Superstar Justin Bieber has described himself as the “Conor McGregor of entertainment”.
The world’s biggest popstar is among the fighter’s starry list of A-list fans which also include Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Brady and Gerard Butler.
The Canadian singer – who is reportedly taking fitness tips from the Crumlin fighter – made the reference during his Carpool Karaoke session this week when he was asked by James Corden about his ‘perplexing’ decision to challenge Tom Cruise to a fight on social media.
The singer laughed off the challenge in the viral clip this week but insisted he would be able to beat the Mission Impossible star in a match.
He said: “My agility is crazy, my agility is insane.
“I don’t think you understand the mind control that I have”, he told James Corden.
“I’m the Conor McGregor of entertainment. It’s a fact.”
The Canadian singer has been one of McGregor’s strongest supporters since the mixed martial arts fighter through the highs and lows of his career over the past decade.
The pop icon revealed last year on his Instagram account that he is 60% Irish.
Bieber, who was born in Canada, also shared a picture of his dad Jeremy holding a bottle of McGregor’s Proper 12 whiskey.
The UFC star responded by taking to social media to say the popstar was following one of his fitness regimes.
“Justin is a top young man! Training hard on the McGregor Fast program also”, he said in a Twitter post.
“Real excited to see the results and hear his latest music this summer.
“Thank you Justin Bieber and father Jeremy Bieber! The Irish runs deep with the Biebers. Shoutout my young bro Johner Bieber also.”
When Conor McGregor was famously was defeated in 2016 the Lose Yourself singer took to his Instagram to raise a toast to Conor saying, “To McGregor. He’s still the champ. That broke my heart”.
Alongside the video he added the caption: “No bandwagon but Conor is a true champion, fights with style and finesse, all the respect to Nate but his style is terrible. Nate has crazy heart respect.”
The Irish fighter made a triumphant return to the UFC octagon at the start of the year, when he defeated fighter Donald Cerrone in just 40 seconds.
Despite a string of controversies and court appearances, McGregor remains the most popular fighter in UFC history with his return bringing out stars including British heavyweight Tyson Fury and New England Patriots superstar quarterback Tom Brady for the sold-out show.
