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A20 SPORTS
Saturday 18 January 2020
Calmer McGregor: Irish star returns vs Cerrone at UFC 246

By GREG BEACHAM against Mayweather and
AP Sports Writer Khabib Nurmagomedov
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Conor in recent years, but both
McGregor became a two- champions handled him
division UFC champion with ease.
because he was a tremen- McGregor likely knows
dous fighter. He became those tactics have no
the biggest mixed martial prayer of working against
artist in the world only be- Cerrone, whose fighting
cause he talked an even ego is fully subsumed by
bigger game. his desire to get money for
McGregor's loquacious, beer and jet ski fuel. Cer-
pugnacious personality rone said he is getting the
was an enormous factor biggest payday of his ca-
in his rise to previously un- reer in his 51st professional
attainable heights in this fight. Instead, both fighters
still-young sport. Deliver- are likely to engage in a
ing ridiculous boasts and striking contest until one of
delectably profane insults them goes down. Cerrone
with a charming Irish lilt, he has been stopped in his last
needed less than five years two fights, but he still pos-
to propel himself from low- sesses enough punching
profile shows in Dublin to power and kickboxing skill
UFC dominance and the Conor McGregor, left, and Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone pose for photographers during a news to concern any opponent,
unprecedented payday conference for a UFC 246 mixed martial arts bout, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020, in Las Vegas. including McGregor and
of his boxing match with Associated Press his tough chin.
Floyd Mayweather. Gregor — and the Irish ex- a superstar. He brings a lot T-Mobile Arena when Mc- McGregor claims he al-
But after three rough champion says he is eager of eyes, a lot of attention. Gregor chose this date for lowed the UFC to choose
years inside and outside to play that game. ... He has such an awe- his return. Cerrone as his opponent,
the cage, McGregor has Cerrone once shared the some platform. Why not be The UFC 246 card's penul- and the two well-known
changed his public ap- MMA world's dismissive- a good role model? Why timate bout features ban- veterans should make a
proach to his profession for ness of the brash slugger not be a good person? It's tamweights Holly Holm and surefire combination for
his comeback fight in Las from Ireland — or England, the same thing I've been Raquel Pennington in a re- pay-per-view success.
Vegas this week. as Cerrone once thought preaching the whole time. match of their meeting five Although his tone is decid-
He has promoted his meet- during a memorable ex- It's good to see him taking years ago. Heavyweight edly less boastful than in
ing with Donald "Cowboy" change five years ago in the right path. I like it." Alexei Oleinik, lightweight past years, McGregor is
Cerrone at UFC 246 on which the 6-foot-1 Cerrone McGregor's fans will soon Anthony Pettis and blue- confident about victory fol-
Saturday night with com- criticized the 5-foot-9 Mc- decide whether they like chip flyweight prospect lowed by a quick return to
pliments for his opponent Gregor for moving up to it as well. McGregor and Maycee Barber also are on the cage after three years
mixed with humble self- lightweight. Cerrone are the main the show. of near-inactivity.
effacement. Now a father They're meeting Saturday event and easily the big- McGregor's new outlook "I'm coming back in fresh,
of two, McGregor (21-4) as welterweights, a full 15 gest attraction at UFC is fairly shocking behav- prepared and ready to
claims he is calmer and pounds above lightweight. 246, a rare marquee show ior from a fighter who ver- compete," McGregor said.
more centered than the McGregor has long since in January in the promo- bally goaded Jose Aldo "It does not matter who my
rampaging superstar who earned Cerrone's respect tion's hometown. The UFC into making a decisive mis- opponent is this week, and
has had more arrests (at by "doing exactly what he typically holds its biggest take to begin McGregor's it does not matter who my
least three) than sporting said he was going to do." Vegas shows in Decem- 13-second knockout vic- next opponent is. It's going
victories (zero) since 2016. "He grew the sport so well," ber and March, but they tory in 2015. McGregor to be a big fight no matter
"Sometimes it's tough, but Cerrone said. "The dude is slipped another event into tried similar manipulations what."q
I'm very grateful for the
position I'm in," McGregor Grasso misses weight, bout with Gadelha
said. "I'm very grateful for
the support I have with the canceled at UFC 246
people. If I keep my fo-
cus right and my positivity
sharp and keep the people By GREG BEACHAM The bout has been re- (11-3). Strawweight fight- eran has won four of her
who I respect around me, I AP Sports Writer placed on the pay-per- ers must be only 3 pounds six bouts since, including
will overcome all of that." LAS VEGAS (AP) — Straw- view card by bantam- apart at the weigh-in to a victory over Randa Mar-
The world will soon find out weight contender Cláu- weight veteran Brian allow such a consider- kos last July in Las Vegas in
whether McGregor is the dia Gadelha's bout with Kelleher's bout with Jamai- ation, according to the her most recent action.
same fighter now that his Alexa Grasso on the pay- ca's Ode Osbourne. Kelle- commission. Grasso also missed weight
trash talk has been recy- per-view portion of the her (19-10) and Osbourne "I worked so hard for this for a bout against Markos
cled into good vibes. UFC 246 card has been (7-2) had been previously and I was so excited to in August 2017. She has
The Budweiser-drinking, canceled after Grasso scheduled for the second put in a show for you all to- lost two of her last three
Harley-riding Cerrone (36- badly missed weight. fight of the entire show. morrow," Gadelha wrote fights, including a decision
13) has never been big on The Nevada State Athletic Because Gadelha made on her Instagram page. loss to Carla Esparza last
verbal competition dur- Commission made the de- weight at 115 1/2 pounds, "We will run it back!" September in her native
ing his 14-year professional cision Friday morning after the weight difference be- Gadelha (17-4), who was Mexico.
MMA career, anyway. He is Grasso weighed in at 121 tween the competitors slightly favored over Gras- Gadelha and Grasso were
more interested in standing 1/2 pounds, missing the was too big to allow the so by oddsmakers, fought scheduled for the second
in the center of the cage strawweight allowance by fight to go on with a fi- for the strawweight title fight on the five-bout main
and trading shots with Mc- 5 1/2 pounds. nancial penalty for Grasso in 2016. The Brazilian vet- card at T-Mobile Arena.q