“I think he was playing both sides during the fight!”
Conor McGregor put UFC history to one side to cheer on two of his old title rivals – Eddie Alvarez and Chad Mendes – on Saturday night in Colorado.
The former UFC feather- and light-weight champion was at Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship’s big show in Broomfield as a host of MMA stars did as advertised and tore into each other without padded gloves.
Mike Perry won the main event bout against Luke Rockhold, with McGregor getting invited in for a post-fight face-off against ‘Platinum’ and declaring, “I’m down for this.”
The Dubliner had a front row seat for the main event and was often out of it as he shadow-boxed and roared the fighters on, stopping occasionally to take a slug from a Proper 12 whiskey bottle. He also played corner-man to both Mendes and Alvarez as they squared off.
There was one moment, near the end of the third round, when Mendes dropped his defences and McGregor roared out “Uppercut!”
Alvarez took his advice, landed the shot then pointed in McGregor’s direction to thank him for the call.
Conor McGregor would be a tremendous cornerman. @TheNotoriousMMA pic.twitter.com/WHnzzso65v
— Attar (@atawatark) April 30, 2023
Conor McGregor’s history with Eddie Alvarez and Chad Mendes
In his UFC pomp, Conor McGregor fought both Chad Mendes and Eddie Alvarez for titles. He knocked out Mendes to win the interim featherweight belt then, after beating José Aldo and splitting two bouts with Nate Diaz, he stopped Alvarez to become lightweight champion.
Asked about the coaching advice from his old UFC rival, after the fight, Alvarez said:
“I thought he yelled uppercut for me to do it but I overheard that he was also helping Chad, so I think he was playing both sides!”
Eddie Alvarez says Conor McGregor was "playing both sides" from ringside during his #BKFC41 fight with Chad Mendes. 😂
Full interview: https://t.co/eTtrQkRjxl pic.twitter.com/KTRT3z3Dja
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) April 30, 2023
Eddie Alvarez & Chad Mendes on Conor McGregor watching their fight ringside #BKFC41 Full interview here ——> https://t.co/C8PHSD0bRe pic.twitter.com/5QkdzH1QQq
— Helen Yee (@HelenYeeSports) April 30, 2023
Following the BKFC 41 bout, Chad Mendes announced it was his last professional fight in combat sports.
In his career, ‘Money’ has fought several MMA legends, including McGregor, Alvarez, Alexander Volkanovski, José Aldo (twice) and Cub Swanson.
Related links:
- Vintage Max Holloway hands Arnold Allen his first UFC defeat
- Conor McGregor reveals release date and trailer for his Netflix documentary series
- Jon Jones wins heavyweight title at UFC 285 as Ian Garry secures impressive TKO victory
- Two of Conor McGregor’s former opponents have signed up for a bare-knuckle fight
