Former champ champ Conor McGregor lost to Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 257 on Saturday night. In the past four years, the most famous fighter in MMA history has now lost two of his last three, and three of his four if you count the loss in boxing to Floyd Mayweather.
At the post-fight press conference, UFC president Dana White was asked what he believes lies in Conor’s future.
I think it will make him hungrier, said White. There’s two ways this goes — hungrier or I’m done. He’s got the money. I mean when you think about it, I’m a huge Rocky fan. This is like Rocky 3. When you get off of a 310-foot yacht, you know what I mean? You’re living that good of a life. It’s tough to be a savage when you’re living like he lives and has the money that he has. On his way up, he was a young hungry kid. He didn’t have any money and he wanted nice things. He wanted nice suits, nice cars, nice houses. He’s got everything he ever wanted. So I don’t know. It goes this way or that way.
McGregor followed White shortly afterward, and gave every indication he is eager to fight on.
I’ll certainly regroup, he said. I’ll regroup and pick myself up. Get up off the floor and go again, and that’s it. Styles make fights, there’s many great stylistic matchups out there. Myself and Dustin are 1-1, myself and Nate [Diaz] are 1-1. There’s many good matchups for me and I’ll adopt a different approach for the trilogy I feel with Dustin because those leg kicks are not to be messed with. That calf kick, the low calf kick, I’ve never experienced that and it was a good one.
It’s not that I haven’t got the style in me to switch it up and keep that at bay. I have a lot more weapons I didn’t get to show. It wasn’t my night, it wasn’t a great night. But again, no excuses, hats off, and regroup and pick yourself up. I look forward to going back now, seeing the kids, and just taking the licks, man. It’s a bastard of a game.
Boxing is another bastard of a game, and there is talk about McGregor facing Manny Pacquiao in the ring.
There’s none of them leg kicks in boxing, said McGregor. No, look, I always did want to focus on the MMA career. But I’m also open. I just see what happens, I don’t know what will happen. That Manny fight was happening, it was as good as done, so I don’t know. I just want to get in and just get back into a bounce, especially against that style of fighter, and not take those kicks. Don’t play with those kicks.
McGregor appears most interested at present in a trilogy fight vs. Poirer or Diaz, and is leaning towards the former. After all, he never won one of the new UFC belts.
I think they’re both pretty big, said McGregor. Two southpaws as well, which is interesting. They’re both there, so we’ll see what happens.
I would like to get in and get back on the horse and secure the new belt with the Irish flag on it for sure. Anything can happen in this business as long as you stay active, as long as you compete. Things shape around you, you know what I mean? You show up, you reap the rewards, and that’s it. That’s what happened for Dustin tonight and it’s what’s happened again to me tonight, so I’ll keep my eye on the prize for sure.
UG, who and what do you think is next for “The Notorious”?
h/t Damon Martin for MMA Fighting • Alexander K. Lee for MMA Fighting
