Conor McGregor provided insight into how Saturday night's [August 26] fight unfolded in T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night, August 26, during an exclusive posted to his Youtube channel. The UFC champ has expressed a bit of disappointment over the referee's early stoppage of the bout, but has by mostly conceded defeat to his decorated opponent. "Fair play to him," McGregor repeated throughout The Mac Life interview.
"He was composed and experienced. His speed, his power, his skill was ok. I wasn't [thinking] 'Is this the best boxer ever?' You know what I mean? I felt handy the first early rounds. I thought his composure was what won him the fight," McGregor said. He'd elaborate on how, if anything, it was the fatigue that set upon him, that was the determining factor in the match results, and not so much an inferior skill set. McGregor bucked the assessment of a judge that had Mayweather winning the by an 8-1 round margin, claiming that he couldn't see how he lost the first three rounds. He ventured to estimate that he the fight was even heading into the 10th, but just exerted more energy than he would have in the UFC, where the refs do not stop the action to have the fighters re-set when they've gained certain advantages with their positioning. The remark was in reference to the times Robert Byrd stepped in to pull them apart when McGregor got behind Mayweather.
McGregor elaborated on how, if anything, it was the fatigue that set upon him, that was the determining factor in the match results, and not so much an inferior skill set. Prior to doing so, he bucked the assessment of a judge that had Mayweather winning the by an 8-1 round margin, claiming that he couldn't see how he lost the first three rounds. He ventured to estimate that he the fight was even heading into the 10th, but just exerted more energy than he would have in the UFC, where the refs do not stop the action to have the fighters re-set when they've gained certain advantages with their positioning. The remark was in reference to the times Robert Byrd stepped in to pull them apart when McGregor got behind Mayweather.
Aside from Mayweather's composure, McGregor also credited his aggressiveness and work ethic between the ropes. The 50-0 great is legendary for being a counter-puncher who more often than not exploits holes in his opponent's offense. But Mayweather did declare that he would be the one coming forward on Saturday, and he did just that, in much the fashion that fighter's south of the border are historically credited for doing. "He fought a very different fight than he's used to. He fought like a Mexican," McGregor said.
