Conor McGregor Shows Support for Rising Irish MMA Star
Conor McGregor Shows Support for Rising Irish MMA Star
By Tim Burke October 21, 2024 12:02
Conor McGregor is without a doubt the biggest star in MMA history. All eyes are on McGregor at all times. He transcends MMA. Even nonsports fans know the name, Conor McGregor.
Three years away from the octagon, McGreor’s absence is still felt. Everyone still talks about his comeback, fighters want to fight and fans want to see him in the octagon. Whether he comes back or not is yet to be determined but this past weekend he has helped rise the stock of fellow Irish MMA fighter Paul Hughes.
When asked about a potential fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s cousin Usman, Hughes stated his wish to have The Notorious in his corner.
“Conor I want you in my corner for that fight. We might need some extra security for that fight.” Hughes grew up a fan of Conor McGregor and idolized the two-time UFC champion. For Hughes, McGregor paved the way for his career.
Shortly afterward, McGregor responded to Hughes’s request. “Paul my man I will go to the arena support 100%” McGregor posted on X. This is not the first time McGregor has shown support for Hughes. Following his exit from the UFC 303 card, McGregor attended Hughes’s Bellator debut in Dublin.
“Conor has put Paul over in a way that the PFL and Bellator could never have done themselves.” Peter Carroll stated on the Craic podcast following Hughes’s Bellator debut in June. Attending Hughes's next fight, potentially for a title and potentially being in Hughes’s corner would put more eyes on Hughes and put him over even more with MMA fans.
On Saturday. A star was born in Paul Hughes. He solidified himself as Ireland's next elite MMA fighter. The biggest fight in PFL/ Bellator history is on the horizon for Hughes. McGregor showing praise to a fighter of the next generation is not something we see a lot from McGregor. His showing support of Hughes’s and praising the fellow Irish MMA fighter is a huge deal for Hughes as he represents the next generation of Irish MMA.
Conor McGregor's enduring influence in MMA is evident as he continues to support emerging talents like Paul Hughes, thereby elevating the profile of the next generation of fighters. His endorsement not only highlights Hughes's potential but also reinforces McGregor's status as a pivotal figure in the sport, even during his absence from competition.