McGregor: ‘I’m determined to stun Floyd Mayweather for my son’
McGregor says that fatherhood has made him more ruthless.
Fatherhood is such an amazing thing, because it made me just realise what’s important. If anything, I feel the pressure is off my shoulders even more so. It’s been beautiful and an eye-opening experience. As a fighter [I’m] a little more ruthless maybe, a little bit more certain and a little bit more dangerous — if I am being honest — because there is another one I am fighting for.
The @TheNotoriousMMA tells @Eurosport recent fatherhood has him more focused and ruthless than ever | via @Eurosport_UK @EurosportAUS pic.twitter.com/uAVzwNRcSA
— Aaron S. Lee (@aaronshanelee) August 23, 2017
McGregor-Mayweather face off at final press conference
McGregor and Mayweather hold their final press conference, and second to last face-off before the fight, from KA Theater at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Mayweather: McGregor will miss weight
Mayweather says McGregor will not make match weight of 154 pounds. If McGregor does not make weight, he’ll be subject to a ‘heavy fine’.
Conor McGregor is extremely heavy right now. I think he’s 164, so he’s still got 10 pounds to go. I mean ya’ll get that extra money if you can’t make the weight. Get them extra millions ready, Dana! Or the UFC, get them extra millions ready, um, or somebody gotta pay a fine. But he gotta get that weight down. A true champion, you know, like I said before, a true champion is disciplined and very responsible. But, you know, we’ll see…I don’t think he’s gonna make the weight. Even if he do make the weight, that’s even better. But if he don’t make the weight, we still gonna fight but it’s gonna be a heavy fine, I’ma get me that money!
Diddy, Wahlberg double-or-nothing bet on McGregor-Mayweather
Wahlberg and Diddy revisit the bet they made for Mayweather-Pacquiao (Wahlberg lost $250K, which he donated to charity). This time, Wahlberg is placing his bet on McGregor, while Diddy is going once again for Mayweather.
Wahlberg: Who you got?
Diddy: Money Mayweather baby!
Wahlberg: You see the shamrock?
Diddy: You know this is Money Team all the way.
Demi Lovato to sing National Anthem for McGregor-Mayweather fight
Showtime announces it has signed Lovato to sing the U.S. National Anthem ahead of the McGregor-Mayweather fight. Lovato is a regular at UFC fights, and trains in MMA at Jay Glazer’s gym in Los Angeles.
Mayweather calls Bieber “traitor” after musician ends friendship
TMZ reports Mayweather’s friendship with Bieber is rumoured to be over. Counselors at the Hillsong Church have advised Bieber to pull back from friends who are bad influences, and while they did not specifically tell him to stop seeing Mayweather, the musician recently unfollowed Mayweather on Instagram. Sources say that in response, Mayweather allegedly went “nuclear” and called Bieber a ‘traitor”. Reportedly, Bieber will not attend the McGregor-Mayweather fight.
Bellew: ‘There’s not a chance in hell that McGregor needs just one punch’
Boxing champion Tony Bellew writes that McGregor will need multiple effective techniques to beat Mayweather.
The only way I can see Conor McGregor causing trouble is if he jumps on Floyd Mayweather, non-stop punching. That is the only slither of a case I can make for a McGregor win. But, how long could he keep doing that before he gets countered? Getting close in the boxing ring and octagon is completely different. When you get close in the octagon you’re allowed to hit and hold…Looking at the Paulie Malignaggi clips, it looks like McGregor was using a lot of slaps and uppercuts on the inside – that’s not going to work. Mayweather will tuck up and come back fast and vicious. A counter left hook would smash into McGregor’s temple…And on that Malignaggi ‘knockdown’ – it doesn’t matter anyway. That’s sparring…The gym does not mean anything. It gets you ready for when you’re under the lights, that’s it…His punch looked good, straight with some power. But listen, Mayweather is the best ever and McGregor was found out against Nate Diaz in stand-up…Diaz did not stop McGregor on the floor. Yeah, he choked him out, but he got him to the floor by consistently punching him in the face…Are you trying to tell me Conor McGregor hits harder than Alvarez, than Shane Mosley, than De la Hoya, than Hatton – the list is endless. There’s not a chance in hell that McGregor needs just one punch.
Roddy: ‘We believe we can shock the world’
McGregor is ready ‘to shock the world’ says his striking coach Roddy. Roddy says McGregor has no doubt in his belief that he can create one of the greatest upsets of all time in a boxing ring.
I think there will be a little bit of feeling out most definitely when the bell rings. I’ve been with Conor many, many years now and we have brought in everybody over the years. Check out this guy, Conor. World class Thai boxer. Never been touched by anybody. Conor goes in, he throws a few shots, figures the guy out, he reads the patterns and then knows exactly what they are going to do. He knows before they know. Then he puts the shots in that apply and they fall over…Ok, Conor, we’ve got this tae kwon do guy. He moves a totally different way. He does this and does that. He goes in, moves around with him, figures him out, puts the shots in that apply, guy falls over…We’ve done this with amateur boxers, professional boxers. Every single person that has walked in the gym and I’ve watched him spar, it takes him a minute or two. It depends how good they are. But it takes no more than a minute for him to figure them out and put the shots in that apply. When you see this happen over and over again, you can’t doubt him.
Mayweather Sr.: We’ll ‘sue’ Conor McGregor if he fights dirty
Mayweather Senior says that they will sue McGregor if he ‘fights dirty’.
It’s gonna stop right there…And guess what? Then we’re gonna throw a big suit at him…There’s enough people around here suing everybody for nothing, and this is something that you can be screwed for. Like I said many times before, Floyd is better. But I’m saying here now, he’s training good enough for a guy like this. Conor, first of all, showed the whole world his egg, and I think you know what I’m talking about…And guess what, it ain’t nothing.
Bayliss to Mayweather Snr: Conor will knock your son out
During an interview with Mayweather Snr., Bayliss places a bet that McGregor will beat Mayweather:
Snr: The only thing I’m gonna tell you. I’m not gonna tell you that Conor McGregor is gonna get knocked out, but he’s gonna get his ass whooped…[But] I don’t even think it will last 12 rounds…At the end of this fight (raises hands in winning pose)…a’int no diggity, aint no doubt.
Bayliss: I’ll bet you a suit. Conor will knock your son out, because it’s the only way Conor’s gonna win this fight. Your son is going to underestimate what’s about to hit him, both in will and skill. This guy’s crazy…He’s gonna come at your son in ways you can’t even imagine.
Snr: That’s the way Floyd like ’em.
Mayweather vs McGregor All Access Episode 4
Showtime releases the fourth episode of All Access, its behind-the-scenes series about the build up to the McGregor-Mayweather fight. Dana White:
From the first day I met him I knew he’d be a big star. I call him ‘The Unicorn’. He’s very, very smart. His comedic timing is perfect. He’s a very likable guy. There’s no persona with Conor McGregor. He is who he is. I asked his girlfriend one time, ‘Is he like this 24/7?’ and she said, ‘Y’know Dana, sometimes I wake up and he’s shadow boxing in his underwear at three in the morning. That’s who he is.’…If Conor McGregor wins this fight, and he knocks out Floyd Mayweather, it will be the greatest upset in the history of sports. It is literally all anyone will talk about for a year…He has the ability to make you believe.
Weidman predicts McGregor-Mayweather trilogy fight
Former UFC middleweight champion, Chris Weidman, predicts that McGregor will win his fight against Mayweather, but that there will be further rematches.
Yeah, I mean I think I have [McGregor] winning now. I think he’s gonna win. That’s my last prediction. Third-round knockout. It’s just a gut feeling, just I’m feeling it. I think it’s gonna happen and then they’re going to have a second fight, Mayweather’s gonna win that and then next thing you know they got a Conor verses Floyd trilogy, and everybody’s spent 300 bucks, which means 500 million for each of them.
Many celebrities to attend McGregor-Mayweather fight
TMZ reports that a long list of celebrities will attend the McGregor-Mayweather fight on August 26, including Angelina Jolie, Drake, Elon Musk, Diddy, Mark Wahlberg, Denzel Washington, Charlize Theron, LL Cool J, Jamie Foxx, LeBron James, Bob Kraft, Rick Ross, Adam Levine, Michael Bay, Avicii, and Jeff Beacher. Others have yet to announce their attendance.
Hatton: Referee Robert Byrd could prove crucial in McGregor vs Mayweather
Hatton, who was beaten by Mayweather in the tenth round, and believes that Joe Cortez, who was refereeing, didn’t allow him the opportunity to fight on the inside, says the decisions of the referee will be crucial in McGregor’s fight against Mayweather.
If the referee lets him have a crack. I think when I look back on it (my fight with Mayweather) I hope the referee lets Conor have a go. I’m not saying that I’d have won the [Mayweather] fight anyway if the referee had let me had a go. All you want is a fair crack of the whip. I think he must be thinking the same as me. Just let me have a fair shout and let me have a go at him. If he lets him have a fight with his strength as well, I think with Floyd at 40 years of age – we might see him dwindle a lot. If Conor can put his foot on the gas from there on in he might get a late stoppage or maybe even a points win. I think Conor will probably say I don’t mind losing the early rounds – as long as bit by bit I can sap his strength and drain him – and slow him down a bit. You’d have to say with Mayweather’s boxing ability the early part of the fight is Floyd’s but eventually if he’s given the opportunity by the referee to keep on him and keep on him, by the time it gets to round 6, 7 and 8 – then it might be Conor’s part of the fight
Mayweather, Malignaggi: McGregor was dirty when sparring
Mayweather says footage of McGregor sparring Malignaggi shows the UFC lightweight champion to be “extremely dirty” in the ring.
A lot of shots were illegal. Lots of grappling and illegal punching behind the head…He had Joe Cortez in his camp but I still saw him being extremely dirty. My job is not to worry about the referee but to let the referee do his job.
Malignaggi also says the same:
His intensity is a good thing. I just don’t know if he can go without fouling. Fighting up close, I think he gets a bit confused and he ends up fouling. I think that’s where he can be most intense but fighting up close is the hardest thing in boxing to learn and I don’t think you can do that in a few months.
Live: McGregor-Mayweather Media Call
McGregor and Mayweather appear on a Media Call about their upcoming fight.
Mayweather: McGregor will lose 90% of his purse if he kicks
On Jimmy Kimmel Live, Mayweather talks about what would happen if McGregor kicks him.
That’s a huge fine. I don’t think he wants to lose 90 per cent of his money, or even more. I don’t really know what it’s gonna be [the fine] but it’s gonna be a heavy fine.
Asked if he would kick McGregor back:
I’m not gonna do that. I follow the Queen’s rules of boxing.
And if he would fight in MMA:
As of right now, we gotta get past August 26. Once we get past August 26, then we can talk about other things.
McGregor to fight Mayweather in 8-ounce gloves
The Nevada State Athletic Commission votes to allow the McGregor-Mayweather fight to take place using 8-ounce gloves — a first of its kind in boxing. McGregor believes the drop in glove size is to his advantage:
I am very pleased with the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s handling of my next bout today. Fair play was kept all the way through. Referee – Hall of famer Robert Byrd. Judges – Burt Clements. Dave Morreti and Guido Cavalerri. 8oz gloves approved, with pre and post fight analysis of the gloves on the night. This was handled very well and very fairly by the NSAC. I am very pleased and respect the commissions ruling on this. Ten days until fight time.
Alvarez: ‘You’re a fool if you don’t think Conor can put Floyd away’
Alvarez says not to underestimate McGregor.
I think a lot of boxing fans are looking at Conor as if he’s never, ever boxed. Even the way they’re talking seems that they’re writing him off like he never boxed. He boxed, he understands boxing. I just think his chance is going to happen within the first four rounds. And Conor can. I think you’re a fool if you don’t think Conor can put Floyd away. I think he can. I think he can land a punch and put Floyd away…I think if it goes past the fourth round and gets in the fifth, sixth, seventh where it can become a technical boxing match, I think it could look look one sided. Floyd’s the king of that, he’s the king of swimming and not getting wet. He can punch and not get hit. So I think if it goes further past five, six, seven, eight he could win by TKO. But I think before that time, that’s where Conor’s time is — in the first four rounds.
White: It’s crazy to rule out McGregor beating Mayweather
White says he believes in McGregor’s ability to beat Mayweather.
I stopped doubting Conor McGregor a long time ago. Everything he’s told me he’s going to do, he’s done, so if he says he’ll beat Floyd Mayweather inside four rounds, he will. I don’t think Conor underestimates him, he obviously respects him but you’ve got to remember – Floyd is 41 years old and Conor McGregor is 28 years old. He’s the bigger, stronger fighter. People aren’t giving him a chance and that’s just crazy. This is going to be a fight, and anything can happen in a fight…[8 ounce gloves] definitely benefits Conor. First of all, Floyd isn’t a big puncher, he’s not a knockout puncher. His whole game is defence, using the gloves to defend himself and smaller gloves means Conor will have more places to hit. We’ve always wanted to have smaller gloves, they didn’t want it and now all of a sudden Floyd has decided that he wants smaller gloves. So now we have a hearing with the state commission this week and hopefully that will happen. Conor isn’t concerned about Floyd’s punching power at all.