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“To Be Able to See Him…”: Conor McGregor’s Passion Lauded by Stephen Thompson as UFC Vet Recalls Coaching Stint Alongside the Irishman at TUF 31

Published 05/13/2023, 1:19 AM EDT

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Conor McGregor is undoubtedly one of the most enigmatic characters in the UFC. After a long hiatus due to a gruesome leg injury sustained in his last fight, he’s currently preparing for his highly anticipated comeback. However, despite the MMA community eagerly awaiting his return, there are some setbacks that could jeopardize his return.

But that’s not stopping McGregor. In fact, he will soon be seen coaching a pack of UFC hopefuls at the 31st installment of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ against none other than his comeback opponent, Michael Chandler. During the filming of TUF 31, McGregor was accompanied by the welterweight star Stephen Thompson, who heaped high praise on ‘The Notorious’ over the meetup. And in a recent interview, ‘Wonderboy’ delved deeper into how he ended up meeting McGregor and how the experience altogether was nothing short of amazing.

Stephen Thompson is in awe of Conor McGregor

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During a recent interview with the MMA reporter, Chamatkar Sandhu, Stephen Thompson went into detail talking about meeting Conor McGregor. He revealed that he almost left Las Vegas, but had to stay because the Irishman called him.

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The 40-year-old said, “I got a call from Conor saying he wanted me to be a part of, asking me to be a part- a guest coach. So, I was like, ‘Are you kidding me? Let’s go.’ And this is an opportunity I can’t turn down. So ended up staying an extra three or four days, just being a guest coach for his team…”

He continued, “He inspires his team, man. He’s a 100% in with his team every step of the way, which I love because that’s what I do for a living, you know.”

Furthermore, the Simpsonville native even revealed how impressed he was by McGregor as a coach. Moreover, he even offered his thoughts on the Irishman’s current mindset before his return.

‘Wonderboy’ sees the fire in ‘The Notorious’

Stephen Thompson praised the Irishman’s work ethic during the filming of TUF 31. He also spoke highly of McGregor’s coaching skills, stating that the Irishman was very hands-on and always willing to share his knowledge with the fighters.

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USA Today via Reuters

 

Moreover, during the same interview, when asked whether he sees the same fire in McGregor to come back to the octagon, ‘Wonderboy’ said, “You could see it in him.”

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Do you think Conor McGregor has got what it takes to make a triumphant comeback? Let us know in the comments below.

Watch this story: Conor McGregor Responds to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s GOAT List

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Written by:

Mayur Soni

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Mayur Soni is a UFC writer at EssentiallySports. His journey as an MMA fan started with Conor McGregor’s historic 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo in 2015, which sparked his love for the sport. Since then, he has closely followed the sport and gained an in-depth understanding of its nuances, which reflects in his insightful and analytical writing.
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Edited by:

Rohini Kottu