This is a small excerpt of my conversation with @TheNotoriousMMA. I’ll let you judge for yourself, and you can’t fully grasp it from this clip, but he appears to be in a much happier, calmer place. Owned up to a lot, too. pic.twitter.com/etnhEj6koB
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) January 11, 2020
Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3045670/ufc-conor-mcgregor-under-weight-cowboy-fight Mixed Martial Arts
UFC: Conor McGregor ‘under weight’ for ‘Cowboy’ fight; thinks Cerrone ‘doesn’t look well at 155’
- The Irishman says he only weighs ‘160 and a bit’ ahead of UFC 246 return at welterweight
- ‘He’s a 170 fighter. I’d beat him at any weight, I’d beat him if I had the flu’
Conor McGregor poses ahead of his return at UFC 246. Photo: Instagram
Conor McGregor’s decision to return to the UFC at welterweight certainly raised a few eyebrows.
But the former featherweight and lightweight champion has said he simply didn’t think Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone could give him his best at 155 pounds.
“I’m under weight right now. I’m under weight, I’d say 160 and a bit,” the Irishman told ESPN’s Ariel Helwani ahead of next weekend’s UFC 246 main event. “I could have … I just don’t think he looks well at 155. He’s a 170 fighter.
“I don’t care, no. I’d beat him at any bleeding weight, I’d beat him if I had the flu. I don’t need that. I just wanna focus on my training, keep me sharp. I don’t wanna cut and then build.”
Some fans feel the choice of “Cowboy” for McGregor’s big comeback is a little underwhelming, given the calibre of his previous opponents. But the Irishman doesn’t see it that way.
“Well, I said I’d fight him,” McGregor explained. “We’ve got a history. It’s an exciting bout, it’s a fan friendly bout. I appreciate Donald.
“I saw him at that [Jose] Aldo press conference many years ago, he’s gone on and fought many times. He’s a family man with his grandmother and these things. I also respect the method he went about with the Proper whiskey, so much work goes into these things, to see that bit of respect I appreciate that.
“I look forward to having a good bout. I know you’re not interested in that, but for me in this time in my life it is the right way to go about it, especially now.
“I’m happy to have my comeback, the beginning of my season, against Donald. I’m gonna shine here on January 18, and create magic like I have many times before. This is gonna be special.”