BKFC's Tai Emery had to make a promise to Conor McGregor about viral flash moment: "I wouldn't be naughty"
Tai Emery had to assure Conor McGregor and other top BKFC brass that she would not repeat her infamous victory celebration in Japan. Emery turned heads with her bare-knuckle boxing debut at BKFC: Thailand 3 in 2022.
The Australian showcased a dominant performance, TKO'ing opponent Rung-Arun Khunchai in the first round. Interestingly, however, it was her post-fight celebration that had the fans talking more than the win itself.
To the surprise of those in attendance, the 37-year-old ran to the ropes following her win and pulled up her top in an unexpectedly bold celebration.
While she lost her subsequent bare-knuckle outing, Emery was booked against Charisa Sigala for Super Rizin 3, following a recently formed partnership between BKFC and the Japanese promotion.
While Emery earned a first-round TKO win at the event, she reportedly had to make assurances beforehand, that a repeat of her viral flash celebration wouldn't happen at the Saitama Arena in Japan.
Talking to MMA Mania on episode 42 of the BROADENED HORIZiN podcast, she said:
"In every single email, every single phone call from David Feldman [ President of BKFC] [I had to promise would not the flash the Rizin crowd]. I literally had to learn to say, 'No, I promised David Feldman and Conor McGregor that I wouldn't flash and I wouldn't be naughty.' I learned how to say that in Japanese just for the sheer fact that I knew they'd ask me that... I actually had to pull it out [the phrase] in some of the interviews and they were impressed."
Catch Tai Emery's comments below (8:00):
UFC Hall of Famer speculates date for Conor McGregor's MMA return
Conor McGregor has been on the sidelines since breaking his leg at UFC 264. While he was scheduled to make a return against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June, a broken pinky toe forced 'The Notorious' out of the contest.
While the 36-year-old has been campaigning for his fight to be rebooked for December, UFC veteran Chael Sonnen believes it is more likely that we will get to see the Irishman return in January.
Addressing the issue in a recent video on his YouTube channel, Sonnen said:
"I believe that an inside scoop that I'm getting is that the UFC wants all of those same things, they just want that in January in California... I'm sharing what I believe, but that sure sounds close, that sounds like we're real close here."
Catch Chael Sonnen speculating Conor McGregor's return below (5:30):