Conor McGregor Bags Big but Criticizes Alex Pereira: $1.2 Million Cash
Out and Outrage Over Heavyweight Shutout Conor McGregor, the star UFC fighter from Ireland never misses a chance to get many headlines, especially when these headlines are concerning high-stakes betting and opinions. On UFC 307, McGregor cashed out big-time with his knockout prediction in the main event, involving Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. But, however, the victory was to sour fast as Pereira opted not to ask for a move to heavyweight division after winning the fight. All excitement from very high-energized night is going to turn out to be, as McGregor declared that he was not going to watch the next fight for Pereira.
McGregor made a bet on a KO Finish for $1 Million
As the UFC 307 drew near, Conor McGregor strongly became focused on the probability of the end result for the fight between Alex Pereira and Khalil Rountree Jr. Being a blunt predictor and a high-paying gambler, McGregor was all about laying down a great sum of money on the result of the fight being a knockout finish.
Just minutes before the first bell rang, McGregor was putting out odds on social media seeking a knockout finish. Though he was as confident as he could be that there was going to be some kind of knockout from either fighter, he felt the style and intensity of this fight would explode into something explosive. “I am putting a million U.S. down on a KO taking place one way or the other here in this main event,” McGregor tweeted. His $1m bet had odds of 1/5, so a $200,000 profit if either fighter won the KO.
McGregor’s instincts proved right as Alex Pereira doled out a brutal knockout in the fourth round, giving him the victory over Rountree. The knockout did not only put Pereira in UFC history but also gave McGregor his $200,000 win. It was a spectacular and electrifying moment for McGregor as he immediately hailed Pereira after he displayed the marvelous finish.
Pereira’s Knockout Victory: Breaking UFC History
This was such a weird fight. Brazilian Alex Pereira knocked out Khalil Rountree Jr. He is widely regarded as a killer striker and it is indeed so. While the opponent unleashed a flurry of attacks in the early go of the fight, Pereira still could counterattack and send in the final blow in the championship rounds. Another feather was added to Pereira’s cap; other achievements are already written in history: he is a world champion in the middle weight category 185 lbs and light weight 205 lbs.
Pereira’s victory sealed off the status of the most dangerous fighter in the UFC for fans and analysts as well. That knockout victory established that he had taken all the pressure and then turned it around by using one single, powerful strike to steer it back. However, it was what followed or rather what did not happen that brought controversy-
Over McGregor’s disappointment at what Pereira did next
A fighter eager to see what Alex Pereira had to say after he won a victory over him for $1.2 million was eager to see him talk his way through a post-fight interview with the man he lost to. With Pereira already holding titles in two different weight classes, many, including McGregor, were of the belief that the Brazilian would proclaim his move up to the heavyweight division. A most likely contest against heavyweights the caliber of Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall seemed the next logical step for the devastating striker.
However, many fans were surprised when Pereira made no calls for any heavyweight opponents; instead, it remained an open-ended event to the dismay of McGregor. The Irishman, who had made a lot of noise during the night, wanted Pereira to call for the heavyweight showdown, which he felt was something the Brazilian needed to move forward.
“Call for heavy weight now!” McGregor bellowed in outrage from a video on his account, formerly Twitter. Pereira’s offer to possibly scale back down to middleweight for a battle with Dricus Du Plessis only poured fuel on McGregor’s frustration.
“Ah, leave it out,” McGregor ranted. “If he says drop down to middleweight, don’t lie to yourself-that was a heavy cut. You already done it, [now] heavyweight.” McGregor vented out his frustrations and told the world that Pereira should not cut weight again to compete in a low-class fight but rather face the biggest and the best in the heavyweight division.
From Praising to Frustration: The Shift in Tone by McGregor
While the evening seemed sure shot for a night of excitement by McGregor things went sour soon afterward. After all, McGregor could muster praising words for Pereira about his knock out victory and how “absolutely tremendous” the fight was, his mood changed once Pereira could not stand up to what McGregor thought should be in the future plans. McGregor, who had been an excited watcher throughout this night, even went up to the point of saying that he will not watch again when Pereira fights if Pereira does not decide to go to heavyweight.
Feeling that the moment to history was slipping away from Pereira, McGregor ended his video-deleted by now-with a few stern words: “I’m not watching your next one!”Apparently, he was impatient with Pereira’s hesitation to go for the third belt in the heavyweight division. For McGregor, it was too much of an issue to let Pereira miss it-life-changing history-making.
The High-Stakes Persona of McGregor
Conor McGregor’s night, inside and outside the octagon, at UFC 307 was one of his larger-than-life personality. And when he went on a whim out to bet a million dollars that he was going to knock Pereira out and then call it right, there was never any doubt in anyone’s mind as to who exactly Conor was. Conor has probably been disappointed by the move that Pereira decided to use next but surely appreciates the tenacity of a fighter so keen on finishing him off inside the octagon.
And indeed, his influence would not be curtailed as he shall keep shooting into headlines due to bold prediction and blunt commentary. Whether in the cage or a mere spectator on the sidelines, McGregor’s presence cannot be overestimated; high stakes bets and outspoken commentary from the man keep the fans of the world sitting on the edge.
Conclusion: McGregor’s Rollercoaster of Emotions
Conor McGregor spent what could have otherwise been a rollercoaster of emotions at UFC 307, winning $1.2 million on a bet he said Alex Pereira is going to knock him out to voicing frustration over Pereira’s willingness – or lack thereof – to move up to heavyweight; McGregor’s reactions and opinions remain among the highest profile in the sport-even ahead of some of its biggest stars. He likes it or not, while Pereira goes through the motions to face yet another opponent in his way, McGregor’s presence in the UFC is more memorable than it has ever been.
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