World heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury has accused UFC star Conor McGregor of mimicking his style, as the latter gets set for the biggest fight of his life against Jose Aldo this weekend.
Fury, who shocked the boxing world to beat Wladimir Klitschko last month, spoke on The MMA Hour to Ariel Helwani (h/t Luke Thomas of MMAFighting), touching upon a plethora of topics, and it was clear the British boxer has mixed opinions when it comes to McGregor, warning NSFW language used:
I think he copies me in everything he does. I was the first trash talker, big time, on these shores—Britain and Ireland—and all of a sudden he starts copying me, this Conor McGregor guy.
I grew a big beard, he grew a big beard. I start talking b——t about everybody, he starts talking b——t about everybody. So if it worked for the heavyweight champ of the world, it must work for Conor McGregor, some guy who’s 140 pounds or whatever he is.
Here’s Fury’s appearance on the show in full, warning NSFW language used:
In MMA spheres, McGregor is known for his colourful comments in the build-up to bouts and they haven’t ceased as his showdown with UFC pound-for-pound king Aldo edges closer. The Irishman is adamant he’ll be too strong for his opponent on Dec. 12, insisting he’d be surprised if Aldo was to emerge for the second round, per Rory Brigstock-Barron of the MailOnline.
Fury told Helwani that while “MMA is for people who can’t box,” he is excited by the grudge showdown between McGregor and Aldo at UFC 194.
“Conor McGregor actually got me physically watching MMA,” Fury said. “And got me wanting to check the results. Because the way he is carrying on, this guy. … I see a bit of myself in this guy and I wanted to check him out. … I will be watching the Aldo fight, because he’s had a lot to say hasn’t he, Conor McGregor?”
Fury was also asked whether he would consider venturing into the sport.
As Thomas wrote, Bellator President Scott Coker has tried to get the Brit involved in the brand before and Fury revealed he may consider going up against some of the top MMA heavyweights further down the line, including former two-time UFC champion Cain Velasquez.
“I’ve been calling Cain Velasquez out for two years and then he got beaten,” said Fury. “So it showed you what I said was about right. I just want to fight the best, the best stand-up fighter in the world. Whoever is the best stand-up fighter in the world, I want to fight him because I believe I’m that man.”
Velasquez last fought at UFC 188 in June, losing his title to Fabricio Werdum and is expected to have a rematch in 2016. Fury told Helwani he wouldn’t consider a pure MMA bout, but he would be interested in a “hybrid” fight against either of the aforementioned pair or whoever the UFC heavyweight champion is.
In the immediate future, Fury has other things to ponder. Klitschko has insisted he will be activating his rematch clause, stating “failure is not an option,” per BBC Sport. Although the Brit out-worked the Ukrainian in their previous bout, there are many who feel the former champion will not be quite so poor again, meaning Fury will need to be at his very best to retain.
Should Fury win the rematch, there will be opportunities aplenty for him, but a branch out into Bellator or a hybrid fight doesn’t seem necessary. With Deontay Wilder, Anthony Joshua and Alexander Povetkin all making steady progress in the heavyweight division, there will be plenty of challengers to come for his crown in the months and years to come.
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