This was downright class from Conor McGregor.
The Notorious has not forgotten where he comes from. We doubt he’ll ever forget.
Although he decamped to Las Vegas for his latest training camp, Dublin’s Straight Blast Gym remains his spiritual home. He remembers the names, faces and fighting styles of all those that have sparred against him, tested him and made him the fighter he is today.
He also remembers those that gave him advice and support in the early years. One of those was Stormin’ Norman Parke.
The pair went from fighting in front of a handful of rows, in dimly lit arenas to the Cage Warriors days and onward to the bright lights and better pay of the UFC. There was talk of a beef between both men but Parke insists they ‘forgot all the bullshit’ after catching up in 2014.
Parke did not enjoy the same rollicking start to his UFC as McGregor but he was doing well. That was until he was axed by the promotion.
After going undefeated in his first five fights, Parke lost three of his last four outings. Many in the fight game felt he deserved another chance. At his lowest point, however, McGregor reached out with an offer of support. Parke told FloCombat’s Jim Edwards:
“I went to sleep [in late May] and then I woke up and had a random message from Conor McGregor.
“He’d text me saying ‘What are you up to these days and are you training?’ He then went to say that he wanted me to come down and help him for the Diaz fight [the rematch] and that he was bringing in some good guys to help him prepare.”
McGregor sent another text, two weeks later, and asked if he could make it down to SBG on the Long Mile Road. Parke wanted to but couldn’t as his knee was still too ‘jacked up’. He added:
“Although I couldn’t do it, it was still a massive boost for me and I just remember the motivation it gave me.
“In one of Conor’s messages, he wrote ‘F*ck doing nothing–you’ll be back in there as soon possible’ and that hit me hard because he was right.”
Parke is now planning on making a winning charge ahead of UFC Fight Night Belfast, in November, and has two fights lined up.
He is hoping to make it impossible for the UFC not to give him another chance. He certainly has McGregor’s backing.
On the latest GAA Hour we look back at Mayo-Tipperary and chat to Andy Moran about his incredible, never-ending career. Listen below or subscribe here on iTunes.
