It turns out Conor McGregor has been practicing that move that will become immortal

This generation's Muhammad Ali?

Conan Doherty

It turns out Conor McGregor has been practicing that move that will become immortal

Conor McGregor first set his sights on Muhammad Ali when he was nine.

His friend’s da showed him a book and The Notorious started reading it, looking at the pictures, and he remembers that moment.

The Dubliner has been on an unstoppable rise ever since he saw that book, ever since he came across this boxing hero – and even before he had a UFC belt around his shoulder – never mind two of them – comparisons were drawn between him and Ali.

“People are comparing me to him, which is kind of weird but then I think, ‘Well, I have been watching him since I was nine’… I don’t know,” the featherweight and lightweight champion told SportsJOE last year.

“Muhammad Ali is his own man. I’m my own man. It’s an honour to hear that some people would even consider that. Muhammad Ali is a special man, a hero. But I’m just doing what I’m doing.”

Muhammad Ali is his own man and so is McGregor, yes. But you can hardly help interlocking them.

Fiercely confident, ferociously talented, frighteningly driven. The pair are history-makers and their words will be remembered as long as their feats.

What set them apart wasn’t just their ability though. Ali had this confidence that inspired a generation and he had this conviction that transcended both him and the sport.

When he dodged 21 Michael Dokes punches in the corner before proceeding to shake his hips, the world stopped, jaws simultaneously hit the floor and Hollywood became real life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSFQrPzSAnE

You don’t do things like that in reality – well, no normal man does. You don’t drop your hands, present your chin, take a stupid risk like that when it could mean the end of the fight and a lifetime of replays. This isn’t Rocky – steel jaws aren’t a real thing and directors and editors aren’t there to jump in and re-shoot if you actually do get hit.

The best of them can afford to toe that line though.

The best of them are like Conor McGregor.

mcgregor-hands-back

During UFC 205, in a fight for the lightweight belt with history on the line, McGregor moved his hands behind his back and it looked downright fearless.

He said afterwards that it was a technique he had been working on in sparring because his hands were banged up from the Nate Diaz fight and it was a way of getting them out of the crossfire for a while.

It’s other level stuff – using this as defence and being so connected with a fight and the movement of the opponent that you do not need your hands. And, as Artem Lobov proves, it wasn’t the first time he did it.