Conor McGregor Cancels Role In Vin Diesel Movie To Train For Nate Diaz
It looks like Conor McGregor is taking his next fight extremely seriously after his first-ever UFC loss.
Featherweight champion McGregor, who was submitted by Nate Diaz at welterweight in the main event of March 5’s UFC 196 and is rumored to be involved in a rematch with the Stockton slugger at UFC 200, is reportedly taking his training so seriously that it’s persuaded to him to cancel a lucrative opportunity outside the cage.
Brett Okamoto recently revealed on an episode of ESPN’s Sportscenter that McGregor has canceled his appearance in Vin Diesel’s latest installment of action film franchise ‘XXX’ in order to train hard for his rematch with Diaz:
As I mentioned on @SportsCenter, I’m told McGregor has canceled his planned appearance in Vin Diesel’s XXX film. Doesn’t want distraction.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) March 19, 2016
As most fans who follow MMA to basically any extent know, McGregor was steamrolling as quite possibly the most meteoric champion in promotional (and MMA overall) history, as it was heralded that he could potentially become the first simultaneous two-weight champion when he was scheduled to meet lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 196.
Diaz infamously came along and ruined that hype train, but it could still be argued that McGregor is still indeed the UFC’s biggest star. He’s apparently more focused on fighting than fame following his humbling loss, however, and indeed his wrestling and grappling will need a significant upgrade if he wants to even consider contending with the upper tier of both the lightweight and welterweight divisions.
”’The Notorious’ was supposed to be headed for his first featherweight title defense against against Jose Aldo or Frankie Edgar at UFC 200, and his perceived rematch with Diaz has caused no small outrage from fans everywhere. The fight has reportedly been verbally agreed upon but not officially announced.
McGregor seems to be taking the opposite route as former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, who has pushed back her awaited return to fighting at least in part because of a movie role, but it could easily be argued she needs the time off after suffering such a devastating knockout loss to Holly Holm at UFC 193.
McGregor emerged from UFC 196 without any significant damage save for the massive below to his ego and aura of invincibility, and it appears he’s been forced to get back to his fighting roots rather than further his name outside of the Octagon. Will that be enough to topple Diaz?
