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the octagon

10 essential phrases to bluff your way through a Conor McGregor bout

Because we all need to start somewhere.

UFC FEVER HAS once again gripped the country after Conor McGregor beat Dennis Siver at the UFC Fight Night in Boston last night.

If you’re very new to the sport but want to save face, never fear. Please, allow us to acquaint you with a few essential phrases that should help you bluff your way through a UFC conversation.

1. “He just owns the Octagon, y’know?”

The Octagon is the eight-sided ring in which the fights take place, surrounded by a chain-link fence.

Here’s McGregor pelting over the side to roar at his next opponent, Jose Aldo, after last night’s match:
https://vine.co/v/OjPxjHXgaVj

McGregor is known for his trash talk and general ability to get into his opponents’ minds, so this is a good way to show off your knowledge of that.

2. “Ref! Fingers in the cage!”

It’s against the rules for a fighter to hold the cage during a fight, so if you see that, shout.

Some other rules include: No eye gouging, no fish-hooking, no groin attacks of any kind, no attacking the head of a grounded opponent, and no spitting at an opponent or using abusive language in the ring.

Conor McGregor’s middle finger to Dennis Siver seemed to be quite all right last night, however.

Referee Herb Dean talks to Conor McGregor and Denis Siver before the fight Emily Harney / INPHO Emily Harney / INPHO / INPHO

3. “Oh yeah, McGregor’s a great striker.”

conor Photobucket Photobucket

Show off that you know loads about the different types of fighters, and hence, UFC.

Strikers mostly stay on their feet, throwing punches and kicks, grapplers will try to get their opponent on the ground, while submission specialists prefer to trap their opponents and force them to tap out.

4. “He’s going for a takedown.”

DfwhOk Bloody Elbow Bloody Elbow

You can throw this one out any time he does something that isn’t a kick or a box.

5. “He’s definitely going to tap out.”

Conor McGregor with Denis Siver Emily Harney / INPHO Emily Harney / INPHO / INPHO

Whenever a fighter appears to be in trouble, toss this one out. No one will hold it against you if he doesn’t.

6. “Have you heard him talking about his second-round TKO win?”

Conor McGregor celebrates winning Emily Harney / INPHO Emily Harney / INPHO / INPHO

A technical knockout (or TKO) is when a fight is ended by a referee (when a fighter is no longer defending himself), a doctor (if the fight is deemed to be dangerous), or by the fighter’s corner throwing in the towel. 

Here are other ways a contestant can win a fight:

  • Disqualification: A ‘three strikes and out’ policy against fighters illegal moves.
  • Forfeit: An injured fighter can forfeit before the match.
  • No contest: When both fighters break the rules, or one fighter is injured by an unintentional illegal move. A rare one.
  • Submission: When one fighter taps out, either physically or verbally.
  • Knockout (KO): When a fighter loses consciousness.

7. “I can’t believe he went for ‘lay and pray’ again.”

UFC Fight Night Boston Gregory Payan / PA Wire Gregory Payan / PA Wire / PA Wire

A common tactic, ‘lay and pray’ involves a fighter literally lying on top of an opponent for as long as possible, stalling the actual fight.

It’s generally seen as quite a lazy move and an attempt to bring a fight towards a decision. Probably not something McGregor does terribly often, but one to watch out for.

8. “McGregor really finished him off with that ground and pound, didn’t he?”

https://vine.co/v/OjPEJXKwtZD

More UFC speak for taking an opponent to the ground and clobbering him from there.

9. “Looks like he prefers to sprawl and brawl, actually.”

UFC Fight Night Boston AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

One thing you may have gathered by now about the UFC: They can’t stay away from a good rhyme.

This one refers to a fighter who avoids takedowns, preferring to stand up and strike.

10. “Iiiiiiiit’s TIIIIIIIIIIIIMEEE!”

Every sports announcer has his catchphrase, and this is Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer’s. Endlessly quotable.

Monkey2Rumble / YouTube

The Conor McGregor backlash has already begun>

McGregor brushes Siver aside to set up a UFC title bout with Jose Aldo>

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