Zahabi responds to McGregor’s insults: My analysis weren’t personal

Bloodyelbow.com

Conor McGregor recently hurled insults at Firas Zahabi, after the Tristar Gym coach said he would pick Max Holloway to win in a potential rematch.

The 38-year-old coach had another Ask Me Anything session, where he spoke to fans about various topics and eventually addressed the Irishman’s comments. Zahabi says he’s obviously open to criticism and having back-and-forth discussions about his analysis, but he will never throw insults, name-call, or make a big stink on social media.

The renowned trainer, who coined the “touch of death” term about McGregor’s power, says he’s studied Conor’s game so much for the simple fact that he’s one of the best fighters out there.

“There was nothing personal,” Zahabi said about his analysis. “The reason why I didn’t respond to McGregor (on twitter) is he got personal, and I don’t do that.”

The Tristar gym coach explained how he initially didn’t even think McGregor was talking about him when someone showed him the tweet.

“I kind of glanced over, then I realized it was about me, and realized he’s insulting me,” he said. “I thought to myself, ‘hey the double champ watches my podcast! That’s amazing! How great is that? I’m gonna give Conor McGregor a shoutout on my podcast.’

“Then somebody pointed out to me, ‘no, it was regards to an article that came out… about me picking Max Holloway over Conor McGregor’ That’s why Conor got upset and went to twitter. So I thought to myself, ‘Oh, he doesn’t listen to my podcast. Too bad.’

“But then I realized, ‘hey, he talked about the dorms. That article doesn’t talk about the dorms!’” he continued. “If he knows about the dorms, he’s listened to this podcast. So I want to give a shoutout to Conor. Thank you for supporting this channel. I really appreciate you listening to this, and I want to let you know it was nothing personal.”

Zahabi also addressed McGregor’s insults, including saying he is “afraid” to step in there and fight. He explained how “the economics” back in the day just didn’t work for him, especially when the UFC and many other promotions didn’t have the lighter weight classes.

“Conor McGregor recently tweeted at me and said ‘look, why don’t you fight?’ Well, here’s my answer to you,” Zahabi said. “I was fighting at 145 as an amateur. I went to the university and got a degree. Why? Because there was no money in MMA.

“I had friends like Georges St-Pierre fighting in there, David Loiseau, and they were not making big bucks. Early on, they were making very little,” he said. “That lifestyle isn’t for everybody. I went to school and got an education.

“Some people out there had such a passion for fighting, they love it so much they didn’t care. I wasn’t one of those guys. I love martial arts to that level, and I will do martial arts every day whether I’m making money with it or not, but some people love fighting so much that they’re willing to give up their education, their business, their work, their whatnot.

“That’s why I have so much respect for Iaquinta. Because Iaquinta said, ‘I’m not fighting for this amount. I’m gonna go into real restate, I could make more money here.’ That’s what I did. I created businesses.”I went to the university and got a degree. Why? Because there was no money in MMA.

Instead of fighting professionally, Zahabi got himself a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, while doing martial arts and training others on the side.

“I wasn’t planning on being a martial arts trainer,” he said. “However, life threw me a curveball and I ended up as an MMA trainer. I found out I had a talent for coaching. The fighters, when I was training them for fun, were winning and winning, and it snowballed. Today, we have the Tristar gym.”

He also addressed McGregor saying he hits a clock for a living.

“By the way, I don’t punch clocks, okay,” he said. “Not that I have anything against that, but I’m not. I work for myself. I have several businesses that I own and run. So that’s just a little update for Mr. McGregor, who’s ill-informed.

“I’m far from being poor. I don’t own a Lamborghini, but I don’t have any interest in owning a Lamborghini. I don’t have an interest in fine suits or jewelry. These are not the kinds of things that interests me.”