Announces UFC 202 after parties
McGregor announces two after parties. One at Intrigue, and the other at Encore Beach Club.
My after party is at @IntrigueVegas and my pool party the following day is at @EncoreBeachClub.
Wynnsocial . com pic.twitter.com/a8ERaNBxsm— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) August 18, 2016
UFC Tonight interview: ‘I have not over trained’
McGregor is interviewed on UFC Tonight.
I have not overtrained this time. When you show up at the gym and train eight, nine hours without no real start or finish, you go into that overtraining mode, so we have been very careful of that. My body has responded very well to this new structure, and I look forward to showing that on Saturday night.
Denies water bottle fight scripted
Appearing via phone-in on the Russillo and Kanell show, McGregor is asked about those who felt the altercation was staged.
What you think? We sat back down and said ‘hey, let’s launch bottles into the crowd’? I mean, no that’s ridiculous…It’s weird to even get compared to [WWE], that dweeb stuff. This is real, we’re about to fight. We’re about to get into a cage and try and take each other out. It does get more real than that, as the UFC slogan is; it is as real as it gets. That was real. Was it the most intelligent thing to be doing? Launching bottles and stuff? I think it wasn’t, but hey, it is what it is. It’s real. If it was scripted we would have probably would have came up with something better than that. It is what it is, you just have to get on with it,” he said. “I’m happy I get in and punch the guy in the face now, and if his team come near me I’ll smack his whole team, throwing bottles like that. I just thought it was weak, the whole thing, but hey. It is what it is. I’ll see the boy Saturday, and his little team.
Diaz: ‘I thought the show was over’
Diaz talks to UFC Tonight about the water bottle fight.
That guy [McGregor] walks in like he was the show. But I thought the show was over, so I left the show…I’m too real for this whole game, and they can’t have a guy like me winning because look at what’s happening. I get paid finally, I’ve been stuck in contracts for years, and then they sell the UFC. It’s changing baby, and it’s because of what’s going on here. And if people don’t recognize that they’re tripping. And the same thing, that’s why they threw me right back in there, they want to weed me out and get me out of here before it gets too big. But it’s already an unstoppable force that’s going at a high pace, so the game is in trouble with someone like me winning. So that’s why. They know me and they know that, they hope I don’t win…It’s all good either way though because I cannot be killed and regardless, win or lose, which I plan on winning, my voice is still going to be heard. My mic got too big to not be heard.
‘I was launching hydration’
McGregor appears on UFC Tonight. Asked about the water bottle fight.
Look, I seen panicking up into the stands. And I thought maybe there was a case of dehydration going on. I was simply launching some hydration for people. Around the desert here it’s intense. In reality, they were walking out talking shit and throwing bottles. If you want to fight, let’s fight. It was handbags. It was nothing. I just defended myself.
On WWE comments:
It was not planned in any way. I was asked a question and I just rolled with it and it took on a life of its own…It’s been amusing watching all these dweebs sputter around. They don’t know what to do when a real man comes up and questions whatever it is they do. I am laughing all the way the the bank with it.
Revenge is Coming interview
UFC releases a video of Olivi interviewing McGregor. After his UFC 196 defeat:
I sit in a dark room and plot my return…You just got to embrace it. it’s a crazy game. anything can happen. I just broke it down into small pieces, analysed the fight…I’ve watched the fight many times. I don’t know how many but I’ve certainly studied it, very much so…I wanted that rematch instantly.
On training:
Y’know you’ve got to be switched on for five minutes. It’s a five minute high paced round. There was a time when I was just showing up to the gym. There was no class or session. I was just rolling into the gym, and I’d train with whoever was there. If I saw a jiu-jitsu guy there — let’s roll. If I saw a boxing guy, let’s box. There was no real start, no finish, no structure. That was beneficial at some point, but when you’re preparing for a high-paced round, you need to prepare. You need to be on and off.
UFC Sportscenter interview
McGregor talks about the bottle-throwing incident on UFC Sportscenter.
I see it as handbags. They walked out shouting and talking. What was it? We’re here ready to fight, we’re ready for war. Let’s bring it.
On why he was late:
When a McGregor shows in town the traffic builds up, so we were just a little bit caught in the Las Vegas traffic. I was just a couple of minutes late, that’s all. At least I showed up this time.
Talks about bottle-throwing incident
McGregor talks about the bottle-throwing incident at the UFC 202 pre-fight press conference.
We’re brand new. We’re absolutely brand new. It was handbags. If they want to fight, let’s fight…They tried to bottle me. If they throw bottles I’ll throw cans. It was all in self defense. I was scared for my life. [Interviewer: were you really?] No…I’m good. I have a fight Saturday night and I get to punch him in the face.
Rossi ‘curious’ over Brno potential
Rossi says he is ‘curious’ to discover if he can match Jorge Lorenzo’s pace at Brno in the Czech Republic GP.
I like that we go back on track immediately. In Austria I wanted to get on the podium but I wasn’t able to so unfortunately. Anyway, it was a good race. After the tests we were a little bit in trouble but during the race we didn’t do so badly. Now we go to Brno, a track that we know well and that I like very much. Last year Jorge was much faster than me and I’m curious to see if this year I will do better. We are working well and the Brno GP is close. I want to get back on track.
Refugee detention center to close
The Papua New Guinea government says Australia will close the Manus Island detention center. The announcement comes less than a day after more than a hundred former and current staff members at Australia’s offshore detention camps have called for all refugees to be moved immediately, saying children’s lives are being “destroyed.” Papua New Guinea Prime Minister O’Neill:
Papua New Guinea and Australia are in agreement that the center is to be closed.
Backs dashboard messaging
Rossi says he supports the introduction of a MotoGP dashboard messaging system in 2017. The ‘virtual boarding’ system under development lets teams to send pitboard-style messages to a rider’s dashboard. Testing is slated to start at the Aragon round next month.
It’s good, I like it. During the race, especially in flag-to-flag, it can be a help. Also it can be good for safety – if you have a crash in front, or a yellow flag, or some people have a problem with the engine and there’s oil. Also because I always make the wrong decision! Maybe with the message in the dashboard it’s more easy.
Says UFC 200 ‘bombed’ without him
In an interview with GQ, McGregor says UFC 200 was not successful without him.
People spend a lot of money to come see me fight from my hometown (in Ireland), and they had already purchased tickets, so I wanted to get back on that card. They weren’t having it. They didn’t put me on the card — that’s OK —and the card bombed. I was ringside. The fights weren’t great, but now here we are.
UFC 202 Pre-fight Press Conference
White will introduce McGregor, Diaz, Johnson and Teixeira at the UFC Pre-fight Press Conference. Starting 1pm PT/ 4pm ET/ 9pm GMT.
Would have quit after retirement tweet
In his interview with MMA Hour, McGregor says he would have quit after his tweet.
If it came down to it, I would have [retired]. But I mean, good luck keeping an Irish man from a fight. I woulda shown up and slapped someone the way it was all going down, but f-ck it. I was happy, when it all came down to it. For a day I was like f-ck it, I am retired! Put the feet up I did that night, had a f-cking drink, went out. Then it kinda got a little more serious…Whatever, it was a crazy experience. But if it came down to it, f-ck yeah. I’d have a knock somewhere else. I don’t know what would have happened, but like I said, I’m comfortable. Win, lose draw, whatever happens its shrimp spaghetti to start for me for the rest of my life. I’m eating good for the rest of my days. Whatever happens, happens. But I do enjoy a good old fashioned knock, so that’s why I’m happy to be back.
McGregor: Diaz was lucky
In an interview with MMA Podcast, McGregor says Diaz was lucky.
I truly believe…all you got to do is look at his corner. How they went from panic to elation. They were jumping around, like they had literally won the lotto, when Nate was beginning to get the upper hand. Whereas if you look at my corner, it was emotionless from start to finish. They got lucky. That’s what we feel. August 20 I will prove that.
On his attitude to the upcoming fight:
This is most certainly not another fight. We have been going to war every single day in the gym. This is a war for me.
Quits Instagram
Bieber quits Instagram after after fans got hostile over a picture of him and Richie together in Japan. Bieber tweets:
I’m gonna make my Instagram private if you guys don’t stop the hate this is getting out of hand, if you guys are really fans you wouldn’t be so mean to people that I like.
Gomez responds in the comments:
If you can’t handle the hate then stop posting pictures of your girlfriend lol – it should be special between you two only. Don’t be mad at your fans. They love you. They were there for you before anyone.
Bieber and Gomez then exchange tweets about them cheating on each other. Bieber then makes his Instagram private, before deleting it entirely.
BT Sport interview
McGregor speaks exclusively to BT Sport’s Pearce. On fighting Diaz at the same weight as UFC 196.
He got me at that specific weight. I can’t say ‘move down a weight and I’ll get you there’. What kind of fighter is that? What kind of man would I be if I was to say that. I don’t feel the size was the reason. Now in saying that, he’s gotten even bigger than the last fight. He hasn’t had to focus on that 155 pound cut. He’s been eating well I’m sure and growing naturally. I’m facing an even bigger man. But you know what? I’m excited about that, and I’ve put in the correct preparation for that.
‘I will be fighting in enemy territory’
In his MMA Hour interview, McGregor says there are likely to be fewer Irish fans in attendance this Saturday than at recent bouts, something that he predicted would create a different, perhaps hostile, atmosphere.
I estimate that I will be fighting in enemy territory this time. Usually it’s been home for me in this place, with the travelling fans. I estimate that I will be going in to a war zone here, that’s what I’m estimating, that’s what I’ve been preparing for, that’s what I’m looking forward to. But there are many reasons why the Irish fans can’t make it. The [UFC] 200 debacle, where they took me off that card – people had already purchased tickets for that. Then of course the European Championships, then the Olympics, there is a lot of stuff going on and, of course, I’m an active fighter. I fight every goddamn month. I fight all the f-cking time. As far as ticket sales, ticket sales have been good. It’s a 20,000 seater stadium, if it was the MGM, it’s already sold out. So the ticket sales have been great for such a big arena, at this time of year, the end of summer, with everything going on. Now I understand that it’s big business out here, and that’s why we are here. I’ve got to handle my self too, as much as I want to perform for my fans back home and I want to have shows back home, I’ve still got to handle my business out here. I know my countrymen will be supporting me wherever they are. I know there will be may here in town and I know there will be even more back home in Ireland and all over the world supporting me.
Obama ‘tired of talking about Trump’
At a $10,000-a-head fundraiser for Hillary Clinton on Martha’s Vineyard, President Obama says he is tired of talking about Trump.
You notice I haven’t said much about her opponent. Frankly, I’m tired of talking about her opponent. I don’t have to make the case against her opponent because every time he talks he makes the case against his own candidacy…This has been an unpredictable election season. Not only because of anxieties and concerns that the American people have, but also because of the changing nature of the media and voting patterns. There’s still a lot of uncertainty out there. And if we are not running scared until the day after the election, we are going to be making a grave mistake.
Kavanagh: Training Camp created ‘perfect fighter’
In his interview on MMA Hour, Kavanagh talks about the effect of McGregor’s training camp.
I think the first round of the fight was all Conor. I think there is the technical superiority there. I don’t think that will have changed with 18 weeks training. I don’t think Nate will have been able to catch up on that. Clearly the way the contest ended, there was a substantial conditioning difference between the two. That’s what we have changed. Skill wise, it takes maybe ten years, the 10,000 hour rule, to get to a mastery level in something. But conditioning wise, 18 weeks is a lifetime… So I think he is the somewhat perfect MMA fighter now.
On McGregor’s mood:
I have never seen him like this six days out from a fight. Six days out from a fight is normally…you got to creep around the house a bit because the weight cut’s in, he’s tired of training at this stage and all the media obligations. Where we didn’t have to do all that much this time, there is no weight to be cut, training went perfect. He is like a kid on Christmas Eve.