‘Who the f-ck is this guy?’
When McGregor is asked who would be the toughest challenge for him after the Alvarez fight, Stephens says:
This guy right here (points to self): the hardest hitter. This guy (pointing to McGregor) TKOs people, when I knock people out they don’t f-cking move.
To which McGregor responds:
Who the f-ck is this guy? Who the f-ck is that?
UFC 205 press conference
White introduces McGregor and Alvarez at the UFC 205 press conference. McGregor, on his value to the company:
4.2 billion dollars that’s what I’m worth to this company!
On his earnings:
[For UFC 202] $25 million baby! I feel by the time 2016 closes out I’ll be closing out on $40 million. This has been a good year for me.
On the move to Lightweight:
I’m very happy with the 155 pound weight limit. Of all the divisions I’ve ran through and around I feel 155 will be the one where I take over the most. So I look forward to that…I’m gonna put one belt on one shoulder, and the other belt on the other shoulder. You’re gonna need a f-ckin’ army to take those belts off of me…
Is Mystic Mac back?
I have nothing against Edward…I run New York. I run this whole shit, and Mystic Mac predicts I’m going to KO you in one round!..The Irish built this town. We built this damn city. Now we’re taking it back. I’m going to take out one of your own. But make no mistake, it’s all love.
He’s chinny. He has a chin. He gets cracked. He gets dropped. He’s a weathered fighter. He’s on his way out. He’s very lucky to be in the position he is in…One round it will take me to knock him out. This guy’s a balloon. He’s gonna be shooting panic. And that’s all she wrote!
Update on leg:
That fight was five weeks ago. I cam e out of that fight fresher than I wnt in. Look at Nate’s face. Nate will never look the same. I looked the same. I had a bruised foot…I was chillin here waiting for the call, and then the call came last minute, and I jumped on a plane. I’m brand new…I said it out straight ‘Beg me’, and they begged me.
On Alvarez:
He didn’t even negotiate new money for himself. Imagine that. Look at everyone up here. This is a lottery fight. They all dressed like me, they all talk like me. They all trying to to be me. Everyone in the game wants this fight. And this man took it on his last contract. Imagine getting the biggest fight in the history of the game, and saying shut your mouth kid you;re getting paid what you got paid what you got paid for your last fight…He’s just another broke bum, trying to sell some shit. Just another broke bum who can’t pay his bills…You’re blessed that I chose you. You’re blessed that I choose to whoop your ass.
Alvarez:
You ain’t got a shot. You’re here because you’re the easiest dude in this division.
White: Diaz fought McGregor at 190 pounds
White says that Diaz was far heavier than measured at the weigh-in. Diaz weighed in at 170.5lbs on the day preceding UFC 202 and McGregor was 168 pounds.
The night of the fight Diaz comes in at 190 pounds. Now, Conor McGregor is [145-pound to 155-pound] guy and if you look at the wars he’s had with Diaz – you can only have so many of those wars in your career man. And it just doesn’t make sense. That’s why we have weight classes. It ended up being an amazing fight but you don’t want to keep doing that.
Anger at McGregor-Alvarez fight announcement
Nurmagomedov says that, despite being sent two separate contracts for a title shot against Alvarez at UFC 205 and UFC 206, he has been used as a negotiating tool in order to get the real UFC 205 main event over the line.
When I signed agreement with @UFC it was sport. Now it became a freak show, or I don’t know how to call it right. Only thing that keeping me in this cracking sport, is that I don’t want to stop on the halfway, I wasn’t raised like this, not a quiter. I’ll keep moving forward InshaAllah.
I have two bout agreements that bullshit champ refuses to sign. I got used the whole time to make Conor and Eddie get on their knees and beg
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) September 27, 2016
Just for the record @Ealvarezfight and @TheNotoriousMMA fear me I'm just a man. Your time will come to get my hands on you
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) September 27, 2016
McGregor-Alvarez confirmed for UFC 205
UFC confirms that McGregor will meet Alvarez on November 12th in Madison Square Garden for a fight for the lightweight title.
Ortiz: McGregor should be ‘jumping through hoops’ for UFC
Ortiz says that McGregor should be showing more appreciation for UFC.
Here’s the difference between me and McGregor. I did every press junket, every press thing, I travelled the country for the UFC, I never said no. My biggest thing was the payment amount of money that I was getting paid per fight. When you’re making 200 grand per fight, that’s pennies. When Conor is making five million a fight to ten million a fight, he should be jumping through hoops for these guys…The money he’s making is just phenomenal, and I’m proud of the kid. I applaud him for doing that, but he’s got to put in the work. This truly is not just about the fight in general, it’s about building the fights, it’s about going out and doing the promotion for the company and not saying no to things. So that’s something that I always did…He’s one of the highest paid MMA fighters in the world today and that’s because he talks great, but he has to do the work behind those skills. I mean, that’s what really matters. You don’t want to be a flash in the pan.
Facing debt challenge
Due to the downturn in oil prices the Company is reportedly having issues paying down its debt. Without loan guarantees from the tribal council, NNOGC has been left to try to refinance existing loans, consider selling some the company’s assets or explore filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Spokesperson:
We are considering all avenues to pay down our bank debt while maintaining the company’s assets. NNOGC remains the Navajo Nation’s most valuable asset and also a very important strategic asset. The valuation of oil and gas properties and pipelines goes up and down with oil prices. We estimate our assets to be worth $100 million to $200 million in the current market and for those values to again rise as oil prices increase…We have plans to drill in the near future but remain focused on repaying outstanding debt at the moment.
White wants McGregor-Aldo, Nurmagomedov-Alvarez
White says he plans to have Alvarez defend his belt against Nurmagomedov, and McGregor to defend his belt against Aldo. Nurmagomedov says he has signed two contracts to fight Alvarez: one for UFC 205 in New York in November and another to fight him at UFC 206 in Toronto in December. However, Alvarez wants to fight McGregor, and McGregor appears to want to fight Alvarez. Reports of a McGregor injury affecting the fight are dismissed by White:
Conor’s foot is hurt, but he thinks he can fight. I want him to fight Aldo.
Nurmagomedov:
Alvarez wants to fight McGregor, because it’s an easy fight and it’s a lot of money to fight him. But he has to fight me. Dana White has told me, ‘He is fighting you. He has to fight you.’ His record is only 2-1 in the UFC and he loses like a chicken to Cowboy [Cerrone]. How did he even get a title shot? I don’t know why he is so scared to fight me…I would have to be careful in the first [round] because he does punch hard. In the second, I would start to catch him and in the third, I’d finish him. Mentally, he’s already lost to me…All I want is 25 minutes in the cage with Alvarez…Put me in a cage somewhere with him and lock the door. Then I can show the world who the best really is.
Men’s Health interview
McGregor is interviewed by Men’s Health magazine, where he explains how to win a bar fight.
You want to hit someone on the soft part of their face. I recommend putting your fist between their nose and mouth. It’s tender there. To hit someone on the chin you need power. In any case, don’t wait. Hit first and hit hard. Get in and get out.
On his life plan:
I have a plan. Get in, get rich, and get out.
Does he ever fell fear?:
No way, man. It feels like freedom. It’s the one time in my life where I get to do whatever the f-ck I want.
Throwdown party announcement
McGregor announces a party, called Throwdown, at Dublin’s Sin night club.
https://www.facebook.com/thenotoriousmma/photos/a.495799027155068.1073741828.494191297315841/1370562579678704/
Alvarez: Asking for too much money story ‘a lie’
Alvarez says he did not ask for too much money in negotiations with McGregor.
this is a lie , please don't report llies , You guys are awesome , keep it Real! Thank you #ufc205 #phillyfighter #
— Eddie Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) September 22, 2016
Adding to the reports, MMAFighting’s Helwani says that Alvarez did not even receive an offer to fight McGregor
Reports that Alvarez asked for more money to fight McGregor, thus ruining the deal, are not true, per sources. He has yet to be offered it.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 23, 2016
Eyeing December return to Octagon
Coach Tarverdyan says a Rousey fight with reigning UFC bantamweight champion Nunes has been discussed for Dec. 30 in Las Vegas, but that no decision has been made yet as Rousey works her way back into form following a minor knee surgery this summer. He also confirms that Rousey has been training for the past month in preparation for a comeback but does not promise it would be before the end of the year.
There have been talks about her coming back, but we haven’t made a final decision yet. There’s a chance she fights to get her belt back this year, but nothing is set yet. If we do make a comeback this year, we will. If not we will make it next year. We want to thank all our fans for being patient. When she does come back, we promise the best Ronda Rousey that anyone has ever seen.
Nurmagomedov: McGregor vs. Alvarez would be ‘No. 1 bulls**t’
Nurmagomedov says he should be given the title shot against Alvarez, not McGregor.
I want to fight at 205 in New York, maybe fight with Eddie Alvarez. I love this fight. I want to fight for the belt. All fans, coaches, fighters, analytics, everybody agrees and knows who deserves this title shot. I deserve it. I am No. 1 ranked. Why UFC put me on No. 1 ranking if they don’t want to give me title shot? Why do they make rankings? Conor McGregor fights in the UFC in a lighter division and the UFC wants to give him title shot? I think this is No. 1 bullshit. They cannot give him a title shot because he’s never fought with the top guys, like top five, top 10 in the lightweight division, and they want to give him title shot?..I’m still focused. If the UFC gives him a title shot, it’s okay. I’m a little bit not happy and at the same time I’m a little bit happy, because if the UFC gives him a title shot and he becomes lightweight champion and I win somebody like a top five guy, then we have to fight and he has to fight with me.
Schaub: Alvarez wanted more money to fight McGregor
Schaub says Alvarez would not fight McGregor at UFC 205 because UFC will not pay him enough, and it is likely that McGregor will have to fight Nurmagomedov, and Alvarez will miss UFC 205.
From what I hear, Eddie Alvarez was complaining to the UFC brass that he wanted more money to fight Conor McGregor. He wanted pay-per-view points, he wanted a certain amount of money and the UFC, you know Joe Silva’s going out on his shield, were like, you wanna do what? Looking at the whole picture… if Conor wants that 155 belt, now he’s gotta get through Khabib Nurmagomedov. Who’s gonna beat that guy? Unless he beats himself. Unless he gets injured, no one’s beating that guy. I don’t see it happening, not even close. And for Conor, it’s the worst match up at 155. I think for Conor, it’s a tough fight, but I can see him beating Eddie Alvarez. Khabib? I mean that guy’s gonna be the champ. It’s very short sighted by the UFC. Pay Eddie more money. What do you guys fu*king care? Madison Square Garden, how much money do you need? Pay the guy more money. Unless he’s asking for like 10 million or some ridiculous number… It’s very short sighted.
https://soundcloud.com/fighterandthekid/episode-188-jonathan-kite
Bayless: Mayweather worried about McGregror boxing skills
Bayliss says that McGregor is very strong in boxing and, in his opinion, Mayweather declined to fight him to protect his legacy.
I never trust what Floyd says, only what Floyd ends up doing. This could be a ploy to hype what could become a Floyd vs Conor McGregor boxing match…I think [Floyd] studied McGregor as a boxer, because McGregor can box…I liked his footwork and I really like his chin. He’s got an iron jaw, not a glass jaw. I’m guessing that Floyd has studied him and started to think, ‘Maybe I couldn’t school him the way I thought I could. I couldn’t just run rings around him. Maybe he’s just crazy enough to hang in there with me’…That would diminish Floyd’s legacy, if Conor McGregor even hung in with him and made it a battle. I’m thinking that Floyd finally decided, ‘He wants a lot of money, I don’t know if need this aggravation right now. I think I’m going to steer clear.’
Mayweather won't fight McGregor. "He studied him & started to think, 'Maybe I couldn't school him the way I thought I could.'" -Skip Bayless pic.twitter.com/3vzcTEu0A2
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) September 21, 2016
‘Beg me’
McGregor leaves a cryptic message after White denies that his next fight will be with Alvarez.
Beg me
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) September 21, 2016
White: McGregor not fighting at UFC 205
In response to a fan question on Twitter, White says UFC 205 will feature Alvarez vs Nurmagomedov, not McGregor. No official statement has been released by White or the UFC regarding McGregor or Aldo’s next fight as of yet.
not true it's @TeamKhabib
— danawhite (@danawhite) September 21, 2016
Alvarez taunts McGregor
Alvarez taunts McGregor on Twitter.
Let's do this @TheNotoriousMMA I'm ready !! Your futures not bright enjoy this one while it last . #ItsAllOver
— Eddie Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) September 21, 2016
The illusion of Greatness will soon be Over. It's time for Truth ! GN guys I have an early morning #ufc205 #eafight #thnq #phillyfighter
— Eddie Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) September 21, 2016
No new music in October
Swift denies she’ll be releasing new music in October, even though that would have kept her on the schedule she’s maintained ever since she first released her self-titled debut.
Tyson ‘more interested in talking about McGregor than boxing’
The journalist who interviewed Tyson for Sports illustrated says that Tyson is no longer interested in talking about boxing.
He has two children and he’s basically, exactly, the suburban daddy, wears his Dad jeans, takes his kids from tutoring to their tennis lessons. And he still works. He does these one-man shows but clearly being a Dad and being there to help his kids is really a big part of his life…I don’t think he’s proud of Mike Tyson the fighter. With the interview, we spent a few hours at his house and he was very gracious with his time. And if you wanted to talk about current events or the Olympics or Donald Trump, you name your topic and he would be great – except he wanted nothing to do with boxing. He doesn’t follow the sport anymore. He wasn’t particularly interested in reliving fights. His professional fighting career is of no interest to him. One thing I took away was that all of his bad memories somehow or other were related to boxing whether it was the end when he was losing fights that he never should have taken or whether it was the physical pain he inflicted on someone else or whether it was some of the criminal activity… basically every bad memory he has, came by way of boxing. [He’s] more interested in talking about Conor McGregor than he is with anything to do with boxing today.