NO BAD BLOOD
Mcgregor says he’s got ‘respect’ for his opponent Cerrone
I’ve been through certain things that have helped shape me CONOR MCGREGOR LAS VEGAS YESTERDAY
CONOR Mcgregor has vowed any blood spilled between him and Donald Cerrone this weekend “will not be bad blood”.
The Notorious makes his UFC return in Las Vegas in the early hours of Sunday, when he faces the Cowboy.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday the Dubliner said: “I’ve had my back and forwards with Donald throughout the years.
“The last time we spoke to each other, even saw each other, would have been at that press conference [when they both traded insults back] many years ago. So much has changed since then.
“I was the interim featherweight world champion at the time. Donald predicted I wouldn’t get through Aldo, I got through Aldo. He predicted I was too small for the 155lbs division, I conquered that division.
“We’ve had a good back and forward myself and Donald and as time has gone on he’s become a family man. Obviously you’ve seen him compete so many times. It’s hard not to respect Donald right now at this stage.
“He has my respect and although there will be blood spilled on January 18, it will not be bad blood and for the Mystic Mac prediction, it will be a KO.”
The 31-year-old Crumlin brawler has ditched the trash talk for his UFC return bout with Cerrone.
Over the years his press conferences have been full of insults and slagging, including in 2016 when he took on Nate Diaz, but not this time around.
Mcgregor came face-to-face with Cerrone for the first time since the fight was announced yesterday.
Both men were full of praise for each other and shook hands a number of times when they faced off.
Plenty has been made about dad-oftwo’s Mcgregor’s change in approach to this bout but he said he was “eager” to perform for the fans.
He added: “I have not changed too much to be honest. I am who I’ve always been. I don’t think I’ve changed too much throughout it.
“Granted different opponents, different circumstances.
“I’m in a position now where I’m very lucky to be here and I’m very eager to perform for the fans on January 18.
“I’ve got a solid opponent in front of me, a veteran of the game and I’m just in a good spot. That’s it.
“I don’t think I’ve changed or altered. I’m just committed and focused and happy to be here mostly like I always have been.” Mcgregor is looking to put a turbulent 2019 behind him, which saw him fined €1,000 for hitting a man in a Dublin pub and handed a fight ban from the Nevada State Commission for his part in the post-fight brawl that marred his bout with Khabib Nurmagomedov.
And The Notorious said he has turned over a new leaf ahead of his Octagon return, adding: “I’m certainly more grown and more experienced.
“I’ve been through certain things that have helped shape me as a man like us all on this journey of life.
“But if you were to ask my family and my people that know me, I am no different.
“Sometimes we need to go to certain places in our life to realise what we need to do I certainly have turned over a new leaf. I feel I’m still the same young man but I definitely feel re-energised and refreshed.”