“You lose identity!” Former UFC champion goes off on current roster emulating Conor McGregor’s style

Brazilian phenom Vitor Belfort criticises current generation of UFC fighters for trying to emulate Conor Mcgregor too blatantly.

“You lose identity!” Former UFC champion goes off on current roster emulating Conor McGregor’s style

Conor Mcgregor is the biggest superstar the UFC has seen (CBS Sports)

Former UFC champion Vitor Belfort criticized modern fighters for closely emulating Conor McGregor during an appearance on the Jaxxon podcast. The Brazilian implied that today’s fighters are excessively mirroring the Irish superstar’s path. The podcast, co-hosted by Quentin “Rampage” Jackson, delved into the key factors contributing to success in the UFC.

Conor McGregor emerged suddenly with a singular goal: to take over the MMA world, and take over he did! His audacious persona and outspoken nature propelled him to superstardom, unmatched in the sport’s history. His mastery of the microphone swiftly elevated him to the pinnacle.

Many have attempted to replicate his style, but in vain, often losing their own identities in the process, as observed by the Brazilian fighter. Here’s his perspective:

FS Video
People talk the way to it, instead of walking the way to it. Conor Mcgregor did something..great! And now everybody is trying to copy him, so it's become ridiculous. I think you lose the identity, you lose who you are. You wanna copy some skills he has, great! You wanna copy some good behaviour, great! But copy personality, no you have your personality. That's not how it works. Skills.
Vitor Belfort via Jaxxon podcast
YouTube video

McGregor’s journey from humble beginnings to global stardom is a testament to his exceptional skills both inside and outside the octagon, making him a hard act to follow for other fighters in the UFC. Vitor, who has criticized the Irishman on several occasions had only praises to garner this time.

Questions loom large over the notorious one’s return, as the Company struggles to find a suitable replacement. While many UFC fighters wait patiently in the ranks to replicate McGregor’s unprecedented success, emulating him in all aspects will undoubtedly lead to mediocre results.

Leaked documents reveal Conor Mcgregor’s UFC earnings

Over the last two decades, the UFC has become the world’s premier MMA organization, with Conor McGregor, known as ‘The Notorious,’ playing a pivotal role in its phenomenal expansion since 2013. Despite numerous UFC stars, none have reached McGregor’s level of success, making him the highest-paid athlete in the company’s history. Here’s a peak into his career earnings.

Conor Mcgregor career earnings
Conor Mcgregor’s career earnings (via X)

Unlike boxing, the UFC traditionally kept fighter purses confidential. Recently, this secrecy has been challenged due to a class-action lawsuit filed by former fighters alleging monopolistic practices within the organization. As a result of the ongoing legal proceedings, fighter pay details have become accessible to fans globally.

As reported by BloodyElbow, ‘The Notorious’ received $3,285,000 for his fight against Chad Mendes. Against Jose Aldo, he made $4,476,662 or $4,536,932. For the first Nate Diaz fight he made $5,576,315. In the rematch, the figure slightly increased to $5,615,490. And finally, for the Eddie Alvarez fight he made $6,812,374. Do those numbers appear too modest? What do you think?

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