Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor: UFC star 'knocked out' during sparring session ahead of Las Vegas showdown

The claims were made by former two-weight world champion Jessie Vargas

Conor McGregor has been knocked out during a sparring session ahead of his highly-anticipated showdown with Floyd Mayweather, according to Jessie Vargas.

Vargas, a two-weight world champion, made the claim during an interview with Villainfy Media and named Essex-based MMA fighter Bradley Wheeler as the man who did it.

McGregor has just finished a four-date four-press conference tour with Mayweather to promote the fight in Los Angeles, Toronto, New York and London, with the two fighters hurling controversial comments at each other over the microphone.

The Irishman has claimed his will beat the undefeated Mayweather inside four rounds when they throw down in Las Vegas on August 26, but Vargas has claimed all is not going to plan for McGregor.

Vargas said: “I heard that they tried Bradley Wheeler but he knocked him out.”

“I’m looking forward to Floyd coming out with a victory by knockout in six, seven rounds. I have no doubt. I actually want to put some money on it. It’s a 99 per cent win.”

This comes after South African boxer Chris van Heerden claimed last month that he went six rounds while sparring the 29-year-old and “was not fazed at all”.