How Conor McGregor’s advice shaped ‘the most avoided welterweight in Europe’ Eoin Sheridan

Eoin Sheridan is much more than what meets the eye.

Despite having just five professional MMA fights on his record, all of which he has won, the 6ft 5in sparring partner of Conor McGregor has rubbed shoulders with elites for years.

PFL

On August 22, Sheridan fights on Cris Cyborg’s retirement card at PFL Tampa to mark his first appearance on American soil, having just this week entered the promotion’s welterweight rankings.

From an outside perspective, it seems like Sheridan has had a sudden surge into the spotlight under the PFL banner, which completes a merger with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions in January 2027.

However, the 31-year-old has been chipping away for years.

Sheridan vows to deliver at PFL Tampa

“It’s been a long, tough road,” Sheridan told talkSPORT.com ahead of his welterweight fight against James Vake in Tampa, Florida.

“I’ve faced a lot of adversity and I continue to do so along the way.

“But I’ve managed to dig deep, keep showing up, keep getting better and here we are now on the big stage.”

Given his unique stature for a 170lbs fighter, Sheridan has struggled with matchmaking since turning pro in 2023.

He calls himself ‘the most avoided welterweight in Europe,’ suggesting he would be ’20-0′ at this stage of his career if he didn’t have ‘about 25 people running.’

Yet despite his limited action in the pro scene, ‘The Sheriff’ oozes the exact confidence you would usually see among seasoned veterans.

That’s because he has been learning from the best for years.

PFL

The McGregor effect

In February, Sheridan went viral when McGregor shared footage of the pair training.

McGregor was preparing for a return to fighting, which culminated in a disastrous main event against Max Holloway last month at UFC 329, where the Irishman injured his knee seconds into the bout.

For many MMA fans, it was the first time they’d seen Sheridan on their screens.

But the 31-year-old has shared priceless rounds with the biggest names in the sport long before, with McGregor even flying him over to Las Vegas for his camp to fight Donald Cerrone in 2020.

It has all shaped the path he currently finds himself on as he aims for PFL gold down the line.

“McGregor’s given me a lot of advice over the years,” Sheridan added.

“One that I always remember: greatness doesn’t rush. That’s what he always said to me.

“Look, he’s the biggest star to ever come out of the sport and there will never be someone of his magnitude again.

“However, I say if I can do one per cent of what he’s done, I’m still going to be a filthy millionaire. So I’ll take that.”

He continued: “I’ve given half my life to this game. I’ve been involved with a lot of top-level fighters over the years.

“Even this year, Michael ‘Venom’ Page brought me over to London and I was sparring him before his last fight.

“I’ve been in there with some top-level lads and I’ve trained all over the world, in Thailand, you name it.

“It’s brilliant to get to learn from these lads and to take advice from them as well.

“But as I said, I’m my own fighter and what I do is I’m exceptional at it.”

Sheridan started his martial arts journey with karate kickboxing aged four before taking up MMA in his late teens.

He first started competing in the Japanese promotion K-1 kickboxing, winning national titles in Ireland as an amateur and pro.

Sheridan continued to improve his grappling outside of competition, knowing that when he did transition to MMA, his opponents’ plan would usually be to shoot on his legs to beat him on the canvas.

Having obtained a degree in business, he says the idea of being a professional fighter was never something he wanted to do, simply something he excelled at.

So when he got to a level he felt comfortable competing at, Sheridan left his job to go full-time in pro MMA, something he has done properly for around six years now.

“I’m right up the top now,” Sheridan concluded.

“My next couple of fights are probably going to be deciders. Hopefully we’re coming towards the title. That’s what I’m looking for.”