Official Conor McGregor thread (part 4) *Updated Warning in 1st Post Re:Boxing match

Honestly though, if they had invited him over just to spar, they might have missed one there. His knowledge of boxing is fantastic and the camp could really benefit from his expertise.

Granted, he hasn't fully left the camp yet, he is just off doing his duties for Showtime. He might change things up a bit when he gets back.

[Deleted User]

Inviere wrote: »

What were the comments from Paulie that Conor was referring to?

Long before the Mayweather fight was announced Paulie talked a lot of trash about Conor - he was going to knock his beard off, Conor couldn't even beat a golden gloves champ etc. Subsequently he said he was just trying to get the fight himself and had no ill-will towards Conor.

It would be pretty funny if Conor just brought Paulie in to give him a few thumps and send him on his way. But it would be pretty silly also because Paulie is more experienced than the rest of the camp put together and surely would be an asset in any role.

weldoninhio

Deleted User wrote: »

Long before the Mayweather fight was announced Paulie talked a lot of trash about Conor - he was going to knock his beard off, Conor couldn't even beat a golden gloves champ etc. Subsequently he said he was just trying to get the fight himself and had no ill-will towards Conor.

It would be pretty funny if Conor just brought Paulie in to give him a few thumps and send him on his way. But it would be pretty silly also because Paulie is more experienced than the rest of the camp put together and surely would be an asset in any role.

I'm sure Paulie could hold his own in the ring sparring with an amateur if it went down like that. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Whelo79

Gamebred wrote: »

Love to know the thinking behind choosing to spar some amatuer and some nobody pro instead of using Malinaggi whose sitting outside the ring, mind boggling.

It's strange that they didn't use him but maybe with him going away the next day, sparring him on the Saturday didn't fit into their schedule. They're employing a well planned out periodised training schedule that will have increasing demands on training day by day for 5 or 6 days straight with one day of light training before increasing the tempo again for the next week. Maybe Saturday fell into their day of light training. Just a possibility.

Lukker-

Kavanagh has said himself he is more in charge of scheduling things for this camp, like times, length of sessions, when/who to spar. As far as gameplan, JK has said Roddy is taking the lead as he is the striking coach. I'm sure the Crumlin lads are getting their advice in too, but lets not kid ourselves, Conor is probably making most of the decisions.

That 'hanger on' comment won't go down well I wouldn't say.

Everything else said was okay (can't tell who the photographer is from the doctor etc) but that comment about 'hangers on' implies that there are some and it's for sure gonna get Conor's (and possibly the team's) backs up. Not suggesting there are no hangers on.... very well may be loads of them (and it might even have needed to be said) but just not sure it will go down well that it came from Paulie and also that it was said in an interview on a quite popular podcast too just makes it worse.

Useful.Idiot

What role does that guy Gerry Byrne have? Something with the MacLife? He seems to be almost front and centre in a lot of the camp photos from some of the lads.

Mellor

Deleted User wrote: »

With a multi-faceted sport like MMA there is so many skillsets and routes to victory. I don't think there is any proof of an ideal genetic makeup. Champions have come in all shapes and sizes (and ethnicities).

There might not be a single ideal genetic make up for MMA as there would be in single aspect sports.
But genetics absolutely contributes a huge amount to overall ability in MMA, as with most physical sports.

Conor makes good use of his reach, for sure. But there are short stocky guys who make good use of their low center of gravity. There are powerful guys who make good use of their power early on. Less muscular guys who win via better cardio.

Those are all examples of genetic advantages.

Deleted User wrote: »

Maybe Conor genuinely didn't like some of Paulie's comments during the press tour and they had gone cold on him before he even arrived. I don't think they will even like his comments here, most people in his camp fawn over Conor's power but Paulie seems fairly unimpressed.

Here's the full quote from Paulie back in December last year:

"People actually assume that Conor can box. He can't box. He's got a little bit of karate, he's got some skills and he adapts in the cage very well I give him credit - but he's not a boxer, he can't box. You are wasting your time making a fight between him and Mayweather. I will do everyone a favor and kick this guy's ass so bad that he'll never even look at another pair of boxing gloves again without getting nightmares. He'll know where his place should be."

Whether he was impressed or not, bottom line is he eventually sparred Conor and emerged marked up with a black eye and he has now confirmed that Conor landed some good shots to cause the marks.

That might be all Conor wanted to do. Get in with him for a few rounds and show he can land shots and he's not the joke Paulie made him out to be. Paulie was making out he wouldn't land a single punch on him.

It's all speculation but one interpretation is that they deliberately embarrassed him on that Saturday by having him standing there outside the ring waiting for the nod to step in and the nod never comes, while Conor is in there with an Irish amateur and Artem...

On the other hand, Conor & Paulie did at least have a bit of a chat about Garcia v Broner after sparring. So it's also possible that Paulie performed well against Conor in sparring and they wanted to try out a few things against Tiernan and Artem before getting back in with him.

A last explanation could be that Paulie simply wasn't in shape. He didn't look in shape, he looked at least a stone heavier than the Eggington fight. Maybe they wanted guys who could push a higher pace.

It's weird stuff but honestly the middle explanation makes the most sense to me. Conor isn't a malicious person and let's remember he's actually paying Paulie to be part of the camp. I'd say it's possible that Paulie's jab was landing too often for their liking and they wanted to work on a few adjustments.

[Deleted User]

Mellor wrote: »

Those are all examples of genetic advantages.

They are examples of individual genetic attributes, phenotypes etc. But it's such a wide range - all provably successful - in a single sport, which makes talking about overall 'advantage' of any one type to be stupid.

The point was that people will look at a successful fighter and use his 'genetic advantage' to take him down a peg or two. Which we have seen with Jones, Conor, etc.

In MMA this logic doesn't hold water because there is no perfect body type or genetic attributes. So many paths to victory, so many ways of fighting within your attributes.

Gamebred

I got the feeling Paulies ego got a bit of a checking, pure speculation but just the vibe I got from the interview, I would be very impressed if Conor won rounds against someone as good a pro as him tbh would like to see the footage.

Eyes Down Field

For me it's only a matter of how early Mayweather knocks out McGregor.

I'd say It won't take him more than 3 rounds.

I can't see McGregor being able to land a single clean shot in the 9 min at most the fight might last.

The only way it's not a KO/TKO win for Mayweather is if McGregor gets disqualified.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4NTP3hyJRo

Inviere wrote: »

What were the comments from Paulie that Conor was referring to?

There was a bunch of 'em but it was mainly about these two:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ7fhWszodM

Eyes Down Field wrote: »

I can't see McGregor being able to land a single clean shot in the 9 min at most the fight might last.

Then you'd be happy with Evens I take it?

Well, that's what I'm offering anyone (up to €100) that wants the bet.

If you can't see a single clean shot being landed by McGregor... you'll snap my hand off.

Otherwise, it's all bluster.

MMayweather

Outlaw Pete wrote: »

Then you'd be happy with Evens I take it?

Well, that's what I'm offering anyone (up to €100) that wants the bet.

If you can't see a single clean shot being landed by McGregor... you'll snap my hand off.

Otherwise, it's all bluster.

Put it on the exchanges and I'll take it

Deleted User wrote: »

In MMA this logic doesn't hold water because there is no perfect body type or genetic attributes. So many paths to victory, so many ways of fighting within your attributes.

They're are many paths to victory but having genetic advantages is huge and there is something approximating the perfect body type for MMA.

Jack Slack always says you can't look at reach in isolation, you need to look at height x reach because if you take 2 fighters with a 70" reach and one is 3" taller, it gives him a significant range advantage.

1 Demetrious Johnson
2 Conor McGregor
3 Daniel Cormier
4 Stipe Miocic
5 Max Holloway
6 Cody Garbrandt
7 Jon Jones
8 Joanna Jedrzejczyk
9 Tyron Woodley
10 Dominick Cruz
11 Michael Bisping
12 Jose Aldo
13 Amanda Nunes
14 Robert Whittaker
15 TJ Dillashaw

That's the current P4P Top 15 rankings.

Those in bold all have significantly above average height x reach in the divisions they made a name for themselves.

Interestingly, with the exception of Mighty Mouse and DC, the ones not bolded have above average leg reach in their divisions.

TL;DR - You can say there's many paths to victory but the dominant champions in UFC history all had crazy physical measurements compared to their competition (Jones, Anderson). The likes of Mighty Mouse and DC are exceptions rather than the rule.

Without those genetic attributes you need to be so specialised in one discipline that your world class speciality trumps everything else (DC - wrestling, Maia - jiujitsu, Rousey - judo).

Gamebred wrote: »

I got the feeling Paulies ego got a bit of a checking, pure speculation but just the vibe I got from the interview, I would be very impressed if Conor won rounds against someone as good a pro as him tbh would like to see the footage.

Yeah seems that way.

It's clear Conor gave him 4 marks on his face from 16oz gloves. One above his eyebrow, 2 on his right cheek and a black eye under his left eye.

The fact that Paulie confirmed Conor landed some good shots and addressed the facial marks is validation in itself that Conor did better than he expected.

MMayweather wrote: »

Put it on the exchanges and I'll take it

No such market.

Mellor

Deleted User wrote: »

They are examples of individual genetic attributes, phenotypes etc. But it's such a wide range - all provably successful - in a single sport, which makes talking about overall 'advantage' of any one type to be stupid.

The part in bold highlights where you are going wrong imo. All phenotypes aren't provably successful, not even close. The vast majority of people have been dealt a genetic hand that offers them no advantage in any sport, let alone a specific one. The vast majority of us haven't got long limbs, extreme V02max, natural power, excess amounts of fast twitch muscles etc.
Just because different possible genetic advantages exist for MMA doesn't cancel out the fact they are genetic advantages.

The point was that people will look at a successful fighter and use his 'genetic advantage' to take him down a peg or two. Which we have seen with Jones, Conor, etc.

How does it take them down a peg? Genetic advantages are an inherent part of most sports.
Usain Bolt is the fastest man of all time. I'm sure he trained very hard to get there. But he absoluely had to hit genetic bingo at the sane time. It's not knocking him down a peg, it's just a fact.

In MMA this logic doesn't hold water because there is no perfect body type or genetic attributes. So many paths to victory, so many ways of fighting within your attributes.

Of course it's true in MMA.

Certain genetic attributes are considerably favourable than others.

wonderfullife wrote: »

Here's the full quote from Paulie back in December last year:

"People actually assume that Conor can box. He can't box. He's got a little bit of karate, he's got some skills and he adapts in the cage very well I give him credit - but he's not a boxer, he can't box. You are wasting your time making a fight between him and Mayweather. I will do everyone a favor and kick this guy's ass so bad that he'll never even look at another pair of boxing gloves again without getting nightmares. He'll know where his place should be."

Whether he was impressed or not, bottom line is he eventually sparred Conor and emerged marked up with a black eye and he has now confirmed that Conor landed some good shots to cause the marks.

That might be all Conor wanted to do. Get in with him for a few rounds and show he can land shots and he's not the joke Paulie made him out to be. Paulie was making out he wouldn't land a single punch on him.

It's all speculation but one interpretation is that they deliberately embarrassed him on that Saturday by having him standing there outside the ring waiting for the nod to step in and the nod never comes, while Conor is in there with an Irish amateur and Artem...

On the other hand, Conor & Paulie did at least have a bit of a chat about Garcia v Broner after sparring. So it's also possible that Paulie performed well against Conor in sparring and they wanted to try out a few things against Tiernan and Artem before getting back in with him.

A last explanation could be that Paulie simply wasn't in shape. He didn't look in shape, he looked at least a stone heavier than the Eggington fight. Maybe they wanted guys who could push a higher pace.

It's weird stuff but honestly the middle explanation makes the most sense to me. Conor isn't a malicious person and let's remember he's actually paying Paulie to be part of the camp. I'd say it's possible that Paulie's jab was landing too often for their liking and they wanted to work on a few adjustments.

Even if the worst scenario happened, Paulie is a seasoned pro, plenty of rounds and knowledge in him. To not pick him at all if he was there and to go with Artem (if the rumours are true) is madness.

They don't have a long time to get him ready for this fight, so there should be a pick'n'mix of pros in there from boxing to get him ready. Even if Paulie was landing his jab often, that shouldn't be a reason to not pick (IF that happened).

Higher pace or not, Paulie would be better placed to give some solid advice to this camp, and help them for this fight. Of course a current amateur could push the pace but you are getting a false positive with that where you are losing out on the skillset that Paulie would provide.

We say all of this, and he will probably be back in the camp next week, happy as Larry.

[Deleted User]

Mellor wrote: »

The part in bold highlights where you are going wrong imo. All phenotypes aren't provably successful, not even close. The vast majority of people have been dealt a genetic hand that offers them no advantage in any sport, let alone a specific one. The vast majority of us haven't got long limbs, extreme V02max, natural power, excess amounts of fast twitch muscles etc.
Just because different possible genetic advantages exist for MMA doesn't cancel out the fact they are genetic advantages.

How does it take them down a peg? Genetic advantages are an inherent part of most sports.
Usain Bolt is the fastest man of all time. I'm sure he trained very hard to get there. But he absoluely had to hit genetic bingo at the sane time. It's not knocking him down a peg, it's just a fact.

Of course it's true in MMA.
Certain genetic attributes are considerably favourable than others.

Absolute nonsense. :rolleyes:

Sprinting is a single-minded sport with a narrow range of desirable attributes. And you can say the same about many sports. It's hard to be successful in basketball if you are short. It's hard to be a successful jockey if you are tall etc.

But MMA is a multi-discipline sport. So many paths to victory. We have seen successful fighters with poor cardio. Successful fighters who are short for their weight class. Some who are overweight. Some who lack fast twitch muscle. There is no perfect set of attributes - there is a counter (physically / tactically) for everything.

Talking about absolute genetic advantages in a sport with high emphasis on technique/skill and infinite variety of stylistic possibilities is absolute hogwash.

This will please a lot of people in here, hahaha

'Gonna be a rematch in the Octogan and Mayweather wins that easy too'.

Sounds like one of the boxing forum regulars

everlast75

Gintonious wrote: »

This will please a lot of people in here, hahaha

Whatever about his fairly safe view FM will win, there is no chance - zero - that he steps into the octagon with McGregor. He will get his head clean taken off in 20 seconds. This guy is delusional if he thinks otherwise

Inviere

everlast75 wrote: »

Whatever about his fairly safe view FM will win, there is no chance - zero - that he steps into the octagon with McGregor. He will get his head clean taken off in 20 seconds. This guy is delusional if he thinks otherwise

Call it snobbery towards MMA. It's one reason alone that I'd love Conor to win this somehow.

everlast75 wrote: »

Whatever about his fairly safe view FM will win, there is no chance - zero - that he steps into the octagon with McGregor. He will get his head clean taken off in 20 seconds. This guy is delusional if he thinks otherwise

I think he is having a bit of fun with that one, hence when I said that people in here will love it.