Issue 120

October 2014

Gareth A Davies, MMA and Boxing Correspondent for The Daily Telegraph, London, UK, ponders the potential for the UFC’s premier Irish prizefighter.

Carpe diem. Writ large within the acronym UFC. Market forces at work again, trumpeted loud and clear with the rapid advancement of Conor McGregor. It looks like the UFC is making dreams come true. But it is hard market facts which drive its business decisions.

McGregor’s elevation to fight Dustin Poirier in Las Vegas later this month is symptomatic of the UFC’s rapid deployment in market forces. There is good reason for it, of course. McGregor was the catalyst for a thriller week in Dublin.

Witness: Fight Pass’ record number of viewers for the UFC Dublin event; a terrestrial/network broadcaster as well as subscription on the other side of the pond; high viewing figures; colossal interest; the UFC shifting its paradigm and entertaining the prospect of an outdoor event to accommodate serious demand, over and beyond the 9,500 who packed into The O2 in Ireland, next time around.

These are serious changes. They happen both instinctually, and by the momentum of the needle moving. McGregor, currently ranked a top-10 featherweight, is now being propelled to a title shot, and will face top-five 145lb’er Poirier on the Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier UFC 178 card.

Tie into that McGregor’s ‘visions’ and the marketing dream, a perfect storm is complete. McGregor was in the crowd five years ago. Yet now he’s center stage.

The UFC event in Dublin of 2009 contrasted with the Dublin 2014 typifies the speed at which MMA is developing, or indeed, accelerating. Five years ago, four legends on the card: ‘Shogun’ Rua, Mark Coleman, Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson. They are all nearing, or have ended, their careers. Seismic shift.

It makes you wonder where McGregor will be in five years’ time?

For his sake, one hopes it is with a gym of his own set up; his house and family provided for, and a raft of properties he can rent out and fulfilling the creed of the man who put mixed martial arts on the map in Ireland.

RORY MISCONSTRUED

I gained a fascinating insight into Canadian young-blood Rory MacDonald recently, from his first forays into the gym in his teenage years. In conversation with David Lea, coach to Sarah Moras, I mentioned how tough he was to interview at times. Really tough. Likely amongst the most difficult I’ve ever tried to speak to during a fight week in fact.

Lea says: “He’s the most misunderstood fighter in the UFC, hands down. In the US people think that everything you do is for celebrity. They don’t get it if someone is doing something for the love. He has no interest whatsoever in celebrity.

“He wants to go in there, put on a performance and test himself. These interviews are a distraction to him. He doesn’t care about it. He doesn’t care if he’s recognized or not. 

“What he doesn’t understand, though, is that without that, the cash isn’t there. That’s what Rory needs to learn. Once we can take that missing link and weld it together, he’s going to be a millionaire.”

He adds: “Rory is one of the most kind people I’ve ever worked with. He was a very quiet child and came from an environment where he was picked on. I would say that Rory is borderline Aspergers.

“He’s very socially awkward and has a hard time dealing with people on a social level. But once you’re in his circle and become one of his tight friends, there’s nobody better than him.” 

Here’s looking forward to getting under the skin with MacDonald one day, and delivering Fighters Only readers with a special read. It’s high on the wish list.

RUN FORREST RUN

Let me urge you to attend anything Forrest Griffin is at. Here’s a snippet from our latest conversation... Questioned on him being barefoot, he explains: “It’s not that I’m some crazy redneck from Georgia, I’m just conserving socks, underwear and shoes. I work out in the shoes in the morning, they get a little sweaty, and then I try to let them breathe.

“I try to give them as much time off as possible so they stink less. It’s just a way to conserve socks. You don’t want to put fresh socks on and then put your sweaty shoes back on. I travel light and I’ve only got the one pair of shoes for everything.” 

He’s so right. But so absurdist. Who’d want him any different?