UFC legend Tito Ortiz has laid out his trash-talking rules to Conor McGregor, advising him to not lie, insult a person's family or country.
McGregor, 34, has been criticised in recent months for badmouthing fighters and fans on social media as he continues to recover from the leg break he suffered in his last fight. The former two-weight champion recently rowed with Michael Bisping, welcoming a war with the Brit after he told McGregor to have his bodyguards with him the next time they cross paths.
Trash-talk is a common feature in the lead-up to any of McGregor's fights, but he's been accused of crossing a line having previously insulted former opponent Dustin Poirier's wife and Khabib Nurmagomedov's religion. Ortiz thinks that more often that, McGregor goes too far when badmouthing his opponents and he should tone down his trash-talk.
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"I watch a lot of other guys, guys like Conor and they start talking about people’s wives and s***," Ortiz said on the Chattin' Pony podcast. "That’s just a line that shouldn’t be [crossed]. Families can’t defend themselves, we’re talking about a fighter. I spoke my mind and I talked a lot of s*** but I backed it up. A lot of it though was because I have my three rules that I continue to do through my career. Don't talk about a person's family, don't talk about a person's country and don't lie."
"Talk about his character. Talk about his person. Talk about him. Don’t talk about the people that are around him, family-wise at least. Those are the type of rules that I used that helped me. Once again, at the end of the day, when the fight is over, you’re going to shake the guy’s hand and say, ‘good job'."
McGregor labelled Poirier's wife a "little h**" after their trilogy fight and even went on to threaten their lives, with a clip indicating that he said: “In your sleep you’re getting it, in your sleep you’re dead, you and your Mrs, it ain’t over." McGregor could also be heard saying: "Be careful at the club mate."
Before the Irishman fought his bitter rival Nurmagomedov in 2018, he mocked a picture of the Russian alongside his wife - who was wearing traditional Islamic clothing - by writing: "Your wife is a towel mate". Following Poirier's second win over McGregor, Nurmagomedov tweeted his congratulations to the American by writing: “Good always defeats evil”. McGregor replied by mocking the death of Nurmagomedov's father Abdulmanap, stating: “Covid is good and father is evil?”
