Mike Tyson is buying what Conor McGregor is selling.
McGregor’s mixed martial arts dominance came to a screeching halt last month with his loss to Nate Diaz at UFC 196. But as Tyson can attest, there’s still no one in MMA quite like McGregor, as people seem to gravitate toward the UFC featherweight champion.
“Conor is very charismatic,” Tyson recently told Fighters Only Magazine. “Jon Jones is bad, but deep down he’s a decent kind of person and very shy. Whereas this guy, Conor, he’s the man. He reminds me of the old-time boxers, one of those guys that’s just into everything. He walks into the room and everybody stands up. He sucks the air out of the room. He’s just a really interesting guy.”
McGregor had UFC by the throat going into his match with Diaz, who replaced the Irishman’s original opponent, Rafael dos Anjos, after dos Anjos backed out with a foot injury. The loss has cooled the hype surrounding McGregor to some extent, but he’s still the sport’s most popular athlete. And it’s because he typically walks the walk in addition to talking the talk.
“He does things nobody else has been able to do, too,” Tyson told Fighters Only Magazine. “He’s kind of like an animated character, one that’s real, though. He’s a great fighter, but his personality is even bigger than his talent. Isn’t that crazy? He’s got this huge personality. Nobody in MMA has ever had a personality as big as his. Ronda (Rousey) is just like a monster — the things she would do — but this guy is different. His personality is phenomenal.”
Tyson, a former undisputed world heavyweight champion, was the total package during his boxing heyday, entertaining fans both in the ring and on the microphone. McGregor might not be quite at Tyson’s level, especially in the wake of his loss to Diaz, but Iron Mike’s opinion on the topic definitely holds weight.
Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images
