After going to war with one of the most talented knockout artists MMA has to offer, Floyd Mayweather gives his verdict…
Amid a myriad of crazy predictions and speculation about MayMac, one opinion appeared common. Most fans believed McGregor would need to get the job done with a knockout, and it would be Floyd taking a decision.
Inevitably it was Mayweather whose power would get the job done, but not in the traditional sense. Feeling McGregor out in the early going, Mayweather was able to start timing the UFC champion later. McGregor actually landed far more than any of Mayweather’s recent opponents have.
When the tenth round came, ‘Money’ had worn his man down with constant pressure and it showed. Forward movement and better knowledge played just as much a role in the TKO finish as the punches themselves. Although he lost McGregor did put in a valiant effort indeed.
What Did Mayweather Think of McGregor’s Power?
Unlike his normal style, Mayweather chose a hands-up pressure gameplan against McGregor. As a result, he tasted many clean punches, the most notable a beautiful counter left uppercut to the chin.
As per MMAJunkie.com, ‘Money’ discusses McGregor’s power and his own style during the clash:
“As far as his punching power – he’s solid,” Mayweather said in a press conference after the pay-per-view main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. “I’ve felt it before, so that’s why I kept coming straight ahead.
“Obviously, it wasn’t the type of power to say, ‘I can’t come forward.’ Because if it were that type of power, I wouldn’t have come forward.”
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Taunting & Trash Talking
“I let the referee do his job,” Mayweather said. “I’m not here to bash the referee. But you guys knew what was going on – a lot of rabbit punching. A lot. Things happen, but you live and you learn. The referee is a hell of a referee. Conor McGregor is a hell of a fighter. I’m not here to bash anyone. I just went out there to do my job tonight.”
“Give the fans what they want to see,” Mayweather said. “I pushed him and taunted him. ‘You still ain’t knocked me out, yet. I thought you said it wasn’t going past the fourth. Show me your real power.’ That’s all.
“Trash-talking that fighters do – whether it’s MMA or boxing. We talk trash, that’s what we do. When the best compete against the best, we want to be pushed, and that’s how boxing and MMA goes.”
Back To The UFC
Boxing again would perhaps be ill advised for McGregor. As Mayweather has already said, the Irishman will now be able to demand far bigger pay checks in the UFC, and his power translates much better there anyway.
