‘It Lights a Fire Under His A**’ – Big John McCarthy Explains Why Conor McGregor is Still Fighting in the UFC

Published 05/23/2021, 11:44 AM EDT

The one thing that sports persons have that the other professionals don’t, is the opportunity to cross over to other businesses. It’s true that they retire early, but their fame can help them endorse any number of their business ventures. Conor McGregor is the best example of this phenomenon.

The Irishman was recently named the richest athlete in the world ahead of LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi. Giving his success in his ventures like Proper 12 Whiskey, it’s hard to imagine why he continues to fight.

UFC referee Big John McCarthy spoke about his on his podcast Fight CAT with Podcast Dave. Dave wondered why Conor was still fighting. “I’m still baffled by the fact that he’s still fighting. I don’t understand at all. You obviously have other business ventures that you’re really focusing on,” he said.

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He also added that any losses in his next few fights would hurt his fame, which would inadvertently hurt his business. Here John McCarthy stepped in and talked about the love of fighting that a UFC fighter can’t get enough of.

“You keep on asking, ‘I don’t understand why he’s fighting.’ He’s fighting because it’s a drug he can’t get anywhere else. He loves that drug. The walk, the feeling of it, standing in the cage, the announcement, all of it,” he said. McGregor has mentioned his love for the sport multiple times.

“He loves it, it lights a fire under his a**, and he can’t get that as soon as he walks away. So, that’s the reason he keeps on fighting,” McCarthy concluded.

Conor McGregor and his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier

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The other talking point of the podcast was McGregor’s UFC 264 bout against Dustin Poirier. They split the first two fights with knockouts for both of them. Their third fight will determine who’ll end up with the legacy and possibly a title shot against new lightweight champion Charles Oliveira.

McGregor has lost two of his last three fights, and his one win came at welterweight against Donald Cerrone. He needs to win this match to get his form back. A loss here could mean the end for his title prospects in the lightweight division.

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Do you think Conor McGregor can beat Dustin Poirier?

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Written by:

Aniket Awasthi is a UFC author at EssentiallySports. This STEM undergraduate combines an insatiable urge to write with his admiration for MMA and the UFC in general to enhance his journalism. He calls charismatic names like Chael Sonnen and 'The Count' Michael Bisping as his favorite fighters, but he is a great admirer of the rise of Israel Adesanya ever since he fought Rob Wilkinson at UFC 221.

‘It Lights a Fire Under His A**’ – Big John McCarthy Explains Why Conor McGregor is Still Fighting in the UFC

Conor McGregor and his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier

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