Conor McGregor Cautions Young Athletes Against Aspiring to Be ‘YouTuber Fighters’

UFC Champion Conor McGregor opened up about how he feels Jake Paul influences young athletes in combat sports during a new episode of SiriusXM’s exclusive show “This Life of Mine with James Corden.”

Conor McGregor on Jake Paul

With Mike Tyson and Jake Paul slated to fight in an exhibition boxing match this July, Conor told James that his own fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2017 “kickstarted” these types of crossover events. But even though people like Jake Paul attract large audiences, Conor doesn’t approve of young fighters valuing social media attention over winning titles.

“For me, it does set a bad precedent in the industry,” Conor explained, “because what you’ve got now is — and I would say this to the young athletes coming up, men and women: Don’t aspire to be one of these YouTuber fighters. Aspire for world titles. Aspire for [the Olympics] … That is how you etch your name in history.”

He continued, “Doing these little smash-and-grab fights, you might get a few likes, but there’s nothing substantial to it. It’s hollow. It can be profitable, but it’s hollow. And I’m noticing a trend in young fighters coming up that are not even interested in competing in the amateur scene or rising up to win a national title … You need the gold on the waist. You need to etch your name on the belt.”

About “This Life of Mine with James Corden”

Featuring in-depth, richly produced conversations between James Corden and a variety of prominent guests on the people, places, possessions, music, and memories that made them, “This Life of Mine with James Corden” tells the never-before-heard stories that shaped the people at the top of their field across film and television, sports, fashion, music, theater, business, and more.

New episodes air Thursdays at 5pm ET on Stars (Ch. 109). Stream episodes anytime after their premiere on the SiriusXM app.

Previous guests on “This Life of Mine with James Corden” include Tom Ford, Martin Scorsese, Kim Kardashian, Odell Beckham Jr., Jeremy Renner, Dr. Dre, David Beckham, and Billy Porter.