CONOR McGREGOR’S DETRACTORS will be licking their lips this morning.
With Jose Aldo withdrawing from UFC 189 due to injury, McGregor will instead face Chad Mendes in the main event in Las Vegas on 11 July.
Aldo would have represented a significant test for McGregor, but a bout against Mendes is one that many fans have wanted to see for a long time.
According to those who haven’t quite been convinced by McGregor’s spectacular rise to the top, the Irishman has yet to be tested by an elite wrestler.
In the featherweight division, wrestlers don’t come much more elite than Chad Mendes — a two-time NCAA Division One All-American.
According to McGregor’s wrestling coach, however, that won’t be a problem. Sergey Pikulskiy has been working with McGregor since joining Dublin’s Straight Blast Gym team in 2008.
Pikulskiy hails from Moldova and wrestled for his national team for seven years. He has an extensive background in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, and is currently playing a key role in McGregor’s training camp.
“Conor’s been wrestling since day one when I came to SBG. From the start he picked things up right away. He’s probably the only person who never missed a wrestling class,” Pikulskiy told The42 from Las Vegas this morning.
“Because he’s a great striker, people haven’t seen his wrestling yet. But he’s very good, whether it’s throws, takedowns or defence. Conor has been wrestling for many years now.
“In the fight I think it’s going to be tough for Chad. He’s shorter, about my own size actually, so I know what kind of pressure Chad will feel in this fight.
“People are always going to talk, but if you’re comparing Conor now to many years ago when he had just started [McGregor suffered two submission losses early in his career], he’s totally different. A different animal altogether right now.
“People will be surprised because I’m sure Chad will try a few takedowns and Conor will stuff them. Even if Chad does manage to get him down, Conor will be back on his feet right away and I believe he’ll win by a nice KO.”
Jose Aldo may no longer be the opponent, but Conor McGregor now potentially has the opportunity to silence even more doubters than he would have had against the Brazilian.
Yeah, cheers Tony. I’m sure the lads are delighted with your faith in them.
He’s right though, would we beat the All Blacks or South Africa now? Unlikely. England and Australia ahead of us as well and we caught Wales on a bad day.Also most think we will take Scotland handy enough, not so sure. All sounds negative i know, but its where we’re at right now.
That’s the spirit Tony !!!
Tony Ward is some waffler.
Grrat to have faith in the lads ,I DO!!!!!
It’s amazing how many ex players honestly don’t want Ireland to make a semi final. The begrudgery in this country is scary.
@Chris Mc: I don’t see where he said he didn’t want them to make the semi’s. Just that he didn’t believe they would. Surely nothing wrong with that??
@Chris Mc: Vert true Chris, Ward is right as often as he won with Ireland….
He’s right though. He’s allowed express an honest opinion.
@Bill Clay: right about what?, that Ireland will lose to NZ/SA at quarter final stage, yes he’s allowed to express an opinion, but that doesn’t mean he’s right or wrong seen as this game hasn’t even happened yet.
@DERRY1973: they will lose to sa.. I know the irfu fanboys won’t appreciate that
@Bill Clay: What!? call yourself a fan!?! Call yourself an Irishman?! Call yourself a bill!?…
@Bill Clay: Ward is rarely right. You must be new to the sport….example , here he is picking the 2011 Irish WC team…..https://www.therugbyforum.com/threads/tony-wards-30-man-ireland-squad-for-the-world-cup.22995/ If you read him often enough, you will see most lads on here the 42 are more informative.
Give the lads a chance!
You can’t slate the guy for being honest. And as much as want Ireland to go on to the semi final and further, if im honest, I don’t think they will.
@gillespieonthew: I honestly didn’t think we would beat NZ twice in 3 years.
Christ, that’s the spirt Ward. Can just imagine , you and Neil Francis , hanging around with each other, talking absolute b*******
It might suit us to be underdogs in qf, Last 2 world cups we had so-called favourable draws against Wales and Argentina and were well-beaten in both. South Africa being talked up an awful lot but if we play well we have every chance against them. I would be less hopeful against NZ but even that is not impossible. Let’s not write
ourselves off too soon
I have to say, it’s really frustrating to see commentators write off Scotland. Glasgow regularly put Irish clubs to the sword and we rarely have a walkover with scotland. Their back three have plenty speed and could skin us.
@B Collins: They could but they wont
@B Collins: Scotland have beaten us once in the last 7 games we’ve played against them. A game where they played well, we played badly, which was played in Murrayfield and it was still a 1 score game. Their record against tier 1 countries outside Murrayfield is incredibly poor. They could beat us, but it would be unlikely and would be counter to almost everything we’ve seen on the recent past.
@b collins: not regularly Irish clubs beat them when it counts
@B Collins: Good point, i said it earlier, everyone thinks we’ll take the Scots easy enough, not so sure…. although we will prob get to quarter final, but thats as far as we go i reckon. This is based on current form.
When is the last time we lost to either of those teams? 2 years ago?? After we beat SA to a series at home and beat NZ in Chicago? My memory is not what it used to be but the $h1t€ coming out of these pundits leaves me steaming hastag awkwardfacts
An Ireland vs England final would be my dream scenario too!!!! Fingers crossed!! Éire abú!!!!!!!!
Putting the moan already typical in English football but not expected here lets get behind the team go on Ireland