Conor McGregor is all about gimmick - The Undertaker and Mike Tyson agree the Irishman is not who he pretends to be
Conor McGregor is among the biggest sports personalities in the world. The Irishman's superstardom is largely thanks to his incredible talent, infectious personality, and insatiable drive to carve out a niche for himself in the world of sports, business and entertainment.
McGregor clearly understands the intricacies of the fight game and promotion. With an innate grasp of what is necessary in the modern era, he transformed himself into a brand that the UFC can strongly endorse and push forward.
The former two-division champion accrued tons of hype for his fights by talking trash to his opponents, just like some of the greatest pro wrestlers of all time. His remarkable performances helped back up his bold comments and predictions, creating a thrilling viewing experience for the audience.
Boxing legend Mike Tyson and WWE superstar The Undertaker discussed the value of creating a persona in combat sports on a recent episode of the Hotboxin' podcast.
Tyson, discussing the factors that contributed to Conor McGregor's success, said:
“The only guys that got all the money, they [have] got a gimmick… Conor McGregor, he has a gimmick. He’s crazy, he’s bold, it’s a gimmick. In real life he’s a beautiful guy… You have to have a gimmick.”
The Undertaker agreed with Tyson and responded:
“It sells tickets, puts a**es in seats. That's what we did. That’s a great assessment right there, you have to have a gimmick.”
This notion, which Tyson and The Undertaker alluded to, is reflected in McGregor's pay-per-view records. McGregor has eight of the top ten most-bought UFC pay-per-view spots, with his grudge bout against Khabib Nurmagomedov at the top.
Catch their comments below (53:30):
Tony Ferguson reacts to Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler being cast on The Ultimate Fighter
Tony Ferguson and Conor McGregor have a long and contentious history, and their animosity towards one another hasn't subsided. Once managed by the same firm, their relationship has since turned sour, with Ferguson calling for a fight against the Irishman on multiple occasions.
McGregor and Michael Chandler will square off as coaches on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter. After the series premieres on ESPN on May 30th, the two coaches will prepare to face each other later this year at a yet-to-be-determined location and time.
Tony Ferguson took to Twitter to wish McGregor and Chandler well as they began filming for the new season of The Ultimate Fighter. 'El Cucuy' tweeted:
"Best of luck to both of you knuckleheads McNuggets, Conor McGregor & chandelier, Michael Chandler. Hope you both knock each other the fu** out after [the] season. Teach them some good stuff boys & act accordingly gentlemen... Have fun."