Conor McGregor fought his way to stardom in the Ultimate Fighting Championship but that was just part of it. For he talked his way there too, his career highlight reel moments in the octagon matched by a ceaseless stream of snappy, witty and unashamedly obnoxious taunts that stopped rivals in their tracks quicker than a flurried punch combination. Yet as a new year brings a fresh challenge and a clear run at the UFC lightweight title he formerly held, there is a different sound coming from the Irishman. Ahead of his clash with Dustin Poirier in Abu Dhabi, the trash talk seems to have drifted away across the desert wind and been replaced by calmer, more respectful tones. âHow could I not respect Dustin?â McGregor told ESPN. âFor (his charitable works), for how he handled the last loss and came back and how he rose up and became a champion. Thatâs admirable in my book.â Remember, this is the same McGregor whose attempts to mentally disseminate his opponents have known no boundaries of taste or propriety in the past. Before knocking out Jose Aldo in 2015, he claimed to be âarousedâ by Aldoâs fear and made reference to the color of Brazilian fighter Rafael dos Anjos wifeâs underwear. Before taking on Nate Diaz at UFC 202, the pair threw cans at each other at a wild press event while turning the air blue with an endless stream of profanities.   In the lead-up to his defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov, he made racially-insensitive comments about his rivalâs wife, while referring to the Russian fighterâs manager Ali Abdelaziz as a âterrorist snitch.â And, letâs not forget, in April 2018, he flew a bunch of team members from Ireland to Brooklyn to invade a Nurmagomedov press event, which resulted in him smashing up a bus carrying UFC fighters with a steel dolly and all kinds of associated carnage. So yeah, while pre-event platitudes and shows of respect are what you hear plenty in other sports â less so in MMA â this is a major change of course. âThis is the new bespoke business version of the warrior that is Conor McGregor,â Gareth A. Davies, long-standing fight correspondent for Londonâs Daily Telegraph and producer of two McGregor documentaries for British television, told me via telephone. âIt is a change in identity. âThe UFC needs him more than he needs them. He is the cash cow. He is the biggest star. He is the human embodiment of a gold-plated Las Vegas casino for the UFC, at the end of a year tougher than they could have ever imagined.â   McGregor is big business for the organization, with the ultimate carrot being a rematch between him and Nurmagomedov, which would potentially break the all-time record for pay-per-view revenue. UFC president Dana White is hoping to tempt Nurmagomedov out of retirement, and is expected to be able to do so. If McGregor beats Poirier, it is almost certain that his next fight would be for the UFC lightweight belt. Meanwhile, McGregor still has the strut even with the pointed words being put aside. As fight week began, he swaggered around in multi-colored, tailored suit pants while stripped to the waist, sporting designer sunglasses and a watch valued at seven figures. Heâs a little less talkative, but no less stylish. With 2020 having begun with a first round victory over Donald Cerrone, McGregor had hoped to keep fighting through the year and reclaim the title. COVID-19 put a stop on that, meaning McGregor may now have a greater sense of urgency.   âConor is 34 now,â Davies added. âHis children are getting bigger. Maturity comes to us all at some point. He is still a poser, there is still the yachts and the jewelry, but he is a brilliant showman. He can get away with it because he can carry it. He has achieved a level of fame and financial security. Now he wants to tick some of the boxes of his career.â There is, admittedly, a certain danger in writing this column now, a day before the final press conference ahead of the fight, which will take place at Etihad Arena on Fight Island, the sealed-off Abu Dhabi enclave where the UFC has staged many of its most significant cards since the start of the global pandemic. As with any such occasion, there is the potential for McGregor to get just as loud as ever and to engage in some last-minute verbal fisticuffs â either in an attempt to rile up Poirier, to sell some extra pay-per-views, or both. âThere is definitely mutual respect between him and Poirier, but rest assured, if Poirier was to come out and give Conor a load of (trash talk), then Conor would be on top of him,â Owen Roddy, part of McGregorâs coaching team, told Submission Radio. âBut there is no need for it. Both fighters respect each other and they will let their hands do the talking Saturday night.â   Dan Hooker, the No. 6-ranked UFC lightweight from Australia, will be on the same stage as he prepares to fight Michael Chandler in the co-main event, and has one main goal for the press briefing â stay out of McGregorâs notice. âYouâve got to be on your toes,â Hooker laughed, in an interview with MMA Junkie. âHe could chuck you in the can in one line.â A new, calmer, (slightly) quieter McGregor? Apparently so. As fierce and competitive as ever inside the cage? On Saturday, we will see.   Hereâs what others have said … Kevin Iole, Yahoo Sports: âThe pressure on a fighter with the notoriety that McGregor has is enormous, and while there are many perks that come with it, itâs also extraordinarily difficult. Many who have walked in those shoes ahead of him longed for the days when they could walk down the street unnoticed and have dinner out with friends and family. The demands and expectations could ultimately drive him away. But heâs a young 32 in fighting terms, heâs got the resources to hire the best coaches, he has a brilliant mind for the game and he has the big-name opponents available. Itâs no stretch to suggest that, despite all heâs accomplished, Conor McGregor may just be getting started and the best may be yet to come.â Brent Brookhouse, CBS Sports: âMcGregor didn’t get to be a superstar on personality and trash talk alone. He has true elite skills as a striker, and very few men have been able to push him into deep waters to test his cardio or take him to the mat to expose his questionable grappling skills.â Owen Roddy, Striking coach: âWho knows whatâs gonna happen? But the same thing applies, in my opinion. Conor will land. Itâs inevitable that heâs gonna land that shot. Heâs gonna land on Poirier, and itâs just how long Poirier can take the punishment. He is very durable and heâs tough and heâs good, and heâs got a lot of tricks, and heâs got problems that weâve addressed in the camp. But when it comes down to it, when Conor lands, itâs gonna be how long can Poirier last.â |
