Conor McGregor is a 'scared little kid' behind the scenes, claims UFC rival Donald Cerrone

McGregor faces Eddie Alvarez next month but a match against Cerrone could well be in the pipeline

Conor McGregor is a 'scared little boy' behind the scenes, says Donald Cerrone (Getty)

Conor McGregor has been labelled a “scared little kid” by fellow UFC fighter Donald Cerrone after claiming that his provocative outbursts are just a front for the public and media.

McGregor will face lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 in an effort to become the company’s first two-weight simultaneous world champion, having already taken the featherweight title off Jose Aldo.

The Irishman has gathered millions of fans around the world due to his outspoken behaviour on the microphone along with his talent inside the Octagon, but he also has a reputation for upsetting a fair few of his opponents. Despite McGregor and Cerrone yet to meet in a fight, the American clearly isn’t a fan.

33-year-old Cerrone moved up to welterweight in his last bout, but has his heart set on a return to lightweight where he could potentially meet McGregor if ‘The Notorious’ beats Alvarez in New York next month. He has wasted little time in hitting out at McGregor, and claimed that the trash talk he says in public is nowhere to be seen when the fighters leave the stage.

“They line us all up in a line, but they take Conor and they put him off in another room because he can't be around the other fighters because we don't play that s***,” Cerrone said.

“I just tune him out, because behind the scenes he is like a scared little kid.

“He's not one of the fellas, he's not a good dude. It is what it is. He does a good job promoting the sport, he does a good job of making money. So I can't hate the guy for that, but just as a person he ain't a fan of mine.”

Donald Cerrone says there aren't many UFC fighters who like Conor McGregor (Getty)

Cerrone did concede that McGregor has been good for the UFC in helping to raise the profile of the sport, including attracting a large number of followers from both Ireland and the United Kingdom. However, he did once again stress that the two of them simply do not get along.

“He's definitely good for the sport. He's got a lot of eyes. He brings a lot of people,” Cerrone added.

“So my hat's off to him for that, but just like hang with him like a fella, no, he'd never be my buddy.”