Shaquille O’Neal, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, has made a bold prediction about UFC star Conor McGregor ahead of his return to the octagon. The NBA legend believes that McGregor will be victorious in his upcoming fight against Dustin Poirier at UFC 257.
O’Neal, who is a huge fan of the UFC, made the prediction during an appearance on the “All Things Covered” podcast. He said that he believes McGregor will win the fight and that he is “a fan of his”.
“I think he’s gonna win,” O’Neal said. “I’m a fan of his. I like his style. I like his swagger. I like his confidence. I like the way he carries himself. I think he’s gonna win.”
McGregor is set to make his return to the octagon after a nearly two-year absence. He last fought in January of 2019, when he defeated Donald Cerrone in just 40 seconds. Since then, he has been involved in a number of controversies, including a brawl with Khabib Nurmagomedov at a UFC press conference and a sexual assault allegation.
Despite the controversies, O’Neal believes that McGregor will be victorious in his upcoming fight. He said that McGregor’s confidence and swagger will be the key to his success.
“I think he’s gonna win because of his confidence,” O’Neal said. “He’s got that swagger. He’s got that confidence. He’s got that aura about him. He’s got that ‘it’ factor.”
McGregor is set to face Poirier at UFC 257 on January 23. The fight is expected to be one of the biggest in UFC history, and O’Neal’s prediction is sure to add to the hype.
O’Neal is no stranger to the world of combat sports. He has trained in boxing and has even competed in a few celebrity boxing matches. He also has a long history of supporting the UFC, having attended several events in the past.
It remains to be seen if O’Neal’s prediction will come true, but one thing is for sure: the fight between McGregor and Poirier is sure to be an exciting one.