BOSTON — Conor McGregor’s opponent has a name.
The days and weeks leading up to Sunday’s main attraction at UFC Fight Night 59 have focused almost solely on the brash Irishman, but contrary to the promos, McGregor won’t be the only one stepping into the Octagon at TD Garden.
UFC veteran Dennis Siver, who has felt “slighted” by the one-sided attention the fight has gained, will take on the rising star with a clear mission: Defeat McGregor and shut him up.
“Dennis has kind of taken a back seat in the build-up to the fight, but it’s OK with him because the more Conor talks, the more Dennis gets to train instead,” a translator for Siver said during Thursday’s open workout at UFC Gym.
McGregor’s mouth has become almost as famous as his fighting, with the 26-year-old throwing all sorts of insults at the quiet Siver leading up to the bout, including stating on numerous occasions that he’d need less than two minutes to finish off the Russian.
But Siver wants to go the distance Sunday, if only to make a strong statement to the fighting world.
“He definitely wants to go for a finish because he wants to prove to the world that Conor is not that great and that he’s not the savior of the entire MMA sport,” the translator said for Siver.
McGregor has done essentially all of the chirping up to this point, but Siver vows to “pay him back.” If he does indeed pull off the upset and defeat McGregor, Siver finally might have some words of his own for his opponent.
“We’ll see when I win, and if I win,” Siver said.
Thumbnail photo via Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports Images
