Analysis: Conor McGregor’s new outlook, promises almost feel too good to be true

By Case Keefer (contact)

Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020 | 2 a.m.

To this point, every step of Conor McGregor’s career has fit perfectly into the classic arc of the prizefighter.

Preternatural punching power initially lifted him from poverty and vaulted him up the ranks. The gift of gab allowed him to transcend even further, as his one-liners turned into an even bigger selling point than his left hook.  

Then came the titles, the millions of dollars, and ultimately, the troubles. McGregor has piled up arrests and assault charges in three different incidents over the past two years and is currently being investigated for a pair of sexual assaults, according to The New York Times.

Today’s UFC 246 at T-Mobile Arena is where McGregor says his fulfillment of the stereotype ends. He plans to leave behind the unruly phase that has permanently disrupted his predecessors’ careers and skip ahead to the redemption stage starting with his bout against Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone.     

“I’m in a good spot here,” McGregor said Wednesday in a media conference at the Palms. “I’m ready to fight. I am setting out for big goals. I’m going to kickstart UFC’s 2020 here big and I’m going to continue it.”

Typically, when a star reaches McGregor’s level of prestige, it becomes a battle in itself to book him or her into a bout with drawn-out negotiations regarding money and opponent. It’s been that way with the 31-year-old Irishman so far as he’s fought only once in the UFC since November 2016.

But he swears that ends this year. McGregor is adamant he wants to fight at least three times in 2020 and, “God willing,” the second could come as soon as March.

“Line them up, I couldn’t care (whom),” McGregor said. “Any weight. Any division. Any anything. I’m in prime position and ready to go.”

Standing next to McGregor, UFC President Dana White might have needed to force himself to keep his mouth closed so he didn’t drool all over the lectern from the dollar signs dancing in his head. McGregor staying active would be a financial boon for the locally based mixed martial arts promotion already firmly in the midst of a hot streak.

Spurred by the first year of a $1.5 billion deal with ESPN, White has called 2019 the most successful in UFC history. And that was without a single appearance from McGregor.  

“Should be damn good,” White said of the implications of a full-fledged McGregor return.

“January is usually the slowest time of the year for us, so to kick this year off coming off the most incredible year ever with a fight like this is awesome.”

Given their harmonious statements, it may have seemed a wonder that White and McGregor didn’t share a hug or even a handshake onstage. Rather, there were subtle signs of possible impediments to making their shared vision a reality.

On a couple of occasions, McGregor referenced his own “McGregor Sports and Entertainment,” promotion company. The first time he did so laughing nervously, sidelong glancing at White. The second time he did so as a way to hint at an impasse between the company and Zuffa Boxing, an idea White has long discussed but never fully launched.

McGregor said negotiations between the two sides are preventing potential boxing matches against Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao at the moment.

That’s not to add controversy where, at the least, there’s not much of one. Everything looks rosy at the moment between the UFC and McGregor, but when there’s this much at play, situations can complicate quickly.

McGregor estimates he’ll make $80 million on Saturday.

“I made this game what it is, so I’m going to go in there and remind everyone,” McGregor vowed of the Cerrone fight.

Cerrone will be paid handsomely in his own right but joked that he hoped McGregor would “throw a little bit of that grease” his way. McGregor laughed and the two shared a number of pleasantries.

It was a new phenomenon to see McGregor and an opponent get along during fight week.

 “I’m looking forward to a five-round battle,” Cerrone said “I want to put on a fight. Conor is in the last dying breed of fighters. I’m happy to get in there with him and (expletive) give it all we got.”

McGregor smiled, clapped and banged on the table during that impassioned plea. He never showed that type of genuine joy while line-crossing going into a 2018 bout against Khabib Nurmagomedov or even with the ultra-showmanship he exhibited before a 2017 boxing match against Mayweather.   

McGregor’s newfound enthusiasm and focus might be hard to believe, but if he’s faking it, he’s doing one heck of a job.

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.