Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images
Conor McGregor generated a lot of buzz for the violent shoulder strikes he threw against Donald Cerrone at UFC 246, but it is not the first time he has used such a technique.
Donald Cerrone is not the first person to taste Conor McGregor’s shoulders inside the confines of a cage.
“The Notorious” one brutalized “Cowboy” with shoulder strikes that visibly damaged his nose and face at UFC 246. Old sparring footage dug up by Severe MMA reveals that McGregor has actually been playing with the technique for years.
The @TheNotoriousMMA shoulder strikes caught on camera years ago sparring with @Pendred. @SevereMMA
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) January 22, 2020
In the short video above, McGregor is seen sparring with fellow Irishman Cathal Pendred. McGregor paws at Pendred, then throws a left strike and engages in a clinch. He throws a knee down the center before catching Pendred with a shoulder strike on the back-foot.
It is unclear just how old the footage is, but Pendred has not competed professionally since 2015. He announced his retirement in Nov. 2015 following consecutive losses to Tom Breese and John Howard. Pendred has since found a budding acting career with roles in Black Water and The Corrupted and guest appearances on Magnum P.I. and Into the Badlands.
McGregor, meanwhile, seems to be in top form as he eyes a potential rematch with UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.