Sky Sports have delved beyond the gorilla tattoos and catchphrases to ask whether Conor McGregor is really worth it. I am not retired McGregors statement in full The brash Irishman feigned retirement and was officially removed from his UFC 200 rematch against Nate Diaz before boldly declaring I am not retired to return to the pinnacle of his sport.Is it all an act? We spoke to people who know McGregor best. The previous victims Conor McGregor (left) knocked out Dustin Poirier in Las Vegas Dustin Poirier was seen as the opponent who could stop McGregors hype in the Irishmans Vegas debut. Poirier lasted less than two minutes.Poirier said: Conor is definitely the real deal. Ive had 22 fights and Ive never been put out like that. I was very emotional, just because of everything that had gone on between me and Conor. The build-up to the fight between us made me fight emotionally, rather than relaxed, which is how I like to fight.He hit me with a good shot and I went down. Id love to do it again. I wouldnt get hit with that shot again, and I wouldnt let myself get so emotional. McGregor knocked me out! Dustin Poirier shares memories of his darkest day Dave Hill lost to McGregor four years ago on the regional circuit. He remembers a cocky Irish kid with remarkable self-assurance.Hill said: I thought it was all an act, all for show. He was kicking off at the weigh-ins. But when he got in my face, because of his intensity, I thought: He really believes in himself. That flustered me.Hes overwhelming in a fight because hes always in your face, hes so confident. He was talking to me during the fight, saying I look soft, and it made my mind go elsewhere. I was thinking should I say something? He has a presence that doesnt give you a rest and puts you on the back-foot.I dont think its an act any more. But when I started fighting him I realised that he believes everything he says - thats the way he is.The coaches I knew Conor would be a great fighter but I didn’t know he would become so popular. He was always a charismatic guy but I couldn’t have predicted how big he would get. He never has moments where that gets on top of him. Pressure is for tyres. Head coach John Kavanagh Phil Sutcliffe was the first man to teach a 12-year-old McGregor to punch at Crumlin Boxing Club, but doesnt remember an outstanding talent.Sutcliffe said: He was like any other novice who we taught the basics to. Hes ambidextrous, we teach that to all our kids, he can box orthodox or southpaw. His straight left changes fights. Its an opportunists punch - hes always had the ability to turn on his back leg to throw his back hand. If he didnt have the right attitude, he would have never made it to the top. I remember the first day meeting him. I remember the confidence Conor had. He was immediately the best boxer we had. You could take him down and submit him but he was never fazed. He knew he could knock you out Striking coach Owen Roddy The fellow UFC champion UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold said he is intrigued by Conor McGregor’s rise The team-mates Aisling Daly, McGregor, Paddy Holohan & Cathal Pendred are SBG gym products Aisling Daly, a UFC womens straw-weight contender, has risen through the ranks alongside McGregor at Dublins SBG gym.Daly said: Hes still the same guy that I knew when we were teenagers but he has fancier shoes and nicer cars. Everything else about him is the same. He makes everyone realise that, with hard work, they can have the mansions and the fancy cars too.Because were a family theres no begrudging him, were all sending positive vibes to him. When one of us makes it, we all make it. Were all in the gutter looking up at the stars. Sometimes Conor will turn up for training in a five-piece suit but, on a normal day, hes rolled out of bed and arrived in a beanie hat and a tracksuit. Hes like the rest of us. Conor is a phenomenal striker and I’ve been learning from him for years. He’s definitely one of the best strikers in the UFC. Gunnar Nelson The promoter McGregor was spotted by the UFC after a successful stint with Cage Warriors Graham Boylan runs Cage Warriors, a domestic promotion that gave McGregor his big break.Boylan said: Without doubt, hes our biggest export, nobody can deny his prestige. I remember the phone call when I offered him a title shot and he said Ill fight tomorrow.When we had Conor for his fifth and sixth fights, we knew hed go on to special things. He just acted differently to everybody. He stood out from a crowd of 30-odd fighters, everybody was looking at him. People with long teeth behind the scenes realised that if he could back up the things he was saying then hed be a star. Conor won all his fights in Cage Warriors because he got into his opponents heads.The future foes We know that Conor has lost twice by submission. He was willing to give up twice, we know that. He tapped out to a choke and a knee hold, which is a move where you give up before it becomes a problem because you’re anticipating pain. I’ve seen that he is capable of giving up. Urijah Faber Frankie Edgar, ranked No 2 at featherweight, isnt impressed by McGregors talk.Edgar said: Maybe he is the second coming like hes been telling everyone! I dont get caught up in the attention around McGregor. Is he skilful? Yes. Does he bring attention to the rest of us? Yes. But hes not always respectful.Donald Cerrone also resides in the lightweight and welterweight divisions, but respected McGregors KO of Jose Aldo.Cerrone said: Unbelievable, man. The dude went out there and did everything that he said hed do. He shocked the world in 13 seconds. How awesome is that?The boxer Hes a character with no regard for anyone or anything which you admire as a fighter. I know people who have boxed with him in Ireland - hes from a boxing background. Hes certainly a better boxer than the others. George Groves The sports scientistProfessor Greg Whyte puts McGregor through a series of tests to compare him against other sportsmen.Whyte said: His VO2 max is similar to a Premier League midfielder. They run 10-12km a game with short breaks whereas Conor competes for up to 25 minutes. That is all-out effort and his endurance capacity is right up there with the best midfielders. It is his ability to recover before returning to his peak which is impressive and those values are similar to those of footballers. McGregor the compete package Read about his remarkable fitness His power output on a bike is not like an Olympic cyclist but what separates Conor is that he can do it all. He outperforms a cyclist in other areas. Also See: I am not retired Why did he retire? Who is UFCs real No1? McGregor pulled from UFC 200 Devon Travis Jersey . Dukurs winning time was 1 minute, 45.76 seconds, a quarter-second better than Russias Alexander Tretiakov. Lativas Tomass Dukurs was third, 1.41 seconds off the pace. Jon Montgomery of Eckville, Alta. Kendrys Morales Jersey . Vaives lawyer Trevor Whiffen claims the former 50-goal man wasnt provided with a copy of the claim beforehand and that he would not have agreed to the allegations made against the NHL had he been asked to review its contents. http://www.cheapbluejaysjerseyschina.com/russell-martin-jersey/ . -- The boos poured down on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at the end of a horrible first half. Roberto Osuna Jersey . After Martin Skrtel put the Reds in front from close range at Stamford Bridge after only four minutes, Hazard hit back in the 17th with a superb strike. Etoo gave Jose Mourinhos team a decisive lead from Oscars back pass in the 34th. Roger Clemens Jersey . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. Delta Downs has been something of a hot spot for trainer Mark Casse through the years. Tepin won the first stakes race of her career in the tracks Grade 3 Princess in 2013, and Turf War dead-heated for the win in its signature event, the Grade 3, $1 million Jackpot, in 2007.There have been other Delta stakes wins for the barn, too, and Casse will attempt to add to his numbers Saturday when he sends out Thirstforlife and Our Stormin Norman in the Jackpot.The 1-1/16-mile race for 2-year-olds will anchor a card of eight stakes worth $2.3 million. The program is the richest of the season at Delta, which is located just across the border from Texas in the small town of Vinton, La.They always kind of lure me in, Casse said of Delta. Its a nice place. They give away a lot of money. Whats the old story? If you build it, they will come. If they put the money up, they will come.Thirstforlife enters the Jackpot off a wire-to-wire win in a first-level allowance Oct. 20 at Keeneland.Last race, we werent planning on being on the lead, but he was on the lead and he showed a lot of gameness, Casse said.The race is better than it looks on paper.Thirstforlife earned a modest Beyer Speed Figure of 69, but Casse noted that the runner-up, Just Move On, returned in his next start to win a first-level allowance at Churchill Downs with a Beyer of 81.We thought he deserved a chance, Casse ssaid of targeting the Jackpot with Thirstforlife.dddddddddddd.Thirstforlife, who is by the stallion Stay Thirsty, has long been well regarded by Casse.Hes a horse with a huge pedigree, said Casse. Hes a half to Cavorting.Cavorting, a multiple Grade 1 winner, has compiled career earnings of more than $2 million.Our Stormin Norman enters the Jackpot off a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 88, earned for his wire-to-wire win in a maiden special weight at seven furlongs Oct. 23 at Keeneland. Its the best Beyer Figure in the Jackpot.Our Stormin Norman will be looking for his first two-turn win on Saturday.His last race was huge, Casse said. Were hoping his speed will carry down there. We know speed normally is pretty important [at Delta].Julien Leparoux has the mount on Our Stormin Norman, while Florent Geroux will be aboard Thirstforlife.The Jackpot will be a final leg of an all-stakes pick four that runs on races 4-7. There will be a minimum guaranteed pool of $200,000. Other races making up the sequence are the Delta Mile, the Sams Town, and the Grade 3, $400,000 Delta Downs Princess. There will be a reduced takeout of 12 percent on the pick four. Deltas card will start at 1:45 p.m. Central and the program will be streamed live at DRF.com. Discount NFL Jerseys Cheap Stitched Jerseys Disocunt Football Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys China NFL Jerseys From China Wholesale Stitched Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Store ' ' '