Conor McGregor’s long-awaited return is three months away, but the former champion is already making headlines.
Much fanfare has been given to his “The Ultimate Fighter 31” coaching gig, as Team McGregor faces off against Michael Chandler’s team. But UFC heavyweight contender Tom Aspinall isn’t looking forward to it.
In an interview released Monday, Aspinall said: “I’m honestly not that interested (in McGregor’s return). I’ll still watch it, but I’m more hyped about other fights. There are way more interesting fights than this. The heavyweight fights, the London Card; I could sit here, and name fights all day.”
Conor McGregor of Ireland gestures at Dustin Poirier during the UFC 264 ceremonial weigh-inZuffa LLC
Tom Aspinall celebrates victory against Alexander Volkov May of 2022.PA Images via Getty ImagesMcGregor responded in a threatening – and since deleted – tweet.
“Bum prick. Say sayonara to that gk deal kid,” McGregor wrote in reference to Aspinall’s endorsement with apparel company Gym King. “Starve you and kill you I will you f–king disrespectful prick. Don’t ever speak my name in disrespect again. Mush potato head.”
Despite the threats, Aspinall poked some fun at the beef, posting a screengrab of his own name crossed out and replaced by “Mush head rat.”
Conor McGregor walks out for his fight at UFC 284Zuffa LLCMcGregor has had some good relationships with other European MMA stars, including Leon Edwards, Gunnar Nelson, and Paddy Pimblett, making this attack with Aspinall is at least a little bit surprising.
His back and forth with Dustin Poirier got ugly at times, with the Irish fighter notably telling his rival that his “wife is in my DMs.” That exchange still haunts Poirier, as just this week, Poirier slapped a heckler who held a sign that referenced the exchange.
McGregor is in the middle of filming “Ultimate Fighter,” which will air in May on ESPN. After that, it is expected that Chandler take on McGregor at welterweight (170lbs).
