Jonas Bilharino is seemingly juggling his time between professional fighting and professional Conor McGregor imitation.
It would appear as though the Brazilian Jungle Fight competitor has become the go-to sparring partner for upcoming opponents of McGregor.
Bilharinho (7-1-1) was famously brought in to Jose Aldo’s UFC 189 fight camp to replicate McGregor ahead of their featherweight title fight which eventually took place at UFC 194.
Bilharinho was hired to mimic the unique movement and flashy kicks of ‘The Notorious’ as Aldo aimed to defend his 145lb title against the Irishman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zUGHfQ9HpI
It did not work out as Aldo might have hoped but Bilharinho’s creative striking is such that Aldo’s 13-second defeat to ‘The Notorious’ did nothing to deter Eddie Alvarez.
Alvarez will aim to defend his UFC lightweight title against McGregor in the main event of UFC 205 in just over two weeks’ time and he’s also acquired Bilharinho’s services in preparation.
Alvarez’s head coach Mark Henry tweeted a post-training photograph this week of the reigning 155lb champion alongside Bilharino.
AWESOME workout wit Champ @Ealvarezfight & @JonasSpeed!! @andersonfranca. TEAM @RenzoGracieBJJ @Almeidabjj LETS GO! pic.twitter.com/nI2BJUf4dU
— Mark Henry (@MarkCoachmark13) October 24, 2016
Alvarez has previously stated that he isn’t all that concerned with McGregor and reduced the Irishman’s threat to his left hand.
“To me, he’s just a left hand,” Alvarez told the MMA Roasted podcast. “He’s just a guy with a left hand. That’s how I see him. He does something that we call a ‘rock back’ well. Mayweather does it. A lot of Philly fighters do it. He (McGregor) lives and breathes off it. A lot of MMA guys don’t know about these boxing things that they do. This is a move that’s very easily taken away and we’re going to dominate every step of the way.”
But there’s a fine line between not worrying and underestimation, and Alvarez is clearly taking every possible measure to ensure he’ll get his hand raised on November 12.
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