WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING champion Tyson Fury has accused Conor McGregor of copying his brash style.
McGregor is days away from the biggest fight of his career against Jose Aldo in a hugely anticipated featherweight unification bout at UFC 194.
Aldo has never been beaten in the UFC, and Fury drew comparisons between Saturday night’s Las Vegas showdown and his own shock title win against long-time champion Wladimir Klitschko.
“I think (McGregor) copied me in everything he does,” Fury told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour.
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“I was the first trash-talker big time on these shores, Britain and Ireland, and all of a sudden he started copying me, this Conor McGregor guy.
“I grew a big beard and he grew a big beard. I talked bullshit about everybody, then he starts talking bullshit about everybody.
“If it worked for the heavyweight champion of the world, it must work for Conor McGregor, some guy who’s like 140lbs or whatever he is.”
Fury, who has held previously talks with mixed martial arts promotion Bellator and once challenged former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, dismissed MMA as a sport “for people who can’t box.”
But he revealed that McGregor’s rise has sparked his interested.
I am a fan of his. He’s copied my style so I’ve got to admire him for it.
“I’ve never met him but the guy’s a very entertaining character.
“Conor McGregor got me actually physically watching MMA and wanting to check the results, because the way he was carrying himself, I thought this guy has got a fair bit of myself in him so I better check him out.
I saw the fight with the Mendes guy, the interim championship fight, and I will be watching the Aldo fight because he’s had a fair bit to say, Conor McGregor.
He added: “It’s a bit like my fight with Klitschko. Aldo is the reigning champion for many years and he’s the new kid on the block coming up, shouting his mouth off.
“Some people say he’s a pretender, some people say he’s the real deal. That was it with me and Klitschko.”
Tyson Fury: 'Conor McGregor copied me in everything he does'
WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING champion Tyson Fury has accused Conor McGregor of copying his brash style.
McGregor is days away from the biggest fight of his career against Jose Aldo in a hugely anticipated featherweight unification bout at UFC 194.
Aldo has never been beaten in the UFC, and Fury drew comparisons between Saturday night’s Las Vegas showdown and his own shock title win against long-time champion Wladimir Klitschko.
“I think (McGregor) copied me in everything he does,” Fury told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour.
“I was the first trash-talker big time on these shores, Britain and Ireland, and all of a sudden he started copying me, this Conor McGregor guy.
“I grew a big beard and he grew a big beard. I talked bullshit about everybody, then he starts talking bullshit about everybody.
“If it worked for the heavyweight champion of the world, it must work for Conor McGregor, some guy who’s like 140lbs or whatever he is.”
Fury, who has held previously talks with mixed martial arts promotion Bellator and once challenged former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, dismissed MMA as a sport “for people who can’t box.”
But he revealed that McGregor’s rise has sparked his interested.
“I’ve never met him but the guy’s a very entertaining character.
“Conor McGregor got me actually physically watching MMA and wanting to check the results, because the way he was carrying himself, I thought this guy has got a fair bit of myself in him so I better check him out.
He added: “It’s a bit like my fight with Klitschko. Aldo is the reigning champion for many years and he’s the new kid on the block coming up, shouting his mouth off.
“Some people say he’s a pretender, some people say he’s the real deal. That was it with me and Klitschko.”
McGregor is aiming to achieve something only three UFC fighters have done before
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Conor McGregor Copy Cat Jose Aldo Tyson Fury