“I have much respect for the guy,” Conor McGregor was left speechless after a fellow Irishman stood true to his words and became a WWE Champion in months

Former UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor reveals the inspiring tale of Sheamus that he respects.

“I have much respect for the guy,” Conor McGregor was left speechless after a fellow Irishman stood true to his words and became a WWE Champion in months

Conor McGregor (via Reddit)

The Celtic Warrior Sheamus is one of those few stars who will forever be synonymous with WWE. The same can be said about the former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion, Conor McGregor, when one thinks of the UFC. Coincidentally, both are Irish. In a 2014 interview with Sports Illustrated, Conor talked about Sheamus and the sense of respect he has for him.

McGregor started narrating an anecdote from some years back. It was the movie “The Escapist” that brought them together. While Sheamus worked as the lead, The Notorious was a part of the extras! Both shared the screen and the space, which gradually evolved into sharing ideas.

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I remember standing around him and we all were talking, and he was saying I'm gonna go to America soon and try and get into the WWE and I was listening to him saying he's a big white redheaded guy. He's not going to get into the WWE and a couple of months later, switching channels and there he was with the belt wrapped around his waist.
Conor McGregor

Sheamus used to constantly talk on the set about how he would soon go to the USA and earn himself a place in WWE. Just after some months, when Conor McGregor was watching television, he exclaimed in surprise when he saw Sheamus standing with the WWE Championship around his waist.

Years later, both superstars have a massive horde of fans who love them for everything but acting! While fans saw Sheamus recently in a hard-hitting rivalry with Gunther over the Intercontinental Championship, The Notorious last appearance was at UFC 264 where he lost to Dustin Poirier. It will be interesting to see if they ever cross paths in the future.

When Conor McGregor and Sheamus starred in a movie

Many Irishmen have dominated the field of sports and athletics. WWE Superstar Sheamus and UFC fighter Conor McGregor are just two well-known names from that group. In the interview with Sports Illustrated, Conor answered questions about who would win a fight between him and Sheamus. Conor smiled at the question and started narrating an anecdote from some years back.

Sheamus
Sheamus (via Stillrealtous)

He informed how a film crew from the movie “The Escapist” came to his gym and asked for a few guys for filming. They were doing so to get a few guys who looked beaten up. Hence, after their agreement, multiple shots were taken of their bruised and beaten bodies and faces. That was how McGregor got to act in a film as an extra.

What further makes it interesting is that Sheamus was one of the lead stars in this movie. Upon being asked by the interviewer whether he and Sheamus knew each other, he replied they didn’t. At that time, neither The Notorious One was famous for his MMA background nor Sheamus for being a WWE Superstar.

When Conor finished his anecdote, he said that if they were to ever fight, he would whoop his a**. He considers his MMA style the real deal and says that he wins in a real fight without a doubt. However, that wouldn’t negate any respect that he has for the Celtic Warrior for the inspiring way he accomplished his dream.

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