Molly McCann has revealed Conor McGregor text her some "mad" advice on how to stay focused on her fighting career during her new-found fame.
McCann has recorded a sensational rise this year after picking up wins on back-to-back UFC London cards alongside teammate Paddy Pimblett. The female star's entertaining personality and trash-talking has seen her popularity grow, with the star's latest outing set to take place against Erin Blanchfield at UFC 281 in Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.
UFC superstar McGregor is still the name on everyone's lips in the sport despite being out of action after breaking his leg in defeat by Dustin Poirier last July. And McCann has revealed McGregor told her to let no-one else into the gym when she is preparing for fights to help remain grounded during her recent rise.
“I messaged him going, ‘How do you handle this? Because you can blow up and then you can blow up,” McCann told reporters at UFC 281 media day. "I just couldn’t quite get my head around how some people are with you'. (McGregor) was just like, ‘When you’re in the gym, it’s just the gym. Don’t let no one else in. Keep everyone outside. Always remember it’s just fighting.
"You’re a cage warrior. That’s what we are. We’re Cage Warriors champions.’ He said some mad things about, ‘Valentina is going to get a Mac spanking’ and all these things. It was so poetic, and it was so lovely. My partner, Ellis, printed it off and put it in a sign at MSG. It’s in my front room.
"So every day, if I’m struggling or I’m feeling good, I don’t get ahead of myself, get a big fat head, and walk around with ego. It’s to stay grounded and realise that I’m just here to win. The rest of it, the external factors mean f*** all.”
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McCann will be hoping for similar success in the octagon where she is eyeing a future title shot against current champion Valentina Shevchenko. And the UFC star has been surprised by the level of fame she has received in recent months, but has admitted she is not motivated by money or external factors.
She continued: “Post-fight, I’ll enjoy an ale, enjoy doing the media with everyone. Then, when you get home, it absolutely kicks you in the face, because you’re not normal any more. So what I’ve had to do is leave a private life, because my life is not private anymore.
"That’s been something that not everyone has had to deal with. When we start fighting, I think we start to just win a belt. We don’t start for fame. We don’t really start for the money. It’s about the prestige and the honour of winning that belt."
