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Conor McGregor with his mother Margaret. AP/Press Association Images

Tony McGregor says seeing Conor hurt against Mendes was 'a terrible shock'

The new UFC interim featherweight champion’s family admit the found UFC 189 tough.

WE ALREADY KNOW Tony McGregor is something of cult hero, not least because of his unwavering belief that his son is the best featherweight MMA fighter in the world.

But even the elder McGregor admits that the family was stunned to see Conor struggle in the first two rounds of his recent UFC 189 bout with Chad Mendes.

Tony McGregor told Ariel Helwani on ‘The MMA Hour‘:

“It was an awesome fight to see and witness him lifting that gold belt, but before that, it was a terrible shock to the family and it was a big shock to the Irish fans as well. We had never seen Conor being taken to the ground like that before.

“I went into shock when I saw him getting tossed around by Chad. We didn’t expect that at all. I was speaking to the fans after and they told me they’d cried during that.

“Nobody was expecting it whatsoever.”

And as they watched, the fear of the unthinkable began to spread.

“My wife panicked and she ran into the back, his two sisters were huddled together hysterical and I think Dee [McGregor's girlfriend] was rooted to the spot crying as well.

“And this was all in the first round.”

Tony says his son’s investment in the promotion of the fight, as well as the bout itself, took a lot out of the new interim featherweight champion.

“He was so drained of emotions and so drained physically after this fight, so just as a family we put our arms around him and said congratulations, this is an amazing achievement. We were all just shaking with joy.”

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13 Comments
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    Mute villa lad
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    Jul 20th 2015, 10:57 PM

    Tony Mc Gregor – dislikable shit talker
    Conor Mc Gregor – likable shit talker

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    Mute Lorcan Bosanquet
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    Jul 20th 2015, 11:10 PM

    Why do you think he’s unlikeable? Bit harsh, seems like a standard enough embarrassing auld lad to me.

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    Mute Michael O' Riordan
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    Jul 20th 2015, 10:40 PM

    Tony McGregor, a cult hero!!
    Rubbish.
    Unlikeable person!!

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    Mute Kevin O'Malley
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    Jul 20th 2015, 11:02 PM

    When he came out with that toy gun in the McGregor documentary……..cringe.

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    Mute Bantersaurus Rex
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    Jul 20th 2015, 11:23 PM

    Not as bad as the poem! I had to literally fast forward through it.

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    Mute Gary
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    Jul 20th 2015, 10:38 PM

    You could see that he wasn’t his usual pumped up self. The promos he did were bound to take their toll. Let’s hope he’s back to his usual self for the Aldo fight.

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    Mute Joe O Reilly
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    Jul 21st 2015, 12:47 AM

    My favourite tony bit was the time he presented Conor with a Muhammad Ali holograph poster as if he had just found an original Van Gogh

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    Mute Aidan Tyrrell
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    Jul 21st 2015, 12:23 AM

    but the sister is one you would take home but you wouldn’t take her home to meet you mother

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    Mute James O'Donoghue
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    Jul 20th 2015, 11:30 PM

    “Every man should have a watch wardrobe”……Tony ya rascal!

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    Mute Nick Nolan
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    Jul 21st 2015, 12:02 AM

    A typical an likeable cringeworthy Irish auld lad that was cleverly edited with extra entertainment value in mind during the documentary and unfortunately came out the other side looking and sounding like a tool.

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    Mute willie
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    Jul 21st 2015, 6:32 AM

    He loves the camera more than Conor…..ass!

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    Mute MARK O 'LEARY
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    Jul 20th 2015, 11:21 PM

    There’s no way he’s unlikable,but i do think he tries too hard to make up for the bad relationship he had with Conor for a few years,don’t criticise him for being a proud father.

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    Mute Ron W
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    Jul 21st 2015, 12:37 AM

    Tonys sound

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