‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor is on his way back in the Octagon and will take on Donald Cerrone in January 2020 to headline UFC 246.
It will be McGregor’s first fight since October 6 2018, or the night of the infamous UFC 229 post-fight brawl with Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Prior to the ugly fracas, the Irishman was submitted by the defending lightweight champion to spoil his return from a two-year fighting hiatus.
With McGregor on the sidelines, the UFC seemed to miss the noise brought by the ‘The Notorious.’
But early next year, he is once again expected to show his trademark antics inside and outside the cage.
McGregor vs Cerrone is being dubbed as a battle of two fan-favourites. This means their rabid followers are in for a huge treat during the build up and the actual fight itself.
But did you know this isn’t the first time the UFC stars will get into each other’s nerve?
Back in 2015, McGregor and Cerrone had an intense exchange at the UFC 194 pre-fight media scrum.
No Chance
That time, McGregor was scheduled to fight Jose Aldo for the featherweight title while Cerrone was booked against Rafael dos Anjos.
During the press conference, the Irishman tried to get himself involved with Cerrone and RDA’s business but ‘Cowboy’ said he has no chance to move up at 155 pounds.
“Conor has no right coming up to 155, there’s no way. He’s not gonna stand a chance; we’re too big for him, too strong.”
“So you can take your little English ass and get on,” Cerrone said.
Then Mcgregor replied saying, “Too slow and too stiff. You’re as stiff as a board, I’d snap you in half, and that’s it.”
“I see stiffness when I look in that 155lbs division, slow, stiff. I feel like they’re stuck in the mud.”
“The featherweights they hit like flyweights, so it’s nice down there just killing them and that whole division, but I keep my eye on that 155 division, and I see them all stuck in the mud up there.”
“So we’ll see over time. But guess what, have I been wrong yet? No.”
Champ Champ
Cerrone then told McGregor he can never make a statement in the lightweight class and he has no chance against Aldo for the 145 title.
“You have a monster right here at 145, Aldo who’s about to beat your ass. You’ve beat nobody, and you think you’re gonna come up to 155 and make a statement? Come on, man, sit the fuck down.”
But later that year, McGregor proved Cerrone wrong and defeated Aldo while Cerrone came up short against Dos Anjos.
The Irish star then moved up at 155 pounds and went on to win the lightweight strap to become the next two-weight champ in the UFC.
Watch Cerrone and McGregor’s face-to-face at UFC 194 press conference in the video below:
(Featured Image Source: YouTube/MMA Weekly)