Remember when we discussed the promotional uptick that would be coming out in regards to UFC 246 and Conor McGregor?
Well, if you follow MMA even in the least bit, you have noticed that is exactly what is happening.
How many UFC champions and top contenders have been interviewed in the past few days regarding McGregor? Quite a few to say the least.
The former two-division UFC champion returns for the first time since 2018 when he meets Donald Cerrone on January 18 from Las Vegas. The bout airs live on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
McGregor has been all over the media circuit, both conducting interviews himself for his TheMacLife and with other outlets. And you better believe that will only intensify the closer we get to fight-night.
In the past few days alone, UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has discussed a potential future meeting with McGregor.
“It is a (mismatch),” Usman said in an interview with MMA Fighting. “More power to him, anything is possible. A fight is a fight, anything can happen. But just being real, that’s a tremendous mismatch. I think I would hurt him really, really bad.
“I mean we saw what Khabib did to him. He had to take some time off after the Khabib fight. Now imagine him fighting me. I don’t think we ever see him back in the sport. Conor doesn’t even really make sense. Sure, if he comes in the division and beats someone pretty high up there and really makes the case for himself that he can really handle himself in the division, then absolutely I would entertain that fight.”
UFC champ Kamaru Usman on a potential fight against Conor McGregor:
“I mean we saw what Khabib did to him … now imagine him fighting me. I don’t think we ever see him back in the sport.”#UFC #UFC246 @Usman84kg https://t.co/2yABHUn3fF
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) January 7, 2020
Top welterweight contender – and holder of the BMF title – Jorge Masvidal has done the same.
“Don’t flirt with me. You want it or you don’t.”@GamebredFighter tells Conor to make up his mind (via @arielhelwani) pic.twitter.com/VgkNxHR2BU
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) January 6, 2020
And of course, McGregor’s opponent, “Cowboy,” has been in the news.
“Do I feel like a better mixed martial artist? Absolutely,” Cerrone said in an interview with MMA Fighting. “I feel like I’ve been in the trenches. I’ve been in the big fights. I’ve walked this path many, many times. This is my 51st MMA fight coming out of that tunnel. Literally, I’ve done it more than anybody.”
We’ve also heard plenty from McGregor on reigning UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and top lightweight title contender Justin Gaethje.
“He’s on the list,” McGregor said of Gaethje during his interview with TheMacLife. “Maybe I will face him next. He has it coming to him. I mean, I laugh at Justin. He’s a funny guy. He’s been taking it to heart. I know the feeling when you do that.