Gregor Gillespie (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

Gregor Gillespie isn’t a mainstream draw yet, but don’t look for the rising lightweight to do what many others are doing to become one: imitate Conor McGregor.

The decorated wrestler has been garnering attention in the MMA world, thanks to a 10-0 run to begin his pro-fighting career. After joining the UFC in 2016, Gillespie has one 3-0 in the Octagon, and at UFC on FOX 27, Saturday, he’ll take on Jordan Rinaldi.

In a recent article that was posted at UFC.com, the New York fighter had this to say about pursuing fame:

“I talk about this quite frequently with my best friend Kyle Cerminara,” Gillespie said. “He says, ‘Man, you are completely different from 99.9 percent of the other fighters out there. You don’t buy into the lifestyle.’ And I don’t. It’s just my choice and the way that I choose to live. Do I want fans? Of course I want fans, but I’m not going to sell my soul for it and I’m not gonna change who I am.

“You see all these people trying to be like Conor McGregor,” he continued. “There’s only one Conor McGregor and people can tell if that’s organic or it’s manufactured and 90 percent of the people that are talking trash to each other, it’s manufactured and easily detectable. I’m just being myself. Maybe at one point in my life when I was a little younger I did want to be famous, and if I do become famous, that’s perfect and I won’t fight it, but I’m not going out of my way for it. I’m just trying to win some fights, make some money and do the right thing along the way.”

UFC on FOX 27 will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina.