Former sparring partner Van Heerden: ‘I never expected’ McGregor to hang in there with Mayweather

Pro boxer Chris van Heerden was impressed with Conor McGregor’s performance against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Chris van Heerden might have dismissed Conor McGregor’s chances in the boxing ring against Floyd Mayweather, but the former IBO welterweight champion was pleasantly surprised by how well ‘The Notorious’ did on the night.

Van Heerden, who was brought in as a sparring partner for McGregor to help prepare for Nate Diaz, wasn’t impressed with McGregor’s boxing skills back in 2016 but congratulated the UFC lightweight champion for going 10 rounds against ‘The Best Ever’ on Aug. 26.

“Honestly, I enjoyed the fight,” van Heerden said in a recent interview with Fight Hub TV, per MMA Mania’s Dan Hiergesell. “Like I said, I would be a man. When McGregor proves me wrong I’m going to be a man and I’m going to say it and I’m going to do that because, you know what, I never expected Conor to be there, honestly didn’t expect him to be there for 10 rounds and I didn’t expect him to do as good as he did.

“So I want to go ahead and say congratulations to Conor McGregor. You proved me wrong and I’m man enough to say, well done brother. Respect to you.”

The 30-year-old van Heerden was surprised by some of the shots McGregor landed on ‘Money’, especially the flush uppercut that connected on Mayweather’s chin in the opening round.

“Conor showed some stuff in there that was pretty cool,” van Heerden said. “I think it was round one or two, the slip, uppercut. That doesn’t just happen, you know? He trained it and he landed it. It was planned out and he landed it. So well done on that.”

McGregor, 29, hasn’t announced his next move but it’s expected that he’ll return to the UFC to defend his 155-pound title.

Pro boxer Chris van Heerden was impressed with Conor McGregor’s performance against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Chris van Heerden might have dismissed Conor McGregor’s chances in the boxing ring against Floyd Mayweather, but the former IBO welterweight champion was pleasantly surprised by how well ‘The Notorious’ did on the night.

Van Heerden, who was brought in as a sparring partner for McGregor to help prepare for Nate Diaz, wasn’t impressed with McGregor’s boxing skills back in 2016 but congratulated the UFC lightweight champion for going 10 rounds against ‘The Best Ever’ on Aug. 26.

“Honestly, I enjoyed the fight,” van Heerden said in a recent interview with Fight Hub TV, per MMA Mania’s Dan Hiergesell. “Like I said, I would be a man. When McGregor proves me wrong I’m going to be a man and I’m going to say it and I’m going to do that because, you know what, I never expected Conor to be there, honestly didn’t expect him to be there for 10 rounds and I didn’t expect him to do as good as he did.

“So I want to go ahead and say congratulations to Conor McGregor. You proved me wrong and I’m man enough to say, well done brother. Respect to you.”

The 30-year-old van Heerden was surprised by some of the shots McGregor landed on ‘Money’, especially the flush uppercut that connected on Mayweather’s chin in the opening round.

“Conor showed some stuff in there that was pretty cool,” van Heerden said. “I think it was round one or two, the slip, uppercut. That doesn’t just happen, you know? He trained it and he landed it. It was planned out and he landed it. So well done on that.”

McGregor, 29, hasn’t announced his next move but it’s expected that he’ll return to the UFC to defend his 155-pound title.