This is a tough one.
Sadly, one of Conor McGregor’s biggest fans won’t be able to see him compete this weekend at UFC 189.
Last month McGregor became close with a 14-year-old Irish teen battling leukemia named Brendan McGlone.
“What happened was I got a phone call from a person in the UFC, someone from the Make-A-Wish Foundation reached out to them,” McGregor told TSN Wednesday. “This kid from Ireland, he has leukemia and it was his final wish. I don’t know. They were saying, ‘This is probably his last wish and his last wish is to talk on the phone to you.’
“I rang the kid and we talked for a long, long time. I talked with his friends in the hospital, his family.”
@TheNotoriousMMA thanks for the call!!! Made my day pic.twitter.com/5dNhZtprKO
— Brendan Mcglone (@mcglone_brendan) June 9, 2015
During the call, McGregor promised Brendan he’d fly home after UFC 189 to visit him in the hospital, championship belt in tow.
“Conor was a great inspiration and said all the greats have faced a great battle in their life and that’s what I’m doing now,” Brendan told the Irish Mirror in June. “He has offered to come meet me when he’s back in Ireland with his belt.”
Me and Mike think it’s best to leave your Ma at home for the Vegas trip, but it’s your call champ? @mcglone_brendan pic.twitter.com/Uuh6Mim9y0
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) June 9, 2015
On July 6, Brendan’s family announced that the teen had passed.
It is with a very very heavy Heart that I have to say our little angel Brendan lost his battle tonight with Cancer and past away peacefully.
Posted by Come together in Prayer for Brendan McGlone on Monday, July 6, 2015
“Today or last night he passed away and it f***ed my head up,” said McGregor. “This little kid is in Ireland and I’m telling the kid, ‘I’m going to take this belt and bring the belt to you and we’ll raise the belt.’ I would have done it. I would have flown him out to Las Vegas. They were thinking if maybe he got a little bit better we could fly him out to Vegas.
“It’s just a really sad situation. It’s heartbreaking. I’ve lost family members to cancer and it’s a horrible, horrible thing. I wish … I don’t know. It would have been nice if I could have maybe … I don’t know.”
McGregor faces Chad Mendes July 11 for the interim featherweight title at UFC 189 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Scrum. Conor McGregor discusses his weight cut, his possible bet with Dana White, Sinead O’Connor singing his walkout song, and much more.
Money. Chad Mendes says he’s letting Conor McGregor focus on money ‘while I’m beating a hole in his face.’
Chat Wrap. Luke Thomas previews UFC 189, the TUF 21 Finale and Invicta 13 in this week’s live chat.
‘Re-motivated.’ UFC welterweight contender Rory MacDonald spoke to the media at Wednesday’s UFC 189 open workouts about facing Robbie Lawler, changing his training camp, watching tape and much more.
Awful. UFC Octagon girl Brittney Palmer’s husband has been arrested for attempted murder following a domestic dispute.
MEDIA STEW
UFC 189 embedded episode 7.
Dana White talks UFC 189, Reebok and more.
McGregor talks Jose Aldo, fake champions, wrestlers and more.
Dana White says Frankie Edgar fighting Conor McGregor made no sense.
Rory’s had enough.
Been too long. Don Frye’s UFC 189 predictions.
Long watches.
UFC 189 Conor McGregor vs Chad Mendes Care/Don’t Care Preview + TUF Teams Finale
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UFC 189: Conor McGregor Open Workout (Complete)
TWEETS
2015?
“@UFCONFOX: Khabib believes he’s the uncrowned king at 155lbs http://t.co/WbRVuCOpim pic.twitter.com/VmImRwL0Rk” Say when!
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) July 9, 2015
Excited?
Oct 3rd Houston, Texas. UFC 192 Facing off with Rashad Evans. Can’t wait https://t.co/NyAhth6lqo
— Ryan Bader (@ryanbader) July 9, 2015
Oh damn.
Connor McGregor looking A little indecisive in his open workout
— nick diaz (@nickdiaz209) July 9, 2015
Tate vs. Cyborg?
It is not a “challenge” it was the answer to a question, would I fight @Criscyborge at 140? Yes, right opportunity https://t.co/r4MliDlLUE
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) July 9, 2015
Beef.
So tell me @MasioFullenMMA how does it feel to spend more time in a Plane than in a octagon? pic.twitter.com/9FvagWSKXP
— Makwan Amirkhani (@MakwanAmirkhani) July 8, 2015
Break my jaw? It seems like Mr Potato-Head is havin trouble keeping in one-piece these days. Try not to piss hot! @JohnnyEduardoN @danawhite
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) July 8, 2015
Very cool.
Huge thank you to @TimKennedyMMA and @ChrisWeidmanUFC for donating incredible experiences for @HireHeroesUSA benefit in NYC tomorrow
— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) July 8, 2015
The real fighters!! @ufc thank u for trusting me to go and speak to these kids. Hopefully we made a positive impact! pic.twitter.com/iM4YAuHvIv
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) July 8, 2015
Careful.
Almost Just Scrapped in the parking lot with this hall of Famer! @bjpenndotcom hugged it out in the… https://t.co/dzdeNsGOk1
— Urijah Faber (@UrijahFaber) July 9, 2015
Sorry, Johny.
. @DeandreJordan6 come to Dallas and I can teach you some moves like this- http://t.co/z4uZLtUFXW @mcuban
— Johny Hendricks (@JohnyHendricks) July 8, 2015
Wow. Maybe I owe Deandre Jordan one of these now- http://t.co/z4uZLtUFXW @swish41 @CVBelieve @bcuban let me know!!
— Johny Hendricks (@JohnyHendricks) July 9, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (July 8 2015)
Ryan Bader vs. Rashad Evans at UFC 192
Hayder Hassan vs. Kamaru Usman at The Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale
Michael Graves vs. Vicente Luque at The Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via TeepToTheJunk.
Poll: Lightweight according to Fightmatrix
Soooo…I should preface this with a big RESPECT to all fighters from the kings and queens down to ammies and students. 4 UFC cards in 8 days coming up, so lets get hyped up talking about the upper echelon of the sport’s deepest weightclass.
This fightmatrix LW divisional outlook makes a few things crystal clear. Being active counts for a lot in their system. Also it seems finishes are highly valued. Nurmy UD’d current #1 Dos Anjos just over a year ago but is only #6. This series I’m doing is not an endorsement of their system. It is a good starting point for a consensus argument we can have.
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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.