THE UFC HAVE made no secret of the fact that they’ve got great expectations when it comes to Conor McGregor.
But comments from UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, which appeared in USA Today this morning, indicate just how highly ‘The Notorious’ is rated by the promotion.
Fertitta seldom opens up to the media, but he obviously makes exceptions when asked about the 26-year-old Dubliner, who headlines this weekend’s UFC Fight Night 59 event against Dennis Siver at the TD Garden in Boston.
“I hate even saying this, but with his gift of gab and his athletic ability and fighting ability, it’s almost like the Irish Muhammad Ali in a way,” Fertitta said.
“To compare anybody to Ali is kind of stupid because of all the other great things that were associated with him from a social movement and everything else. But Conor has just got that sparkle, that thing to him.
“Wherever he goes — whether we put him on TV, whether he’s doing an interview, whether he’s around a group of people — he just is the center of attention.
“He’s got that special quality, and for a guy that’s fought in the UFC four times to have the interest of GQ Magazine, Men’s Health, ESPN? He’s got it.”
Sure, in reality McGregor may have a long way to go before replicating the achievements of one of the greatest athletes of all-time, but how many King Crisps adverts has Muhammad Ali starred in?
Originally published at 16.55
In all fairness he’s a long way off Ali in terms of both wit and charm. Fertitta is hyping up what he sees as a possible cash cow by mentioning him in the same sentence as the ‘Greatest’.
Ali was funny and intelligent more often than not. Ali was arguably the greatest athlete of all time during an era when the quality of opponent was savage. Fair play to Conor Mc for making a name for himself and becoming a household name more or less overnight in sporting terms but the Ali comparison is just plain stupid.
McGregor is the Irish Prince Naseem Named.
Full of it, good entertainment value, obviously doing his best to rip off Ali’s smack talk. However his record doesn’t stand up to any great scrutiny yet.
Ali was the undisputed champion of the fighting world, Conor is not even a champion yet. He does the gabby stuff like Ali did and so far had beat everything in front of him but he’s no Ali
Is it true McGregor wouldn’t attend the rte sports awards before xmas as they wouldn’t pay him?
I can’t believe the sheer amount of people that took it that way. He didn’t turn up because he wasn’t nominated. It’s as simple as that. He started saying the other stuff because as long as RTE are paying him for other things , he’s happy. It’s amazing that he didn’t attend that one because of money but he turned up to an even smaller event about the country’s best dressed male , explain that one then? Hardly think they paid him for that.
Full of shite
What utter tripe. Ali was a world champion and back up his big mouth. Mcgregor has won jack Shit and is all talk. Shimples as that
Ali got flattened by Henry Cooper before he fought Sonny Liston and his corner cheated by stalling for time while he was all over the place. Like it or not, it’s true and it took some shine away from him. Also , Ali was talking much like McGregor before he won the heavyweight title. I specifically remember him saying if he lost to Cooper he wouldn’t return to the USA for a month.
Ya Simon I mean anyone who ever talks about Ali mentions the tactics from the corner and how it has overshadowed his legacy, seriously? I think boxing fans and MMA fans need to appreciate both sports instead of making stupid comments.
Hope to Jaysus he doesent get floored in the first minute…. no amount of “Bullshit” then will lift us off the floor. ..
IS UFC even a legit sport? Its like WWF isnt it? Ali won an olympic gold when he was 18.
Thomas, UFC is not a sport. It’s an organisation you dumbass.
How many Irish athletes could see out croke park??? He’s just comparing him to Ali for the promotion of the ufc . Infairness Mcgregor is a legend he’s done what no1 else in the ufc has done and that is make serious cash in a short time ! When he’s champ everyone will be jumping on the band wagon
And then he said…
Sell out croke park