Few athletes have had as large an impact on their sport as Conor McGregor has on MMA. The Irishman propelled MMA and the UFC into another realm of popularity through his legendary trash talk and fan-friendly style of fighting.
His impact was so seminal and far-reaching that even now, 10 years after his first title win, Joe Rogan couldn't help but reminisce about the glory days of McGregor.
During his initial run with the UFC, McGregor tore through the UFC's featherweight division and then immortalized himself by becoming the first-ever simultaneous UFC double champion. However, the 37-year-old has not fought in the UFC octagon since his loss to Dustin Poirier, which saw him suffer a brutal leg injury.
Many fans and pundits alike have complained that the sport has lost some of its edge since the Irishman's hiatus began. Over the years, many fighters have emulated McGregor's brand of cocky trash talk to varying degrees of success. However, seasoned UFC commentator Joe Rogan thinks Conor McGregor is simply the master of it.
He was the master [expletive] talker and also the master at emotional warfare. Like the Jose Aldo fight, I remember being there for that fight, going 'Aldo is out of sorts'. He (Aldo) didn't look like he wanted to be there, and he just threw himself at Conor and got cracked. He was so emotionally torn, and like the moment was so big. Then Conor across the other side, looks so relaxed and loose because he knew he had won the emotional warfare.
There really has never been a talker quite like Conor McGregor in the history of the UFC. The example Rogan brought up is perhaps some of the most effective mental warfare ever employed by a fighter. So much so that Conor McGregor knew how he would knock outJose Aldo before the fight even began.
Active fighters like Renato Moicano have suggested that the Irishman's return to the sport will only make it more interesting, given the heat he brings on the mic. However, there was an instance of Conor McGregor getting outdone on the mic by one of his opponents.
Conor McGregor is a master of words with his quick wit and charismatic presence on the mic. So naturally, there are very few instances of the Irishman losing a verbal exchange, even now. The most recent example may be when Dustin Poirier's quick barb caused the Irishman to go silent during the buildup to their third fight.
Even so, many have argued that no one could touch prime Conor McGregor on the mic. However, Eddie Alvarez, the man McGregor beat to become a double champion, actually embarrassed the Irishman during the buildup to their fight.
You were on welfare, bro. You ain't no man. You took welfare. Don't talk about money — don't you talk about money. You took money from single moms. Single moms go on welfare, not men. You don't talk about money, alright? Keep your mouth shut when it's talking about money.
Eddie Alvarez to Conor McGregorConor McGregor lost the exchange due to these harsh words from Alvarez. Nevertheless, the Irishman got under the skin of Alvarez in other moments like arriving late for a press conference and dissed his rival for absorbing numerous significant strikes across his career.
On the day of the fight, McGregor put on a striking clinic to become the lightweight champion. So it's safe to say the last laugh belonged to the Notorious. A lot has transpired since then, with Alvarez now a part of Conor McGregor's BKFC.
Ultimately, as Joe Rogan said, Conor McGregor is the master of talking and fight promotion. That is the reason why even now, fighters keep calling him out for bouts despite a five-year absence from the sport. But recently, he has teased a return to the octagon, and fans are excitedly waiting for a rumored rematch against Max Holloway to be announced.
(61 Articles Published)