WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- The only real comparison to Ronda Rousey in the UFC right now is Conor McGregor. Rousey and McGregor are the biggest stars in the promotion, pull in the most impressive numbers and are more than likely the highest paid.
Last month, McGregor watched Rousey fall by second-round knockout to Holly Holm in Australia. Seeing the fight and everything leading up to it, McGregor learned some things that he might be able to apply to himself, he said Wednesday during a UFC 194 media lunch.
"Maybe just push everything away," McGregor said. "I know there was problems. I can't really see her situation. I don't know her situation. From looking from where I was at, I could see that maybe she's doing a little too much on the media side. That coupled with personal life that I don't know about, maybe could've hampered her training a little bit. Maybe could have hampered her mind. And then the particular style of opponent in Holly. It all kind of combined into making her a little bit too emotionally invested."
McGregor, who taped "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on Wednesday, will have a full slate of media between now and his fight with Jose Aldo in the main event of UFC 194 on Dec. 12 in Las Vegas. He is not necessarily worried about how it will affect him come fight night.
"They give me media obligations," McGregor said. "I handle it. Sometimes it's tedious. But overall, it's business. I treat it as business. I get in and do my job. But my main job, my main place of business is inside that Octagon. That is where I truly shine."
Rousey was not only the most popular MMA fighter in the world heading into the fight with Holm, but she's also emerged as a force in Hollywood. "Rowdy" is signed up for multiple future movie roles, plus commercials, photo shoots and everything else that comes with being someone who has transcended a sport. McGregor believes all those things absolutely came into play during the fight.
"The first thing I watch is the technical aspect of the contest," McGregor said. "I watch Holly put on a good performance. She struck, she evaded. I watched Ronda fight a little bit emotionally invested. I'm sure she had many, many things going on. She's one of the hardest working fighters in the game -- media wise and work wise. She had a lot on her plate and it showed in the contest. Holly Holm came up in the dark, in the shadows. That can help a person."
Rousey also had drama going on behind the scenes. Her mother took shots at her coach, Edmond Tarverdyan, in multiple interviews. Rousey's relationship with fellow UFC fighter Travis Browne, who was accused over the summer of domestic violence, also came to light during her training camp for Holm.
McGregor's plan heading into the featherweight unification bout with Aldo and beyond is to keep all those things out, though it might be easier said than done as his star rises.
"It's important just to still the mind," he said. "Calm it. Make everything smaller than it is. That's maybe what I would take from [Rousey's loss]."
Get the latest gear
