McGregor to host star-studded Notorious premiere in Dublin

Conor McGregor and his partner, Dee Devlin, will host a premiere party for his upcoming movie, Notorious, in Dublin on November. Members of McGregor’s family will also join the event, including his mother and father and sisters, Aoife and Erin. Filmed over four years, the movie is made by the same team that brought viewers the Notorious fly-on-the-wall TV series, which aired on RTE in 2015. Notorious tells the rags-to-riches tale of McGregor’s journey from broke MMA fighter to becoming the biggest star in the UFC. Directed by Dubliner Gavin Fitzgerald and his team, who followed McGregor’s rise from the Straight Blast Gym on the Long Mile Road to winning UFC featherweight and lightweight titles, the film also includes appearances by Arnold Schwarzenegger, UFC President Dana White, and Jose Aldo. The cameras were also with the McGregor camp as the 29-year-old prepared for his boxing debut in the multi-million dollar megafight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. earlier this year. Fitzgerald confirms McGregor himself will be on hand to host a red carpet event in Dublin to celebrate the launch:

The world premiere will be on November 1 in Dublin and Conor will be there and some other big names. It’s going to be a big red-carpet event. Conor really wanted the premiere to be in his hometown. The film will debut here and be released worldwide throughout November…There were times when Conor would tell all the cameras to leave but then say ‘You guys can stay’. We were pretty invasive but Conor was really comfortable with us.

Conor McGregor celebrates Ireland’s World Cup qualifying with beer on yacht

Conor McGregor toasts Irish hero James McClean after he led his country into the World Cup play-offs with an unlikely win against Wales. The West Brom winger scored the only goal of the game to knock rivals Wales out of the tournament and give Republic of Ireland a real shot of reaching Russia. Proud Irishman McGregor, took to social media to pay tribute to McClean and the team. He posted a picture of himself on a boat, holding a beer in his left hand, with a huge grin on his face and the caption:

Celebrating Ireland into the World Cup playoffs tonight! Congrats to the boys in green, especially young Jimmy McClean.

Ireland will be unseeded in Tuesday’s play-off draw and could end up facing Italy or Portugal over two legs, although manager Martin O’Neill had a message for his side’s potential opponents. Asked if he feared any team, he replied:

I don’t think everybody would want to play us. Do I fear teams in there? Absolutely, every one of them, every single one of them. But I have always feared teams, it’s the best way to be. And then we go out and beat them. I think I speak for a lot of the nations in the play-offs – I don’t think anyone would want to play Italy, I don’t think anyone would want to be playing Portugal – although Portugal might beat Switzerland – and there are about six others I would rather not have. But I am delighted to be in it.

McGregor ‘in talks over WWE debut’ at Wrestlemania 2018

Having already made his boxing debut, Conor McGregor is reportedly in talks with the WWE to make a shock appearance at Wrestlemania. There are claims that the Irishman is in advanced talks with the organisation over a potential debut at next year’s Wrestlemania, which takes place in April. It is understood McGregor is a huge wrestling fan himself, having already adopted Vince McMahon’s trademark ‘billionaire strut’ around the Octagon. A source told The Irish Sun:

Conor is a huge wrestling fan. His entire persona on stage he has developed from watching performers like Ric Flair and The Rock. These are the top dogs at self-promotion and trash talk. He watched these guys when he was younger. This is something he’s always wanted to do. The WWE guys have asked him to do shows before with them, but the timing was never really right. But this time it looks like a deal is going to be locked into place.

As the current holder of the UFC lightweight belt, McGregor has some unfinished business in his main sport, but WWE chiefs are hopeful of tying up a deal. Last week, WWE’s chief brand officer Stephanie McMahon hinted at the news as she praised McGregor and insisted he would do well in the wrestling ring.

I think Conor would be a perfect fit for WWE. He certainly has the personality, the athletic ability, the appeal. He speaks his mind, he is very genuine and authentic and he has a hell of a Vince McMahon swagger.

McGregor’s coach Kavanagh hits the deck after getting too confident on hoverboard

McGregor’s coach “Coach Kavanagh” tries out his brother’s Hoverboard in Dublin, Ireland. But the coach gets a little too confident with his skills and falls backward off the board.

Conor McGregor's Coach Gets a Little Too Confident on Hoverboard

John Kavanagh targets St. Patrick’s Day in New York for Conor McGregor’s next fight

Coach Kavanagh, says March 17th at Madison Square Garden in New York is a possible date for Conor McGregor’s next fight. Reports last month suggested that McGregor had booked a comeback bout with Nate Diaz that was initially scheduled for December 30th at UFC 219. According to leading MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, that fight and date is still the plan for all parties concerned, but a deal is still far from being finalised. Appearing on The Late Late Show, Kavanagh hinted at an alternative date of March 17th:

We’re already talking about 2018 and some fights in 2018. I’m looking forward to getting him back in the gym and back into the rigmarole of training. I think that’s best for him. I keep saying it out there – so hopefully it becomes a reality – but I would love Madison Square Garden, St. Patrick’s Day, New York, for a Conor fight in the UFC.

Stephanie McMahon describes Conor McGregor as “a perfect fit” for WWE

Stephanie McMahon, WWE’s chief brand officer and daughter of owner Vince McMahon, believes that Conor McGregor’s authenticity and swagger make him a ‘perfect fit for WWE’. McGregor has been linked with a switch to Sports Entertainment previously, due to his mic skills and out-of-ring persona, having become one of the biggest stars in both boxing and MMA. McMahon:

I think Conor would be a perfect fit with WWE. He certainly has the personality and the athletic ability, the appeal. He speaks his mind, he’s very genuine and authentic and he has a hell of a Vince McMahon swagger.

Freddie Roach teases McGregor-GSP fight

Boxing coach Freddie Roach says that he has been training St-Pierre for his upcoming fight with Michael Bisping at UFC 217 for Bisping’s middleweight title. When Roach is asked if he could help improve McGregor’s boxing skills, the 57-year-old dismisses the idea.

It’s too late [for McGregor]…GSP is going to kick his ass anyway.

While there is potential for a 170 pound fight between the two (McGregor fought Nate Diaz at that weight), the UFC denies that such a fight will take place:

GSP is coming back after 4 years off. Conor is looking to defend his title. There is zero talk about GSP vs. Conor.

Tony Ferguson: I’m not interested in fighting Conor McGregor

During the UFC 216 media day on Wednesday, Tony Ferguson says he will not be joining those calling out McGregor.  Ferguson, who will be headlining UFC 216 on Saturday in Las Vegas alongside Kevin Lee, as they fight for the UFC interim lightweight title, says he is not that interested in “red panty night:”

I like blue panties. He’s not gonna defend or vacate, he’s gonna have to fight me. There’s no insider information. He’s never spoken my name. I’m one of the most ruthless vatos out there. This guy, he doesn’t want a part of me. I’m not aiming at him. I don’t give two f–ks.

Ferguson thinks McGregor is avoiding a fight against the best in the division:

I don’t want to fight someone who doesn’t want to fight me or compete against some of the best. When you’re saying, ‘I’ll fight anybody, anytime.’ You’re f–king full of shit. For me, I’ve been fighting anybody, any time, any weight – straight up.

Conor McGregor ‘Notorious’ movie release date set

A documentary about the life and rise of McGregor will be released in cinemas in the U.K and Ireland on November 1. The film follows McGregor from his life on the dole in Ireland, right up to the historic boxing match with Floyd Mayweather in August. McGregor fans in the America and Canada will have to wait until November 8 to watch the film, which will be out in New Zealand and Australia on November 9.

Filmed over the course of 4 years, Notorious is the exclusive, all-access account of Conor’s meteoric rise from claiming benefits and living in his parents’ spare room in Dublin to claiming multiple championship UFC belts and seven-figure pay-packets in Las Vegas. Featuring unprecedented access, never before seen moments and explosive fight footage, this is the ultimate behind-the-scenes look at a sporting icon and his spectacular rise from the bottom to the very top.

Joe Cortez: Why McGregor vs Malignaggi must happen

Joe Cortez knows better than anyone what actually happened between McGregor and Malignaggi in the sparring sessions ahead of McGregor’s fight against Floyd Mayweather.  Cortez, who presided over the sparring sessions to help McGregor gain a better understanding of boxing rules, thinks the dispute between McGregor and Malignaggi should be settled in a rematch for real.

I can tell you that I was there for 12 rounds with them and there was a lot going on. A lot of boxing fans and MMA fans want to know and I can tell you from being there that the fight should happen. It was very competitive. That is what I am saying. I know for a fact that it would make a good fight. It would be a better fight than McGregor vs Mayweather.

Flashback: Conor McGregor Irish step dancing as a kid

Footage is released of McGregor as a young boy, Irish dancing at his First Communion.

Adorable Footage of Conor McGregor Irish Dancing as a Kid

McGregor: If I had another go around, I’d get Mayweather

At a recent Q&A in Glasgow, McGregor says he was impressed with his own performance in ‘The Money Fight’ and believes he schooled Mayweather before fatigue set in.

I improved my boxing skill to an extent. Everyone was saying to me get in and ragdoll him and muscle him from the bell. And I could’ve gone in and done that. But I out-skilled him, I outboxed him early. You can’t deny that. I outboxed him and he didn’t know what the f**k was going on. He just covered up his head and walked forward. When the f**k have you ever seen him do that?… It is what it is, but I still feel like I could beat him under boxing rules. We’ll see what happens though.

McGregor believes a rematch would have a completely different outcome:

I know if I went another go with him, under boxing rules, I’d get that win. I know that. I know by the feeling of him in the first fight. He had to change his whole approach. He fought completely than he (usually) fought, he couldn’t figure out what I was doing early on. I feel with the lessons I learned from that first fight, if I had another go around, I’d get him.

McGregor ‘absolutely devastated’ after Las Vegas shooting

McGregor says he is ‘absolutely devastated’ on hearing of Sunday’s mass shooting in Las Vegas, the city where he trained and fought Mayweather. Dana White says that the UFC organisation will donate $1 million to the families of the victims of the attack. McGregor posts on Instagram:

Absolutely devastated upon hearing the news in Las Vegas…a city so close to my heart.

 

McGregor vents frustration over $10m fine and other Mayweather fight stipulations: ‘like I wasn’t taking it seriously’

In Glasgow for ‘An Evening With Conor McGregor’ event, McGregor reveals he would have been fined $10million (£7.5m) in his mega fight against Mayweather, had he been disqualified for an illegal move, as many people were predicting, prior to the contest. McGregor:

Here’s when I knew I was up against it: The ref was like, even if I lift my leg up, it’s a point deduction. I’m like, ‘How is that a point deduction without even a warning?’ So they’re telling me they’re going to deduct points straight off the bat. And if I do get disqualified for any reason, it was a $10million fine. Ten million f***ing dollars!

McGregor says he expected a little more respect:

They were making up all these f***ing stipulations like I wasn’t taking it seriously. Like I didn’t have a hall-of-fame referee at my camp present at every single spar. Do you know what I mean? I had a boxing referee in Ireland, a great boxing referee in Ireland and then Joe Cortez in Vegas, every single spar. I put in so much work and had given so much respect to the rule set and the discipline, I was kind of expecting it back.

McGregor has drink thrown over him ‘by Rangers fan’ after he sings Celtic chant in Glasgow

McGregor has a drink thrown on him by an angry Rangers fan after leading a Celtic chant during an ‘Evening with Conor McGregor’ event in Glasgow. During his introduction on stage, McGregor starts shouting:

What’s up Glasgow Celtic? The only football club around here we’re talking about. Glasgow is green and white!

This was greeted largely by cheers, but also a few boos, before he shouted ‘where’s Rangers at?’ in an attempt to placate the blue half of the city. He then began to chant:

There’s only one team in Glasgow. There’s only one team in Glasgow. Walking along, singing a song, walking in a Celtic wonderland.

McGregor then found himself doused in liquid, presumably from an unhappy Rangers fan.

Dana White update on McGregor-Diaz III

Talk of a series decider between McGregor and Diaz that would headline UFC 219, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on December 30, is dismissed by White. White categorically denies the rumours of McGregor vs Diaz III being set by tweeting:

Not true AT ALL

‘Racist’ Paddy Power ad for Mayweather v McGregor superfight banned

 

After complaints from nine people, an advert for Paddy Power that urged punters to “always bet on black” before the Floyd Mayweather fight with Conor McGregor has been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), who said it was likely to cause “serious offence”. Paddy Power claimed the ad was not intended to cause offence on the grounds of race.

Rio Ferdinand to start boxing career

Following in the footsteps of Conor McGregor, Rio Ferdinand, the former Manchester United and England captain, is to attempt to become a professional boxer.

When Betfair approached me about the Defender to Contender challenge, the chance to prove myself in a new sport was a real draw.  Boxing is an amazing sport for the mind and the body. I have always had a passion for it and this challenge is the perfect opportunity to show people what’s possible. It’s a challenge I’m not taking lightly, clearly not everyone can become a professional boxer, but with the team of experts Betfair are putting together and the drive I have to succeed, anything is possible.

Rio Ferdinand: Defender To Contender

Chael Sonnen: McGregor selling more than entertainment

Chael Sonnen says McGregor is selling something more than entertainment.

People always miss what Conor’s selling. He’s selling trash-talk’ or ‘he’s selling entertainment.’ Well you’re close. I mean, there is some trash-talk there and he’s definitely entertaining. But if you could only use one word, he’s selling confidence. That is the number one thing. Anybody, any weight class, and it’s one thing to say it. It can be entertaining when a guy says it and goes and cuts a promo. But when you got a guy that walks the walk. You got a guy that will take on Jose Aldo, who hadn’t lost in ten years. You got a guy that will change weight class and go up to 170 and take on Diaz, go down to 155, world championship and take on Eddie, switch sports and take on [Floyd Mayweather]. It’s confidence that he’s selling. It’s confidence that’s on display. It’s a confidence that so many people wish they had. By so many, I mean everybody. Everybody wishes they had this kind of confidence and then go out and try to follow through on their dreams.

Joe Rogan: McGregor will box again

On his podcast, Rogan says that, despite being beaten by Floyd Mayweather, McGregor will continue to box professionally.

I don’t think [Conor is done boxing]. Look, he went the very first fight against the greatest ever and he didn’t look too bad. If there’s a legit, big fight – say if Canelo Alvarez steps up and says that he wants to fight Conor McGregor, [Conor] might do it…It wouldn’t be a smart move. The difference between Canelo and Floyd – Floyd was just a brilliant boxer. Canelo is a murderous puncher and he’ll f**k you up. He’ll hurt you. [Golvokin] is not a good fight for him either. Neither Canelo nor Golvkin is a good fight for him. They’re terrible fights for him. Those guys are different.

Joe Rogan Experience - Fight Companion - September 16, 2017

McGregor visiting Glasgow to thank fans

McGregor will get paid £100,000 from one night in Scotland, for a meet-and-greet event with fans in Glasgow. Supporters will have to fork out up to £1,100 for the chance to get up close to the superstar at the city’s SEC Armadillo on September 29. But the real reason McGregor is visiting Glasgow, is because he was bowled over by a display unveiled by Celtic fans last month. An insider:

Conor’s not short of a few bob. There’s no bigger name right now, and he’s in demand across the globe, but the truth is he was really keen to come to Scotland. He loves his Scots fans and really wanted to thank them personally. It had been agreed in principal before the negotiations even started.

A breakdown of McGregor-Mayweather ticket sales

A breakdown of ticket sales for the McGregor Mayweather fight has been released by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The hottest ticket was priced at $5,000, but these seats, located at the top of the lower level seats at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, were deeply discounted, sinking to $1,500, close to fight night. Overall, the event was well short of the $72.2 million live gate record set by Mayweather’s fight against Manny Pacquiao in 2015. Yet it still generated a massive box office payout, with $55,414,865.79 in revenue on 13,231 tickets for an average of $4,188.26 per ticket. The event’s pay-per-view buy rate, on the other hand, is expected to break the all-time record of 4.6 million set by Mayweather vs. Pacquiao.

Breakdown of ticket sales:

  • $10,000: 2,942 available – 2,254 sold – 29 complimentary
  • $7,500: 1,814 available – 1,145 sold – 18 complimentary
  • $5,000: 4,737 available – 3,183 sold – 22 complimentary
  • $3,500: 3,233 available – 1,601 sold – 68 complimentary
  • $2,500: 2,735 available – 2,716 sold – 0 complimentary
  • $1,500: 1,809 available – 1,781 sold – 0 complimentary
  • $500: 428 available – 414 sold – 0 complimentary

Total tickets sold and complimentary: 13,231    Total live gate: $55,414,865.79

Mayweather first TV interview since McGregor fight

Mayweather appears for his first television appearance since the fight with McGregor, on Steve Harvey’s new talk show. Harvey asks if Mayweather and McGregor have spoken at all since the fight.

No, we haven’t spoke since the fight. We had a beef and settled our beef. We had a beef. I feel like I was the better man. Like I told him, experience will play a major key. But I said on paper everything leans towards Conor McGregor. You know, he’s 28, I’m 40-years-old. But, being in the sport 21 years, I just feel like the wisdom that I have, the IQ is totally, totally different. Especially when it’s at the pinnacle…I knew that he was used to fighting 25 minutes. I said once we get him past 25 minutes, he’s a dead man walking. Dead man walking.

Ferguson explodes at possible McGregor-Diaz III: I will Stockton slap the s**t out of Nate

At UFC 216, Ferguson takes on Kevin Lee for the interim lightweight championship, and should he win the belt, Ferguson would expect to be first to face current UFC lightweight champion McGregor, whenever McGregor decides to return to MMA. But rumors, and McGregor’s coaching staff, suggest that McGregor will complete his trilogy with Diaz when he does next defend his lightweight strap, leaving Ferguson out in the cold again.

Ferguson speaks about the potential of getting passed over for a title shot even if he wins the interim title, saying that the UFC needs to honor his belt and make McGregor face him should he win.

I believe that they absolutely need to. If that’s my belt and he has the belt, they need to unify both belts. F**k that Nate Diaz three shit. Both those b**ches f**in – they want to try and act like they want to go and make money. Nate don’t want to fight. He’s trying to recover from a f**king hit that he took with his management and all that other things. McGregor’s gotta defend or vacate. He’s gotta defend that belt, he needs to come back. If not, there goes his legacy, there goes the UFC s**t. I mean, really, legitimately, why do we have rankings? Why do we have a belt system? Why do we have all this other stuff?

Diaz coach says ‘McGregor’s not gonna have a chance’

As talk of a trilogy match between McGregor and Diaz hots up, Diaz’ coach Perez, believes McGregor will suffer his second UFC loss:

If Nathan goes through training camp with no injuries, McGregor’s not gonna have a chance… I mean, they think McGregor can box, Nathan can box. Right now in the last two fights he fought him, the first time was 11-day notice, so it wasn’t enough time but it was enough time to get a win. Second time he got injured so he had to lay back, so it put him back as far as being in shape and being accurate in timing. And people were thinking, ‘oh, he’s gonna come back and be better,’ no, they don’t see the outcome of it, the true outcome of what happened…These guys are true warriors, they go out there and still fight. So as far as McGregor coming out in the cage if he fights Nathan and Nathan gets in shape, it should be a good fight, a great fight, because Nathan can move and he’s got great footwork and he can throw a lot of combinations and make McGregor miss, counter off of it, use his reach.

Fan video: McGregor-Mayweather MMA fight showdown

A fan-made video has been released of a fantasy contest, between McGregor and Mayweather, in the octagon for an MMA fight.

Epic Rematch : Conor McGregor vs Floyd Mayweather II

Posted by Shady00018 on Thursday, August 31, 2017

 

McGregor paries at friends’ wedding in Ibiza

McGregor parties at wedding of childhood friend Tom Devitt, in Ibiza, still sporting a shiny black eye from the fight. He is accompanied by his mother, Margaret, and partner, Dee.

McGregor congratulates his friends and looks forward to the party.

Malignaggi: I’ll fight McGregor for ‘free’

Malignaggi calls McGregor a ‘punk’ and says he’s capable of stopping the Irishman in the boxing ring.

Conor gets stopped by me. If Conor doesn’t get stopped by me, I should get penalized at least a portion of my purse if I don’t stop this guy…I think once you get the hang of it, once you get the hang of what Conor is doing, you start to break him. And as I’ve said from the start, this guy is not the bravest guy in the world. There’s a lot of punk in this guy. He’s a loud guy, he’s a brash guy. Honestly, in MMA he has the advantage most of the time, because he is talented. You have to give him that, he is talented. But a fighter is a fighter when faced with adversity. Not in round one, not when he’s talking at a press conference.

Touching footage of McGregor apologising to White after Mayweather defeat

In a poignant scene from the final episode from All Access, McGregor is in the changing room post-fight, being consoled by his family and friends, when he apologises to White for his defeat.

White refuses to accept:

Sorry? Dude, I’m ecstatic!

Floyd Mayweather tried to place £310,000 bet on McGregor fight but walked away after being made to wait

According to ESPN, Mayweather approached a sports betting vendor in Las Vegas around 3.30pm – just hours before the main event – and tried to stake around £310,000 on the fight ending inside 9.5 rounds. The odds were 1/2, meaning he would have make a £155,000 profit, but the bet was not placed. Concerns over the legality of a fighter betting on anything other than a straight win reportedly caused a delay. He then tried to bet on himself to win by knockout but was again frustrated by the delay and left without staking any money. Source:

He was p*ssed.