Conor McGregor stuns UFC fans with early arrival for UFC 246 presser and Cerrone praise
Conor McGregor will be welcomed back to the Octagon by Donald Cerrone in the main event of UFC 246.
Conor McGregor's insistence that he's turned over a new leaf is seemingly a true one, with the Irishman stunning UFC fans worldwide by turning up on time for his pre-fight press conference with Donald Cerrone on time. The former two-division champion will make his return to the Octagon early on Sunday morning in the main event of UFC 246, which takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
McGregor vs Cerrone is about which has been over four years in the making, with the seed for it being planted at the UFC's Go Big press conference in September 2015.
The pair went face-to-face with one another for the first time since their heated back-and-forth in the early hours of Thursday morning at the first and only UFC 246 pre-fight press conference.
And as usual, McGregor was in textbook form. Though he stunned the thousands of UFC fans watching the press conference around the world by turning up for the media engagement on time - which he hasn't done for many a year.
Express Sport is reporting live from Las Vegas in association with Ohmbet.co.uk – for the latest UFC 246 fight and odds more go here. For the latest news on McGregor vs Cowboy, be sure to visit the UFC’s official website and MMAFighting.com.
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"Conor McGregor showed up ON TIME. #UFC246," tweeted one shocked UFC fan.
Another said: "He’s back AND on time!"
"One stunned observer wrote: "Holy c**p @TheNotoriousMMA is on time!!! I CANNOT wait for #UFC246 - It’s great to have him back."
"Holy s**t! A UFC press conference that starts on time? tweeted one viewer of the press conference. With CONOR MCGREGOR being punctual too? What is this? What the hell is going on?"
Conor McGregor sets fresh stipulation for UFC 246 clash with Donald Cerrone
McGregor's demeanour ahead of his comeback fight is a far cry from how he was in the weeks before of his UFC 229 grudge match with Khabib Nurmagomedov last October.
The Dubliner, however, insists he hasn't completely changed, saying: “If you ask my family and the people who know me they wouldn’t say I’ve changed
“I’m still the same young kid I always was, I’m still an aspiring man and reaching for the stars, doing things that haven’t been done before. I feel like I’ve turned over a new leaf. I am re-energised and refreshed.”
His high praise of Cerrone, however, would suggest otherwise.
"I’ve had my back and forth with Donald over the years but so much has changed since the last time," said the UFC's first simultaneous two-weight world champion.
“It’s hard not to respect Donald at this stage. Although there will be blood spilled, it will not be bad blood.
“It will be a KO.”
UFC 246: McGregor vs Cerrone fight card
Conor McGregor vs Donald Cerrone - welterweight bout
Holly Holm vs Raquel Pennington - men’s bantamweight bout
Maurice Greene vs Aleksei Oleinik - heavyweight bout
Claudia Gadelha vs Alexa Grasso - women’s strawweight bout
Diego Ferreira vs Anthony Pettis - lightweight bout
Prelims
Maycee Barber vs Roxanne Modafferi - women’s flyweight bout
Andre Fili vs Sodiq Yusuff - men’s featherweight bout
Drew Dober vs Nasrat Haqparast - lightweight bout
Grant Dawson vs Chas Skelly - men’s featherweight bout
JJ Aldrich vs Sabina Mazo - women’s flyweight bout
Askar Askarov vs Tim Elliott - men’s flyweight bout
Brian Kelleher vs Ode Osbourne - men’s bantamweight bout
Aleksa Camur vs Justin Ledet - light-heavyweight bout