McGregor to appear in Game of Thrones
The Belfast newspaper Sunday Life says McGregor has filmed a cameo for the next season of Game Of Thrones, which is filming in Belfast and other locations. It is not known what McGregor’s role will be. Source:
It’s been agreed that McGregor will appear in one of the remaining two seasons of Game of Thrones. He was headhunted as it were by HBO, as one of the Game of Thrones directors is a huge UFC fan. They believed that he would be a perfect fit for the show.
Lobov: McGregor only one to hurt me
Lobov says that no-one has hurt him as much as McGregor.
Artem Lobov (@RusHammerMMA) on McGregor’s power: “I honestly don’t remember being hurt by anyone other than Conor”https://t.co/Bb0DrWxKho pic.twitter.com/aBhvSV3nvm
— The Mac Life (@TheMacLife) December 4, 2016
McGregor to walkout at MSG with Conlan
Conlan announces that McGregor will carry the Irish flag during the walkout for his first professional bout at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
When @TheNotoriousMMA agrees to Walk out Madison Sq Gardens for @mickconlan11 debut 🍀👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/VCYaEqutk7
— The Devenish (@TheDevenish) December 2, 2016
McGregor to Malignaggi: ‘Who the f-ck is that guy?’
During the interview at Devenish nightclub in Belfast, McGregor responds to Malignaggi.
Who the f-ck is that guy? I don’t know who the f-ck that is, but I’ll slap the nose off him, if he mentions my name again.
https://www.facebook.com/1239778646080365/videos/1246879555370274/
Devenish behind-the-scenes video
The Mac Life releases behind-the-scenes video of McGregor’s interview and speech at Devenish nightclub in Belfast.
If I focus with the work ethic I have solely on the sport of boxing, there’s no telling what I could do. I would not go in there just to show up, I’d go in there to knock [Floyd] out. That’s it. He can be hit, he’s been hit before.
Nominated for RTÉ Sportsperson of the year
McGregor makes the shortlist for the RTÉ Sportsperson of the Year. Other sportspeople shortlisted include rugby player Jamie Heaslip, boxer Carl Frampton and Olympic rowing medalist Paul O’Donovan. The winner is determined by fans, who can vote for McGregor by texting ‘I’ to 53125 (Ire & NI only), or by voting online here. Voting closes Monday 12 December at 10am with the winner announced live on Saturday 17 December. The award ceremony will be screened the same day at 9pm.
McGregor gives advice to Conlan
McGregor gives some words of advice to Conlan.
I’ve no doubt Michael, you’re a solid, solid boxer. You are skilled boxers down here [Belfast]. You’ve got good backing, and the sky’s the limit for you and I look forward to following your career. The sky is the limit, you just have to stay focused. I don’t have to tell you to train hard. You’re hard worker and a successful amateur boxer and you’re climbing into the pro ranks. I don’t have to sit here and say ‘hey kid, hit the bag three times a week.’ You go in and you be yourself, get that win, and then there’s no stopping you. So you just keep your head down, stay working, take no prisoners in there. I just have to tell you to go out and be yourself, take no shit. That’s the main thing, take no prisoners. Let the whole division you’re in know what you’re coming to do, then go out and follow what you’ve said, go and do it, and the rest falls into place.
McGregor: ‘You got to take them belts off me physically if you want them’
During the interview at Devenish nightclub in Belfast, McGregor talks about his belts.
The UFC is trying to strip me. I ain’t stripped! I still got that belt. I’m still the two weight world champion. I see articles, stuff online. But I don’t see the belt not in my presence…
Were you forced to give the belt up, or did you relinquish it?
Eddie’s still unconscious! I only fought last week. Them belts are mine…Jose was KO’d. Eddie was KO’d. You’re looking at a two weight world champion, and that’s me. I say to the UFC, you’re fooling nobody with that…You got to take them belts off me physically if you want them.
https://www.facebook.com/TheMcGregorEra/videos/406081296391227/
McGregor: I’d go in there to knock Floyd out
During the interview at Devenish nightclub McGregor talks about Mayweather:
If I focus with the work ethic I have solely on the sport of boxing, there’s no telling what I could do. I would not go in there just to show up, I’d go in there to knock [Floyd] out. That’s it. He can be hit, he’s been hit before. Age waits for no man also, so I know they know that. I know the size is on my side, I know the reach is on my side, I know the youth is on my side. There’s a lot to lose for them, so that’s why their scrambling… But that’s okay, I’ll leave them scrambling. I’ve got some other boxing opportunities and potential opponents in mind. Some previous Floyd opponents. They can bring in anyone in the game. We’ll see what happens.
McGregor: ‘I don’t give a f-ck about Floyd!’
McGregor is interviewed at an event in Devenish nightclub in Belfast.
Originally what happened was: Floyd called me out. i don’t give a f-ck about Floyd. I don’t fear no man, under no rule set…and he leaks a rumour that we were going to fight. But it opened my eyes a bit. And I thought, hold on, maybe I can pursue this. Maybe I can pursue the boxing side…We were in the background with negotiations. It’s their move now. Since I got that boxing license, Floyd’s fat manager came out, ‘Floyd’s in the bahamas. He doesn’t care about Conor’. Well I don’t give a f-ck about Floyd either…So I don’t need Floyd. I hold all the numbers. I don’t need Floyd.
White: ‘I have no idea what Conor is doing’
White says that, despite getting a boxing license, McGregor is still under contract to UFC.
I have no idea what Conor is doing. Conor’s Conor. He does his thing. But he’s under contract to me. Who knows with this guy? Who knows what he is up to. I just let Conor be Conor. And the other thing is, it’s fun to talk about this fight and what might happen, but what commission would let that fight happen? Really, think about that.
Frampton: McGregor can’t beat Mayweather
Frampton says McGregor cannot beat Mayweather.
He’s almost like sticking the fingers up to the UFC. He can say ‘I can do what I want’. I like him. Fair play to him. We don’t know [if he’s the real deal in boxing] yet. Give him a year or so and who knows? He comes from a boxing background…He can obviously punch very hard…I would love to [work out with him]. He’s someone I admire a lot.
Can he hang in there with Mayweather.
No-one can. Not at boxing.
Woodley: McGregor’s boxing licence ‘not a bluff’
Woodley says McGregor is not bluffing about boxing.
I don’t know if it’s a punk thing. If it’s something he’s doing, y’know [trying to] show the UFC that he’s the boss. He just ‘relinquished’ his featherweight title, which I don’t think he wanted two belts just to give one up. But, I don’t know what his motives are. For the fans and people who are thinking that this is a bluff, it’s not really a bluff. If Conor decided that ‘I wanna walk and take this $100 million fight with Floyd Mayweather’, no-one, including myself could knock him for doing that. Or [saying] ‘ah, he’s scared to fight’. That’s not really anything…I think [A fight with Mayweather] can be way more interesting than people realise. I can’t just see Floyd Mayweather going out there and just knocking Conor out in the first couple rounds. Conor McGregor, man, he does have some really good timing. If you watch him in his fights, and slow it down a few times. He’s slipping inside, outside. That four piece he hit Eddie Alvarez with, that was one of the slickest combinations I’ve seen in a very long time.
White: McGregor was not forced to give up belt
White says McGregor decided to give up the featherweight title of his own volition before Aldo was named the division’s undisputed champion.
Look, I let Conor fight [Nate] Diaz and then I let him fight Diaz again. Then there was the whole 155-pound thing I let him do. But at the end of the day, him doing that tied up the division for a year. There’s a logjam there and a lot of guys were [angry]…I wanted Aldo to fight Holloway for the belt, but he needed more time. So I looked at it and I said, Well, it makes sense to make Aldo the champion and then have Holloway and Pettis fight for the interim title, and when Jose’s ready, barring any crazy injuries, the winner can fight him.
Malignaggi: ‘I’ll knock McGregor’s beard off’
Former two-weight world boxing champion Malignaggi calls out McGregor.
At first I was telling Conor to stay in his lane and I was thinking ‘you know what, you are going to embarrass yourself’ but if you are really going to disrespect the sport of boxing like that then I would like to be the one to teach you that lesson. I would never disrespect your sport and tell everybody ‘you know what, I could beat the best fighter in the cage’. You shouldn’t come to our sport and tell everybody you could beat the best fighter in our sport in a ring. I know you apologised about absolutely nothing last fight but after I am done with you – I am going to knock the beard off you homie – you are going to be apologising for everything you have been trying to do to get into boxing
Kavanagh explains McGregor holding hands behind back
Coach Kavanagh says McGregor was holding his hands behind his back during his UFC 205 fight with Alvarez due to an injury. He says McGregor’s right index knuckle was hurt during his UFC 202 fight with Nate Diaz, and that was his way of protecting it in training, and also has the added advantage of fooling his opponent into trying to hit his head.
He found that if he actually held his right hand behind his back, it kind of reminded him not to throw it as much. That’s why he started reaching back and actually grabbing his hand. It was almost like a mental note: take care of the right hand…If you put your hands down, an untrained person will try to swing at your head. It’s a base instinct — I want to punch the guy in the head. If you have a very high level of striking, boxing like Conor does, you understand rules like that. I don’t think others are kind of catching up to that level of skill.
McGregor denied Nevada boxing license
Executive Director Bennett says the Nevada Athletic Commission denied an application by McGregor for a licence to box in Nevada. This is due in part to outstanding issues with the state: McGregor has not paid a $75,000 fine for the August bottle-throwing incident during a news conference at the MGM Grand. He must also produce an anti-bullying video. He is currently appealing the fine. Bennett also says that he would have to watch McGregor in a sparring session – either on video or in person – before making a determination if he’s qualified to receive a license to box. Bennett:
Mr. McGregor is an incredibly gifted fighter and athlete. He obviously knows what he’s doing as a fighter and I have the utmost respect for his abilities. But it is a different sport.
Mayweather: McGregor CA license means nothing
The CEO of Mayweather promotions says McGregor’s newly-acquired California boxing licence means nothing:
He got a boxing license. Congratulations to him. Conor McGregor can say anything he wants to, but he has a boss, and his name is Dana White. He is under contract to the UFC, and if he wanted to fight Floyd Mayweather in a boxing match he can’t because his bosses wouldn’t allow that to happen. They would never — and put this in bold caps — let him step into a boxing ring with Floyd Mayweather, because everyone knows what the outcome would be. He would get his ass beat from pillar to post…. I respect all fighters who step in a ring or the Octagon, but Floyd is in the Bahamas enjoying life. He’s not thinking about Conor McGregor or anyone else…What McGregor is attempting to do is take a page out of Floyd’s book from the marketing and promotional side by using his name. The quickest way to become famous is to align yourself with another famous person, and he’s done a good job of that.
McGregor gets California boxing license
McGregor has applied for, and been granted, a boxing license in the state of California. McGregor’s manager Audie Attar:
All I can comment on is that we have been granted a boxing license by the State of California.
GSP to McGregor: You’re not getting your fair share
At a conference call announcing the newly launched MMA Athletes Association (MMAAA) St-Pierre says McGregor, despite being the sport’s highest-paid star, is still underpaid, and appeals to the Irishman for his support.
Even though Conor is the most well (paid) athlete, he doesn’t have his fair share of what he should have. And I’m saying this from the top contestant to Conor McGregor, they don’t have their fair share…There’s something I think about Conor McGregor; I’ve met Conor a couple of times. You have the Conor McGregor that’s a human being and the Conor McGregor of business. The one you see in the UFC is the Conor McGregor that’s business. But the Conor McGregor that’s a human being, I know for sure he knows what’s right. Nobody is a perfect human being, but Conor is not a coward. He knows what’s right, and everybody knows what we’re doing is right. So, of course, we would like to have the biggest name in the sport on board, and we need it.
