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It’s been a stressful year for Conor McGregor – that swashbuckling charm that enticed us all was replaced by angst as he sought revenge for a major humbling. But now the swagger is back, and that could spell trouble for Eddie Alvarez… The cocksure smile was first wiped from McGregors bearded face back in March when, minutes after a surprise defeat to Nate Diaz, he astutely assessed his own shortcomings. He emerged with credit for explaining the inefficient energy that led to his loss but that moment forced the UFCs great entertainer into a volcano of vengeance.Gone were the one-liners that had been a welcome part of every McGregor pre-fight tirade. He should be commended for locking himself away for five months to become the subject of his own sports science experiment, embracing the harsh desert environment of Nevada in an effort to match Diazs fitness, but the toil took an obvious strain. Watch Conor McGregor clash with Eddie Alvarez at their press conference It included the debacle of UFC 200, a milestone event that McGregor was expected to lead with Diaz as his dance partner. Amid rumours of a rift between the enigmatic Irishman and his employers, he was eventually removed from the event due to failing to attend a New York press conference on the premise that he was too busy training - this, in turn, led to the infamous retirement tweet that broke social media records and had the sports world wondering. McGregor had always been proud of the businessman behind the athlete but never had such malice crept into the forefront of his merriment.The foreboding of McGregors mission to rectify his sole UFC defeat to Diaz took an uneasy turn in the days before he re-entered the cage - plastic bottles were hurled between the fighters respective entourages in an ugly spectacle that shone a light on the pressures of the upcoming performance. The featherweight champion from Ireland addressed the major flaw on his record by outpointing Diaz in a 25-minute slog when the seeds of five laborious months were finally sewn. He cut a relieved and justified figure afterwards, yet still the laughter has only recently resurfaced.McGregor had his audience in hysterics during a press conference alongside Alvarez, the lightweight champion who he will challenge next, in a welcome return to the fighter who first captured imaginations two years ago. His put-down of Jeremy Stephens, a fringe contender who shared the same stage, was the type of hilarious response absent from the Diaz chapter.More recently, he appeared to genuinely enjoy a public work-out at Madison Square Garden, the venue for his fight, successfully completing a free-throw of a basketball on the home turf of the New York Knicks. On Thursday, the faux-aggression displayed was akin to a WWE sketch rather than anything more threatening. Better than Rousey? Exclusive interview with Joanna Jedrzejczyk McGregor is at his best acting as a jester not a juvenile. His wit, when deployed with humour, has played havoc with opponents mind-sets heading into previous fights - on more than one occasion it could be attributed to making them act irrationally during the heat of battle.This is the same McGregor who, two years ago, reduced Diego Brandao to a ball of pent-up frustration by insightfully detailing what lay ahead. Dustin Poirier got the full brunt of McGregors comedy routine - Hes a quiet little hillbilly, I have nothing against the guy, Im sure he grew up in a circus or a fair, hes a nice little kid - before Jose Aldo was tortured verbally for nearly a year and was in disbelief when the Irishman stole his championship belt during a Dublin event. His UFC career has been horrendous. Hes very, very lucky to be in the position he is. He understands that. Conor McGregor on Eddie Alvarez Analysing Alvarezs world title win, McGregor quipped: I thought it was very sloppy. The shot selection was very, very poor. He got blessed. He got blessed with a lucky shot. His UFC career has been horrendous. Hes very, very lucky to be in the position he is. He understands that.McGregor first caught the imagination of the wider sports world for boldly describing the downfalls of established champions, mixing a tongue-in-cheek assessment their skills with hilarity-inducing rants that less articulate opponents simply couldnt respond to. Losing briefly muted him but rediscovering his shtick is troublesome for Alvarez.McGregor, with designer sunglasses hiding his poker face, has returned to the casino as the high-stakes gambler that he is. He looks revitalised by the fresh challenge of Alvarez, whose wrestling acumen could well prove to be a flush hand. Defeat would undo much of McGregors brash talking but thats exactly how hes excelled in the past. Watch Conor McGregor clash with Eddie Alvarez at their press conference Also See: Joanna Jedrzejczyk exclusive McGregor: Im not just talk Alvarez: Ill make McGregor quit Bones Jones banned for a year Gerald Everett Jersey . 1. AMIR JOHNSON: Nice to see him back in the lineup Tuesday night in Washington DC. Played with great energy and purpose. Its amazing when a guy gets those few precious days to recover what it does to the bounce in their step and overall game/confidence. Joe Namath Jersey .Y. - Terry and Kim Pegula have no immediate plans to tinker with their new NFL team. http://www.officiallaramspro.com/. - Jason Day and Cameron Tringale shot an 8-under 64 on Friday in modified alternate-shot play to increase their lead to three strokes in the Franklin Templeton Shootout. Jack Youngblood Jersey . Louis Blues and Buffalo Sabres came to an agreement on a big trade that may only offer incremental improvement to the Blues in their quest for a Stanley Cup. Eric Dickerson Jersey .ca. Kerry, In Mondays Habs/Bruins game, there were three questionable/brutal calls against the Habs late in the game - Tomas Plekanec, then Douglas Murray, then Brendan Gallagher. SAN DIEGO -- On Saturday afternoon, Cory Spangenberg couldnt wait to share the news that he was joining the San Diego Padres in a September promotion. So he did what 23-year-olds do. He tweeted, "cant believe my childhood dream has come true! want to thank my family friends and all the support from the .570!" Problem is, the Padres like to make such announcements. "We had a discussion about that yesterday," old-school manager Bud Black said. Its all good now. Spangenberg had a two-run single for his first big league hit and made two nice plays at third base to help Tyson Ross and the Padres beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1 on Monday. "It was a good day in the big leagues. I think his parents were here, some relatives were here and maybe a few people from the 570 were here," Black said, referring to the area code for Spangenbergs hometown of Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania. Spangenberg, the teams first-round pick in the 2011 draft, had his contract selected from Double-A San Antonio and started at third base. He came up with the bases loaded and one out in the fifth inning and singled to right off reliever Eury De La Rosa for a 3-0 lead. "He got me down 0-2 but I was just looking for a pitch up in the zone a little bit that I could put the bat on the ball and he just happened to leave a slider a little bit up and I got enough of it to find a hole," he said. Spangenberg is the third player in Padres history to have multiple RBIs in his big league debut. His parents, two brothers and sister were at the game. "Its just nice to share this moment with them because theyve put in as much time and effort with this as I did," Spangenberg said. So alls well in the 570? "Theres unbelievable support there and they have my back all the way. Im just thankful for them," he said. Ross (13-12) pitched six strong innings, allowing one run and six hits while striking out eight and walking two. It was his 14th straight start of going six or more innings and allowing six or fewer hits. He is 7-6 with a 1.93 ERA in that stretch. A fifth-inning comebacker by Didi Gregorius hit off Ross glove but he threw out the runner. He tweaked his left knee on the play, which he and the training staff didnt realize until later. After Ross allowed a leadoff single by David Peralta in the sixth, manager Bud Black and a trainer came out to check on the tall rigght-hander.dddddddddddd Black left Ross in the game. He allowed two more singles, including an RBI hit by Miguel Montero, before striking out the side. "I felt at that point he was our best pitcher," Black said. Ross said the mound visit "gave me a chance to refocus and get back to execution." Striking out the side came from "just grinding it out, really," he said. "I just minimized. Thats kind of the focus, First and third, no outs, just trying to minimize. Rene (Rivera) called some good pitches and worked his butt off back there. It was a good inning." Kevin Quackenbush struck out the side in the ninth for his second save in three chances. Arizonas Trevor Cahill (3-10) went only four-plus innings, allowing three runs and five hits while walking six and striking out five. "He walked six guys. Thats way too many in four innings," manager Kirk Gibson said. "He wiggled out of it the best he could." PADRES MOVES The Padres also promoted LHP Robbie Erlin and RHP Leonel Campos from Triple-A El Paso. Erlin made his big league debut with San Diego in 2013. Campos will make his big league debut the first time he pitches. WALK THIS WAY Rivera drew four walks for the Padres, including two intentional. He is the 30th player in franchise history to do so and the first since Chase Headley on July 30, 2012. Rivera was the ninth player and first catcher in team history to not register an at-bat despite making four or more plate appearances in a game. TRAINERS ROOM Arizona: The Diamondbacks reinstated OF Cody Ross (strained left calf) from the 15-day disabled list and RHP Daniel Hudson (reconstructive elbow surgery) from the 60-day DL. Hudson likely will work in relief. He hasnt pitched for Arizona since June 26, 2012, when he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow against the Braves. San Diego: The Padres transferred 1B Yonder Alonso (right wrist surgery) and LF Carlos Quentin (bone bruise, left knee) to the 60-day DL to make room on the 40-man roster for Spangenberg and Campos. UP NEXT Arizona: Wade Miley (7-10, 4.30 ERA) has no record and a 3.86 ERA in two starts vs. San Diego this year. He is 1-6 with a 4.96 ERA in 11 career starts against the Padres. San Diego: Odrisamer Despaigne (3-5, 2.54 ERA) is 1-1 against Diamondbacks this year, including a 5-1 loss at Arizona on Aug. 22. ' ' '