Talking points from Khabib V McGregor – Press conference
After controversy, court cases and social media squabbles, Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov sat down at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City ahead of their October 6th clash at UFC 229.
While there were questions about whether it would be the same Conor McGregor we saw the last time the Irishman step foot in the Octagon over 2 years ago, he put all questions to bed with his antics at the first press conference for UFC 229.
Twitter: RT @UFCEurope: The first face off!!
Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor square off ahead of #UFC229!! https://t.co/xfPw8vPVX7 (@shaypower1)
McGregor came out swinging against the Dagestani fighter addressing the now infamous bus incident stating “you cowered with the Woman at the back of the bus” and continued in the same vein throughout the conference.
The Conor McGregor show would then take somewhat of an unbecoming turn as the fighter brought out a bottle of ‘Irish Twelve’ whiskey, McGregor’s new brand, offering some to his Muslim opponent.
McGregor also went onto address talk of being “outclassed” by Khabib’s wrestling prowess stating that in regards to his own wrestling skill he is” very well coached” and is coming into the fight with “supreme confidence.”
Khabib for his part did not shy away from Conor’s antics putting in a few jabs of his own telling the 5ft 8 southpaw: “I am the Floyd Mayweather of MMA.”
The lightweight champion would also address the bus incident stating “it showed his [McGregor’s] weakness” and continued to proclaim he has had enough of talking, repeatedly going back to the “October 6th” date of the fight.
Khabib both during the conference and the faceoff cut a calm and calculated figure which was completely at odds with the outlandish demeanour of McGregor who, clad in a burgundy pin-stripe suit, looked ready to explode at any moment.
‘Mystic Mac’ would even make an appearance at the conference predicting he would end the fight in “one round”.
If the October 6th clash between the two, which is slowly turning into a modern day clash of the titans, is as good as the pair’s first press conference then the fighting world will be in for a real treat come fight night.