New world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury has accused Conor McGregor of copying his entire persona.
The trash-talking newly-crowned king of the ring claims that the Notorious has basically lifted his playbook to help build his name in mixed martial arts.
The similarities between the pair go beyond their Irish heritage, with both sharing a taste for fast cars and sharp tailoring, and the ability to play mind games with their opposition with bold predictions and brash comments.
“I am familiar with a man named Conor McGregor. I think he copied me in everything he does,” Fury said.
“I was the first trash talker – big time – in these shores, first one in Ireland. Then all of a sudden, he started copying me, this Conor McGregor guy.
“I grew a big beard. He grew a big beard. I talk bulls–t about everybody, he starts talking bulls–t about everybody. And it worked for the heavyweight champ of the world. It must work for Conor McGregor, some guy who’s like 140 pounds or whatever is.”
Speaking to MMA writer Ariel Helwani on the MMA Hour, Fury went on to say that despite all this he is actually a big fan of the UFC interim featherweight champ, who faces Jose Aldo to decide the king of the weight class at UFC 194 in Las Vegas.
“I am a fan of his,” he said. “He’s copied my style. I better admire him for it. I’ve never met him, but the guy is a very entertaining character.
“Conor McGregor got me actually physically watching MMA and wanted to check the results. Because the way he was carrying on, I thought, ‘This guy has definitely got a bit of me self in this guy. I want to check him out’.”
And, much like his efforts to terminate Wladimir Klitschko’s long reign, Fury believes McGregor is well-positioned to bring an end to Aldo’s five-year dominance of the octagon.
“Klitschko was the long-reigning champion on the block, I was a guy some people said was a pretender,” he said.
“So, it’s very much similar between me and Conor McGregor. I’m living proof that it can be done. I beat Klitschko, he can beat Jose Aldo. Why not? For sure.”
