NORMALLY WHEN A fellow Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight expresses their views on Conor McGregor, the tone of the remarks isn’t very complimentary.
Ricardo Lamas, Chad Mendes and Cub Swanson are just a few examples of UFC stars who have had plenty to say about the charismatic Dubliner since he entered the octagon.
However, McGregor does have plenty of admirers on the UFC roster too, and one of those is Scottish featherweight Robert Whiteford.
The Glasgow native, a member of Scotland’s Dinky Ninjas team, is currently at American Top Team in Florida to prepare for his meeting with Ireland’s Paul Redmond at UFC Glasgow on Saturday, 18 July.
We spoke to Whiteford to get his thoughts on the clash with Redmond, but the 32-year-old also gave us his views on McGregor’s bout against reigning UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo this summer.
“I’ve got a lot of American friends over here who fucking hate Conor with a passion.
“It was unfortunate that he fought one of my team-mates, Dustin Poirier, he beat him, but I take my hat off to Conor,” said Whiteford. “He came from fuck all, just like the rest of us guys, and I hope he pulls it off on the night. My hat’s off to that guy.”
Whiteford accepts that McGregor is facing a difficult task against the undisputed UFC champion on 11 July in Las Vegas, but the Scot believes ‘The Notorious’ has the tools to give Aldo his first taste of defeat in 10 years.
He said: “I hope he [McGregor] gets the job done. The kind of stuff he throws, those kicks and stuff, if he hits anybody with those they’re in trouble.
“He’s a big guy, he’s riding high on confidence and the style he’s got is dangerous. If Aldo goes out there and tries to play that game with him it’s going to be a bad night for Aldo.”
Stay tuned to The42 for an interview with Robert Whiteford about his forthcoming UFC Fight Night 72 bout against Dublin’s Paul Redmnond.
