Tag: UFC 223

Coach Claims McGregor’s Presser Antics ‘Didn’t Work At All’

There’s been a heated debate raging in MMA since Conor McGregor’s presser antics last week. It was a strange scene that saw McGregor unload his usual ultra-personal attacks while promoting his new whiskey. It was also devoid of the usual crowd of boisterous fans supporting him. McGregor ultimately got the job done and generated hype […]

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There’s been a heated debate raging in MMA since Conor McGregor’s presser antics last week.

It was a strange scene that saw McGregor unload his usual ultra-personal attacks while promoting his new whiskey. It was also devoid of the usual crowd of boisterous fans supporting him. McGregor ultimately got the job done and generated hype for their upcoming megafight in the main event of next week’s UFC 229.

The event has been billed – rightfully so – as the biggest UFC pay-per-view of all-time based on the stakes involved in McGregor’s long-awaited return. The two fighters bring a bad blood-fueled rivalry from earlier this year. McGregor was infamously arrested for throwing a metal dolly through a bus containing Khabib before April’s UFC 223. He was jailed on assault charges and reached a plea deal this summer.

But there hasn’t been much in terms of media promotion for the fight. McGregor has chosen to stay close to his training camp. It’s probably a good idea considering he has lost two of his last four overall fights. Regardless, he got the ball rolling by dominating the presser talk with the always-quiet Khabib. It’s lead many of his fans to claim McGregor ‘won’ the first presser.

One man predictably disagrees.

Khabib’s Coach Sounds Off

Not surprisingly, Nurmagomedov’s AKA coach Javier Mendez does not think McGregor ‘won’ the presser. Mendez recently told MMA Fighting that they knew McGregor’s game all along. It was plain to see he was going to make things personal by evoking Khabib’s family and gym, among other topics. So McGregor won the trash talk, but Mendez claims Nurmagomedov won everything else:

“We talked to Khabib right before the fight was made. We said, ‘Look, he’s going to play with you, he’s going to hit every button; religion, politics, family.’

“That’s his game, he’s a master at it. Khabib wasn’t rattled at all. Slightly agitated? Yes, but it didn’t work. It did not work. Who won the staredown? Who won the talking? Conor did the talking, so he won that.

“But overall, everything, Khabib won.”

There’s the school of thought that McGregor clearly won and is now in Khabib’s head. The other side insists he was trying way too hard and overcompensating for a lack of confidence. Fans of each fighter will of course side with their man.

UFC 229 will play host to the biggest lightweight title fight in UFC history – that much is certain. Khabib has never let trash talk affect his performance in the cage. Nurmagomedov may be the most focused and dominant fighter in MMA today.

He’s never been in a situation like he is now, either. Did Khabib keep his cool as much as Mendes says?

Or will McGregor’s psychological warfare finally crack the rough exterior of ‘The Eagle?’

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Conor McGregor Inspired Tom Hardy In New ‘Venom’ Role

Add movie inspiration to the long list of Conor McGregor’s many hats. Megastar actor Tom Hardy recently revealed that ‘The Notorious’ served as an inspiration for his character in the upcoming comic movie ‘Venom.’ Hardy told RTÉ Entertainment that McGregor served as his inspiration mainly because he “wants to have a scrap with everybody.” That […]

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Add movie inspiration to the long list of Conor McGregor’s many hats. Megastar actor Tom Hardy recently revealed that ‘The Notorious’ served as an inspiration for his character in the upcoming comic movie ‘Venom.’

Hardy told RTÉ Entertainment that McGregor served as his inspiration mainly because he “wants to have a scrap with everybody.” That could be true from a certain perspective. Speaking with RTÉ in an interview with at the recent ‘Venom’ press day, Hardy as went as far as to describe McGregor as a “key note” inspiration for his Eddie Brock role.

“Venom” often battled with archnemesis Spider-man in the comics. Spider-man will not appear in Hardy’s new film, however, due to licensing issues. In the film, Hardy plays disgraced reporter Brock, who comes into contact with an alien symbiote. Brock bonds with the symbiote to become ‘Venom,’ a superpowered anti-hero.

McGregor’s Influence

The topic of McGregor either being offended or flattered by the comparison came up. McGregor obviously had his own problem with outside-the-cage violence earlier this year. He just recently got past it by accepting a plea deal.

As one of the richest fighters of all-time, not much bothers McGregor. Hardy believed he wouldn’t be as a result. He then clarified that it wasn’t Venom whom McGregor inspired but more Brock himself:

“I don’t think he’d be bothered, really,” Hardy replied. “Conor doesn’t strike me as the type of person who might be that bothered!

“It was not Venom: he was not based on him. There were more elements of Eddie Brock which needed to be pinned on somebody who’s incredibly handy physically. And, obviously, Conor is incredibly handy physically.

“There was an aspect the studio wanted somebody who could fight, which they always do in these sort of hero movies. They want somebody who can have a scrap. Conor obviously wants to have a scrap with everybody, so that’s useful.”

A Different Portrayal

The Irish UFC star wasn’t the only inspiration for the role, however. McGregor was more of an “interior” inspiration that an outward portrayal, he said. Hardy also said you might notice a bit of Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in there too:

“Then there were bits of Harrison Ford as well from Indiana Jones and other elements within.

“He [McGregor] was definitely a key note but I don’t know if you’d recognise him in the portrayal. It was more of an interior choice, if that makes sense.”

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Pic: Nate Diaz Is Super Ripped Heading Into UFC 229

Nate Diaz is in amazing shape heading into his anticipated return against Dustin Poirier at November 3’s UFC 230 from New York. Late last night (Tues., September 25, 2018), Diaz and Poirier stirred up a bit of controversy when they claimed they’d be fighting for the all-new UFC 165-pound title at UFC 230. The notion […]

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Nate Diaz is in amazing shape heading into his anticipated return against Dustin Poirier at November 3’s UFC 230 from New York.

Late last night (Tues., September 25, 2018), Diaz and Poirier stirred up a bit of controversy when they claimed they’d be fighting for the all-new UFC 165-pound title at UFC 230. The notion was soon rebuffed by UFC President Dana White. That doesn’t necessarily mean it isn’t happening, however.

Regardless, Diaz appears to be taking his MMA return seriously. Diaz posted a photo of himself looking rather ripped during training before all of the title commotions went down last night.  Check it out right here:

Diaz was last seen losing a closely-contested majority decision to Conor McGregor in their rematch at 2016’s UFC 202. The fight came after Diaz submitted McGregor in their short-notice first match at UFC 196 earlier that year.

But he never appeared to be in this good of shape for either fight. The last time we saw Diaz look this good was for his highly-entertaining decision win over Michael Johnson in December 2015. That win earned Diaz his shot at McGregor – at least in a roundabout way.

Diaz called McGregor out in his now-infamous post-fight speech. The gesture arguably created the biggest rivalry in the history of mixed martial arts. You can bet Diaz will be looking to get his oft-discussed trilogy match with McGregor.

He’ll have to past the surging “Diamond” first, however. Diaz looks to be up to the task. Will it be enough at Madison Square Garden?

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Conor McGregor’s Promotion Company Posts Six-Figure Loss

Conor McGregor is headed for perhaps the biggest MMA payday of all-time when he faces Khabib Nurmagomedov in the main event of October 6’s UFC 229. But McGregor’s promotion company is a different story altogether. McGregor’s promotion company, McGregor Sports and Entertainment Ltd., reportedly posted accumulated losses of $416,282 at the end of December 2017 according […]

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Conor McGregor is headed for perhaps the biggest MMA payday of all-time when he faces Khabib Nurmagomedov in the main event of October 6’s UFC 229. But McGregor’s promotion company is a different story altogether.

McGregor’s promotion company, McGregor Sports and Entertainment Ltd., reportedly posted accumulated losses of $416,282 at the end of December 2017 according to Business Insider. McGregor Sports and Entertainment Lt. lists its main area of business as “other sporting activities.” McGregor has used the company as a means to protect his own personal name and brand.

For example, the company runs the website themaclife.com, which focuses on McGregor’s mixed martial arts career and other ventures. The company also sells the MacTalk App on iTunes. McGregor obviously made out like a bandit for his boxing match against Floyd Mayweather in 2017, earning a reported $85 million. He’s unlikely to feel the effects of a $416,282 loss by the company as a result.

But despite his success in 2017, McGregor Sports and Entertainment Ltd. floundered. It had experienced a successful 12-month trading period in earnings reported before the 2017 slide. But the company’s cash reserves decreased to 381,654 in 2017. McGregor is the main shareholder in the company.

Other Interests

McGregor shouldn’t be affected, again, as his other business interests are taking off in a big way.

He recently launched his Proper Twelve Irish Whiskey brand. The liquor is selling so well that some stores have put a two-bottle purchase limit on it. McGregor will obviously return to face Khabib in qhat is being billed as the biggest mixed martial arts (MMA) bout of all-time. Proper Twelve is an official sponsor of the fight, greatly furthering McGregor’s earning potential as a result.

McGregor has even more outside-the-cage business avenues. He plans to start a clothing line called “August McGregor” with tailor David Heil, the founder of David August. The company plans to not only release tailored suits but also jeans and more casual fair. McGregor discussed the clothing venture:

“They’ll be in retail stores, and we’ll build an online shopping site to rival Net-A-Porter, who makes $66 million profit a year. I love fashion and I get to design clothes. It’s like fighting; it’s all about the small details.”

The Irish megastar is also a “social media powerhouse” with millions of followers on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. His fanbase makes him worth tens of millions to his sponsors.

He is currently sponsored by fast-food giant Burger King, headphone company Beats by Dre, and energy drink producer Monster Energy, among others.

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Nate Diaz Says He’s Fighting Dustin Poirier For 165-Pound Title

It’s only five weeks away, but November 3’s UFC 230 from New York still doesn’t have a main event. Nate Diaz says he has that taken care of. Diaz will return from an over two-year absence to face Dustin Poirier at UFC 230. The fight has been billed as the co-main event, but no champions […]

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It’s only five weeks away, but November 3’s UFC 230 from New York still doesn’t have a main event. Nate Diaz says he has that taken care of.

Diaz will return from an over two-year absence to face Dustin Poirier at UFC 230. The fight has been billed as the co-main event, but no champions appear available to fight on the card.

Diaz believes that the answer is simple, however. He just announced on social media tonight (Tues., September 25, 2018) that he was “happy to be bringing a new weight ‘devision’ to the UFC” with the 165-pound “superfighter devision”:

Poirier soon chimed in with a similar statement. He claimed he had finally made it to his coveted UFC title fight:

Ariel Helwani said earlier tonight that the UFC was considering an interim title fight with no champions available for UFC 230:

In Diaz vs. Poirier, the UFC could have an official title for the oft-discussed 165-pound division. In reality, forced interim title fights have not performed well on pay-per-view due to their perceived devaluation of UFC titles.

UFC President Dana White has been lukewarm on the new division, to say the least. We’ll have to wait and see if what Diaz and Poirier claimed comes true.

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Tyron Woodley Vows He’d Smash ‘One-Tool’ Conor McGregor

Welterweight champion Tyron Woodley is currently on the sidelines. That won’t stop him from talking trash about Conor McGregor. In fact, it’s even time Woodley vows he’d destroy McGregor. Woodley has been campaigning for a super fight since literally moments after he won the belt from Robbie Lawler in July 2016. That hasn’t transpired, however. […]

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Welterweight champion Tyron Woodley is currently on the sidelines. That won’t stop him from talking trash about Conor McGregor. In fact, it’s even time Woodley vows he’d destroy McGregor.

Woodley has been campaigning for a super fight since literally moments after he won the belt from Robbie Lawler in July 2016. That hasn’t transpired, however. Woodley isn’t exactly the UFC’s favorite champion despite being the longest-reigning one. He’s been made to face one top contender after another as a result.

“The Chosen One” has dispatched Stephen Thompson, Demian Maia, and Darren Till during his four-fight string of defenses. He most recently dominated Till at September’s UFC 228. Woodley has aimed for a fight with longtime former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre for quite some time. St-Pierre isn’t exactly in a hurry to fight him.

Woodley is now looking to face Conor McGregor as a result. The current 170-pound king recently used a bit of reverse psychology by claiming “The Notorious” would target him after fighting Khabib at UFC 229. Woodley discussed the fight on a recent edition of his TMZ segment “Hollywood Beatdown,” offering his prediction. He thinks Khabib will win, but hopes McGregor will for his own sake:

“I would think that if Khabib’s really about that action, he’s going to do what he says and it’s going to be really tough for Conor to have any lead in that arm to throw that knockout punch in the fourth or fifth round, so I would say Khabib [wins]. But just for selfish purposes, if Conor wins, then the only fight that makes sense is for him to fight me. Try to get a third belt.”

Woodley had a previous altercation with McGregor before 2016’s UFC 205. “The Chosen One” claims “The Notorious” doesn’t want to fight him because he’s simply too one-dimensional:

“Conor thought he wanted smoke and then he realized he really didn’t,” Woodley said. “I would smash him. He’s too little. He’s got one punch. What fighter have I ever fought that’s been able to beat me with one tool?”

He closed by reiterating that his money was on Khabib at UFC 229. Purely for selfish purposes, however, he obviously wants McGregor to win:

“From my analyst hat, my mind says Khabib, but my bank account and my legacy says Conor. I would take that fight in a heartbeat.”

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