‘I run this game’
McGregor says he is the only UFC fighter who doesn’t do what he’s told.
Listen, everyone in this game does what the f-ck they’re told. Everyone but me, because I run this game. So I don’t give a f-ck about all of that. They told you you’re on the prelims, you’re on the f-cking prelims. They told you to fight, now you’re on the f-cking Fight Night. Nobody has no say in this but me. I’m the only one who can say anything about anything. Everyone else does what they’re told, and rightfully f-cking so. I run this whole shit. I run New York. I’m the reason we’re even here in the first place. I’m the reason this whole thing is happening. If I wasn’t here, this whole ship goes down. And that’s the truth. That’s facts. There’s no one else out there. There’s no one but me.
He also says he won’t retire.
I love it. I don’t stop. It’s all I do. I don’t do nothing else. I continue to show up, I continue to fight, I continue to put these amazing events for the amazing fans of this sport. Of course I love what I do, and not only am I not getting tired of it, I’m actually getting better at it.
Compares Trump to McGregor
Cerrone talks about meeting Trump at one of his rallies.
I was out hunting and Tim Kennedy called and said the Secret Service called and said ‘Trump wants to meet us, I need to clear you on a background check’, and I said ‘oh f-ck’..So we went down to the rally and got to bullshit with him…[Backstage] was crazy wild. It was cool just talking to Trump. He was talking about the UFC…It was cool to listen to his points. He’s not just like a racist bigot, y’know…I understand that’s what your aunt’s telling you when she’s drinking wine on a Saturday night, but that’s no really what’s happening. We have two options. Do we go with the indicted girl who’s full of shit, or do we go for the wild Conor McGregor Trump? For all those people out there listening – go vote!..I wish they could teach politics in school more, and gets kids more involved ‘cos it’s our generation that needs to take on things and get involved. I voted for Trump and I voted for pot. I really wanted to check out his toupee. But y’know [Trump] is trying to bring money to the middle class, which most of the guys that fight for the UFC and support the UFC. Trying to bring the tax bracket down to 15% for these guys.
Lays out McGregor’s Post-UFC 205 options
In an interview with McMahon, Kavanagh outlines the different options open to McGregor after UFC 205.
To be honest, things change so rapidly, we are not too sure what the next step is going to be. Right now we are just going to focus on this contest. Let’s get this positive result. [However,] there are so many options for Conor right now. The [Floyd] Mayweather fight is still kind of hanging in there. [Conor] is the [145-pound] champion. In a couple of weeks he will be the [155-pound] champion. The Nate [Diaz] trilogy is there. Maybe going back to [145lbs]. So, a lot of things are up in the air. I’m sure Conor will have an interesting announcement to make after the fight. So, stay tuned.
On the possibility of Mayweather-McGregor fight:
There is only one way that Floyd would step in and that would be pure boxing. Absolutely, that’s the only way.
https://www.facebook.com/PunditArena/videos/10155048283259796/
This is the ‘Goldilocks McGregor’ fight
Coach Kavanagh talks about McGregor’s preparation in the lead up to UFC 205. On Alvarez’s chances:
A few knocks and bruises can absolutely be expected at the end of a tough training camp. But no injuries..Any takedown Eddie gets he’s going to have to fight tooth and nail for. And even if he does get a takedown, it’s gonna be an exhausting process. And if even if you do get [Conor] down, he’s very, very difficult to hold down. And if you are holding him down you’re gonna be eating big elbows, submission attempts. He’s gonna be talking, reminding him how tiring it’s getting. He’s a tough guy for anyone.
On the weight class:
It’s like the Goldilocks porridge — a little bit too hot, a little bit too cold, and just right…Conor can pretty much diet to 55. But getting 55 to 45, you look at his body and think, ‘Where can I get 10 pounds off?’…He’s gonna be shredded I’m sure but not gaunt. It really is the Goldilocks McGregor fight.
https://www.facebook.com/The42.ie/videos/1258724250856728/
‘Fighting McGregor is not my goal’
Dos Anjos says he is concentrating on his upcoming bout with Tony Ferguson, and will fight whoever is up next.
I think a win on Saturday will deserve a title shot. That’s my plan. One step at time and my focus is on Saturday, but I think a victory over Tony will give me a title shot. I’ll then watch who wins the title fight, and hopefully then I will get the winner…Fighting Conor is not my goal. My goal is to get my belt back. If Conor has the belt and he decides to fight and defend the belt later, I want to be the guy. Conor or Alvarez–whoever wins. Fighting Conor is not my goal. Everything I do in my life, I want to be the best…I really think Conor has a big chance to win the title,” said ‘RDA’. “I think he has a big chance to beat Eddie Alvarez. I think he will get that…If Conor wins and decides to hide himself behind the belt and sit on it and lock up the whole division, then I will be agitated.
Denies taking-a-break rumours
In an Instagram post McGregor denies he will be taking a break.
I break jaws and I break records and I don’t take breaks
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMan5HLBC_Q/
Roddy, Kavanagh interview
The Mac Life releases a video interview with Roddy and Kavanagh. Roddy:
At 70 kilos (155 pounds) [McGregor] is at the best weight that suits his body”, Roddy explains. “For me just working on the pads with him, he just seems a lot sharper, a lot faster. I don’t feel like he’s lost any power and he’s gained a bit of speed. This is the weight he should fight at and should have always fought at. I think we’re going to see the best Conor.
Kavanagh:
Routine, routine, routine. This was always my way. Conor is more flowy and artistic and does things as he feels is the right time to do them but he has seen the benefit of it as well. For the last few months now, I could tell you six weeks in advance what today’s session was going to be. It’s paid dividends. It did in the last fight and we’ve continued it on to this one.
UFC 205 Media Conference Call
Alvarez and McGregor a appear live on a conference call to talk about UFC 205. Alvarez:
I hate when people say you’re defending your title. I don’t defend shit. My job is to finish the opponent. I’m not defending anything…I’ve fought better opponents, but this card is going to break every single record in UFC history…The guys he’s faced aren’t close to the caliber that I am. He will realize he’s been fighting good style match-ups and he’s f-cked.
McGregor:
I’m going to toy with this man. I’m going to really, truly rearrange his facial structure. His wife and kids won’t recognize him again…I know he’s durable, but I don’t believe he’s been hit like anybody by me. I still can’t see him lasting longer than a round.
‘I’m going to shut McGregor’s mouth’
Alvarez says it will be an honour to defeat McGregor.
As far as shutting his (McGregor) mouth and giving him some humility, it will be an honour. I think he did a good job getting this fight, selling the fight and promoting it. This will break every record in UFC history bar attendance…A lot of people will show up to cheer for him but a lot of people are also going to show up and enjoy watching him be defeated…I wouldn’t [rate McGregor] very highly in the grand scheme of things. Throughout my long career I’ve fought the best in the world and I don’t think he (McGregor) has. I feel like he still has proving to do if he wants to call himself one of the best. He is going to have to get through a guy like me to even be able to scratch at that. I think the fight will end inside of two rounds. Around the nine minute mark I should be able to overcome him. We will put him in some bad situations early and start getting him to doubt himself and when that happens it’s the beginning of the end.
‘I’m ready to make history’
In an interview with The Mac Life, McGregor says he is ready to ‘make history’:
The last camp was very, very different. This camp has been different as well. It’s, what, only 10 days to the fight? It’s very unusual for me to be home this close to a fight, so I’m actually enjoying it. Training’s been great. I’m very prepared, very calm. Ready to go and make history…We all went through a learning process after the first Diaz fight. In the second one we came together like a unit…Everything is a lot more scientific [now]… I’d be told what heart rate I’d have to be at for different sessions. There was many times I wanted to go more. I was like, ‘I don’t feel like I’m doing much’ but no, we had to build it up and up and up.
On Alvarez:
[The second Diaz fight] was phase one of cardio training, this is phase two. That, coupled with the weight coming down, my body mass… I’m much leaner. I’m very confident that I will put this man away. Eddie seems to think he has a cardio advantage. Let’s go into the later rounds, I’m going to sprint in round 5. I’m very, very happy.
White: Rousey ‘winding down’
White says Rousey has informed him of her retirement intentions as she plans to commit full time to acting.
I don’t wanna take the wind out of her sails. Let her say her own stuff but obviously I know what’s going on with her. But ya, it’s winding down for Ronda. Listen, Ronda Rousey’s made a lot of money. She accomplished what she set out to do… And she loves acting, she’s good at it and, if she dedicates herself she’ll be even better at it.
McGregor will give ‘positive news’ after UFC 205
Coach Kavanagh says McGregor will give ‘positive news’ after UFC 205.
I’ve heard him say a few different things and they’re all positive. Whatever way he goes with this, it’s only positive. Conor has such a hyperactive mind and a hyperactive body, you’d never know what’s going to happen with him. But for sure it’s a positive announcement. I know people are going to enjoy what he has to say.
‘McGregor is one of the best guys I’ve worked with’
Lockhart, McGregor’s nutritionist, says that McGregor always follwo his nurtitional advice.
I learned a lot from working with Conor the first time. I gave him a list of foods to eat, and his coach was like, “It would be great if he could eat all of this, but we don’t see how that’s possible!” It was so late in the game, I told them to do what they wanted to do and I would work around that. A few hours later coach Kavanagh calls me back and says, ‘No, we made the decision, we’re going to follow you 100%.’ They did that, everything went great and we’ve had a great relationship ever since. Conor is seriously one of the best guys I’ve ever worked with. I love the guy to death, he’s just an amazing guy all-around. What’s crazy is a lot of times I will go out to a fighter’s camp and they’ll tell me they’re following the program, then I look in the refrigerator and the cabinets, and there’s literally nothing on the program in there. When I went out to Conor’s everything was there. I’ll ask Conor if he done something I asked, and he’ll look at me like ‘Yeah, you said to do it!’ It’s hard to get used to [someone being so disciplined]. One thing I love about him is every time it’s time for him to eat, he asks exactly what he should eat. Conor is very particular about his coaches, and this is why he does so well. He lets me do my job, which makes my job crazy easy. I love working with him.
Woodley: McGregor shouldn’t try for welterweight
Woodley says McGregor is too smart to take a fight with him at Welterweight, assuming they are both victorious at UFC 205.
Well first off I think Conor is a smart individual and he knows that fighting me is not going to be good for his health. I just do not really see him wanting that fight…Even if he loses to Eddie it is not all bad. With his two bouts with Diaz, he will have now fought three times in a row outside the division and he still holds the belt. So he is a smart business guy and so I do not think he is going to want to come up and fight a guy who is going to outsize him. Being 170 and fighting 170 is two different things. I walk around at 200. Giving up that 30-pounds…Plus he is not going to have a boxing advantage. He is definitely not going to have a wrestling advantage. He is definitely not going to have a strength advantage. And it would be a lopsided display of power. I just really do not think there is any advantage to him having that fight with me. I will not be discouraged by his antics or him talking crap..But if we both get through our fights with victories and he wants to fight me then by all means. Sign me up now. I would actually feel bad about beating Conor McGregor. Like man, I just beat a guy who is 145. Granted, I would make a truck load of money. But it is not a situation that I would walk around with my chest pumped out afterward.
White: McGregor tough to deal, but ‘he’s worth it’
White says that, despite McGregor being sometimes difficult to work with, he respects the fighter.
He’s a little tough to deal with, but he’s worth it. The thing is all the other antics and everything aside, Conor McGregor will step up and fight anybody, anywhere, any time. I’ve never been in a situation where somebody pulls out the week before a fight and he literally does not care who he fights. Never been in that situation.
Tyson gives McGregor financial advice
Kavanaugh says that Tyson recently passed some financial advice to McGregor:
If it depreciates, lease it. If it appreciates, buy it…Not that [Conor] listened – he bought 25 cars the next day!
Sonnen: McGregor has ‘historic opportunity’ to take two belts
In response to UFC fighters who have been saying McGregor has been receiving favorable treatment, Sonnen says the UFC has a historic opportunity:
We’ve got fighters in weight classes that have no standing in this matter … and they’re saying, ‘You should strip him. Got to strip him, got to move that division on.’ I can’t believe that people don’t understand this that are in the industry. There is a historic opportunity if Conor should beat Eddie Alvarez. The opportunity there is that he will be the first guy in history to hold two world championships simultaneously in the UFC. It has never happened before. So if you’re the UFC and you, through the power of the pen, take one of those belts away, you also lose the opportunity that so much media is running with to have the historic evening. If you wait to strip him or make a decision in that weight class after the fight, you preserve that opportunity. The UFC can’t come out and say that. They can’t come out and say, ‘Well, there’s actually a marketing opportunity for us.’ Then they lose it.
Says European absence no big advantage
Klopp plays down the advantages of Liverpool’s absence from Europe this season. The side is currently level on points with Manchester City and Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table and, along with fourth-placed Chelsea, will not have to play any Champions League or Europa League football this season.
I’m not sure but 80 percent to 90 percent [of the time] in Europe, the team that is champion is playing in the Champions League. Why is that? Ah, because they have quality! Right, because they play good football, they can rotate and rest whenever. It’s not too cool when you’re not successful but when you are successful, you take it to the next game, you have a possibility to rotate and all that stuff because you have a big squad — we cannot rotate that much. It’s different things. Sometimes it is an advantage [not having Europe] but why so often does a team win the league with all these intense games in midweek? Maybe you’ll find an answer for this.
Talks about sparring knockout rumour
Kavanagh talks about the rumour that McGregor was knocked out during sparring.
It just picked up steam very, very quickly and within minutes I’m getting my mother ringing me, saying: What the hell is after happening to Conor?
https://www.facebook.com/The42.ie/videos/1249840861745067/
Praises McGregor
Johnson says McGregor’s success has opened the door for a lot of his fellow fighters to step through.
Conor earns every penny that he gets; every cent, every dollar. I take nothing away from him – get it while you can. Our careers in this sport are pretty short. They can end in a split second. Some people deserve it because they sell the fight and do all the talking, and some people don’t. I think Conor has helped out everybody to get better paid. Hopefully everybody goes up, up on the ladder when it comes to pay. If they can shell out that much money [to him], then everybody deserves a raise.
