Aldo: McGregor ‘a normal, quiet guy’
Aldo says that, during the promo tour for UFC 189, he got to see a different side of McGregor, contradicting his many complaints about McGregor’s conduct in the past.
[The relationship] is friendly, quiet. For me, I see no problem with him doing his marketing, and seeing the financial side, it was very good. If I had more fights with him in the featherweight division, it would be very profitable, but I am not his friend, he can go one way and I go to the other. I’ve seen him stand facing the wall, staring at nothing and everyone trying to provoke him, and he has a glazed look. He’s a normal, quiet guy, but if you see a camera or an Irish person close, he turns. Outside you see him laughing, joking, talking usual — but then he turns in such a way that you think: ‘son of a bitch’…Sometimes you play jokes and he is laughing. There was one day we sat and he said to get coffee, and I said I wanted sugar, and he answered like: ‘good’. I met him recently at a hotel, he was eating breakfast and I said I wanted barbecue, he said it was his breakfast, of course. But most of the time we met, there was always someone [with a camera] shooting, so he had to keep it up. But with no camera, the face changes completely.
‘I used to struggle to sell McGregor tickets’
At the BAMMA 26 press conference in Dublin, Kavanagh says that he used to struggle to sell ticket for McGregor fights.
You know sometimes I laugh because I used to run small amateur shows, well they were pro fights back then but they really were amateur shows, and I remember I had a show with Gunnar Nelson, Conor McGregor, Aisling Daly and Paddy Holohan and it was a tenner for a ticket and I struggled selling them. I’d probably sell them out now pretty handy, but what I’d say to fans now is [BAMMA 26] is your chance to look at future stars [in Irish MMA]. For me BAMMA is more or less the top show in Europe, and you don’t have to be bowing down to the UFC, because as far as I’m concerned, these fighters have skill levels that are as good as anyone, regardless if they fight in the UFC or BAMMA.
Bets he will beat McGregor by 2020
Pimblett is given a £2000 charity bet from Paddy Power, with 5-to-1 odds that he will defeat McGregor before 2020. If Pimblett is successful, Paddy Power will pay his chosen charity, Fight For Autism, £10,000. Pimblett:
I’m not afraid of anyone. I’ll take them on, anywhere, anytime – McGregor included!
Paddy Power:
Paddy’s not a lad who’s short on confidence and we were more than happy to give him a bet on himself when his management team reached out to us. Given his talent he’ll be circling the waters with the big fish in no time, and should he beat McGregor it’ll sting as much as his right hook but a great cause will benefit.
Next fight to be decided ‘within days’
Coach Kavanagh says that McGregor will decide on his next fight when he returns to Ireland in the next few days. On the potential of a fight with Alvarez:
It’s a great fight…It’s a pretty straightforward fight for Conor to be honest. Will he get it? I can tell you that we’re in talks. It will be decided whether they are going to go with that fight within days…If the next fight is for the lightweight strap, they will take the featherweight belt off Conor. I think that’s a given. I guess, the little bit of consolation Conor will take from that is that it will be two guys he has beaten fighting for the vacant featherweight title…It will probably be (Max) Holloway and (Jose) Aldo. He beat one in 13 seconds and one on one leg. It’s hard to say that on paper he isn’t the champion when he’s beaten the two guys who are fighting for his belt. He’ll probably do the same to the lightweight division.
Shout out to Kavanagh and the fans
In advance of Kavanagh’s appearance on The Late Late Show, McGregor gives a shout out to his coach and the fans.
It’s great to see Coach Kavanagh getting the recognition he deserves. What an amazing coach he is. I wouldn’t be in the position I am in without [his] guidance throughout the years…I want to give a shout out out everyone back in Ireland…I want to thank you and let you know that it’s that motivation that continues to push me on, to work harder each day and stay focused, and make the right moves on this crazy journey I’m on.
A message from @TheNotoriousMMA for @John_Kavanagh & the Irish fans before John's appearance on tonight's #LateLate pic.twitter.com/2tOBSJkAzZ
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) September 9, 2016
‘McGregor punches like a girl’
When asked again about a potential McGregor-Mayweather matchup, Roach says that MMA and boxing do not mix, and criticizes McGregor’s boxing style.
He punches like a girl….that’s why he couldn’t hurt the other guy…well, he did knock him down three times. Diaz is usually a bit tougher than that…[I think the] Irish boy won that fight, but a lot of people tell me he lost.
McGregor ‘no match for Floyd’ in boxing
Pacquiao says that McGregor cannot beat Mayweather in boxing.
McGregor is no match for Floyd because Floyd knows boxing. But if Floyd fight is McGregor’s sport it will go to McGregor.
Hey @FloydMayweather, if it's boxing @mannypacquiao is taking you. But in the Octagon he has @TheNotoriousMMA! pic.twitter.com/8p1cJ284Ti
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) September 8, 2016
Photobombed by McGregor
McGregor photobombs Ishihara while he is giving an interview.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKG7EynjYsT/
UFC wants McGregor-Alvarez for 205
MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani says McGregor versus Alvarez, for the lightweight belt, is the “top choice” of UFC management.
Main event for UFC 205 still not set. One big domino needs to fall and then they can move along, but it hasn't just yet. Interesting times.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 9, 2016
I would classify that as the top "choice" but very far from a done deal. Lots of moving parts at the moment. https://t.co/UZxePQDjIM
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 9, 2016
McGregor, Bono meet
McGregor posts a picture of himself with Bono.
Me and Bono pic.twitter.com/tPWV7HEzij
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) September 11, 2016
CM Punk ‘isn’t a pussy’
McGregor says he respects CM Punk, despite his loss in UFC 203 to Mickey Gall.
Fair play to him, ‘cos he got in there and fought. And not a lot of people do. Not a lot of people have the balls to make that walk. He got his ass whooped. God bless. He got his ass whooped. Those WWE guy’s are pussies, I told yous all, but he isn’t. He got in and fought. So fair play to him. Respect.
McGregor, Skeeter armwrestle
Perry tweets a photo of McGregor armwrestling Skeeter.
https://twitter.com/katyspics/status/775024943780233216
McGregor, Drake meet
McGregor posts a photo with Drake.
This is what being the youngest and the greatest at the same time looks like! It was an honour to watch this man perform last night! @champagnepapi much love and respect my brother, you are an ANIMAL! Thank you for the hospitality! #TheRevengeTour
Still interested in fighting McGregor
Khan says he would still like to fight McGregor.
I don’t really know about moving to MMA. I mean, if the fight comes up I would consider it as Conor is an unbelievable fighter. I’d love to test him in the boxing ring first as MMA will take a long time to get used to. Just the thought of getting the boxing world and MMA world together makes we want to do it even more as it will be massive!
However, Khan is currently recovering from a hand injury and reportedly won’t fight again until next year.
White: No more McGregor welterweight fights
When asked whether a third fight between McGregor and Nate Diaz was likely to happen, White says:
I made that fight twice. That’s it. It’s time to move on because (McGregor) has the 145-pound title. At the end of the day, he’s a 145-pound fighter. He could go to (lightweight), but going back up to 170 makes absolutely no sense, and it clogs up the entire division, which isn’t fair to the rest of the crew.
Facing fines, suspensions for water bottle fight
McGregor and Diaz are accused by Nevada State Athletic Commission of behavior “detrimental to a contest or exhibition of unarmed combat” due to their water bottle fight at the UFC Press Conference at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. By comparison, Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones were fined 10 percent of their purses after they got into a brawl in August 2014 in the MGM Grand. Jones paid $50,000 as well as doing community service; Cormier paid $9,000 and had to do community service for his part in the fight. As McGregor and Diaz made far more from their fight the potential penalty is higher. An announcement on the hearing date has not been released.
Meets nephew for first time
McGregor posts a picture of his first meeting with his nephew, Harry.
Got to finally meet my little nephew Harry today! Long days on the road are tough but coming home to family after it makes it all worthwhile.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKSZEBnBjA4/
Trolls McGregor
Orton talks about CM Punk’s performance, while trolling McGregor, who he refers to as “Conor McDonald”.
I like making $. Over and over. Not once every 6 months….plus I'd prob fake punch the guy and get choked out. #lol https://t.co/xLXt01bzyf
— Randy Orton (@RandyOrton) September 13, 2016
Unless it was the Irish guy little person Connor Mcdonald
— Randy Orton (@RandyOrton) September 13, 2016
https://twitter.com/StillDave/status/775602441152712704
— Randy Orton (@RandyOrton) September 13, 2016
Prays every night for McGregor rematch
Aldo says he prays every night for a chance at a McGregor rematch, but will settle for a fight with Pettis.
Every night I ask god ‘Please give me another chance. Let me get into the octagon against him. I know it will be different this time’…[However] If [a fight with McGregor] doesn’t end up happening, I do rather a fight against [Anthony] Pettis. I think nowadays…I learned a few things with [the UFC]. There’s more than just the ranking, like there is a ranking order for title-shots. No. I have to tend to the business side too. I think a fight against Pettis will sell a lot more than one against Holloway.
The pair were supposed to meet for Aldo’s featherweight crown at UFC 163 in August of 2013, but Pettis withdrew with a knee injury.
McGregor has ‘the hardest hands I’ve ever felt’
Poirier says that being beat by McGregor in UFC 178 taught him a valuable lesson that has contributed to his run of success.
I’ve always been an emotional fighter and that emotion fueled a lot of my early performances. I would get angry because I’m about to step in there and go toe-to-toe with someone who is trying to hurt me just like I intend to hurt them, and that energy shifts gears into that kill or be killed mindset. I remember I was backstage getting ready to walk out and I saw him and he threw this smile and pointed at me. I don’t know why but it really got to me, man. It really messed with my head. I mean I’m about to go out and fight this dude and he’s back there smiling at me? After that fight I knew I had to find a different way to use my emotion.
He also talks about McGregor’s punching power:
He hit me with a good shot and then I tried to circle, I planted my feet and he hit me with another good shot and I went down. I have 33 fights and…unless it was just the spot, but the track record speaks for itself – he’s the champ right now. But I think his are the hardest hands I have ever felt.