Smith: Mayweather ‘close’ to McGregor fight
ESPN’s Smith says that Mayweather told him that “we’re getting very, very close” to a fight with McGregor. Smith said Mayweather believes the fight will happen, but Mayweather said nothing is guaranteed until a deal is done. Smith:
[I see this fight happening]. Floyd was at the OKC Warriors game Saturday night. We spoke for a few minutes. It’s not finalized. There are details to be worked out. He did not confirm that a deal had been done. But as you know I know Floyd for years and he had a smile on his face, and he says ‘We’re getting there. We’re getting very, very close’. He believes he has the potential to make even more money than he made fighting Pacquiao…He believes that McGregor can market himself.
McGregor’s UFC 205 headline brought $57 million to New York
A UFC-commissioned study says UFC 205 brought in $57 million of benefits to New York city. In addition to ticket receipts totaling $17.7 million and big spending from domestic and international visitors, the McGregor-headlined card contributed a total of $37.4 million in economic output for NY, surpassing the promotion’s initial $32 million projection. Salaries and wages tied to the event added $18.3 million more, and the UFC also paid out $1.6 million in state taxes. 300 jobs were created. Governor Cuomo:
Mixed martial arts competitions have already proven to be major economic drivers across New York, and the jobs and revenue generated by this event illustrates the enormous impact of this growing industry in our state.
Report: McGregor reaches deal with Mayweather
The Sun reports that McGregor and Mayweather have reached a “multimillion dollar” deal. The paper reports that McGregor will finalise the agreement when he visits Las Vegas to film an anti-bullying video which is part of his settlement for the water-bottle throwing incident. SBG gym:
Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather have agreed a deal to fight and have both settled on their respective fees. The contract hasn’t officially been signed yet because of a third party hold-up but all the details have all been agreed on. The fight could even be announced within two weeks.
Jedward: ‘We’re like Conor McGregor’
The Irish twins say that following their time in the Celebrity Big Brother House they can really feel the love from Ireland – despite the Irish public not being allowed to vote for them during the show.
We’re like Conor McGregor, we are representing the country and everyone is like come on Jedward. We want to inspire other people. To see what we’ve been through and the whole rollercoaster of what it is and that we are still going and we are still striving for more.
Cancels Red Cow appearance for Las Vegas trip
McGregor cancels his planned appearance at The Red Cow Moran Hotel on Feb 17. The hotel says McGregor will be in Las Vegas instead. All ticket holders will be refunded.
The Red Cow Moran Hotel in association with Industry Entertainment regret to announce that the evening event with Conor McGregor scheduled for Friday 17th February has been cancelled due to circumstances beyond their control. An unavoidable schedule change will see Conor McGregor in Las Vegas at the time of the event. [We] would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused and hope that a new date for this special evening will be set in the not too distant future.
Calls out McGregor and Mayweather
Ibrahimovic, currently playing for Manchester United, says he’s had enough of McGregor and Mayweather.
I’m sick of the drama between Mayweather and McGregor. It would be better for both of them to stop their antics and fight against me. Let’s see how it goes, but the two will go straight to the hospital!
Fox Sports mocks McGregor boxing technique
Fox Sports releases a video mocking McGregor’s boxing technique, in the form of an infomercial-style video for a fake ConorWorld boxing skills video.
Discover the inoffensive boxing training skills that made Conor McGregor achieve sparring greatness.
https://www.facebook.com/FOXSportsLive/videos/1593527967344030/
Masvidal: I’d take McGregor’s head and leave his arms for Mayweather
Fresh off beating Cowboy Cerrone, Masvidal tells a fan that he is ready to take on McGregor.
I'd take his head and leave his arms to "box" @FloydMayweather https://t.co/BrMlr1vM5N
— BMF.eth (@GamebredFighter) February 10, 2017
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.
https://www.facebook.com/mmafighting/videos/10155104626109479/
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.
Boxing at SBG
McGregor posts a video of him boxing at SBG in Dublin.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQQoFTgBbKg/
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.
UFC owners invite McGregor, entire roster, to Las Vegas retreat
Emanuel and Whitesell, owners of the UFC, have invited McGregor and the entire roster of over 500 to attend a two day UFC Athlete Retreat in Las Vegas in May. Various actors/actresses, athletes, musicians and others represented by WME/IMG will be appear and interact with the fighters. Fighters will also be able to discuss concerns with the owners. The retreat will end with a concert performed by an as yet unnamed WME/IMG represented artist.
Faber: McGregor was right about Dillashaw
Speaking on The Alpha Male Podcast, Faber and other guests receive a phone call from someone pretending to be Dillashaw, which appears to irritate Faber, who talks about McGregor’s near fight with Garbrant, who had defended Dillashaw at the time.
Conor and I, we’d have a good banter back and forth. But we would have conversations, actual conversations all the time. So we’re standing in the gateway to go out to the fights, and that’s where they’d always put us together. He’s like ‘congratulations, we all watched T.J’s fight at the house, he’s so entertaining’. And then Dwayne does this interview saying no one on Team Alpha Male wants to be a champion, the only one who wants to be a champion is T.J. Dillashaw. So Conor — who understands about loyalty and things like that — goes ‘what’s up with Dwayne?’ … he got that little inkling that it was a sore subject and he just [rip at it]. So when T.J. got there, [McGregor] was all prepared just to needle him. Conor saw that little inkling and just ripped at it, and happened to be right.
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.
Red Cow Moran Hotel event announced
McGregor will appear at the Red Cow Moran Hotel on Naas Rd, Dublin on Friday 17th February, where he will taking some questions from the crowd and chat to fans. Tickets are €104.00 (available here).
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