Brett Johns Recalls Conor McGregor Encounter During Magical UFC Debut
Brett Johns Recalls Conor McGregor Encounter During Magical UFC Debut
UFC newcomer Brett Johns recalls meeting Irish superstar Conor McGregor on the night of his debut.
As if making your UFC debut wasn't nerve racking enough.
Welshman Brett Johns had an experience to remember two weeks ago when making his debut at UFC Fight Night Belfast in Northern Ireland.
Johns was making his maiden UFC appearance against another undefeated fighter Kwan Ho Kwak in the second fight of the night and speaking to Flocombat on Wednesday, he recalled a unique encounter he had with the UFC lightweight champion just seconds before making his walk to the Octagon.
"I'm was just walking out the changing down a long corridor and all these people are shouting at me," Johns recalled. "There was a camera in my face and I just wanted to burst out crying knowing I was walking to my first UFC fight. They called me to the curtain and Conor McGregor was there just nodding at me--I was little freaked out to be honest with you.
"I think he was trying to get to the changing room, but he had to wait there for me to walk past him. It was just when I was about to walk out and I looked over and there he was. He was just nodding his head as if to say good luck and all the best. That was the first time I'd see Conor and I freaked out a little bit to be honest. Anyway, I walked out with a spring in my step after that."
What followed was an impressive, three round dominant display from the Welshman. Johns took the unanimous decision victory without having many problems against a very game opponent.
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BNB62kljvQF/" hide_caption="0"]
Having been given the seal of approval by McGregor prior to the fight, it only seemed that the two see each other after the fight again and that's exactly what happened.
"Believe it or …. you probably won't believe me …. but I've got no actual memory of one hour after the fight," Johns said with a little hesitation. "I was just so high and emotional on adrenaline I was like a little kid. I must have cried like 30 times that day."
"Anyway, once I'd pulled myself together and I was leaving the venue I saw Conor McGregor again. I was just like wow this is the moment--this is the guy who has done the Celts a big favor so I just went straight up to him and he couldn't have been a nicer guy.
"He was "man I'm delighted for you, I thought you were excellent", I was just like wow--like totally star struck you know. I did wonder whether I'd taken too many punches to the head and asked myself whether he was a fake or what not, but it was really him.
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BNA6EoqDITM/" hide_caption="0"]
"I have my photo taken with him and it was just an amazing moment. One I'll never forget. After the fight I was just like a school child I was just so excited. It meant everything to me the whole experience. Definitely the best night of my life and the best thing about it is there are plenty more of them to come."
Welshman Brett Johns had an experience to remember two weeks ago when making his debut at UFC Fight Night Belfast in Northern Ireland.
Johns was making his maiden UFC appearance against another undefeated fighter Kwan Ho Kwak in the second fight of the night and speaking to Flocombat on Wednesday, he recalled a unique encounter he had with the UFC lightweight champion just seconds before making his walk to the Octagon.
"I'm was just walking out the changing down a long corridor and all these people are shouting at me," Johns recalled. "There was a camera in my face and I just wanted to burst out crying knowing I was walking to my first UFC fight. They called me to the curtain and Conor McGregor was there just nodding at me--I was little freaked out to be honest with you.
"I think he was trying to get to the changing room, but he had to wait there for me to walk past him. It was just when I was about to walk out and I looked over and there he was. He was just nodding his head as if to say good luck and all the best. That was the first time I'd see Conor and I freaked out a little bit to be honest. Anyway, I walked out with a spring in my step after that."
What followed was an impressive, three round dominant display from the Welshman. Johns took the unanimous decision victory without having many problems against a very game opponent.
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BNB62kljvQF/" hide_caption="0"]
Having been given the seal of approval by McGregor prior to the fight, it only seemed that the two see each other after the fight again and that's exactly what happened.
"Believe it or …. you probably won't believe me …. but I've got no actual memory of one hour after the fight," Johns said with a little hesitation. "I was just so high and emotional on adrenaline I was like a little kid. I must have cried like 30 times that day."
"Anyway, once I'd pulled myself together and I was leaving the venue I saw Conor McGregor again. I was just like wow this is the moment--this is the guy who has done the Celts a big favor so I just went straight up to him and he couldn't have been a nicer guy.
"He was "man I'm delighted for you, I thought you were excellent", I was just like wow--like totally star struck you know. I did wonder whether I'd taken too many punches to the head and asked myself whether he was a fake or what not, but it was really him.
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BNA6EoqDITM/" hide_caption="0"]
"I have my photo taken with him and it was just an amazing moment. One I'll never forget. After the fight I was just like a school child I was just so excited. It meant everything to me the whole experience. Definitely the best night of my life and the best thing about it is there are plenty more of them to come."