We get it - trash talk sells fights, and Conor McGregor talked a lot of trash about American featherweight fighter Cole Miller leading up to their fight in Dublin, Ireland. There's only one problem: Miller had to drop out of the fight. Suffering from a broken hand incurred during his training camp, Miller found himself replaced by former Ultimate Fighter champion Diego Brandao with weeks to go until the fight. It actually seemed to many pundits to be a tougher fight for McGregor, but it mattered not: McGregor dispatched of Brandao by way of TKO in the first round of their fight at UFC Fight Night 46, in front of a roaring Dublin crowd that was raucous throughout every single match of the event. It turned out to be the most successful UFC Fight Pass event thus far in the streaming service's brief history, and one of the most successful Fight Nights period - it sold out incredibly fast and set a ratings record on Irish TV for broadcaster 3e. None of this seems to have impressed a noticeably sour Cole Miller, who appeared on Sherdog Radio earlier this week, and had the following to say: "Its pretty easy to look good when everythings made for you to look good. He got to fight in his home town with all those people there supporting him. He got a full camp of preparation when his opponent didn't. I dont think anyone can really judge Diego. He got in there and like I said, he didn't get his full camp. I think when these people are spoon-fed what their opinions should be they start saying the same stuff they've already been hearing from the UFC and the brass. I did see something where Dana said Conor reminds him of Ronda Rousey. Thats a pretty bold statement. I told my brother theyre both blond. That must be it. He also claimed that team mate Dustin Poirier, who McGregor will take on next at UFC 178, was ready for "a Frankie Edgar or Swanson or Mendes" and that McGregor didn't deserve the Poirier fight, adding "but I don't think he deserves a lot of things he's gotten." Tough words from a fighter who has absolutely let McGregor get to him. Miller has been with the UFC since 2007, and has a 10-6 record with the promotion, so he's been around the block once or twice, and knows the game well. He's dead wrong about McGregor though, and here are five reasons why.
Primarily covering the sport of MMA from Ontario, Canada, Jay Anderson has been writing for various publications covering sports, technology, and pop culture since 2001. Jay holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Guelph, and a Certificate in Leadership Skills from Humber College.
