Grappling has quite clearly taken a back seat for Conor McGregor in recent months.
‘The Notorious’ is prioritising his boxing training or at least that’s what one would be led to believe based on his recent social media activity.
Even when travelling, McGregor has sought out a bag of some sorts so that his hands don’t get rusty as he bids to ramp up interest in his much-publicised super-fight with Floyd Mayweather.
Mayweather poured cold water on suggestions that discussions to welcome the Irishman to the professional boxing ring were all but complete, insisting that McGregor’s watertight UFC contract remained a stumbling block late last week.
— Floyd Mayweather (@FloydMayweather) February 15, 2017
McGregor spent the weekend in the United States, having travelled to Las Vegas on Friday to meet with the Nevada State Athletic Commission in order to iron out their differences that stemmed from the bottle-throwing incident that preceded UFC 202.
Speaking to TMZ on Saturday, the reigning UFC lightweight champion claimed that “a lot has happened over these past couple of days.”
And while negotiations continue, McGregor is not slacking off his training as he enlisted the help of London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist , Michael Conlan.
Conlan is preparing for his professional boxing debut, having abandoned the amateur scene after the farcical judging at Rio 2016.
Conlan welcomed ‘The Notorious’ to his gym in California over the weekend and McGregor was only too happy to work his hands in front of one of the most promising boxers to emerge from Ireland in years.
McGregor will carry the tricolour for Conlan’s Paddy’s weekend pro debut in Madison Square Garden.
