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'NOT THE SAME'

How Conor McGregor’s ‘s*** talk’ enrages UFC opponents and gives him edge as Ben Askren breaks down Poirier loss

BEN ASKREN believes Conor McGregor’s lack of trash talking had a lot to do with his shock defeat to Dustin Poirier.

Notorious suffered a stunning second-round TKO to his former featherweight rival last month in the main event of UFC 257 in Abu Dhabi.

Ben Askren says Conor McGregor is not the same without his usual pre-fight trash talk
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Ben Askren says Conor McGregor is not the same without his usual pre-fight trash talkCredit: Getty
Notorious has promised ‘No more Mr Nice Guy’ after taking a more respectful approach prior to his loss to Dustin Poirier
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Notorious has promised ‘No more Mr Nice Guy’ after taking a more respectful approach prior to his loss to Dustin PoirierCredit: Getty

Unlike the build-up to their first meeting six years ago and many other of his fights, the Irishman decided to take a respectful approach towards his opponent this time.

He has since vowed to return to his trash-talking ways following his upset loss to Poirier - with rival Nate Diaz also mocking his ‘Mr Nice Guy’ approach.

Now Askren, 36, has joined the discussion on how effective McGregor’s verbal jabs in the build-up to fight week are.

And he has no doubt that his new approach played some part in his latest setback.

Speaking to the., he said: “Conor without the s***-talk is a lot less effective.

“I think if you look at just the Poirier fight, in the first fight, he got him really upset, right?

“And Poirier got over-extended, tried to fight too hard, and boom, clips him, puts him down. Jose Aldo: gets him mad, Aldo rushes in, boom, puts him down. 

“And now in these last couple fights, you’ve seen like this nicer, happy, more mature…I don’t know what you want to call it.”

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Askren added: “He’s not the same Conor as you saw five years ago.

“And there’s other things that are different as well. But I think Conor without the s***-talk is a less effective Conor.”

Following on from Askren’s remarks, McGregor seemed to indicate to his Instagram followers he was ready to return to his sharp-tongued and foul-mouthed ways.

He posted a picture of himself to Instagram with the accompanying caption: "No more Mr Nice Guy."

Defeat to Poirier was McGregor's third in his last six octagon outings, the previous of which was his 2018 submission loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov.

McGregor suffered a stunning second-round TKO loss at UFC 257 last month
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McGregor suffered a stunning second-round TKO loss at UFC 257 last month

McGregor, 32, is relishing the prospect of a trilogy fight with The Diamond and has vowed to learn from the mistakes he made in their second meeting.

The UFC's poster boy said: “What a trilogy I now have on my hands. Exciting!

“I was in second gear cruising this fight. Best condition I’ve ever been in.

“After the wrestling and clinch exchanges, my shots still held their pop. First time for me with this so I am very encouraged to keep going.

“It was the first time I did not use/nor need the stool between rounds also. I did need the stool after though that’s for sure.

“I am extremely happy I did not need to use the stool between rounds here anyway. Another first for me!

“I am most certainly on the right path. Despite the loss I am on the correct path of evolution.

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