The unprecedented phenomenal rise of UFC star Conor McGregor coincided with a plethora of factors, and his gym SBG Ireland played an instrumental role in it. While the Irishman attained the status of a global superstar, one of his mates from the gym, Frans Mlambo, failed to realize his potential. The Irish fighter’s career never took off, despite toiling hard in the background. However, the fighter is confident his worst is behind him and he is ready to turn a new leaf into his career.
The 32-year-old fighter saw his fellow compatriot and his rivals leapfrog him while he got stuck in the same spot. Further, he observed the opportunities were hard to come by. Being surrounded by people who were doing good made him question his worth, but he finally made peace with it.
Frans Mlambo believes losing is no longer an option
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The Dublin-born fighter told Sun Sports he had an unpleasant year recently and he couldn’t wait to fight a familiar foe in Dominique Wooding. The bantamweight fighter also mentioned his career might meet a dead end if he ends up losing.
“I feel like after the year I’ve had – I’ve had the worst time of my life – I feel like I’m taking frustration out on everyone. I can’t wait to get in there and it’s definitely made me a more dangerous fighter. I’m just hungry. There’s no games anymore,” he said.
Mlambo continued and stated, “This is literally my life. If I go in there and I lose, I’m done. I can’t have that. I can’t let that happen. It’s going to be crazy.”
‘The Zulu Irishman’ earlier shared his experience of working as a training partner for ‘The Notorious’ ahead of the latter’s boxing debut against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Frans Mlambo enlists the downsides of working alongside Conor McGregor
He mentioned the experience widened his horizon, and he realized the immense possibilities. But the experience also had a bitter overtone. The 13-5 record holder then expressed his frustration with how the experiences had a flip side too.
He stated, “I’m not going to lie, it’s bittersweet. Hanging around people that are doing very well. You’re doing the exact same thing, but it’s just not working out for you as good. So it’s fun and all and it has its pros, but at the same time, it has its cons.”
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“It’s like I’m doing the exact same things these same people are doing. What’s different about me that the same opportunities aren’t there? It has its pros, of course, but it has its flipping cons as well,” he added later.
Mlambo squares off against Wooding on July 8 in Berlin in PFL Europe.
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What do you think of these statements by Frans Mlambo? Do you believe the fighter will replicate the success of his peers? Let us know in the comments below.
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