Conor McGregor On The Truth In Trash Talk, Custom Suits And His Knitting Circle

Conor McGregor Opens Up About The Fine Art Of Psychological Warfare

When you talk about a humble champion, you’re probably not talking about Conor McGregor.

The 28-year-old Irishman went from working as a plumber’s apprentice in Ireland to becoming arguably the most popular UFC fighter of all time, but he hasn’t done it quietly. McGregor — who is also one of AskMen’s Flex 50 fittest men of 2016 — rose up the UFC’s ranks with a swag in his step, a flashy suit on his back and plenty of expletives spewed from his mouth.

The last time we saw The Notorious in the Octagon was at UFC 202 when he silenced critics by taking down Nate Diaz — albeit narrowly — in a highly anticipated rematch after losing at UFC 196.

Next up, the UFC featherweight champion takes on Eddie Alvarez in the lightweight division at UFC 205 for the chance at being the first fighter in UFC history to control two belts at the same time.

In this interview, Conor breaks down his fights with Diaz, the mistakes so many people make in training, what he eats to become the machine that he is and the art of the trash talk.



AskMen: What tweaks did you make in your training for the rematch with Diaz?

Conor McGregor: For starters, I knew what I was facing. Who I was facing. Late switches are part of fighting and I’ve handled them all. But, yeah, it makes a difference when you’ve got more than two months versus two weeks to train for a particular opponent. It messed with my training some to be putting on weight, eating whatever the hell I wanted and having energy to burn. And I made some decisions in that fight — it was wrong to go in so hard expecting to take him in the first round. I over-exerted. He’s got a solid chin, he’s big with a big reach and he’s durable. Knowing he would stay in there with me, I prepared for it. It was a different kind of camp. I sparred with heavier, lankier guys, brought in more experienced jiu-jitsu people to push me. I focused on stamina with cardio. And I got to the weight in a better, more performance focused way.

AM: What are the biggest mistakes you see amateur MMA fighters and general gym-goers making in the gym?

CM: I’m not a fan of routine. I mean, people do what they think works for them, but the sport is about instinct, movement, balance, power…it’s too animalistic to get rigid about your training. I don’t use machines — animals don’t use machines. Machines don’t use machines. Training to me isn’t about a set time at the gym — I move at all times of the day and night. I feel it when I need to train and I do what I feel like I need to do. I don’t get obsessed with one style or one skill. Seems like people get obsessed about times and numbers and weights and that — I’m obsessed with winning. I eat, sleep and breathe training.

AM: How does your body feel the day after a fight?

CM: F*cking fantastic — when I win. Seriously, though, pain is part of the sport. Depends on the fight and what I did. Leg kicks — they can put your leg in bits. My shin was really f*cking sore after I hit Nate with it so many times.

"I’m an Irishman and a fighter — I don’t give a f*ck about feelings."

AM: You had to pack on the pounds to jump weight classes in your last two fights. How did your diet change?

CM: It was two different experiences with the diet. The first fight, it was a short turn from thinking I was facing someone at around 155 pounds then getting big boy Nate after he’d been on the beach in Cabo. I ate up to the weight — I was eating steak for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I was eating extra meals — two breakfasts. Desserts. Typically, I like to be lean – even at a heavier weight being lean helps with performance — and I usually stay disciplined. This time, I was on the clock with nutrition the whole time. Obviously I wasn’t cutting weight and I was able to eat but we focused on food for performance – giving my body exactly what it needed for the physical training.

AM: Are there any foods you avoid during training or any foods you know you should eat, but hate?

CM: My diet is usually pretty consistent whether I’m training for a specific fight or not. I don’t like to mess too much with it. I try to eat healthy all the time. I don’t eat takeaways. I drink mostly water or coconut water. It’s important to stay hydrated — first thing I do in the morning is stretch and drink water. I eat good meat — chicken, salmon, some steak — and a lot of quality greens and some fruits like bananas. I eat eggs — an omelet with my Americano for a late breakfast or brunch. I don’t eat a lot of carbs — if I do it’s something like sweet potatoes. Getting enough protein is important when I train, to help build muscle and recover, so I’ll supplement with protein shakes. The new SYNTHA-6 EDGE from BSN works for me because it gives me a load of protein, but without a bunch of carbs or fat. I joke about it, but it’s good for my raging sweet tooth. If I could bust out and eat anything…if I ever stop fighting, I could put on some serious weight with sweets. In general, I like the healthy stuff and don’t really have a problem with any of it.

AM: Is there an art or a strategy to trash talking and getting inside an opponent's head?

CM: The term “trash talk” is such an American thing. I still laugh at it. Like I’m trying to hurt someone’s feelings? I’m an Irishman and a fighter — I don’t give a f*ck about feelings. As far as I’m concerned, I just speak the truth. Sometimes the truth hurts. It hurts because they have a weakness — and I exploit weakness. A fight is mental, not just physical and psychological warfare is absolutely part of that. It’s interesting they allow it. I guess I’m the stronger man.

AM: After you beat Jose Aldo in just 13 seconds, you said: “Precision beats power and timing beats speed.” Do you think that philosophy applies to other areas of success in life?

CM: The point is being a complete fighter. Power and speed aren’t enough to overcome someone who is strategic, who knows what you’ll do before you do it and can turn it on you; someone who is mentally engaged and combines the whole package. There are people who have great skills, who do great things, but don’t embody the whole animal that is the fight game like I do. I don’t believe in talent. Talent doesn’t exist. I believe in working harder and putting in the time — being completely obsessed. And, yeah, I think that’s life. I mean, that fight was 13 seconds. But it was an entire lifetime of work to get to that 13 seconds. It’s not about what’s obvious, it’s about all that’s not obvious that goes into success.

"Yeah, the Mac Life…it’s about sipping some tea, getting together with the knitting circle. You know I like origami, right?"

AM: It came out recently that you spend between $4,000 and $10,000 on suits and you have a ton of them — why is style worth so much to you?

CM: I like looking good. But it’s also about the feeling, right? You can take on the world in a good suit. As for the cost of them — it’s not about the money. It’s about what that money represents. I love money because I’ve earned it. I won sixty G’s with my first knockout – and the week before I was collecting social welfare. I worked my ass off to earn what I have. You have to understand, not many people where I come from get to experience this kind of life. I used to imagine it. I used to pretend that my Peugeot driving to the gym in the rain in Dublin was a Ferrari on the Vegas strip. And now that I have that? I can’t even describe that feeling. That’s why I like the best — the best cars, the best food, the best watches. I’m on top of the world, man. And I intend to stay there.

AM: Would you be happy to take on Diaz a third time or do you want to move the f*ck on already?

CM: I did what I set out to do — I beat him at 170. I think I am the greatest fighter in any class. I know I can hold two, maybe even three belts. So I have business to take care of back in and around my weight class. There’s a lot to talk about. I won’t ever shy away from a fight and if it makes sense down the road, I’ll do it. But it will be on my terms.

AM: What’s your craziest party story?

CM: Yeah, the Mac Life…it’s about sipping some tea, getting together with the knitting circle. You know I like origami, right? That’s how you get to be notorious. Of course, there was also that time I became a world champion and celebrated in Vegas for days, but those stories are probably best kept to myself.