Espinoza: McGregor can win with Superman punch
Espinoza, the executive vice president of Showtime Sports, talks about the possibility of seeing a Superman punch by McGregor, an MMA technique that is legal in boxing against Mayweather.
That’s well within the rules. A back fist probably wouldn’t be, but there is a lot of different things that can be thrown to throw off timing. I can guarantee Floyd has never seen someone coming and throwing a Superman punch.
White: McGregor wants to fight Nurmagomedov in Russia
White says McGregor has told him that following the Mayweather fight, he wants to face Khabib Nurmagomedov — in Russia, which would make it the first UFC fight held there.
You know what Conor told me? ‘I want Khabib in Russia.’ Isn’t he f-cking awesome?…Conor McGregor is a f-cking unicorn. There’s nothing like him. He’s working on boxing Floyd Mayweather and then he’s talking about fighting Khabib in Russia right after…Those are the kind of things that make that kid a f-cking superstar. I’ve got guys telling me, ‘I don’t want to shit – I don’t want to fight this guy, and I don’t want to do this.’ [McGregor says], ‘I want Floyd Mayweather then I want f-cking Khabib in Russia.’ How do you not love him? How do you not love Conor McGregor? Amazing.
Woodley: Mayweather said ‘Conor’s gonna be pissed when he finds out how much money I’m making’
Woodley talks about spending time with Mayweather at the Maxim 100 party, where Mayweather praised him as ‘the best fighter in the UFC’.
We were just talking about the fight with him and Conor. We did a video. And I said, ‘Conor’s gonna loooove me after this video!’…He sees what I’m doing. He said to me, ‘I’ve been watching your highlights, you got crazy hands, you knocking people out, I can show you one or two thing; how you can never get hit again in the Octagon’…Floyd is really down to earth. The thing I notice about him is that he is in a setting like that, he’s trying to make sure every person is ok…I haven’t really hung out about Conor McGregor…Tell me? My ‘UFC brother’ has he hung around with me…I’m not saying I’m going against boxing versus UFC. I respect Conor, he’s the boss. He made a crazy move. He’s gonna get paid. I respect him, but that don’t mean he’s gonna be coming to my kid’s birthday party.
When asked if Mayweather said who would win the fight:
He said. ‘Conor’s gonna be pissed when he finds out how much money I’m making.’
Conlan still hoping for place on McGregor-Mayweather undercard
While preparing for his third professional boxing bout this weekend in Australia on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao vs. Jeff Horn bout, Conlan says he is still hoping to get on the McGregor-Mayweather undercard.
[Floyd]’s never going to win a talking shit match with Conor McGregor. Conor McGregor is on a different level when it comes to that — and that affects people. It’s hard to see how it goes because Floyd is almost unbeatable, well he has been unbeatable. Conor is Conor, so he’s going to come out and give it his all. I’m excited, I wished him good luck. I asked him to try and get me on the show but I haven’t heard back, so I don’t think it’s going to happen.
Kavanagh to object if Bayless gets to referee McGregor-Mayweather
In a Q&A on boards.ie, Kavanagh fields several fan questions about the McGregor-Mayweather fight, and says he will object if Nevada State Athletic Commission appoint Bayless to referee the bout.
Yes, I’ll be objecting to that.
Bayless, who is one of the most high profile boxing referees in Nevada, has officiated several Mayweather bouts in the past and has said that he would not want to see such a fight:
I wouldn’t want to see it. It’s two different sports.
Kavanagh has previously proposed that Marc Goddard would be the ideal man for the job.
I think Marc Goddard should be the referee. We’re already agreeing to boxing rules, boxing fight, boxing ring — everything is done boxing. So, how about an MMA referee that will understand the inside fighting that will go into this fight?
Pacquiao: McGregor-Mayweather will be ‘boring’
Pacquiao, who is currently preparing for his WBO welterweight championship fight against Jeff Horn, says the McGregor-Mayweather fight will be ‘boring,’ and that he will be watching the ‘real’ boxing match between Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin.
McGregor has no chance in this fight. In fact, it could be very boring. There is no way he will be able to land a meaningful punch on Floyd. How could he? He has no professional experience in boxing. The real fight and the best fight is Golovkin versus Canelo. The best versus the best. That’s the fight I will be watching.
He also says he is interested in a rematch with Mayweather if he beats Horn.
If there’s a chance, why not? I’m willing. I know my body. I’m ready. I’m not underestimating [Horn]. I’m not taking him lightly. I’m working hard.
McGregor team ask Malignaggi to spar
Malignaggi says McGregor’s team have asked him to spar with Conor in his prep to fight Mayweather.
I did get called to go to camp with McGregor… so I started working out a little bit. I’m working on the details. If it’s something that’s gonna be feasible, it’ll be cool, ’cause I think I’ll have some inside stuff to talk about on fight night. It’s interesting that they called me… I’ve announced my retirement [and] I did call him out [when he got his boxing license]. I think that shows the competitive spirit and the willingness to learn. It shows you how hungry he is, he put that pride aside. It makes me respect him a little bit more.
UFC asks $10m for top fight sponsorship
WME-IMG, owners of the UFC, set a $10 million asking price for the title sponsor of the McGregor-Mayweather fight. The $10 million would nearly double boxing’s largest single-fight sponsorship, the $5.6 million that Tecate paid for Mayweather-Pacquiao in May 2015. The sponsoring company would get its logo at the center of the ring at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, its branding on ring girls, on two of the ropes and in the two nonfighter corners of the ring. The deal also includes sponsorship of the first minute of every round on the broadcast and $500,000 in tickets. For $5 million sponsors can buy one of the fighters’ corners that would include signage in that corner, sponsorship to the broadcast corner cam and $250,000 in tickets.
Kavanagh: ‘Crazy’ not to have Taylor, Conlan on undercard
Kavanagh says he would like to see both Taylor and Conlan on the undercard of McGregor-Mayweather.
I’ve seen a lot of speculation and I think it would be crazy of the promoters not to put on the likes of Katie Taylor and Michael Conlan…That just seems like a no brainer to me. Why wouldn’t you have a big America vs Ireland? It would generate such interest.
Cormier: McGregor ‘the greatest promoter of all time’
Cormier talks about McGregor’s gift for promotion.
That’s why I say he’s the greatest promoter of all-time…This guy, he managed to get Floyd Mayweather to fight him. There are boxers in the world right now that are much more deserving of that mega-fight, in terms of credentials, but they could never get Floyd’s attention to make Floyd listen. Conor did that…Floyd’s always been the guy to have to carry the promotion every time he fought. And this time, I know he won’t because he knows that if he does his part, (and) Conor does his part, but if he wanted to, he could take a backseat. He doesn’t have to do it. He could sit back and let Conor do it, and they would still do massive numbers.
Guerrero: It doesn’t matter if McGregor’s a southpaw, Mayweather’s too quick
Guerrero, a southpaw who was beaten by Mayweather in May 2013, says Mayweather’s speed and quickness is not apparent on video.
Being a fight fan myself and watching MMA fights, I don’t think there is anybody nearly as fast as Floyd Mayweather in that sport. That’s a problem with everybody who gets in with Floyd Mayweather, dealing with his speed. From the outside looking in, it doesn’t look as fast as it is when he’s right in front of you. And Floyd’s reaction time, wow, it’s just beyond anything you might imagine. Look at myself being a lefty, Manny Pacquiao being probably the fastest lefty out there, we had great trouble dealing with Floyd’s speed. Most of his shots are reaction. He sees what you’re doing and he knows what you’re trying to do and when you take that step, his reactions are so quick that – Bam! – he catches you. That is so hard to deal with.
Guerrero also says Mayweather is able to tire opponents out because he makes them swing and miss more than most boxers.
Definitely, it’s less energy to land a punch than to miss a shot. When you slip a shot, that’s so important, because A) you’re not being hit, but B) it’s more tiring than it is to land something. I tell the young kids I work with, shadow boxing eight, nine or 10 rounds is tougher than hitting the bag. … Missing just takes so much out of you, and then a guy like Floyd, not only does he make you miss a lot of shots, but he’s countering you every time you miss a shot, picking and poking at you. It drains you and it starts to frustrate you.
Lee: McGregor is on the decline
While describing how he could take down the best MMA fighters, Lee says that McGregor’s powers are sliding.
I think honestly he’ll be on the decline when he comes back[after the Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight]. He’s been on the decline for a minute. I think he’ll be on the decline, even more, when he comes back. His skill set is starting to stagnate. You just put the pressure on him. Keep the pressure on him. He’s too small to hang with us 55’ers. Guys like me and Chiesa, a lot of these guys I fought, you know? Francisco Trinaldo is bigger than me, you know what I mean? Right now I’m sitting here at 185, 189 pounds. I think you put the pressure on him and take him down, and he’s out of his world. He’s gonna sit there and lose guard. Come on.
Hopkins: Let fans watch McGregor-Mayweather for free
During promotion for September’s middleweight fight between Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin, Hopkins proposes that fans get into the McGregor-Mayweather fight for free.
If you want to talk about a spectacle, a show, by all means spend $4,000-$5,000 on a ticket. Maybe they will give it to you for free and make a real statement of jealousy….Hold up, I’ve got a proposal. If this is so great and so good, and we know McGregor – I’m not his accountant but I’m pretty sure he don’t have to go out and put a sign in his hand and ask somebody to give him some money for food. And Mayweather, whose name is Money. How can your name be Money when you don’t have any? Give it to the fans free! You’re lights ain’t going to go off tomorrow. God knows they’re not going to take your car away – you’ve got 20 of them, right? So if you really want to box for the love of boxing, then I’ll tell you what to do. You want to make a big statement Dana White? Give it to them free.
However, when discussing Alvarez-Golovkin:
A fight and a boxing match of this magnitude in September, we know you have to pay for. You pay for what you get. Watch a real fight!
Bradley joins McGregor training camp
Bradley, a six times Irish champion with a record of 98-2, joins McGregor’s camp. Insiders say he has been chosen because his style is similar to Floyd Mayweather’s.
So it’s official!! I’m Team McGregor, contracts signed for the next two weeks I will be one of his three sparring partners down here in Dublin! Great opportunity to be apart of one of the biggest fight in combat sports history which should surpass all records! I will give my all to make sure McGregor is at his best so we can really make history! ☘️??
https://www.instagram.com/p/BV5FUWNlpr-/
Kavanagh confident McGregor will return to MMA
Coach Kavanagh says he is confident that McGregor will return to MMA after his fight with Floyd Mayweather.
I would say the same thing about him taking this fight. It’s not money that’s motivating him any more. He could very easily make similar money from doing some movies or some endorsements. It’s the challenge. That’s why he’s in the gym laughing every day. If he left the gym now and stopped fighting, what would he do with his free time? You can only sit in one car at a time, you can only have one meal at a time. Eventually you want to do something that’s enjoyable to you, and that would be Conor drifting back into the gym…The motivation for this fight was not money — although it’s quite nice to be well paid for what you do — it was the challenge. And to be told again that it is impossible to do what he’s clearly about to do.. Money will not be the reason he will not do MMA again. He’s said very clearly to me ‘Get ready, we’ll be back in the cage in December’.
Coach John Kavanagh is confident Conor McGregor will return to MMA after boxing match with Mayweather. #TheMMAHour https://t.co/hswRoy4crf pic.twitter.com/n8ipyjoK1s
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) June 26, 2017
Kavanagh: McGregor three weeks away from being able to beat Mayweather
On The MMA Hour, Coach Kavanagh says McGregor’s training is proceeding well.
We have two more weeks in Ireland, then the guys will head to Las Vegas. We’ll then have six week in Vegas before the fight, but I watched the session today and said we would be ready in three weeks…We’ve always done best when everybody is just mocking the idea of an unknown Dublin guy saying he’s going to take on the whole UFC roster and win the belt. Those challenges seem to bind us even closer than we already are. I’m really seeing that spirit lit up in the team. It’s always there, but for whatever reason, because we’re being laughed at, because we’re being mocked, it’s making us even stronger.
McGregor mural reaction video
The Mac Life releases a video of McGregor’s reaction to the mural of him punching Mayweather in the face. Kavanagh, who commissioned the mural, leads him into the SBG gym to see it.
That is unbelievable. F-ck Floyd Mayweather! Imma see you soon!
McGregor-Mayweather promo tour dates announced
Schwab announces the tour dates and cities for McGregor-Mayweather Heavy Lies The Crown promotional tour. The fighters will appear in Phoenix 7/20, Salt Lake city 7/21, Toronto, Canada 7/27, Milwaukee 7/28, Chicago 7/29, and Detroit 7/30.
Summer tour #MayweatherMcGregor LIVE!
-Phoenix 7/20
-Salt Lake city 7/21
-Toronto, Canada 7/27
-Milwaukee 7/28
-Chicago 7/29
-Detroit 7/30 pic.twitter.com/kWYjHQG4rJ— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) June 26, 2017
Fury: McGregor to KO Mayweather in Round 1
Fury says that McGregor will land an early KO on Mayweather similar to McGregor’s 13-second takedown of Jose Aldo.
I think Conor McGregor will knock him out in the first 35 seconds, like he done to Jose Aldo…I think McGregor will do him in one round. Come on McGregor! It would be good for boxing if McGregor chinned him. It’s be great for the real people of the world.
McGregor’s Angriest Moments
YouTube user Super Fights releases a compilation of McGregor’s confrontations with other fighters, such as the infamous bottle throwing incident involving Nate Diaz, or his tense stand-off with welterweight champion Tyron Woodley.
