Conor McGregor conspiracy deepens

CONOR McGregor’s bitter feud continues to deepen after his ex-sparring partner raised further concerns over his bizarre treatment.

THE feud between Conor McGregor and two-time world champion boxer Paul Malignaggi has deepened after the American raised fresh concerns over the UFC champion’s camp’s behaviour overnight.

The retired fighter was brought in to help sharpen McGregor’s skills ahead of his bout with Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas later this month. But it has all quickly turned south.

Veteran boxing referee Joe Cortez — who has been running McGregor through the intricacies of the sport — had to separate the pair during a particularly fiery sparring session.

“It was the real thing, I had to stop the action,” Cortez told RUSH 93. “I had to say ‘you guys are a little out of control here, you’ve got to stop this.’ They were both roughing each other up and I had to stop the action like it was a regular fight.”

Malignaggi later opened up on the incident on his podcast From Brooklyn To The World, admitting he had a chip on his shoulder going into the “very dirty” bout.

“We went 12 hard rounds and I think I made my point last night, I’ll say that,” he said. “Basically, don’t f*** with me. I’m here to help, I’m here to do the best I can for you guys, so don’t try to take advantage of me.”

Gerard Byrne, an insider in the McGregor camp, later stirred the pot with a suggestive Instagram post of Malignaggi on the ground with the UFC superstar standing over him.

Malignaggi instantly bit back at Byrne for posting the unflattering photo and on Friday night and Saturday morning suggested McGregor’s entourage was up to something sinister by only releasing that one image.

Hate to say it but it's clear when I look back at my time there that there was an agenda from the start, too many clues. https://t.co/dxjLvu3Oyt

— Paul Malignaggi (@PaulMalignaggi) August 4, 2017

That kind of sparring is normal for boxers on a high level, I boxed many yrs so it's normal but to put a weird spin on things is unethical. https://t.co/rcUKRnakaN

— Paul Malignaggi (@PaulMalignaggi) August 4, 2017

He also re-tweeted an article from mmafighting.com that said McGregor had “undone” the good work of bringing Malignaggi in with the photo that ultimately prompted him to quit.

These tweets came after Malignaggi insisted McGregor’s camp release the entire video of the pair sparring.

“I came to help this camp out, not to be exploited, now your (sic) gonna get the truth though. Post (the) FULL UNEDITED VIDEO FROM TUES night,” he ranted on Twitter.

I actually beat his ass, 24 hrsoff a flight 2 (sic) lol, which is why I’m saying post the vid, I try not 2 be petty but seems it’s late 4 that now.”

Its not nice 2 paint a pic that isn't true, this was a pushdown in sparring, post the whole video rounds 1 through 12 UNEDITED https://t.co/R82BLiMMVm

— Paul Malignaggi (@PaulMalignaggi) August 4, 2017

The @ufc PI has cameras all over the gym recording 24/7. The video exists UNEDITED of rounds 1 through 12 Tuesday night, let the fans see.

— Paul Malignaggi (@PaulMalignaggi) August 4, 2017

I came to help this camp out, not to be exploited, now your gonna get the truth though. Post FULL UNEDITED VIDEO FROM TUES night #Ethics

— Paul Malignaggi (@PaulMalignaggi) August 4, 2017

I actually beat his ass, 24 hrsoff a flight 2 lol, which is why Im saying post the vid, I try not 2 be petty but seems it's late 4 that now. https://t.co/vSE2Iw4ffM

— Paul Malignaggi (@PaulMalignaggi) August 4, 2017

Malignaggi had earlier released a full statement on Twitter revealing he’d left the camp for good.

“I just wanted to clear the air,” he wrote. “I am leaving the McGregor training camp today.

“I came with best intentions and intended to help out. Just the chance to be part of such a big event in this capacity excited me. I believe Conor and I have a mutual respect inside the ting, earn from each other with some good work over two sparring sessions.

“It’s some of the other stuff outside the ring and some ways some things were handled in (the) training camp that I didn’t agree with (and) made me come to this decision.

“It’s not my place to dictate terms in a training camp that is not mine, but it’s my place to decide if I want to be a part of it. I will not give away anything tactical that I was in two sparring sessions with Conor. For what it’s worth, they have my word.

“The thing s that upset me, though, I will speak about in time. I wish team McGregor well in the rest of their preparations and look forward to being back in Vegas to work fight week on Showtime.”

pic.twitter.com/DTJ0MQMSlv

— Paul Malignaggi (@PaulMalignaggi) August 4, 2017

Meanwhile, Floyd Mayweather is busy doing what he does best: boasting about money.

The 40-year-old superstar is hardly short of a quid, but come August 27th (AEST), he will have a scary amount of cash deposited.

The fight was originally tipped to make each combatant $100 million (A$125 million), but “Money” has predicted he’ll be walking away with much more than that.

“I mean, am I the highest-paid athlete out there? And just coming back?” he told Showtime.

“We not talking about no contract. We not talking about no contract for no four years, or no contract for no five years. I can do it in 36 minutes. $300 million (A$377 million) or better. In 36 minutes.”

If the 49-0 legend is correct, he’ll be making more than the average Joe makes in a lifetime in a single minute.

Three weeks.

Mayweather made another prediction: the method of Conor’s demise.

“I’ve never been beaten, never,” said. “I’m knocking McGregor the f*** out.”

A surprising backflip this week saw Floyd agree to fighting with 8oz gloves, significantly lighter than the agreed-upon 10oz mitts — but the move to lighten the gloves appears to have hit a snag. Nevada State Commission executive Bob Bennett said they cannot change the size of the gloves due to rules and regulations in place to protect the fighters’ health.

“These regulations are in place for the health and safety of the athletes. Which is of the utmost importance to the commission,” he told ESPN.

“Our regulations already outline the appropriate glove size according to contracted weight of a fight.”