“You Don’t Even Know How to Pass Guard Yet” – ‘Cocky Boxer’ Conor McGregor Got a Lesson of His Lifetime After a Khabib-Like Sambo Fighter Submitted Him in Sixty-Nine Seconds

Conor McGregor is not new to scuffles with other fighters, including his teammates. In his book ‘Win Or Learn: MMA, Conor McGregor and Me: A Trainer’s Journey,’ coach John Kavanagh wrote about several instances when the former double champion got into heated situations. One such took place at the Cage of Truth 3, early on in McGregor‘s career.

‘Mystic Mac’ took on a fighter named Artemij Sitenkov from Lithuania. His fighting style was based on Sambo, which was a form of martial developed in Russia. Sitenkov was a much more experienced and older fighter than McGregor.

Kavanagh wrote that McGregor was a good fighter when the fight stays standing. But Sitenkov‘s form of martial arts was based on wrestling and leg and arm locks. So, Kavanagh was sure that Conor would not survive the fight if it becomes a ground game. During that time, Artemij Sitenkov was a big name in the European MMA game and was a top flyweight fighter.

Conor McGregor gets submitted in 69 seconds

Coach Kavanagh believed that the Irishman needed to be taught a lesson. He wrote, “There was a side of me that felt this cocky boxer [Conor] needed to be submitted in order to appreciate the importance of that aspect of the game.” He added, “And maybe that side of me also felt that he needed to be taught a lesson.” Kavanagh also said that McGregor was more interested in partying than his training.

The fight between the former UFC champion and Sitenkov didn’t take much time to end. McGregor was successful in landing a few hammer fists on the Lithuanian fighter. Nevertheless, Sitenkov‘s disciplined style of fighting led him to catch Conor with a kneebar submission move. McGregor tapped out, and the fight ended in 69 seconds, or 1 minute and 9 seconds.

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Kavanagh reiterated the moment when McGregor made a crucial mistake. He wrote, “In an attempt to pass guard effectively, to breach Sitenkov’s defences – he allowed Sitenkov to transition and lock onto his leg in search of a kneebar submission. I just sat there thinking: What on earth are you doing? You don’t even know how to pass guard yet!” 

Kavanagh states that McGregor was excited to have his friends and family for the fight and that made him lose his composure. However, McGregor did go on to become one of the greats in MMA and his partnership with coach Kavanagh served both very well.

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