We are well used to hearing from Tony McGregor at this stage but Margaret, his wife, is happy to stay in the background.
Conor McGregor’s tales about his father are now part of his MMA lore – the fist fights, cajoling his son to stay on as a plumber, Conor’s vow to make it to the top of the MMA game and Tony’s advice on getting a watch holder to display a growing number of tricked out timepieces.
Less is known about his mother, Margaret, however. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Margaret McGregor has supported her son every step of the way, from the MMA circuit in Ireland to his UFC interim belt win in Las Vegas, on July 11.
Her husband revealed that, during McGregor’s topsy-turvy title bout with Chad Mendes, Margaret fled from her ringside seat and watched the remainder of the fight backstage, at the MGM Grand.
She may have retreated from the baying crowds but, in truth, she never left her sons side; never stopped believing.
When McGregor secured a TKO win over Mendes, she was quickly in the ring to embrace her son. Today, McGregor shared that special moment with three special words [and a smiley face].
I done it Ma 🙂 pic.twitter.com/n0AKbuStQW
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 23, 2015
Meanwhile, Sky Sports is firmly aboard the McGregor bandwagon. The last 16 of its 20 UFC stories have been about the Irishman. The broadcaster has run an online feature on The Notorious that includes an extensive interview with John Kavanagh, his coach at Straight Blast Gym.
The feature is somewhat of an introduction to McGregor’s fighting style, character and future prospects.
On McGregor’s trash-talking and mind games, Kavanagh says, ‘These mind games definitely work. Think back to Muhammad Ali lying on the ropes and letting George Foreman tire himself out. Conor was on his back, in a safe position, allowing Mendes to tire himself out before coming back to get a knockout within 10 minutes.’
Kavanagh also has a prediction about the impending UFC featherweight belt unification bout.
‘I foresee this fight being similar to Conor’s other fights,’ he commented. ‘He’ll come out quickly, back Aldo up, and that will be all she wrote.’
