Conor McGregor compared booking a fight with him to winning the lottery when he coined ‘Red Panty Night’ phrase that is still used to describe big UFC paydays eight years later
UFC superstar Conor McGregor introduced the phrase ‘Red Panty Night’ to MMA fans and it continues to be eight years on.
In September 2015, ‘Notorious’ was fresh off winning his first UFC title when he was invited to join some of his colleagues for the ‘Go Big’ press conference.
The man he beat to win the interim featherweight title, Chad Mendes was there, as was Jose Aldo who he had been booked to face at UFC 194 after the Brazilian withdrew from their first fight date.
Despite the fact he was yet to unify the 145lb division, McGregor already had one eye of the lightweight belt which irked rival Rafael dos Anjos who was set to defend it against Donald Cerrone in a few months’ time.
The Irishman suggested that dos Anjos would happily pull out of his fight with ‘Cowboy’ if the opportunity to face him instead was presented by UFC boss Dana White.
McGregor said: “I can change your bum life. I can make you rich. I’ll change your bum life.
The now-34-year-old went on to compare fighting him to winning the lottery before insisting dos Anjos would ecstatically celebrate with his partner if that match-up was booked.
McGregor added: “When you sign to fight me it’s a celebration. You ring back home, you ring your wife, ‘Baby, we’ve done it. We’re rich, baby. Conor McGregor made us rich, break out the red panties, we’re rich, baby.
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“So, don’t say you would not take that fight because you would take that fight like everyone else up here would take the fight against me, if it was offered, regardless of belts and any of that s***.
“I’m the money fight in the male s***, in all weight divisions, so f*** everybody else up here… It’s ‘Red Panty Night’ back at home with your wife when you sign to fight me, it’s a celebration.”
White, who was leading the press conference, chuckled his way through McGregor’s ‘Red Panty’ rant, as did many in the crowd who got to watch ‘Mystic Mac’ in fine form.
Dos Anjos and Cerrone didn’t find the comments funny and they both warned McGregor to steer clear of the 155lb division if he wants to avoid taking a beating.
Of course, he knocked out Aldo in 13 seconds soon after the ‘Go Big’ press event before announcing his move up to lightweight and booking a fight with dos Anjos.
Unfortunately, due to the Brazilian getting injured, that fight never happened and when McGregor eventually won the lightweight title it was by beating Eddie Alvarez who dethroned dos Anjos while he was busy with back-to-back Nate Diaz bouts.
At UFC 283, McGregor’s ‘Red Panty Night’ phrase came up when Aldo was discussing his former rival who he now exchanges social media messages with and considers a friend.
‘Scarface’ revealed that following his UFC 200 win over Frankie Edgar in 2016 it seemed like he would get a rematch against McGregor who hilariously left an unusual gift at his hotel door.
Aldo recalled: “It was just light-hearted fun. We were in [a hotel] in Las Vegas, window-to-window. It was the night I beat Frankie Edgar [at UFC 200].
“He just sent [a pair of red panties] out as a light-hearted joke. I didn’t do anything with it but maybe I could get my Mrs to wear it or something.”
The fight never materialised, but the two men have since becomes pals.
Aldo, who recently retired from MMA, is now one of the many fight fans who are looking forward to seeing McGregor return from injury later this year.
It’s believed he will undergo mandatory United States Anti-Doping tests in February before booking a fight and beginning his run at the UFC welterweight title.