Conor’s $50m belter
Khabib v Mcgregor
CONOR Mcgregor triumphantly pounded his chest and shouted “Yes” as he weighed in at 154.5lbs last night ahead of his showdown with Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The UFC superstar looked in peak condition as he strode confidently up to the scales in black shorts before clenching his biceps and raising his arms above his head.
Around two dozen lucky Irish fans cheered loudly as he walked into the Park MGM official for the behind-closed-doors weigh-in and there was an even bigger roar as his weight was confirmed.
The biggest fight in UFC history was officially rubber-stamped, quashing some online rumours as the excitement now builds.
Khabib was the first to turn up as he scaled in at the 155lbs limit at 5pm with Mcgregor yet again keeping officials and the media waiting. Experts believe both fighters are likely to bulk up for the Octagon at more than 173lbs for the mega-fight which takes place at around 5am tomorrow.
The opponents on the bill for UFC 229 had a two-hour period from 9am local time to weigh in with a huge number of global media and some lucky fans eagerly awaiting his arrival.
CONFIDENT
Dubliners Caoileann Daly and 19-year-old Mark Grenville, who had golden tickets, were very confident after seeing the condition of the Crumlin man.
Caoileann, 20, said: “I think it could be a KO for Conor in round one. He looks great and I think he’s got into Khabib’s head. I can’t see him winning.
“We decided to come over about two months ago and then when the tickets went on sale we said we’d give it a shot. It’s the biggest fight in UFC history so you have to experience something like that.”
Mark, 19, added: “I think Conor’s going to catch him early. I think Khabib’s too dodgy on his feet. He’s very amateurish in that way. If he gets hit he runs away.”
Calum Beckett, 26, from Belfast, said: “Mcgregor’s looking fab, they all look well but he looks great as usual.
“It’s easy for him, he’s never not going to make the weight. I was more worried about Khabib.
“To be fair he’s probably sick of He’s been very professional throughout this whole thing. Mcgregor looked on fire. I think he’ll knock him out in round two.”
Earlier a fired-up Mcgregor vowed he was going to “eat Khabib Nurmagomedov alive” and warned his nemesis, who fled the stage: “You’ll never beat the f***in’ Irish.”
The Notorious, who is expecting a €43.4million payday from the bout, blamed “heavy traffic” for being 30 minutes late to the weigh-in. He said:
“You can’t plan this. I tried to get here. Like I said, I’m only a couple of minutes late, for God’s sake.”
He was greeted by a thunderous roar from the thousands of Irish at the Park Theatre, who sung “Ole Ole Ole” and “You’ll Never Beat The Irish”. Speaking about how his Russian nemisis stormed off after 15 minutes of facing the booing green UFC army, the Dubliner said: “He sprinted out of here but I don’t care about his mentality.
“I’m ruthless, I will put a hole in his skull, dig my knuckle in his orbital bone.
“You don’t have the balls to stay here a couple of minutes extra, he spotted his chance and took it.
“Just like the fight, he’ll spot an exit and try take it but I won’t let him.” When Mcgregor was asked if he has more hunger than his unbeaten younger opponent, the 30-yearold said: “I am starving.
“I’m starving for this man’s head. I’m going to eat him alive and I don’t give a b ***** ks.
“There’s nobody hungrier than me.
“That backwards c***, he should’ve stayed put. He doesn’t want to be around me and these people. “He is petrified. I plan on knocking that man’s nose right into the nose bleeds. He knew what he f***ing signed up for.
“He didn’t say anything the last time, so, it is what it is. F**k it. These things happen. I’ve given
you enough face-offs and stuff down the years. Let’s hope he pulls weight. Get that man into the sauna and cook him like the little chicken-jaw rat that he is.
“I’m going to come out the gate fast. I don’t give a f**k about anything. Any wrestling, any technique, any ageing, any anything.
“I’m coming for that man’s head from the f***ing bell. Trust me on that.” Speaking about his tactics for the fight, Mcgregor revealed: “I’m going to come out the gate fast.
“I don’t give a f**k about anything. Any wrestling, any technique, any ageing, any anything.
“I’m coming for that man’s head from the f***ing bell. Trust me on that. Devastating KO. He’s too easily hit. He’s too flat-footed, he’s too
predictable. I’m going to knock him out.”
The Notorious ruled out the possibility of shaking hands with Khabib after their grudge match and added: “F**k peace. There will never be peace here.
“I always say you should aim for peace.
“But if you can’t aim for peace, aim between the eyes and that’s it. I’m going to aim right between the man’s eyes. And this is never over. Never, ever, ever over.”
The dad of one also spoke about his hopes of fighting in Dublin during the coming years.
He insisted it will happen but suggested UFC chiefs were the best people to confirm exactly when.
Mcgregor said: “Where is the Dublin fight!? The first fight I ever had was in the Ringside on the South Circular Road.
“It’s a pub that fits about 50 people. I must fight in Ireland before I retire.”
And towards the end of the press call, when an Israeli journalist asked him about bad reviews of his Proper No12 whiskey, Mcgregor replied: “Ask my b ***** ks mate.”