THERE WAS SOMETHING different about Conor McGregor at last night’s UFC 194 pre-fight press conference and it was evident as soon as he appeared on stage.
McGregor doesn’t normally require much encouragement to show off his latest custom-made suit, and a press conference ahead of the biggest fight of his life seemed like the perfect opportunity to put some of his sharp attire on display.
As his fellow UFC 194 headliners — Jose Aldo, Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhold — all emerged in their finest formal wear, McGregor sported a sky blue polo shirt and jeans. A tidy outfit, but a much more casual and relaxed one than what we’re used to.
“I still feel, looking around the table, that I am the best dressed,” said McGregor, defiantly.
It soon became clear that the UFC interim featherweight champion’s clothing reflected his mood. The Conor McGregor who appeared in front of the press last night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena was a Conor McGregor we’ve seldom seen before.
Unusually laid-back, the 27-year-old exuded an eerie sense of calm as he methodically responded to the media’s questions; a far cry from the snarling urchin who tormented Jose Aldo on previous occasions.
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As always, McGregor was assured in his projections for the fight — “It will be wrapped up inside one round” — but there was respect and, dare we say it, class about how he conducted himself. There was even a dignified nod in Aldo’s direction following their staredown.
Maybe it was a sense of relief. After a year-long build-up, the preparations have ended, the weight-cut is on schedule and this fight is finally about to happen. Despite rumours that gathered momentum online yesterday, Aldo hasn’t pulled out again. The Brazilian is here and he’s ready.
“I am in a state of zen right now. My mind is calm. Composed. I am prepared. And I am happy. I am happy we are here. This must be close to 15 press conferences I have done without getting to fight this man, so I am happy we are here now,” McGregor said.
“My preparation has been perfect. Training at home does something for me. Preparing in my homeland does something for me. Now I’m here and I’m fully ready. And that’s it. I am in a state of zen, ready to put on the performance of my life.”
The differences in McGregor didn’t end there either. Until now, the SBG athlete has insisted that he doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone. But that appears to have changed. “I am a man with a point to prove,” he said on several occasions.
“I enjoy listening to the reasons why I’m here; the excuses of previous [opponents]. There were many, many times they looked to discredit me and what I’ve achieved in my career, in this company.
It was a busy media day at the MGM Grand.
“Right now I feel I have the right opponent — the pound-for-pound number one, undefeated [in] 10 years, the only featherweight champion. What can they say now? What can they say after Jose falls? I look forward to proving my point and what I’ve been saying over these years.”
Perhaps it’s still a little too early in the week for his army of followers to make themselves heard, but the press conference was surprisingly low-key from the fans’ perspective, with only a few hundred turning up.
There were seven men available for interview on the stage but, more often than not, the questions were for McGregor. That didn’t appear to sit well with middleweight title challenger Luke Rockhold, who recently expressed his dislike for the Irishman.
As McGregor waxed lyrical, to his left, Rockhold waited to be asked about the most important fight of his career. Over 30 minutes into the press conference, Ariel Helwani put him out of his misery.
Conor McGregor has his say as Luke Rockhold looks on.
Through Irish eyes, Saturday’s UFC featherweight title unification bout between Aldo and McGregor is the only show worth talking about, but the reality here in Las Vegas is that it’s not even the biggest show in town.
That honour goes to the National Rodeo Finals — “The Super Bowl for cowboys,” I’m told — which are taking place in Vegas throughout the week. Close to half a million people will visit the city for the event, so the estimated Irish invasion of 5,000 fans will have considerable competition for elbow room at the bars around the MGM Grand.
Today, Aldo and McGregor will entertain the fans with their open workouts, tomorrow they’ll step on the scales and on Saturday they’ll saddle up for what could be the biggest fight this young sport has ever seen.
With a combined professional record of 43-3, neither of these fighters are particularly familiar with the taste of defeat. That’ll have to change for one of them this weekend, however, because there can only be one King of the Rodeo.
A Letter from Las Vegas: Introducing a Conor McGregor we haven't seen before
- Paul Dollery reports from Las Vegas
THERE WAS SOMETHING different about Conor McGregor at last night’s UFC 194 pre-fight press conference and it was evident as soon as he appeared on stage.
McGregor doesn’t normally require much encouragement to show off his latest custom-made suit, and a press conference ahead of the biggest fight of his life seemed like the perfect opportunity to put some of his sharp attire on display.
As his fellow UFC 194 headliners — Jose Aldo, Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhold — all emerged in their finest formal wear, McGregor sported a sky blue polo shirt and jeans. A tidy outfit, but a much more casual and relaxed one than what we’re used to.
“I still feel, looking around the table, that I am the best dressed,” said McGregor, defiantly.
It soon became clear that the UFC interim featherweight champion’s clothing reflected his mood. The Conor McGregor who appeared in front of the press last night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena was a Conor McGregor we’ve seldom seen before.
Unusually laid-back, the 27-year-old exuded an eerie sense of calm as he methodically responded to the media’s questions; a far cry from the snarling urchin who tormented Jose Aldo on previous occasions.
As always, McGregor was assured in his projections for the fight — “It will be wrapped up inside one round” — but there was respect and, dare we say it, class about how he conducted himself. There was even a dignified nod in Aldo’s direction following their staredown.
Maybe it was a sense of relief. After a year-long build-up, the preparations have ended, the weight-cut is on schedule and this fight is finally about to happen. Despite rumours that gathered momentum online yesterday, Aldo hasn’t pulled out again. The Brazilian is here and he’s ready.
“I am in a state of zen right now. My mind is calm. Composed. I am prepared. And I am happy. I am happy we are here. This must be close to 15 press conferences I have done without getting to fight this man, so I am happy we are here now,” McGregor said.
The differences in McGregor didn’t end there either. Until now, the SBG athlete has insisted that he doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone. But that appears to have changed. “I am a man with a point to prove,” he said on several occasions.
“I enjoy listening to the reasons why I’m here; the excuses of previous [opponents]. There were many, many times they looked to discredit me and what I’ve achieved in my career, in this company.
“Right now I feel I have the right opponent — the pound-for-pound number one, undefeated [in] 10 years, the only featherweight champion. What can they say now? What can they say after Jose falls? I look forward to proving my point and what I’ve been saying over these years.”
Perhaps it’s still a little too early in the week for his army of followers to make themselves heard, but the press conference was surprisingly low-key from the fans’ perspective, with only a few hundred turning up.
There were seven men available for interview on the stage but, more often than not, the questions were for McGregor. That didn’t appear to sit well with middleweight title challenger Luke Rockhold, who recently expressed his dislike for the Irishman.
As McGregor waxed lyrical, to his left, Rockhold waited to be asked about the most important fight of his career. Over 30 minutes into the press conference, Ariel Helwani put him out of his misery.
Through Irish eyes, Saturday’s UFC featherweight title unification bout between Aldo and McGregor is the only show worth talking about, but the reality here in Las Vegas is that it’s not even the biggest show in town.
That honour goes to the National Rodeo Finals — “The Super Bowl for cowboys,” I’m told — which are taking place in Vegas throughout the week. Close to half a million people will visit the city for the event, so the estimated Irish invasion of 5,000 fans will have considerable competition for elbow room at the bars around the MGM Grand.
Today, Aldo and McGregor will entertain the fans with their open workouts, tomorrow they’ll step on the scales and on Saturday they’ll saddle up for what could be the biggest fight this young sport has ever seen.
With a combined professional record of 43-3, neither of these fighters are particularly familiar with the taste of defeat. That’ll have to change for one of them this weekend, however, because there can only be one King of the Rodeo.
‘If you want to win some easy money you’ll bet on Jose Aldo’
From famine to feast: Conor McGregor’s relationship with the media
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Conor McGregor Jose Aldo Las Vegas MGM Grand mixed martial arts MMA UFC UFC 194 Ultimate Fighting Championship