While his wild night out and canceled press conference have convinced the world that Conor McGregor is set to withdraw from his fight at UFC 303, Michael Chandler’s teammate believes he’s merely playing the ‘Ryan Garcia card’.
On June 30, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, ‘The Notorious’ will make his eagerly-anticipated return to the cage against a man desperate to claim his scalp.
Michael Chandler’s teammate accuses Conor McGregor of playing the ‘Ryan Garcia card’
During his ascendance to the top of the MMA mountain, Conor McGregor was renowned for his relentless commitment, giving everything in his power to claim the belt he’d dreamed of owning since the first day he ever walked into the gym.
However, after reaching his aspiration and earning enough money to last a lifetime, he spiraled into the promotional abyss, with the headlines dominated by late-night clubbing videos far more than the skills being developed on the training mats.
This mindset, combined with a horrendous leg break sustained during his third bout with Dustin Poirier, has kept the Irishman out of action for almost three years.
Therefore, when he finally announced his return against Michael Chandler, the world was rightfully skeptical, especially after footage emerged of the icon partying late into the night in a Dublin pub.
To make matters worse, his big homecoming press conference was canceled and he even shared a picture of himself in hospital, appearing to nurse an injured leg.
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But while his antics have understandably struck fear into the hearts of MMA enthusiasts, his opponent’s teammate, Gilbert Burns, is convinced that the controversial character is implementing the same tactics applied by Ryan Garcia prior to his victory over Devin Haney.
Before the bout, the Mexican-American sent the internet into meltdown with his bizarre behavior, ranging from his wild tweets to late night party sessions. But when the moment of truth came, the boxing superstar put on a performance so brutal it made everyone question why they’d doubted him in the first place.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Gilbert Burns explained: “The press conference was supposed to be like two weeks ago, and the press conference got crazy. I think, in my opinion, Conor McGregor is pulling up the Ryan Garcia card. You know, trying to act a little bit crazy.
“We saw a picture of this guy in the hospital. I do think if he had any type of injury and he was in the hospital, for sure the guy is not going to do any post that he’s in the hospital hanging out. I think he’s bluffing. I think he’s good, the fight’s going to happen and just making people overthinking, maybe play with the odds like Ryan Garcia did.”
Regardless, of whether that’s true or not, McGregor still has a lot on his plate ahead of UFC 303, especially with his new business venture.
Conor McGregor has invested in a surprising new industry
Over the years, the 35-year-old has looked to generate as many sources of income as possible.
From Proper Twelve Whiskey to Forged Irish Stout, the charismatic character has taken over the alcohol industry. In addition, he’s recently bought shares in BKFC (Bare-Knuckle Fighting Championships), indicating that a transition into the world of promoting could be in his future.
Thus, with McGregor always looking for new ideas, it comes as no surprise that he’s taken up another huge opportunity.
Under the watchful eye of John Kavanagh, the Dubliner reached dazzling heights, heeding every piece of advice his coach gave him to become the mixed martial artist he is today.
So, when his mentor offered him the chance to get involved with his new venture, he grasped it with both hands.
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