UFC fighter Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani recently reflected on an unexpected highlight from his teenage years, recalling the time he was called to train alongside MMA superstar Conor McGregor when he was just 17 years old.
An Urgent Call and Two Weeks of Grappling
As reported by Sherdog.com, Lebosnoyani shared on social media that the surprise invitation came immediately after he had eaten a massive meal. His father called him to report that McGregor was at the gym and needed a partner to train right away. Despite fearing he might get sick on the Irish star, Lebosnoyani joined him on the mats for roughly two weeks of jiu-jitsu sparring before McGregor began working with Dillon Danis.
Lebosnoyani described the training sessions as the absolute highlight of his high school years, noting that McGregor was at the pinnacle of his fighting career at the time.
Humility On and Off the Mat
Despite McGregor’s lavish public image, Lebosnoyani emphasized how down-to-earth the former two-division champion was behind closed doors during their sessions.
“He would pull up to the gym in two Rolls-Royces, and the second he stepped on the mat, that whole persona, the whole ego, was just gone,” Lebosnoyani said.
Lebosnoyani added that McGregor has continued to offer support throughout his fighting career, including sending him a thoughtful congratulatory message when he earned his contract with the UFC. Although McGregor remains a polarizing figure in combat sports, Lebosnoyani stated that he will always hold deep respect and gratitude for the inspirational impact the star had on him as a young martial artist.
