Conor McGregor has made a lot of money throughout his career.
However, the bulk of Conor McGregor’s fortune was earned relatively recently. According to the latest Forbes list, ‘the Notorious’ banked a cool $99 million over a 12-month period. Only Floyd Mayweather Jr, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo earned more in the same timeframe.
That’s quite a significant income boost for a man who was signing on the dole not that long ago. That being said, John Kavanagh believes the money hasn’t changed his fighter at all. As the SBG Ireland head coach told Brett Okamoto on ESPN, his mindset has stayed exactly the same since his more humble beginnings.
“You know, it’s odd. It’s his mindset. He’s been that person since he’s 18. Driving a banged up one litre car that we had to push to get started and in his head, he’d be blaring some of that rap that he likes. Shades on and driving down the road thinking he’s in a Rolls. Now he’s in the Rolls, but the attitude’s the same! I don’t see a massive difference in him.”
“He’s matured, of course… He has a son now. Settling down a little bit (laughs). But yeah, in terms of his attitude and his confidence and you might say arrogance, his bold predictions, how he carries himself – that really hasn’t changed all that much… That’s just been who the guy he’s been for as long as I can remember.”
Motivation
How many times did you hear the same point being made in the build-up to the Money Fight? ‘After a payday like that, McGregor might never fight again.’ Nearly a year has past and no fight has been booked. However, Kavanagh believes fans need not worry. Fighting is part of his DNA. It’s his obsession.
“I think you can give him all the money in the world, but try to get him to do something else other than train or watch fights and you’re going to see a guy start to get bored very, very quickly. He’s got a hyperactive brain and it’s a brain that’s very sharp in the business world, but he’s lit up when it’s a fight.”
“I don’t care if it’s two gorillas in an enclosure or a big fight on a Saturday night, it’s really what gets him buzzed up. All the other shiny stuff he buys, it’s a quick rush, but it goes away. I know he’s going to be training in my gym until he’s bringing his son down. He already has his son throwing a few punches and kicks already. That’s the side where I see him light up more than any gold watch could give him.”
The spark
Kavanagh admitted that McGregor had been focusing a lot of his time pursuing business ventures, but lately, he’s noticed the return of that drive to compete. He’s seen the spark return. He believes he’s hungry again.
“I really have seen the spark back lately that I think was directed at other areas of his life for a while. Like, I said, building up his business world which is completely justified. I absolutely agree with what he was doing because we all know the hard luck stories of fighters retiring and being broke and they get pats on the back and then they’re forgotten. So, I supported that and I’m fully behind it.”
“But, I do see the spark back. I do see him very hungry again. You know, coming down and just jumping in the regular jiu-jitsu class throwing his gi on, back doing those classes, back doing strength and conditioning. There’s a real fire back there.”
The sooner the Khabib fight gets booked, the better.
