Conor McGregor’s coach expects UFC star Donald Cerrone will ‘crumble’ under the pressure The Notorious poses on him
CONOR McGREGOR’S striking coach expects Donald Cerrone to crumble under the pressure of fighting The Notorious – as he has seen it all before.
McGregor, 31, has been preparing for his octagon return with striking coach Owen Roddy, as the Irishman faces American veteran Cerrone, 36, next Saturday.
Having not fought since a crushing submission defeat to lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in October 2018, The Notorious is looking for his first win in over three years.
But padman Roddy told that McGregor is back to his old best – and the confidence he will bring into the cage will cause Muay Thai specialist Cerrone to wilt under the pressure.
He said: “Cerrone is phenomenal. He is a fan favorite for a reason. Cause he brings it every time.
“And he is gonna bring it on fight night. But I just don’t think he has what it takes to beat Conor.
“Everyone crumbles under the pressure that Conor poses on them. It’s very hard to deal with and you can’t imitate that.
“You only feel it when you are in there moving around with him or you are in there on the fight night and you feel it.”
McGregor is already plotting a rematch against Nurmagomedov and the lightweight belt, something UFC boss Dana White said he will receive should he beat Cerrone.
But the 31-year-old southpaw is preparing for a “season” of fights, with three bouts targeted this year – as he called out Jorge Masvidal and welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.
With a busy 12 months ahead Roddy reckons McGregor will aim to make quick work of Cerrone, and warned it will be just a matter of time if the left hand lands.
The trainer explained: “Even if Cerrone, which I do believe is in a better place and he looks like fighting for the love of it, he does not seem to be getting as narrow as what he said he used to.
“But I just still think the best Cerrone does not beat the best Conor.
“It’s the same as every other fight. When Conor lands on people it’s just a matter of time. It’s just a matter of how long they can weather the storm.
“And it’s never that long. So I see Conor landing clean and once he lands clean it’s lights out.”