Welcome to the party
Conor McGregor keeps adding high profile supporters, and it seems that he has just won over one of Ireland’s greatest ever sportsmen after his recent win over Chad Mendes.
McGregor answered all of his critics who felt he would not be able to compete with the wrestler last week in Vegas with a second round TKO.
But Barry McGuigan, who is a former world boxing champion, feels that it is actually McGregor’s punching power that is most impressive in his rise up through the ranks of UFC.
McGuigan feels that the Dubliner’s stance and style has been key to his success:
“He’s a southpaw and it’s his boxing skills that wins him most of these fights.”
“He’s a puncher. He’s not a grappler like the guy was the other night. And I swear to god I said it, I hadn’t even sent out the tweet, it said ‘Get on your feet McGregor, that’s where you’re doing your damage’.
Come @TheNotoriousMMA get back on your feet that where your doing your damage.
— Barry McGuigan (@ClonesCyclone) July 12, 2015
The Monaghan man is in Texas for tonight’s fight between Carl Frampton and Alejandro Gonzalez Jr, and admits that he has been left hugely impressed by a sport that he was not always a massive fan of:
“McGregor is a phenomenon.
“It is genuinely phenomenal, in the very meaning of the word. He is a one-off personality wise. He completely believes he can beat anybody. That is so important in this business of combat. I wouldn’t be a major UFC fan, but I really respect the hell out of him.”
Great performance @TheNotoriousMMA, had to handle some difficult moments but when he was on his feet using his boxing/punching #unstoppable
— Barry McGuigan (@ClonesCyclone) July 12, 2015
If McGregor does eventually beat Jose Aldo it has been suggested that a first title defence could be held in Croke Park at some stage next year.
However McGuigan feels that there is simply no venue here that could hold the crowds ‘The Notorious’ would attract
“He hadn’t been on his feet ten seconds and that was it, lights out. But it’s everything with him, it’s the skills, the passion, the adoration of the fans. There isn’t an arena big enough for him back in Ireland.”
H/t to RTE
