Tag Archives: conor mcgregor
Conor McGregor Would Welcome Partnership With Eddie Hearn
By: Hans Themistode
Conor McGregor has always kept a close eye on what’s taking place in the boxing world. The polarizing Mixed Martial Arts figure still has a sour taste in his mouth stemming from his last boxing venture.
In August of 2017, McGregor ditched his 4 ounce MMA gloves and opted to try his hand at boxing. For his pro debut, McGregor took on newly inducted Hall of Famer, Floyd Mayweather Jr. The two would tour the world while hurling every derogatory curse word in the book at one another.
In the end, their unconventional methods worked as their pay-per-view event generated 4.3 million buys, the second most in combats sports history.
Even with McGregor fattening his wallet considerably, earning reportedly north of $100 million dollars, he was despondent by the final result, losing via 10th round stoppage.
Ultimately, McGregor would love the opportunity to add a boxing world title to his enormous MMA collection. Although he isn’t sure when he’ll make his return to the squared circle, he does have an idea who he would like to work with.
“Sure, why not?” Said McGregor when asked if he would be interested in working with promoter Eddie Hearn during an interview on Seconds Out. “I have no problem with Eddie. He’s always been respectful to me. He’s doing big things in boxing. All the love in the world to Eddie and the Matchroom team.”
Hearn, of course, has morphed into one of the more premier figures in the boxing world. The longtime promoter recently wrapped up a three-fight deal with who many consider the best fighter in the world in Canelo Alvarez.
Along with Alvarez, Hearn has also promoted current IBF middleweight champion Gennadiy Golovkin, rising welterweight contender Conor Benn, and former unified heavyweight titlist Anthony Joshua.
Even with McGregor expressing a desire to dibble and dabble in a boxing ring once again, he admits that at the moment, his focus is somewhere else.
“There’s loads of options but MMA is where it’s at for the minute.”
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Dustin Poirier Stops Conor McGregor Again, Seemingly Breaks Ankle In The Process
By: Hans Themistode
The boxing future of Conor McGregor will have to wait, at least for now.
Heading into his third and, presumed, final showdown against Dustin Poirier, Conor McGregor believed everything was going to go his way.
After knocking out Poirier seven years earlier, McGregor saw the series tied at one apiece due to a January stoppage defeat earlier this year. Now though, Poirier officially titled the series score in his favor.
As the horn of the opening bell rang, former United States of America President Donald Trump, nestled comfortably into his ringside seat as a sold out T-Mobile Arena yelled in excitement. McGregor walked confidently to the center of the octagon. Meeting him, with equally, if not more hubris, was Poirier. While McGregor has always been known for sending his opposition to the mat with right and left hands, this time, he attempted to throw several leg kicks to get his attention.
Poirier obliged McGregor’s kicking game and returned a few of his own. On one occasion, McGregor was stopped right in his tracks from Poirier’s leg kicks which gave him the opening to tag him with a right hand.
The exchange on the feet would only last a short while as Poirier brought things down to the mat. A guillotine submission attempt by McGregor saw the crowd jump to its feet and roar. Yet, they appeared stunned as Poirier slipped his head out and began landing a series of shots on the ground.
To the credit of McGregor, after taking several hard elbows, he managed to muscle his way back to his feet. As the former two-division UFC world champion stood in front of his man, he took a step back as if he were attempting to uncork a huge blow. But, as he took that now infamous step back, his left ankle turned in a grotesque way. The Irishmen collapsed to the ground in the octagon, yelling in agony. Referee Herb Dean immediately called a halt to their contest at the end of the first round.
Unsatisfied with the results, McGregor began profusely, shouting derogatory remarks at both Poirier and his wife, Jolie Poirier.
All week long, promoter Dana White informed reporters that the event as a whole was trending to break Pay-Per-View sales. While it will take several days or possibly weeks for the official numbers to be released, amongst the seemingly millions who tuned in, was Floyd Mayweather.
Having stopped McGregor in the boxing ring in 2017, Mayweather revealed that he dropped a cool $50,000 wager on Poirier. Now, due to his win, Mayweather will collect a total of $85,714.30.
As Mayweather continues to line his pockets with cash, McGregor was wheeled out of the octagon on a stretcher due to what appeared to be a broken ankle. In terms of what could be next for McGregor, White revealed that when he’s fit and able, a fourth showdown against Poirier will be on the table.
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Could A Loss For Conor McGregor Tonight Push Him Into Boxing Full-time?
By: Hans Themistode
His time in the boxing ring was a spectacle but it didn’t go the way he was hoping.
It wasn’t the first time that someone was a dominant figure inside the UFC but it just felt different. Once Conor McGregor broke onto the mixed martial arts stage, he became world-renowned.
While the rules of the barbaric sport allow their participants to kick, choke, wrestle and leave their opponent in a bloody unconscious mess, McGregor didn’t appear to be a fan of using all of the tools he’s permitted. Instead, the Ireland star enjoyed watching a man crumble underneath the force of his left hand.
It was those very hands that saw McGregor leave the likes of Eddie Alvarez, Jose Also, Chad Mendes and several others, unaware of what took place seconds prior, as the Irishmen celebrated his victory with the crowd.
Those wins, along with his brazen trash talk, saw the Irishmen make the crossover move.
In 2017, McGregor audaciously stepped into the ring with one of the greatest fighters in history in Floyd Mayweather. Heading in, McGregor was given no chance of even grazing the chin of the newly inducted Hall of Famer, let alone land anything flush. Yet, despite coming up short, as he was stopped in the tenth round, most of the fighting world cheered as McGregor gave Mayweather all he could handle.
Several years later and McGregor was plotting his return, this time, against Manny Pacquiao. Both sides openly expressed interest in facing one another and all signs pointed to a clash that was supposedly set to take place in the latter half of 2021. All that was needed for McGregor to do was take care of business against Dustin Poirier in the UFC’s octagon on January 23rd, earlier this year. Seemed easy enough. After all, McGregor violently stopped him some seven years prior.
But just as McGregor dreamed of taking on the legendary boxing icon, Poirier, quite literally, put him to sleep and put an end to those thoughts, via second-round stoppage.
Recently, McGregor admitted that he was “looking past” Poirier and looked ahead to his match with Pacquiao. Now, with the two set to do it again in just a few short hours at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, McGregor claims that he hasn’t treated his preparation for Poirier flippantly this time around. Whether he’s focused or not, the betting public isn’t standing firmly behind him.
Money continues to pour in on Poirier to handle his man in similar fashion. A loss at this point for the Irishmen would leave an indelible stain on his resume. Not on his legacy, but the here and now.
Having won only one fight in the past five years, whether it be in the ring or cage, the desire to leave his UFC gloves in the octagon should he come up short again tonight, is a strong possibility. With approximately $100 million added to his bank account following his loss to Mayweather and roughly three times that amount lined into his pockets after recently selling the majority stake of his whisky brand, Proper 12, McGregor is well off.
Still, even after setting up his family tree with generational money, McGregor enjoys a good scrap. His desire to continue stepping into the octagon though, as opposed to the much more lucratively inclined boxing ring, could be waning should he pick up another loss later tonight.
Ultimately, the doors into the boxing world that he kept ajar following his loss to Mayweather several years ago, is still one he is likely to walk through, at some point.
“I will box again,” said McGregor during an ESPN interview with Ariel Helwani earlier this year. “I will get a boxing world title.”
Whether McGregor picks up the shattered pieces of his UFC career and protracts his time in the octagon is inconsequential at this point.
As the Irish star walks into the cage tonight and has those steel doors close shut behind him, this could be the last time he’s seen in that setting ever again. Particularly, if he picks up another devastating loss.
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Jake Pauls Takes His $50 Million Dollar Offer Off The Table In Possible Conor McGregor Showdown: “Conor, I Got $10,000 For You”
By: Hans Themistode
According to YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul, Conor McGregor has dropped the ball big time.
For numerous months, the social media star has attempted to lure McGregor back into the boxing ring. Nothing has been off-limits as Paul has insulted the UFC star’s wife and thrown dirt on his in ring fighting ability, all in an attempt to get the fight he craves most.
Despite the perpetual trash talk, McGregor has by and large, ignored his man. With that being said, that hasn’t stopped Paul from continuing his efforts.
Recently, the social media influencer has claimed that he has reached out to team McGregor several times with an offer of $50 million. However, following McGregor’s second-round knockout loss at the hands of Dustin Poirier in the UFC’s octagon this past weekend, that offer has dropped significantly.
“Aye Conor,” said Paul while laughing on his Twitter account. “I got $10,000 for you. Cash. You had 50 million dollars.”
McGregor of course is known for attracting big-time paydays whenever he steps foot inside of the ring or the octagon. In the UFC star’s first and only trip to the boxing ring, he found himself on the wrong end of a knockout loss at the hands of Floyd Mayweather in 2017.
Still, even in defeat, McGregor not only impressed many who were watching but he also took home $130 million for his efforts. Recently, the Irish native claimed to be deep in negotiations for a bout with eight-division star Manny Pacquiao. While a showdown with Pacquiao appears to be all but dead due to his defeat, Paul is more than willing to face McGregor as long as he’s prepared to accept his now paltry offer.
As for the aforementioned Jake Paul, like him or hate him, he’s continued to bring eyeballs to the sport of boxing whenever he steps foot inside the ring.
After watching his old brother Logan Paul place his social influencer life on pause to compete in the ring, Jake soon followed. In January of 2020, the 24-year-old took on fellow YouTube sensation Ali Eson Gib. The results would be one-sided as can be as Jake stopped his man in the opening round. Fast forward to just a few months ago, and Jake would make headlines once again. This time at the expense of former NBA player Nate Robinson. Much like his previous ring appearance, the Ohio native stopped his man in the very first round.
Jake is now expected to return to the ring again in April against an opponent yet to be named.
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Floyd Mayweather Continues To Dog Conor McGregor: “Conor Can’t Even Win In His Own Sport”
By: Hans Themistode
Floyd Mayweather doesn’t have an issue with anyone attempting to put a few bucks in their pockets, no matter how whacky the idea. However, some ideas just don’t make any sense.
For the past several years, UFC star Conor McGregor pushed the notion that he would take on boxing icon Manny Pacquiao. Considering McGregor reportedly pocketed a cool $130 million for his efforts against Mayweather in August of 2017, the move was justified.
Mayweather, to his credit, saw roughly $280 million deposited into his bank account for the tenth round stoppage victory. Having seen how much money could be made for facing McGregor, Pacquiao’s team not only entertained the idea but by all accounts, both sides were deep in negotiations.
All that seemingly needed to be done was for McGregor to take care of business last night in the octagon. What appeared to be an easy fight on paper turned out to be anything but that as the crossover star was viciously knocked out in the second round against Dustin Poirier.
Mayweather, of course, took notice of the beating McGregor received from his palatial estate. Now, the newly elected hall of famer isn’t convinced his rival should make the trek back to the boxing ring when he’s having issues getting the job done in his own sport.
“Conor can’t even win in his own sport, but talking about coming back to boxing to fight Pacquiao,” said Mayweather via Instagram.
Before McGregor picked up the stunning upset defeat, many viewed his contest against Pacquiao as an intriguing one. For Mayweather on the other hand, he was particularly mum on the subject whenever it was brought to his attention. While McGregor and Pacquiao may compete in different sports, Mayweather notices one glaring similarity between them.
That, of course, would be that both men were defeated by the aforementioned Mayweather. Even if by chance both men negotiate a deal to step into the ring, at this point in time, the former boxing star believes that nobody will tune in.
“Nobody wants to see that, it’s like my leftovers eating leftovers.”
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Floyd Mayweather Rips Conor McGregor Following Loss To Dustin Poirier: “That Bum Will Never Be On My Level”
By: Hans Themistode
Floyd Mayweather has always noticed Conor McGregor. The UFC star, after all, shared the ring with Mayweather in his last official contest in August of 2017. Well before Mayweather scored the tenth round knockout, the newly inducted hall of famer sat back and listened to McGregor talk shit to not only himself, but to most of his competitors.
This past Saturday night was no different as McGregor returned to the UFC’s octagon to take on Dustin Poirier, a man he knocked out cold seven years earlier.
While McGregor was mostly respectful, the multiple-time UFC belt holder boasted of his skills and was unconvinced that Poirier would make it out of the first round. Those words, while headline-worthy, failed to come to fruition as McGregor found himself on the wrong of a knockout loss. Following the defeat, Mayweather wasted no time in kicking McGregor while he was down.
“Just know that bum will never be me or be on my level,” said Mayweather on his Instagram account. “I’m just built different, my mindset is on another planet, my skills are second to none, I’m a natural-born winner, and yes, I talk a lot of trash, but every time I back it up! This is what they hate.”
For most of Mayweather’s career, the flamboyant star was lambasted for his antics both in and out of the ring. The nonstop shit-talking at press conferences, the cocky post-fight arguments with everyone who doubted him and of course, the perpetual flaunting of his fortune made Mayweather one of the most hated fighters in combat sports history.
While many hated him for his persona, Mayweather viewed McGregor’s actions as virtually identical. The overwhelming reaction from the public however, was much different. To Mayweather, it isn’t simply that people pick and choose whom they like. No, for the five-division world champion, he knows exactly why he was castigated while McGregor was praised.
“The world knows Con Artist McLoser can steal everything from me and be loved but I’m hated,” continued Mayweather. “That just lets you all know that racism still exists. It’s sad that you can be a poor black kid from the ghetto that has dealt with racism your whole life and work extremely hard to put yourself and your family in a better position, and most of the hate comes from my own people.”
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Mikey Garcia: “Manny Pacquiao’s Next Fight Is With Me, 100%.”
By: Hans Themistode
Early last week, UFC star Conor McGregor made serious headlines when he announced that he would be taking on WBA welterweight titlist Manny Pacquiao in his next ring contest.
McGregor, 32, hasn’t laced up a pair of gloves since his 10th round stoppage loss to Floyd Mayweather in 2017. Despite his hiatus from the ring and his lack of success in the UFC’s octagon, losing via rear naked choke to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018 and winning by knockout against the long faded Donald Cerrone in 2020, he now finds himself on the verge of facing the only eight division world champion that boxing has ever seen in Pacquiao.
“I’m boxing Manny Pacquiao next in the Middle East,” said McGregor on his social media account. “It will be a true honour to have faced two of the greatest boxers of the modern era.”
Pacquiao on the other hand, has been dead silent. But with his special assistant in Jayke Joson jumping up to confirm McGregor’s announcement, there could be some validity behind it.
“For the sake of all the Filipino COVID-19 victims, Senator Manny Pacquiao will be fighting UFC superstar Conor McGregor next year,” said Pacquiao’s special assistant Jayke Joson. “The huge portion of his earnings will proceed to those who are affected nationwide by the pandemic.”
While fans of McGregor are jumping for joy over the news, one man who isn’t amused is Mikey Garcia. The former four division world champion has been chasing a fight with Pacquiao for years. Following a one sided win in his last contest against former two division belt holder in Jessie Vargas, Garcia found himself in the driver seat of a Pacquiao clash and he isn’t about to let someone from an entirely different sport skip the line.
“McGregor has to take a number. Manny Pacquiao’s next fight is with me, 100%.”
At the moment, the sports landscape is difficult to predict. With fighters becoming less active due to COVID-19, it’s almost impossible to pencil in a date for anyone. Ironically enough, Garcia couldn’t lock in a date for his Pacquiao clash either. But he did give a rough guess as to when fans can expect it to go down.
“I think it will be sometime in 2021.”
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Oscar De La Hoya vs Conor McGregor Heating Up
By: Hans Themistode
Oscar De La Hoya has decided to join in on the quarantine call out fun. The former six division world champion made the claim that even at the age of 47, he wiped the floor with UFC mega star Conor McGregor.
“Two rounds. Because one thing about me, one thing about me, I went for the kill always,” said De La Hoya on CBS Sports podcast State of Combat. “And look, Conor McGregor is — I love him in The Octagon. I respect him. I watch him all the time. But the boxing ring is a whole different story. It’s a whole different story.”
Fighters have grown more and more irritated as they are forced to stay inside during this global pandemic. Looking at the walls and laying on the couch has quickly gotten under the skin of everyone, and the result of this longer than expected quarantine has been fighters calling out each other non stop.
Lightweight contender Ryan Garcia has made the rounds, calling out Gervonta Davis, Jorge Linares, Abner Mares and a host of others. Super Middleweight champions Caleb Plant and David Benavidez have continued to call each other every foul word in the English dictionary, and Shawn Porter has had a lot to say about everyone in the Welterweight division.
While those call outs might be expected, De La Hoya’s rant against McGregor was not.
If there’s one word that can properly describe the UFC star, it would be loquacious. So it comes to no surprise that he wasted no time in answering the call.
“I accept your challenge, Oscar de la Hoya,” said McGregor on Twitter.
With older fighters such as Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield recently ending their retirement for ring glory, the 47 year old De La Hoya doesn’t intend on joining them. Claiming that he was merely “speaking the truth.”
An official call out may not have come out of the mouth of De La Hoya but his words were almost verbatim to what he said just a few years ago.
“You know I still have it in me. I’ve been secretly training,” De La Hoya said in 2017. “Secretly training. I’m faster than ever and stronger than ever. I know I could take out Conor McGregor in two rounds. I’ll come back for that fight. Two rounds. Just one more. I’m calling him out. Two rounds. That’s all I need. That’s all I’m going to say.”
De La Hoya was last seen in the ring in 2008, losing via ninth round stoppage to Manny Pacquiao. Before then, De La Hoya was a six division champion and a 1992 gold medal winner. He capped off his career with an induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2014.
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Conor McGregor’s Return to MMA Post-Mayweather
by Bryanna Fissori
Conor McGregor (21-3) will be fighting again for the first time since his pro boxing debut against Floyd Mayweater Jr, just over a year ago. The former 2-Division UFC Titleholder faces potential his toughest MMA opponent yet in Khabib Nurmagomedov (26-0).
More Than a Championship Title
The bout is for the UFC Lightweight Title, which McGregor was stripped of earlier this year due to inactivity. But, there is more on the line this fight than just a championship belt. McGregor and Nurmagomedov have an open dislike for each other for years.
In April, McGregor flew from Ireland to the U.S. to hurl a handtruck through the window of Nurmagomedov’s bus, which was also carrying several other UFC fighters. The event was supposedly instigated by Khabib slapping a teammate of McGregor’s.
Recent Comments About the Bus Situation
In the recent UFC press conference, McGregor had something to say about the event,
“I showed you my hands, no weapons. The first thing [I did] when I showed up at that bus, I showed my hands to let him know, ‘I have come unarmed, no weapons. Step off the bus, you talked a big game and now I’m here.’ He done f*cking nothing. He sat there and took a shit on that bus. He hid and cowered behind women and caused [what happened], so that’s f*cking that. So here’s my location now, you little fool — right in front of you . . . “
“If you got off that bus, you’d be dead now. You’d be dead and I’d be in a cell, so shut your f*cking mouth…”
It was unclear for some time whether Conor McGregor would face legal ramifications preventing him from competing. Instead, he lives up to his nickname “Notorious” and has added fuel to the fire for this bout. Maybe he learned more than boxing moves last summer when he was studying Mayweather, who seems to know his way around a courtroom.
Toughest MMA Match to Date
The matchup between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov is a classic striker vs grappler, although both are well-rounded, high-level martial artists. Seven of McGregor’s nine wins in the UFC have come via knockout or technical knockout. He’s well known for his fan-friendly striking style. Nurmagomedov is noted to be a brutal grappler with a tough chin.
Though many fight promotions are guilty of promoting main events as “The Best Fight in History,” this one does seem to have some serious potential.
UFC 229
Conor McGregor vs Khabib Nurmagomedov is schedule as the main event on UFC 229 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The fight will be five – five-minute rounds for the UFC Lightweight Championship Title. Tickets to the event sold out in a just few hours. The rest of us will be watching it on Pay-Per-View.
