Nurmagomedov: ‘I don’t give a shit about McGregor’
At a Q&A session at the National Restaurant in New York City. Nurmagomedov talks about his potential opponents, including McGregor.
I don’t give a shit about Conor. I think only about the belt…“Let’s go. Make not only him humble but all of Ireland.
Mayweather Snr.: ‘I would whoop McGregor, and I’m 63’
Mayweather Snr. responds to the video of McGregor sparring in boxing gloves.
In would love to see [a match against my son], ‘cos I know Conor get knocked out…Who is he? His boxing skills is nothing. I’d beat his ass myself… I’m not impressed at all. If my son decided that he didn’t want to do it I’d take it over and I’d do it. And I’d beat his ass. He can’t whoop me with that there, and I’m a 63-year-old man…Conor’s a bum!
https://twitter.com/ufcrelated/status/829634971342163969
Sonnen warns McGregor of UFC’s power
In his most recent podcast, Sonnen talks about the ongoing rift between the UFC and McGregor, noting the UFC’s power to make stars.
When Randy Couture retired and Tito Ortiz got into his pissing match and stepped aside, they were left with absolutely no stars and they created one overnight called Andrei Arlovski…His skills were not great but he had the look and he had the marketing machine behind him and the next thing you knew, not only was he ranked #1, but he was also selling out arenas. The point I’m trying to make, and Conor may not know this story, they created something out of nothing overnight, it literally took them just over a week to do it…Tito was soon forgotten. Tito – who was the biggest star at the time – could not get an appearance at the local country fair and the same thing can happen with Conor. And you think that it can’t, but it can, and it can happen overnight. If he wants to puff and if he puffs a little too hard. If in the office he becomes too hard to deal with and they can’t get something done. It’s going to be game over, and it’s going to be game over in record time. And that’s what he doesn’t understand. He thinks he’s going to come on shows like this [podcasts] or go on Sports Centre and tell his side, he will not. When we all get the email that says ‘he’s out and this is who’s in’, that’s who we are then going to talk to…It’s like, ‘hey man, as good as you think you are, not only is there a guy who can beat you, we know who the guy is and we will put his name opposite your’s once you force us to and we will show you, time and time again, who is in control here and who really set this table.
Calls McGregor ‘fake as f-ck’
Ferguson continues his attacks on McGregor:
He wants to call himself the ghost but he’s gonna fade like a ghost cause he’s a buster. That dude’s fake as f-ck. He’s trying to quit, he’s trying to look for excuses on his way out. He don’t wanna be in a man’s division. Go play somewhere else, McNugget. We’re real fighters over here. You ain’t no ghost…I’m that dude that won’t back down. Mayweather’s gonna knock his ass out. Mayweather’s too much for him – and he knows that shit too.
Rogan: 70-80% chance of McGregor-Mayweather fight
Rogan says that there is a strong chance of a McGregor-Mayweather fight happening.
Well I would say, if you looked at it in terms of a zero percent chance to a hundred percent chance, I think we’re in the 70’s. I think we’re in the 70’s or 80’s. I think there’s a significant legal hurdle to overcome with the UFC and they might not overcome that depending how they play that card. Now, McGregor has publicly stated that he believes, because of the Ali Act, he can compete in boxing and not do it with the UFC but, he wants everything to be smooth so he would rather have the UFC involved. But, he also wants the UFC to recognise, what he says, is ‘their place’. So there’s Mayweather Promotions, McGregor Promotions and the UFC. So this is what he is stating now, he is going to be a partner in the promotion. And so, there’s going to be some sort of negotiation for how things are split up in three ways.
Silva: McGregor is the best technical striker in UFC
Speaking at the UFC 208 media day, Silva says McGregor’s striking is unmatched:
This is a personal challenge for my life, because Conor in my opinion has the best stand-up technique in the UFC. For me, I think it’s a good challenge for my technique and for my martial arts technique and stand up. I think this is the great fight in my mind, but I don’t know. One day, maybe…Conor is the best now. I think Conor broke the records, broke everything, and [the Floyd fight] is a new challenge for Conor. [But] it’s a different sport. This is no simple guy. Mayweather is no simple guy, is no MMA guy. This is different sport. I train box[ing] for long time in my life. And when I go to sparring with the professional guys it’s so different. the timing is different, the movement is different. the people need to respect both sports, but boxing is different.
Talks about 90-day rehab
Gomez speaks at a Netflix press event about her 90-day stint in rehab. She also draws parallels between the series she’s working on and her life.
I think that my high school experience may have been a little amplified, so I wouldn’t say it was worse, but it definitely made it harder. To be frank with you, I actually was going through a really difficult time when they started production…I went away for 90 days, and I actually met tons of kids in this place that we’re talking about the issues that these characters [in the series 13 Reasons Why] are experiencing. I would say yes, I have to deal with it on a different scale, whether it was just kids or growing up in the biggest high school of the world, which was Disney Channel. It was also adults that had the audacity to tell me how to live my life. It was very confusing for me, it was so confusing. I had no idea who I was going to be…It’s hard right now. I can’t stand social media, I can’t stand what they’re looking at. I can’t stand what they think is reality, and the show is real as it could possibly get…I want them to understand it. I would do anything to be able to have a good influence on this generation, but I definitely relate to everything that was going on [in the show]. I was there for the last episode, and I was a mess just seeing it all come to life because I’ve experienced that.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQRMKi4gkBn/
Grammys announce Prince, George Michael tribute
The Recording Academy announces that the 59th annual Grammy Awards will pay homage to Prince and George Michael, who both died in 2016.
While the primary focus of the Grammy Awards is to celebrate and honor the year’s best in music, we consider it our responsibility to tell music’s broader story by honoring its legends lost—that’s what we strive to achieve with our annual tributes. While it’s nearly impossible to convey the full depth of an artist’s cultural impact in a single performance, it’s that very challenge that has led us to some of our most memorable Grammy moments.
Cormier will only fight on a McGregor card
Cormier says that, if he beats Anthony Johnston in April’s UFC 210, and faces Jon Jones, who is currently on suspension, that despite traditionally headlining, he and Jones will only fight if a McGregor fight is the top of the card.
Jon and I will not fight in a co-main event to anyone other than Conor McGregor.
Ferguson calls McGregor ‘paper champ’
Ferguson responds to a tweet posted by McGregor regarding McGregor’s fight with Alvarez:
Paper Champ Who Thought U Could Walk Away From MMA #MoneyMadeYouSoftMcnuggets I Bet You Fade Like A Ghost. #Buster #ElCucuy pic.twitter.com/v0kG8ukS15
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) February 6, 2017
Black responds to McGregor’s Predator comments
Black, Predator’s director, says that, while he thinks McGregor is a “great guy”, he wasn’t actually offered the lead in the film.
CONOR McGREGOR: great guy, nice as can be — NOT, however, offered the male lead. Boyd Holbrook holds that distinction. Just sayin'.
— Shane Black (@BonafideBlack) January 30, 2017
Kavanagh: I always knew McGregor would become world champion
Kavanagh says he knew from the first fight that McGregor would become UFC world champion.
It was very obvious from early on that Conor had this unusual set of skills contained in the one person. It’s tempting to talk about Muhammad Ali when you talk about Conor just from the showman side of things. There is a certain set of skills, as Liam Neeson might say, that are required to become the no.1 in this world. And certainly being very good at the sport is a huge part of it. But to have the x-factor, to be able to have charisma, to be able to speak on the mic and be able to deal with the heavy media attention, that’s something that I don’t think you can be taught. That’s something that’s in somebody or it’s not. I’ve seen it before with guys who are incredible in the gym but the can’t do it on fight night or they can’t handle the pressures of dealing with a bunch of interviews and so on and so forth
Holm doesn’t think she ‘broke’ Rousey
Holm is asked about her win’s effect on Rousey:
I’m one of those that, I’m a firm believer in the fact that once a fighter, always a fighter. She might not ever want to fight again. She might not fight for two years, and then she might say, ‘You know what? I’m really egging for it. I want to get back in there, I really want to fight. I’ve had enough of this regular life business.’ You know? Here’s what I think about [her being broken] and a lot of people have asked me about that ever since she had that fight with Nunes. Coming off of a knockout, [whether it’s] Ronda or anybody else — I’m not saying it’s just her, it’s just fighters — you come off of a knockout it is very, very hard mentally and emotionally. You second-guess yourself. I remember when I got knocked out, every time I would spar for the first two weeks, every time I would get hit, I would be like, am I OK? Yeah, I think I’m OK. Am I OK? Yeah, I think I’m okay. You really second guess yourself a lot.
Hyland to Sherwood: You are my rock
Hyland sends a birthday message to Sherwood.
The best thing to hold onto in life is each other. Happy Birthday @domsherwood. Thank you for inspiring me on a daily basis to be a better person. To not take things too seriously. And to remember the little things. You’re my rock.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQK33UoD7G9/
Coach: Holm ‘broke’ Rousey
Winkeljohn, Holm’s coach, says Rousey was broken by Holm.
I can’t see [Rousey returning to fight] happening now. Yeah, it just absolutely can’t happen. I think Holly broke (Rousey). I think Ronda was on top of the world and Holly broke her because when she came out for Amanda she just wasn’t the same fighter by any means. Not taking anything away from Amanda, but Ronda, she didn’t have anything, she just wasn’t there. She was just basically waiting for the end in essence once she couldn’t find a way to grab her. And she did the same thing she’s done before in the past, reaching out with her left arm and trying to corral. It was just a one-sided fight just like I said. I think she’s done.
Silva: No disrespect, wants to fight McGregor for the challenge
Silva says that because he holds McGregor in high regard he wants to fight him.
First of all, I respect a lot Conor McGregor because this man changed everything in the UFC. Because I’m very respectful of Conor McGregor’s style. I think it’s a great challenge for my martial arts techniques. I don’t talk to disrespect Conor. I do it for challenge, for myself and the best stand-up fighting. I respect Conor and I think this is a great show, it’s a great fight for the rest of my life. For the rest of my story in the UFC…Yeah of course [I’m older]. I’m so happy because in my heart I have energy. I have a lot of energy. In my mind and in my heart and I talked to my family and my family gives me support to finish my contract in the UFC. I think I have the energy to fight for more years. I think maybe six or seven years but I have energy. This is more important. I have energy. I have passion and I love my job.
White: Nate Diaz has fight offer, Nick Diaz turned down a pair
White says a fight offer has been extended to Nate Diaz, but does not say who the opponent is. White also says he’s turned down multiple fight offers. He says the Diaz brothers currently are at the top of the list in terms of struggling to put fights together, so he can’t predict when either will next be seen inside the octagon.
We just offered Nate Diaz a fight, and we’re waiting to hear back from him, so we’ll see. These guys say they want a fight – I offered Nick Diaz two fights. He turned down two fights. I offered him Robbie Lawler. Robbie Lawler accepted the fight. Then I offered him Demian Maia. Nick Diaz turned down two fights. And then we just offered Nate a fight…The most difficult to get into the octagon? Right now, it’s the Diaz brothers – right here, right now. But throughout history? I don’t know.
Sitenkov: McGregor cried after I beat him
Sitenkov – the first man to defeat Conor McGregor – says the Irish fighter cried when he was beaten in 2008, and that he is the only reason why he still fights occasionally today.
I believe [John Kavanagh] saw me as an easy opponent. McGregor was looking to extend his winning record and I was seen as a perfect opponent. He was physically bigger so they would have believed that he would overpower me. I was the first to submit him. The three times he has lost have been on the ground, so I think it’s his weakest point. This phrase, everybody keeps telling this phrase — that he was crying. It begins to sound like I’m bragging about it, so I don’t want you to write it that way, that I’m bragging about it. He was a teenager, 19 years old, he had his first defeat — it’s a normal thing that he cried a little bit.
Eubank Jr interested in McGregor fight, crossover to MMA
Chris Eubank Snr. says Junior has been trained in jiu-jitsu from a young age, which would make the transition to UFC a lot easier.
There’s a guy called Conor McGregor talking about Mayweather. If anyone’s going to make the crossover into UFC, it’s this young man here because he can do it…So just imagine him crossing over and putting to sleep these UFC guys like Conor MCGregor, taking the talk like he can deal with my guy and Mayweather, who is the Grand Master when it comes to hitting and not being hit…If you’re talking about one-on-one boxing, there’s no contest [against McGregor]. You can’t compare a boxer and a UFC fighter. In the Octagon of course, then it’s a different story.
Eubank Jr.:
[Jumping to the UFC] is not in my immediate thought process. I’ve got many goals and achievements I’m working towards in boxing, but I did MMA, I did grappling, all types of jiu-jitsu for a while as a kid – so I have the base. I could easily transition if I wanted to.
Aldo: McGregor ‘doesn’t have a chance’ against Mayweather
Aldo says McGregor cannot beat Mayweather.
First of all, we don’t know if it will happen or not. there are a lot of things involved, mainly McGregor has a contract to follow so it’s hard to happen, but if it happens, I don’t think he has a chance. Mayweather has the experience of competing for years in the sport of boxing, so I don’t see how. Of course, it’s a fight, but it’s hard for us MMA fighters to go to a different world challenging one of the best in the history. I don’t see a result different than a win for Mayweather.