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Tuesday, Aug 16, 2016

Ireland’s First UFC Fighter Says Success of Conor McGregor “Compliments Me”

Tom Egan (photo via Twitter / @TeamEganMMA)

By FCF Staff

Since Tom Egan became the first Irish fighter to compete in the Octagon, Conor McGregor has gone on to become the face of Irish MMA, and the veteran is happy to see it.

Egan made his way to the UFC in 2009, and was stopped by John Hathaway. The defeat was the fighter’s first since he turned pro in 2007, and won four straight. Recently Egan spoke to UFC.com, and while discussing the success of his high school friend, McGregor, he stated:

“I do believe in a very important phrase, and that is that somebody else’s success is not going to hurt my future or my success,” Egan said. “If anything, it compliments me, them guys going out there and doing well. I don’t need to ride the wave. Paddy Holohan has been very vocal about saying that when he saw me make the walk at UFC 93, that’s what inspired him. I know Conor’s been vocal about it. Conor said that when he saw me fight, that reiterated his dream to him and brought it to reality that he could go out and do it. Cathal Pendred was getting involved at the time, and he saw me putting in the work and doing all my stuff. So it compliments me, and I know these guys, so there’s no reason why I shouldn’t be happy for them.”

The 28 year-old Egan, who hasn’t fought since 2014, says he intends to fight again. Egan was also a coach on McGregor’s team during TUF 22.

McGregor, meanwhile, is scheduled to fight Nate Diaz at UFC 202 on Saturday.

posted by FCF Staff @ 8:00 am
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