UFC 257: WWE Superstar Drew McIntyre Trolls Conor McGregor

WWE superstar Drew McIntyre took to Twitter and sent out his wishes to Conor McGregor before his UFC 257 fight. McIntyre’s sentiments were certainly laced with a sense of sarcasm that has become synonymous with his brand. Chiefly, McIntyre and McGregor had a war of words that played out on multiple levels throughout last year.

Conor McGregor’s presence oftentimes serves to rattle feathers, and it’s clear that the Irishman has gotten under McIntyre’s skin. The WWE star used the trending Bernie Sanders’ meme to shut down any positive sentiment he could have for McGregor. Moreover, the mockery is sure to be the first of many, as several stars outside the UFC’s lightweight division will take aim at Conor.

Conor McGregor: Cannon fodder

‘The Notorious’ is no stranger to being targeted by stars outside the UFC, given his superstar status. However, he’s pledged his entire focus towards Dustin Poirier, who’s his opponent at UFC 257 at the Etihad arena. The two lightweights faced off against each other at 145-pounds back in September 2014, and the rematch is an extremely high-stakes one.

The aforementioned rematch is six years in the making and both the elite athletes have significantly elevated their game. The versions that stepped into the cage at UFC 178 are no longer part of the roster. Not to mention, there’s been a stylistic evolution as well considering the bump-up in weight from their last meeting. Fighting at featherweight significantly diminished both fighter’s cardio as well as durability.

The narrative has changed around 6 years later as the two are set to battle once more. What’s more, there are major championship implications as well when looking at the bout in hindsight. The divisional champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is set to retire, and there’s surely a power struggle at the top of the division.

The winner of Poirier vs McGregor 2 will be next in line to fight for undisputed UFC gold, regardless of whether Khabib holds the belt. Additionally, the card bolsters a star-studded lightweight co-main event that is also consequential for the division. Dan Hooker and Michael Chandler will also scrap to see who’s worthy of entering the upper echelon.