Conor McGregor vs Floyd Mayweather fight countdown begins

Conor McGregor vs Floyd Mayweather fight countdown begins



Raucous Irish fans have taken over Las Vegas ahead of what is being billed as the Fight of the Century, as Conor McGregor gets set to take on the undefeated Floyd Mayweather later tonight.

Sin's City's iconic strip was turned into a sea of green as supporters from the Emerald Isle donned flashy outfits, sang songs and proudly waved flags in support of their countryman.

UFC fighter McGregor, from Dublin, is transitioning into boxing for the first time to fight Mayweather.

The money-spinning showdown is likely to break all records and surpass the $600million (£468million) generated by Mayweather's 2015 fight with Manny Pacquiao.



An audience packed with 20,000 ravenous fans is expected at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, USA, with private jets ferrying celebrities into Vegas as bets worth more than a million dollars are placed on the bout.

And the party has already begun on the streets outside where passionate fans have displayed their support.

One group of topless revellers were pictured brandishing a Republic of Ireland flag emblazoned with the words: 'F*** the Mayweather'.

And one man in his nation's football shirt looked particularly pleased as he posed for a snap with two scantilly-clad showgirls.

Mayweather, who has an incredible undefeated record of 49-0 to his name, has come out of retirement to fight the younger McGregor.

And while the line-up in the ring has had people talking for months, it is the Corona ring girls - Tawny Jordan, Kyra Keli, Samantha Kumiko and Jessica Harbour - who very well could steal the limelight from the two men in gloves.



Last night the pair faced off for the final time before they meet in the ring, with both men making appearances at the official weigh-in.

After stripping down to his boxer briefs for the weigh-in, 'Mystic Mac', as McGregor is known, left little to the imagination as he faced off with the undefeated boxing legend known as Money.

Muscles were not the only thing bulging during the spectacular stare-down, with veins visibly popping in McGregor's neck as he screamed in the face of his more composed opponent.

Mayweather wore a special pair of underwear himself - an Irish-green pair branded with PaddyPower and the catchphrase 'Always bet on black'.

The outrageous display sparked a storm of shocked comments on social media, with some users saying they understood the Irishman's willingness to walk around in his underwear.



'McGregor was a little excited during this weigh in,' said one Twitter user. 'McGregor has got a banana in his pants loool how excited is he?!' wrote another.

'Now I get why McGregor left his pants off after the weigh-in #heproud' was another fan's reaction.

McGregor spectacularly defied Floyd Mayweather's prediction that he would fail to make the weight as they came to the scales before their mega-millions extravaganza.

The Notorious weighed in a full pound under the 154lbs weight limit. Mayweather was significantly but expectedly lighter at 149 1/2 lbs.

That put paid to the notion that his training may have been compromised by late, nightly visits to his strip club. McGregor returned to screaming at Mayweather come the stare down.

'He looks like dog s***,' said McGregor of his opponent. 'You know that. He looks blown out. Full of water. He's not going to keep my pace. Trust me on that. That’s the worst shape I’ve ever seen him.'

'I'm going to breeze through him, trust me on that. I'm a professional, I make weight - its sacrifice, dedication, focus, but I make it. I'm ready.

'I'm going to be a lot bigger than him tomorrow night, maybe closer to 170.'

McGregor received a boisterous Irish welcome as he entered the T-Mobile Arena draped in his country's flag and sporting glasses hinged with sun lenses.

Mayweather responded to his mixed reception by pointing to his white 'The Best Ever' baseball cap and T-shirt, smiling broadly and then warning fans of the Irishman: 'This will be Conor McGregor's last fight also.'

Mayweather brushed off any potential advantage for McGregor over the size difference though after ending his two-year retirement.

'Weight doesn't win fights. Fighting wins fights,' said the American.

A sizeable Irish contingent has travelled to Vegas to cheer the 29-year-old in action and he repeatedly saluted his supporters.

'You can't beat us