Conor McGregor is easily one of the most recognizable figures in the sport of MMA and maybe even in professional sports. The 26-year-old has criss-crossed the globe, going from continent to continent during the UFC world tour, over the last several months in an effort to increase anticipation for the summer blockbuster pay-per-view of the year UFC 189, which takes place July 11.
The brash Irish No. 1 featherweight contender in the world is set to face No. 2 ranked Chad Mendes for the interim 145-pound title after champion Jose Aldo pulled out of his fight with McGregor due to a broken rib. This will not quell the the palpable buzz surrounding the PPV in any way.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=LAhpQzWz07U
McGregor and Mendes have spit searing hot vitriol at each other in the month since the latter replaced Aldo in the UFC 189 main event.
Lost in all of the media obligations, commercial shoots and magazine covers is McGregor’s training camp. Most UFC fighters will typically cut large amounts of weight — sometimes in excess of 15 pounds in a five-day period – and “Notorious” is no different.
The Dublinator must weigh-in at 145 or 146 pounds on July 10. Former UFC two-division title contender Chael Sonnen told Jim Rome that when he sat down with McGregor for an interview with ESPN the latter told him that he weighed 172 pounds.
That would mean McGregor would need to have lost 27 pounds in an eight-day period between the time he saw the Irishman and the day of the UFC 189 weigh-ins. An incredible feat of dieting and determination for the man with a spotless Octagon record.
It should be noted that McGregor has teased the idea of moving up in weight before to the lightweight division seeing as he’s one of the 145-pound divisions tallest and strongest fighters at 5’9″.
While he awaits his big payday in Las Vegas, McGregor has already starting angling for bets with none other than his employer and friend UFC president Dana White.
White told Rome when he appeared on the show on Tuesday that McGregor guaranteed he would knockout “Money” Mendes in the second round. Oh, and he would put a $3 million price tag on it.
Not too shabby for McGregor, who also inked his own solo sponsorship deal with Reebok back in January.
