Conor McGregors southpaw straight left won him the UFC championship inside 13 seconds and has become one of the most feared punches in the fight world. Along with his elusive footwork and eye-catching, hands-down style, the Irishmans punching ability has resulted in fight fans dreaming of a duel against boxing great Floyd Mayweather. Even if thats fantasy, McGregor has forged a reputation in the boxing world without ever stepping in a professional ring.But if hes such a good boxer, why did he depart the sport as a teenager? McGregor lost his most recent UFC fight to Nate Diaz so has he profited from a string of grappling-based opponents that lack skills with their hands? Conor McGregor lands a lead-hand uppercut Paschal Collins, Irelands seasoned boxing trainer, remembers an unknown MMA enthusiast who was at home in the boxing gym. Three or four years ago, I always reckoned that he could have gone all the way in boxing for the reason that his work ethic is unbelievable, Collins told Sky Sports. He trains - no, he practises - three times a day.You know when somebody walks into a room and they stand out? He had a confidence but behind the scenes he keeps his head down. I would watch him for an hour and hed practise the same move over and over. He stood out, absolutely.Hes brave, hes got a heart, and hes afraid of nobody. He sparred my nephew Stevie Jr, a cruiserweight, and showed no fear even when he was clipped. Conor was in my gym two weeks ago and I did southpaw pad work with him. He sparred my nephew Stevie Jr, a cruiserweight, and showed no fear even when he was clipped. Paschal Collins Before McGregors growth took him through Collins pro gym, he first learned to wrap his hands in the Crumlin Boxing Gym, an amateur establishment rife with young Irishmen learning about the discipline of the ring.He was like any other novice who we taught the basics to, Crumlin coach Phil Sutcliffe told Sky Sports. He could have been very good if he stayed with boxing.Some kids had more talent than Conor but didnt work as hard and eventually he found them out. He has skills from his time here - his hands up, his chin down, his elbows in. When he got good enough he was able to drop his hands because he could read the punches. Hes a very, very good reader. Conor McGregor hitting pads Hes ambidextrous, we teach that to all our kids, he can box orthodox or southpaw. His straight left changes fights. Its an opportunists punch - hes always had the ability to turn on his back leg to throw his back hand.McGregor took his boxing skills to the cage and exploded onto the UFC scene three years ago, immediately demonstrating an understanding of range that dumbfounded rivals.The same weapon that impressed his first coach Sutcliffe was still getting the job done. Three left-handed uppercuts accounted for Marcus Brimage in McGregors debut, then four more opponents crumpled beneath his left hand in 2014 and 2015. Dublin lightweight Jamie Kavanagh recently tweeted Conor McGregor about their younger days at the Crumlin amateur gym @JamieKavanagh90 A southpaws best weapon is the straight left, McGregors current coach John Kavanagh told Sky Sports last summer. For whatever reason, nobody hits harder than Conor.Contrary to popular belief, it tends to be tall, lanky, rangy fighters who punch the hardest. Conor has a generic X-factor when it comes to punching - even I dont know exactly what that is. Its hard to find a better system than western boxing to teach you how to hit as hard as possible.Super-middleweight world title challenger George Groves has been an impressed onlooker but when quizzed whether McGregor could cut it inside the boxing ring, he noted a crucial different in the Irishmans style. They attack from so far out. Do that in boxing and a skilful boxer would time you. George Groves They have to worry about takedowns so they have to throw punches from a much wider distance, Groves explained to Sky Sports. They can get away with things that we cant in boxing - for example they attack from so far out. Do that in boxing and a skilful boxer would time you.Were used to fighting much closer but if the UFC guys do that, theyre likely to be grabbed. They certainly have power, but in UFC they dont throw combinations. If youre a pure boxer you wont last long inside the cage - but vice versa.A submission defeat to Diaz in March, after tasting some of his own medicine standing toe-to-toe, led to criticism from WBA Super and WBO heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. Boxing is the ultimate combat sport, Fury tweeted. Where two proper fighters stand up and fight. Conor McGregor (left) lands a southpaw jab McGregors recent low-profile appearances in California-based boxing gyms may be a strategic attempt to avenge the Diaz loss in an expected rematch, rather than preparation to fight a certain retired kingpin of the ring. His recent defeat was attributed to a lack of boxing finesse by his own striking coach Owen Roddy.He was winning the fight but punched himself out, Roddy told Sky Sports. He was trying to force the finish. He was landing his shots but, because Diaz was able to take them, Conor was throwing higher and higher combinations and got exhausted. The tables turned. Conor McGregors boxing let him down against Nate Diaz Conor was trying to knock him out with every punch and was putting too much behind every shot. If we get him to only put power behind certain shots, he should reserve his energy more. If we stick to popping shots and moving, I think hell put Diaz away.McGregor is the latest in a fabled line of punchers from Ireland and counts former world champions Wayne McCullough and Steve Collins as fans, while Lennox Lewis has tweeted support. He may wear smaller gloves than his boxing predecessors but he is packing a punch in a different way. Also See: Mayweather on McGregor talk Fury slams beaten McGregor McGregor fuels Mayweather rumour Fury: McGregor copied me Cheap Air Max China . Zvonareva, who won the tournament in 2009 and 10, couldnt handle her opponents big groundstrokes in only her third event back after 17 months out with a shoulder injury. Zvonareva made her comeback in January in Shenzhen and played in the Australian Open but lost her first matches at both tournaments. Air Max Shoes Sale Online . -- Mike Smith never saw his first NHL goal go in. http://www.wholesaleairmax.com/ . -- Arizona raced out to a big lead and did not back off, hitting the accelerator instead. Nike Air Max Wholesale . The Vikings announced Thursday that Priefer will be one of seven holdovers from the previous staff, along with offensive line coach Jeff Davidson, wide receivers coach George Stewart and others. Norv Turner will mark his 30th year of coaching in the NFL as the offensive co-ordinator, as widely reported for weeks, and George Edwards will be the defensive co-ordinator. Cheap Air Max Shoes Store . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Max Holt did a little bit of everything. At the net, digging balls from just off the floor, finishing points with big, leaping swings.He and David Lee stuffed the Italians with stellar blocking. Setter Micah Christenson contributed his own blocks and even a kill to end the third set. Matt Anderson, Aaron Russell and Taylor Sander provided power hitting from every corner.Mighty Italy just had a little more in a match that will surely become an Olympic volleyball classic.For nearly 2 1/2 hours Friday, the young, overachieving Americans stayed with an Italian group that U.S. coach John Speraw considers the worlds most talented and destined for gold in Brazil.The Americans, who began the tournament with an 0-2 start that included a loss to Italy 10 days earlier, ran off four straight victories before falling in a riveting five-set semifinal that Italy won 30-28, 26-28, 9-25, 25-22, 15-9.This team fought the entire time, Lee said. Losing that first set made us fight even harder. We couldnt sustain that same level we had in the second and third to put the team out in the fourth set. We had an advantage in the fourth, we had a small lull in energy and thats when they came back, and they have such good servers that team can come back at any time and be back in a game. You can never count them out.The Italians will play for gold Sunday against Brazil, which defeated defending Olympic champion Russia 25-21, 25-22, 25-17 in Fridays other semifinal. Brazil will be playing in its fourth straight final and will be looking for its first gold since 2004 in Athens. Italy won the bronze in 2012 in London.It was strange. There was a really strong force inside us telling us, `Dont give up, keep fighting, Italys Ivan Zaytsev said.His team fought, all right. Afterward, the players fell to the floor, piling on each other.Lee brought his American teammates into a huddle for an embrace. Then Anderson and Sander clapped to the crowd as the U.S. waited at the net to shake hands with the winners.ddddddddddddIn the fifth set, Osmany Juantorena served an ace for a 12-8 lead and Russell let a ball drop as Holt covered his face with his shirt.After an embarrassing third-set flop, Italy forced a deciding fifth set by closing the fourth on a 6-0 run -- getting three straight aces by Zaytsev, including the next-to-last point that was initially called long but overturned on review for set point.Today, the teams have played more than a match, Italy coach Gianlorenzo Blengini said.The American men have eight first-time Olympians.Im really sad this team didnt make it because theyre so good and they deserved to be in the final, said Lee, who won gold in Beijing eight years ago and is in his third Olympics. I dont care about how old they are. Theyre fighters.Italy ended the American mens gold-medal aspirations for a second straight Olympics. The U.S. will play for bronze, just like the top-ranked American women, who lost in five sets to Serbia on Thursday.The intensity of Fridays match was captured in a wild first set in which the Americans had five set points. With the score 25-25, Italys Massimo Colaci made a lunging, one-handed get from the ground before teammate Filippo Lanza sent the ball over the net from his knees near the baseline to keep the rally going.The score was tied again, at 28. Russell signaled that Italy captain Emanuele Birarellis serve was going out and let the ball drop. Italys players rushed the net to argue to referee Arturo di Giacomo of Belgium, contending the Americans touched the ball. He overruled the call and what had gone to a 29-28 lead for the U.S. suddenly turned to 29-28 for Italy, which won the set 30-28.My players gave it everything that they could today. I couldnt ask any more, Speraw said. I almost feel today we need to mourn. Jerseys NFL China Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys From China Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale China Jerseys NFL Jerseys China Discount Soccer Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys China China NCAA Jerseys Cheap Cheap Nike Dolphins Jerseys Cheap Nike Patriots Jerseys Cheap Nike Jets Jerseys Cheap Nike Bengals Jerseys Cheap Nike Browns Jerseys Cheap Nike Steelers Jerseys Cheap Nike Texans Jerseys Cheap Nike Colts Jerseys Cheap Nike Jaguars Jerseys Cheap Nike Titans Jerseys Cheap Nike Broncos Jerseys ' ' '