Vladislav Tuinov, a famous Russian kickboxer and bare-knuckle fighter, shared his impressions of meeting former two-weight UFC champion Conor McGregor in an exclusive interview with Telecomasia.net.
"It was nice to see him in person… My coach once said that a professional athlete has to be an actor. We need to be able to change our image, to adapt in the moment. You step onto the scale as one person, showing how fierce and intimidating you are to your opponent. The public sees something extraordinary in you, a beautiful energy. Behind the scenes, you become an ordinary person. That's what I noticed about Conor McGregor. At the weigh-in ceremony, he got the crowd excited, got them waiting to come to the event," Tuinov said.
Backstage, McGregor approached each athlete, shook hands, and wished them success. He showed respect because he understands what it means to be a fighter. He was professional about it. I saw how a person can change in an instant. Out there, he was one person, creating an image, and behind the scenes, he transformed into someone else.
Recall that Tuinov fought in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), co-owned by Conor McGregor. In this event, the Russian defeated Tunisian representative Sabri Ben Henia by knockout.
