Tyson Fury on Conor McGregor: ‘He copied me in everything he does’

After defeating Wladimir Klitschko, Tyson Fury gained a lot of media attention. Recently he shared his thoughts on MMA and MMA fighters.

Upon stating that MMA is for fighters who cannot box, Tyson Fury turned to McGregor who is soon to fight Jose Aldo for the featherweight division title.

“I am familiar with a man named Conor McGregor. I think he copied me in everything he does,” Fury told Ariel Helwani on Monday’s The MMA Hour. “I was the first trash talker – big time – in these shores, first one in Ireland. Then all of a sudden, he started copying me, this Conor McGregor guy.

“I grew a big beard. He grew a big beard,” Fury continues. “I talk bulls–t about everybody, he starts talking bulls–t about everybody. And it worked for the heavyweight champ of the world. It must work for Conor McGregor, some guy who’s like 140 pounds or whatever is.”

Interestingly, however, this is where the negativity for Fury ends. “No, I am a fan of his,” Fury insists. “He’s copied my style. I better admire him for it.” More importantly, though, is the fact that while Fury sees McGregor as having picked off his style, it’s had the effect of making Fury want to watch McGregor compete in the Octagon.

“I’ve never met him, but the guy is a very entertaining character,” Fury admits. “Conor McGregor got me actually physically watching MMA and wanted to check the results. Because the way he was carrying on, I thought, ‘This guy has definitely got a bit of me self in this guy. I want to check him out’.

“I saw the fight with the Mendes guy, the interim champion and I will be watching the Aldo fight because he’s got a lot to say, hasn’t he?”

“Klitschko was the long-reigning champion on the block, I was a guy some people said was a pretender, some people think I can fight, some people think I can fight,” Fury noted. “So, it’s very, very much similarity between me and Conor McGregor. I’m living proof that it can be done. I beat Klitschko, he can beat Jose Aldo. Why not? For sure.”