Bomani Jones.
“I would clean four out pretty easily,” said McGregor. “Each one would take one shot. It depends. If you two came running at me I would eliminate you in less than 45 seconds.”
McGregor faces fellow contender Chad Mendes July 11 for the interim title at UFC 189 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
The MMA Beat. The panel discusses Chad Mendes replacing Jose Aldo at UFC 189, the Reebok fight kit unveiling, Yoel Romero’s post-fight comments, Josh Koscheck signing with Bellator and much more.
‘I’m a business man.’ Josh Koscheck explains why he wanted to finish out his UFC contract as quickly as possible. ‘The reason Gilbert Melendez got paid? He fought his contract out. He was a free agent, and he negotiated.’
‘This fight is mine.’ Chad Mendes says he’ll finish Conor McGregor ‘within the first three’ rounds. ‘This is the fight game, where somebody could get seriously injured, and that’s what I’m looking to do when I get in there against Conor McGregor.’
Joanna Champion. Strawweight champ Joanna J?drzejczyk says she’s the UFC’s best striker. ‘All of them, they’re going to watch me.’
CABMMA. Rony Jason threatens to sue the Brazilian commission if he’s vindicated in his failed drug test.
MEDIA STEW
UFC 189 embedded episode 2.
McGregor on Conan.
Free Fight: Chad Mendes vs Ricardo Lamas.
BJ Penn talks HOF.
MMA highlights from around the country.
Noober Goober going hard.
Long watches.
UFC 189 Free Fight: Robbie Lawler vs Johny Hendricks
…
The MMA Report – Frank Shamrock
…
TWEETS
Oh my.
Let’s do this Sinead!!! When one of us go to war… WE ALL GO TO WAR!!! pic.twitter.com/73OV7JxrEk
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 3, 2015
Fun.
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) July 3, 2015
Good luck.
Big day for me in Thailand! https://t.co/9KxfNKw9mc
— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) July 2, 2015
Beef.
Sign the contract, I accept the challenge!
— Anthony Johnson (@Anthony_Rumble) July 2, 2015
@mattmitrione @travisbrowneMMA @JoshLBarnett @SteveMasterson1 u got nothing on me and as soon as ufc put it on them lips are coming off
— mark richard hunt (@markhunt1974) July 3, 2015
Yikes.
I got some interesting calls yesterday. https://t.co/wrXSggW5jj
— Josh Koscheck (@JoshKoscheck) July 2, 2015
I’d watch.
@ufc on Dublin? I would love to fight that irish guy @prospectkiller on october. Make it happend @John_Kavanagh and @danawhite, I’m on it.
— Jonas Bilharinho (@JonasSpeed) July 2, 2015
Neil Melanson leaving Alliance?
Sending my best wishes in he’s new journey to a great coach I had a pleasure to work with… https://t.co/ciGd03oeTw pic.twitter.com/6CfYAL4rS1
— Wilson Reis (@wilsonreis7) July 2, 2015
This Week in Struggle.
This could have been a lot worse. Almost caught a fingernail in the eye. It’s crazy the amount of… https://t.co/rINezt6mzm
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) July 3, 2015
.@Reebok @ufc never once have I been announced as Thomas Lawlor. Thanks for putting the fighters at the forefront of the clothing #smh
— Tom Lawlor (@FilthyTomLawlor) June 30, 2015
Every time I see these new NFL, MLB, and NBA posted contracts I think “Y did I have to wrestle.. I could make millions to play w balls” lol
— Corey Anderson UFC (@CoreyA_MMA) July 1, 2015
Apparently the key to success is staying home on your couch and never trying anything new! Thanks haters, note taken!
— Felice Herrig (@feliceherrig) June 30, 2015
I do Choc milk baths and coco butter.But will never achieve the #lightskinneded fame as@Renato_Laranja @FightersOnly pic.twitter.com/xN53aCOzcY
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) July 2, 2015
Gentlemen, Beginning an email with “well hello there, Miss Lady” does not get you in my good graces. (Nor does asking to lick my feet)
— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) June 30, 2015
— Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocicufc) June 29, 2015
This is what happens when you don’t put your phone in your mount when riding your Harley pic.twitter.com/n02T0tJVfR
— Vinc Pichel (@FromHellPichel) June 30, 2015
These days when a guy is too nice to me I assume he’s a super creep & wants me to punch him during sex or let him clean my feet w his tongue
— Peggy Morgan (@peggymorganmma) July 1, 2015
Saturday I went on what I thought would be a really cool ghost tour. it was not however. https://t.co/nJpXHUuMI2 pic.twitter.com/pbtSF0jkLI
— LIZ CARMOUCHE (@iamgirlrilla) July 2, 2015
I thought I’d just arm drag Urkel, no problem, but @jaleelwhite shut that noise down with the quickness. https://t.co/8fM2H2CvXH
— Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) July 2, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (July 2 2015)
Kyoji Horiguchi vs. TBA at UFC Fight Night: Barnett vs. Nelson
Li Jingliang vs. Kiichi Kunimoto at UFC Fight Night: Barnett vs. Nelson
Matt Hobar vs. Norifumi Yamamoto at UFC Fight Night: Barnett vs. Nelson
Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.