CONOR McGREGOR HAS gained a lot of new fans since he joined Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2013, and an Irish Olympian is one of them.
Kieran Behan, who became the second Irish Olympic gymnast in history at London 2012, is full of admiration for the 26-year-old mixed martial arts fighter.
“I find Conor McGregor very inspiring,” Behan told The42. “I think he’s a phenomenal athlete. I’m a big fan of his, he’s pretty special. His mentality, his training, I find it very good for motivating me.”
McGregor has incorporated gymnastics and yoga into his training, and Behan has been very impressed by what he’s seen from the Dublin MMA star’s approach to preparation.
He said: “Conor is tapping into things that I think other athletes should do. You see a lot of crossfit now and things like that, and they’re using gymnastics-based strength work. It’s all power and you can see that he’s using things like that. He’s doing muscle-ups, he’s using rings and he’s got a lot of flexibility into his training as well.
“I think other athletes in other sports should try and tap into that too. I think they’d notice a massive difference. People in other sports can use gymnastics to their benefit and I’d recommend it a lot.
“Conor McGregor is using a lot of gymnastics and yoga and you can see what it’s doing, because he’s an extremely explosive fighter. He’s powerful, and gymnastics is all about being explosive and powerful at the right times.
“Gymnasts’ bodies are built for power geared towards timing and technique; knowing how and when to use it, and Conor seems to have a lot of that. That’s one of the reasons why he’s such a brilliant athlete.”
McGregor will aim to become a UFC world champion in Las Vegas on 11 July when he takes on reigning featherweight title-holder Jose Aldo at UFC 189. Behan will be watching and he fancies McGregor’s chances.
“I think McGregor will win, for sure,” Behan said. “Aldo’s on his way out and I think it’ll take someone like Conor to capitalise on that. He’s got the right mentality in the way he goes about what he does.
“You can see that he trains extremely hard and I’m sure he’s supremely confident because of the amount of hours he’s putting in. I think that will take him to the next level.
“He knows that he’s done the hard graft and his skillset is always going to be there. It’s just about continuing to enhance it and that’s exactly what he’s doing when he’s training. I believe he can do it. I really hope he does.”
Kieran Behan will fly out to Baku today for the 2015 European Games. We’ll bring you an in-depth interview with the Irish gymnast this weekend.
BT Ireland has announced the renewal of their partnership with Irish Olympic gymnast Kieran Behan for a further two years as he continues on the road to Rio 2016. Kieran competes in the 2015 European Games in Baku, starting on 12 June, which is available to view on BT Sport.
– First published at 06.00
I wonder how long it takes him to sign a few Irish in Bristol? Not saying it’s a bad thing but as he said he knows how good some of these players are
@Chris Mcdonnell: Well he’s already got Mads!
@RMcG: fair point I forgot about him but I was taking more about young players maybe second in line at their clubs.
I’m delighted for marmion. He got total of 6 minutes in the first two south African tests and was then replaced for the third by a player who had just announced his international retirement. He was clearly a player who deserved better than that and it took an injury to Murray to get his chance to show it. Still prefer Murray but Al least now we know that we have two 9s and 10s capable of playing.
Better than Murray potentially
@Alan Barber: that’s silly talk. Can you just not say he’s a fantastic player.
@Chris Mcdonnell: No. No I can’t Christmas Bells.
@Chris Mcdonnell: Chris this Alan b is like a sepsis on the 42. He lives on the soccer articles spewing about Man U or Liverpool can’t tell which as I don’t engage and now unfortunately he has infected the rugby comments.
My advice would be not to acknowledge him and hopefully he gets a job or something in the meantime
@bobby henderson: can just mute him. That’s what I did
There is no better preparation for playing Test Rugby, than actually playing test rugby. Critical that Murray has a deputy that is totally armed top step in when required. But is should not require injury to Murray for Marmion (or AN Other scrumhalf) to get sufficient game time to progress…
his big hots playing on the wing against Australia changed Joe’s perception of him
Marmion should be considered just as “cover” for Murray. He’s a different type of player and one that should be used when the strategy is complimented by his skillset. His consistent speed of delivery is top-drawer and he has the speed and eye for a gap to keep fringe defenses from taking short-cuts.
@Dennis Laffey: indeed it’s his eye for a gap that sets him apart from Murray. Marmion is such a nuggety little player, bristles with intent with or without the ball. If your an opposition nine he must drive you demented….
For me Murray rarely breaks whether it’s strategy or. choice,but it’s an oddity for a nine of his size who is by no means slow.
But it astonishes me given how much team’s target Sexton, that he doesn’t carry the ball up more himself and keep opposition backrows guessing….
Have some decorum, Daragh, its’ free