Blood and sweat translate to little reward as evidenced by fighter pay in the world of combat sports. So when a fighter receives a bonus or any additional reward, a wave of delight is natural! In a recent development of events, Franco Tenagila was ‘blessed’ monetarily, which came to fruition due to a certain Irishman.

Tenagila won the BKFC lightweight world championship by defeating Tony Soto via a decision on Saturday Night in Marbella. Former UFC dual champion and co-owner of BKFC, Conor McGregor, was also present in the arena to witness the event. The Dubliner enjoyed watching the fight and was on his feet as both fighters went the full distance in their title bout. He even doubled the pay for both fighters competing in the main card of the show. Tenagila took the time to share his appreciation towards ‘The Notorious’ after his fight.

Conor McGregor’s gesture was appreciated by the newly crowned lightweight BKFC king

After the fight, the new champion spoke to ‘The Schmo’ on his YouTube channel. On being asked about how he felt after receiving the bonus, he said, “Man, I can do this for free. You know I love this sh*t. But of course, now I am not poor anymore so that’s a good feeling man. ” 

Conor McGregor’s arrival at BKFC has been a game-changer, revitalizing the promotion and championing the cause of fair fighter pay. The issue of pay disparity has long been a contentious topic in combat sports, with many fighters expressing dissatisfaction with their earnings, particularly in the UFC. McGregor, however, is committed to addressing this problem and has taken significant steps toward improving compensation for fighters in the industry.

However, let us now shift our focus from Conor McGregor, the owner, to Conor McGregor, the fighter. ‘Mystic Mac’ has been trying to get back to action for a long time now. However, injuries and other pertaining issues outside the cage have derailed his comeback, which has frustrated not only McGregor but also the fans. Despite being out of action, he is still the number one choice for many fighters, and Ilia Topuria is no different. He has always shown his interest in fighting him and has now claimed that he would have beaten prime Conor McGregor.

Ilia Topuria has some harsh words for Conor McGregor and his fighting style

Ilia Topuria, after his emphatic victory at UFC 298, immediately called out Conor McGregor and showed his willingness to fight him. Of course, the idea was immediately shot down by Dana White at the post-fight press conference. Since then, there has been no love lost between the pair, and just two days back, McGregor took a shot at the featherweight champion for not being of true Spanish descent. Topuria didn’t hold back and responded to the claims with some stern words.

‘El Matador’ has now shared his honest opinion about Conor McGregor’s game, which might not please his fans. There are few fighters in the UFC who had the striking of Conor McGregor. Topuria does agree with the fact but points out the biggest weakness of his game.

He said, “MMA has evolved. He was really good in the stand-up, but on the ground, he was always terrible. I’d beat him in his prime, at any time… wherever, whenever, it’s not a competition. Let him keep drinking whiskey,”. This statement isn’t entirely false as McGregor suffered his first UFC setback against Nate Diaz at UFC 196 via a rear naked choke on the ground. Additionally, the Irishman was mauled by his arch-nemesis Khabib Nurmagomedov due to his relentless grappling game at UFC 229. As his career has been on a downward trend for a time now, McGregor will have a lot to prove when he returns to action.

His absence has forced many to believe that he has lost his love for the sport. However, one just cannot neglect Conor McGregor for the kind of star he is. How highly do you rate Conor McGregor as a fighter? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.