Advertisement
Sportsfile

Uncaged: 1 week and counting until McGregor does battle

Ireland’s great MMA hope got the Steve Collins seal of approval this week.

WITH THREE TOP quality cards due in the UFC in the next four weeks there is plenty of stuff to talk about but one man in particular is the topic of many MMA column inches.

He may only have one UFC fight under his belt but Conor McGregor continues to make waves throughout the MMA world and his name is on the lips of many influential people involved in the sport.

He is just one week away from his Boston bout against Max Holloway and although he isn’t deemed main card ready yet, fans and pundits alike are already drooling over the prospect of watching him in action once more.

Diners and drives with “The Don” in Vegas, helping to launch national UFC coverage on a new TV channel and numerous media interviews have meant that McGregor’s star has risen to meteoric levels in such a short period of time and who knows what will happen if he manages to garner
another victory in his next fight.

The new Celtic Warrior

Prominent MMA journalist and self-confessed fan of McGregor Ariel Helwani got the Irishman on his popular “The MMA Hour” show to talk about all sorts of everything in the lead-up to his next fight. McGregor was his usual exuberant self but seemed a bit shell shocked when Helwani got Steve Collins on the phone to give his opinion on the next great Irish fighting hope.

Collins was glowing in his praise for “Notorious” going so far to crown him the new “Celtic Warrior” as well as saying money wouldn’t pay him to get in against McGregor and he was glad he was retired. Having passed the mantle of the next Irish fighting hope onto McGregor the Dubliner quipped: “You’re the greatest and I’m the latest!”

Watch the interview on MMA Hour here

Collins predicted that Conor will be a future champion and gave him some advice about fighting in Boston, something Steve did many times in his career. McGregor seemed genuinely taken aback from the whole conversation and claimed he was off for a 20 mile run after the interview because he was so hyped up.

He repeated that he would not become complacent and all this attention would only spur him on to victory and he must stand by this as Holloway is a tough opponent for him. He has fought in the UFC five times already and his only losses have come against top quality competitors in Dustin Poirier and Dennis Bermudez.

It’s tough to think of any fighter who has made such an impact after only one UFC fight but McGregor has already shown that he has the ability to cope with such situations both inside and outside the Octagon. As Collins said it will be like fighting in his own back garden when he steps out
in Boston and the only real downside at the minute is that we have to wait another seven days to see it happen.

‘Who am I? I am a Rebel!’ — The inspirational speech from the Shamrock Bowl locker-room

Schmidt success with Ireland depends on provinces, says Horgan

View 16 comments
Close
16 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gnik
    Favourite Gnik
    Report
    Aug 10th 2013, 8:42 AM

    I’m not even a huge UFC fan but il watch this fight, coz the way this man carries himself is inspiration and a credit to the country.

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jigsaw
    Favourite Jigsaw
    Report
    Aug 10th 2013, 8:47 AM

    I hope it’s not all hype and that he wins

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Blaine Murphy
    Favourite Blaine Murphy
    Report
    Aug 10th 2013, 8:50 AM

    hopefully he gets the win which i Tink he will and get the ufc bak over here to Dublin

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Roy Whelan
    Favourite Roy Whelan
    Report
    Aug 10th 2013, 8:43 AM

    Looking forward to seeing this. The man’s a legend already.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John O'Connor
    Favourite John O'Connor
    Report
    Aug 10th 2013, 10:12 AM

    Anyone know what time will it be on ? and what station ?

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Dallas
    Favourite Tom Dallas
    Report
    Aug 10th 2013, 2:09 PM

    Great fighter but needs a shave if he was here now i would tell him to his face(honest)

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ronan McManus
    Favourite Ronan McManus
    Report
    Aug 10th 2013, 1:45 PM

    I really hope he delivers, unbelievable amount of hype after just one professional fight.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mr Know It All
    Favourite Mr Know It All
    Report
    Aug 10th 2013, 6:34 PM

    All aboard the bandwagon.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Huwer Master
    Favourite Huwer Master
    Report
    Aug 10th 2013, 10:06 AM

    I’m sick of this mouthy little muppet already… I’m a hardcore UFC fan, he’s fighting a bum in Max Holloway

    But if this eijit does talk his way to a title shot Jose Aldo (a real champion) will destroy & hospitalise him

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Darragh O Brien
    Favourite Darragh O Brien
    Report
    Aug 10th 2013, 10:17 AM

    Anyone who calls themselves a “hardcore ufc fan” is more than likely a casual armchair observer

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Huwer Master
    Favourite Huwer Master
    Report
    Aug 10th 2013, 10:23 AM

    So you’re in Vegas every month at the fights yeah??

    I watch every fight that’s on,constantly read up on the news 3/4 times a day & know as much as anybody about UFC

    Yes a hardcore fan… Go away troll

    2
    See 5 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Darragh O Brien
    Favourite Darragh O Brien
    Report
    Aug 10th 2013, 10:32 AM

    Have been 3 times to ufc events, went to the Fan expo in London, have met Dana white, Bones jones etc etc, I’d call myself a fan yes

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Huwer Master
    Favourite Huwer Master
    Report
    Aug 10th 2013, 10:37 AM

    Fair play to ya you deserve a parade…
    So because you went to a few fights & an expo your a hardcore fan & I’m a casual armchair one

    Empty head

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute james redmond
    Favourite james redmond
    Report
    Aug 10th 2013, 10:37 AM

    Get a life!!

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Darragh O Brien
    Favourite Darragh O Brien
    Report
    Aug 10th 2013, 10:38 AM

    I never said I was a hardcore fan… I said I was a fan, if your going to make a point make sure the words are there in black and white to back it up

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Dallas
    Favourite Tom Dallas
    Report
    Aug 10th 2013, 2:11 PM

    Hardcore fan, I bet ya have the big foam hands all the t-shirts most of the posters and even some of the figures to play mock fighting with. You rock….

    10
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.