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.