Conor McGregor's advice to Ronda Rousey: 'Shut them all up'

UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor knows about suffering an unexpected loss and has some advice for Ronda Rousey ahead of her return at UFC 207.

UFC president Dana White announced that the former bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey would make her anticipated return to MMA. In her first fight back since the stunning upset loss to Holly Holm in November of 2015, Rousey returns to fight for the title against newly-crowned champion Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in late December.

Featherweight champion Conor McGregor can relate to Rousey's situation: While he didn't have an undefeated career record, he had an aura of invincibility with a title belt and an undefeated record inside the UFC when he stepped into the cage against Nate Diaz at UFC 196. McGregor, a heavy favorite, suffered a shocking loss at the hands of Diaz, who stepped in on roughly two weeks notice after lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos was forced out of the bout due to injury.

McGregor avenged that loss with a win at UFC 202, and offered Rousey advice as she begins a similar quest while promoting his new role in forthcoming Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare game.

Ronda Rousey to return at UFC 207, will face Amanda Nunes for bantamweight title

"I'd tell her to go shut them all up now," McGregor told SI by phone. "Shut them all up. Go and stake your claim again." 

"I wish Ronda nothing but the best, it's good to see her back," he continued. "Some people take defeat and losses a certain way. You see how some fighters take losses. I'm happy she is ready to go again and I wish her well.

"Go and shut these people up now. Go and get what you began back. I'm excited to see how it unfolds."

McGregor is back to his pursuit of the lightweight title, looking to become the first two-time champion when he fights incumbent Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 in Madison Square Garden.