UFC 329 is Live on Sunday at 9:00 PM ET
(Main card picks listed at the bottom of the article)
Dig Deep, Dig Deeper
Rarely in sports does the appeal of a singular athlete grow larger than the game he competes in. Yet, once in a few blue moons, an enigma emerges. One whose unique song pulls on chords deeply embedded in the melody of culture. Figures such as Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali are brought to mind. These icons emit an aura which transcends the plane of their craft.
As it pertains to mixed martial arts, there is no doubt that Conor McGregor is this mystical figure.
In this piece, Club Underground will endeavor on a bit of a philosophical detour. Rather than previewing McGregor’s return to the octagon at UFC 329, the world renown sports media platform will instead explore the esoteric elements that concoct the mystique of the Irish superstar.
A few components of McGregor’s commercial intrigue are no secret. The dapper suits, the charismatic personality, and the abundance of hilarious witticisms certainly play a role. Yet, as Dana White routinely reminds UFC casuals, the flashy appearance and clever tongue would simply be ancillary if Conor McGregor was not one of the best fighters to ever walk the Earth.
He talks the billionaire talk. He struts the billionaire strut. He delivers masterful displays within the cage.
Upon entering the UFC in 2013, the Irishman rattled off seven straight victories. The seventh of such wins will forever be remembered as an epic coronation. At UFC 194, McGregor knocked out Jose Aldo Jr. in just thirteen seconds to claim the undisputed featherweight title. A pair of iconic bouts with the legendary Nate Diaz (one humbling loss and one redemptive win) would soon follow. Then, in the headliner of the first mixed martial arts card at Madison Square Garden, McGregor turned in a masterclass to become the first simultaneous two-division UFC world champion.
Despite his years of focus and training, a tinge of the Irishman’s talent appears to be God-gifted. His defining fighting attribute, which has fueled his athletic prime, is his unprecedented knockout power.
In the collective consciousness of the combat sports sphere, punching power is regarded as an unteachable trait. A fighter either possesses the distinctive aptitude or he does not. The Notorious one certainly does.
The patented left-hand of McGregor has long been hailed as an infamous shot in mixed martial arts lore. Seven of his nine UFC victories have come by a knockout realized with the left paw. Perhaps more impressively, the finishing dubs came across three different weight divisions.
No matter the size of the opponent or the sturdiness of his chin, when the southpaw lands his backhand, his foes drop into a slumber.
The magic of the Irishman’s striking power contributes mightily to his cachet. Yet, the physical faculty has always been paired with an intangible power. That being the power McGregor wields within his own mind.
If Conor McGregor were to attend a dinner party, the first impression would be one of outpouring confidence. Throughout his career, critics have suggested the Irishman to be hyper-confident, bordering on hubris. Pundits likely formed this opinion as McGregor brashly predicted favorable outcomes prior to his bouts.
Yet, the criticisms ceased when such prophecies materialized.
The Irish fighter eventually assigned himself the nickname “Mystic Mac,” after correctly predicting consecutive early-round knockouts.
In the locker room before his signature dismantling of Jose Aldo, McGregor was filmed acting out the proceedings of the looming fight. The celtic warrior first imitated a tense Aldo attacking forward. Then, he simulated himself slipping an overextended punch and countering with a rifling left-hand to end the night. Minutes later, the sequence played out exactly as imagined, and McGregor raised gold in under fifteen seconds.
The predictive powers of Mystic Mac are certainly jarring. However, there was no strange witchcraft employed. McGregor simply developed an unbreakable crystal ball between the ears.
In an interview back in 2013, the Notorious fighter was asked if he ever lulls over the possibility that he could lose in the octagon. The superstar quickly retorted. “That is not in the equation. That does not process in my brain for one second,” he expressed, “I cannot see it. I cannot feel it.”
His self-belief is impenetrable. Of course, his confidence is catalyzed by the hours of work he spends drilling techniques in the gym. Moreover, the practice of visualization has always been a crucial ingredient in McGregor’s unbelievable feats.
Following the realization of his lifelong dream, McGregor stood with his gold belt at the UFC 194 post-fight press conference and dropped a nugget of supreme knowledge. Kitted in a finely tailored suit, wearing an intoxicating smile, the fighter remarked “if you can see it here [points to his head], and you have the courage enough to speak it, it will happen…You are creating that law of attraction and it will become reality.”
Mystic Mac is a master of manifestation. He extensively visualizes his fights. He then walks towards the octagon in a relaxed trot as he knows the victorious outcome already exists in the future. Once the cage door shuts, he simply plays out the scene.
The mentality of McGregor has already influenced, and will continue to transcend, the next generation of fighting folk. However, there is one final elusive additive brimming beneath the surface which best encapsulates the phenomenon of the Irish supernova.
McGregor is an artist. The “arts” of mixed martial arts are embodied in his spectacles. As he would assert himself, the UFC octagon is his canvas, and his movement is the paintbrush.
In regards to visuals, the karate-inspired stance and plethora of unusual kicks have always been unorthodox, yet poetic. When the Irish artist enters flow, his body is water. He has perfected his technique to such a degree that his movements appear more aesthetic than athletic.
Furthermore, much like his personality, his odd style is authentically his own. In the same way a Van Gogh can quickly be identified, so too can the distinct fighting portrait of McGregor.
The Irishman belongs in the octagon. On Saturday night, he returns to paint another beautiful picture.
Complete List of UFC 329 Main Card Picks:
Welterweight Fight: Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway – Underground Pick: Winner – Conor McGregor
Lightweight Fight: Benoît Saint Denis vs. Paddy Pimblett – Underground Pick: Winner – Benoît Saint Denis
Bantamweight Fight: Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista – Underground Pick: Winner – Mario Bautista
Flyweight Fight: Brandon Royval vs. Lone’er Kavanagh – Underground Pick: Winner – Lone’er Kavanagh
Lightweight Fight: King Green vs. Terrance McKinney – Underground Pick: Winner – Terrance McKinney
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