Kavanagh expects decisive McGregor win, no Diaz rematch
Kavanagh says that he expects McGregor to win against Diaz so comprehensively that another rematch won’t be required.
I want this win to be in such a way that there are no questions. If this is a back-and-forth contest, if Conor ekes out a decision, then it has to be [a rubber match]. Nate obviously did fantastic in their first match. Conor accepted the change of weight class and style with very short notice, but you’ve got to give massive props to Nate. He accepted it on very short notice [too]. Now let’s do it where both guys have had months and months of preparation, and there can be no questions asked. And let’s make the victory in such a way that no one can say, ‘Well, he was close, he was close, let’s do the best out of three’. Neither can bitch or moan. Conor can’t say anything about it — ‘Well, new style of opponent, new weight class’ — and Nate can’t say anything about, ‘Well, it was on nine day’s notice’. No. You both knew who you were fighting, you both knew at what weight class, you both had months of preparation. Who won that one? I want that to be decisive. Now, in saying that, maybe there still is cause for a rubber match, but I think it’ll be done in such a way that there won’t be.
McGregor appears on Diaz interview
During Diaz’s appearance on Conan, O’Brien shows him comments by McGregor.
I just hope he’s not up on that stage wearing that stupid black t-shirt he’s never out of. The boy’s been wearing that same damn t-shirt for the last 20 years or something. I’m taking this contest very, very seriously. I’ve flown in specific body types to replicate Nate’s skinny, tall frame. The boy won the lotto the last time. He knows it, I know it. Well, August 20 I get my revenge and I look forward to it.
Diaz:
The truth came out, and the truth will come out on the 20th, when it will come out again.
McGregor imposter crashes Diaz meet-and-greet
A McGregor impersonator crashes Diaz’s meet-and-greet for UFC 202. Unlike with the real McGregor, the two exchange friendly handshakes, and take pictures for Twitter.
I Know You promo
0 0 Mark Devlin Mark Devlin2016-07-31 23:17:552016-07-31 23:17:55I Know You promo
Diaz: The UFC created McGregor
Diaz tells Whitlock that McGregor’s fame is due to the UFC pushing his image.
Well that’s what the UFC did. They pushed his fan base and put all their energy and exposure on him. Like I said, I’ve been fighting a long time. They haven’t been (doing it for me) and they now can’t deny it. Look, they got me up here with you because I beat the guy.
UFC 202 Extended Preview
UFC releases an Extended Preview of UFC 202 featuring Diaz and McGregor.
What’s Up skit
Diaz appears in a What’s Up? skit on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Diaz surprises fans who say their favorite is Conor McGregor.
Fan: I like this guy a lot too!
Diaz: ‘I’m really taking over’ if I beat McGregor
In an interview with Olivi, Diaz says the fast rematch with McGregor is the UFC’s way of erasing the results of the first fight so that the biggest moneymaker in the sport can regain the spotlight..
When it first got booked, I was like, ‘Man, they want to get me right back in there again and try to win this back and weed me out again…Can I sit back for eight months and soak up some popularity and exposure and go on vacation and do what I gotta do? They were like, ‘We want this,’ and I was like why so quick? But I was like, whatever, and then the deals got done.” [To win] I’m going to prepare, that’s about it. We’re going to see. The same thing I always say: My objective is to win, I’m going to train hard and try to get it done. I believe I’m the superior martial artist and I’m just going to go in there and get the job done. My plan is to win and do good, work hard and win the fight.
Diaz, McGregor conference call
In a conference call for UFC 202, McGregor says he will beat Diaz in the second round.
I know I said I was going to stop the guy in the first round (at UFC 196) but if I really look at it I thought he has a solid chin, he’s durable, he’s very experienced. He has the size and the weight on me and I think that was the wrong thing to go in expecting the first round (finish). And I did go out to KO him in the first round, nobody can say that (I didn’t). I marched forward and backed him up against the fence and teed off on his head. I did what I said I would do. But respect to him. He stuck it out and he was durable, he was experienced. He weathered the storm. I’m still going to march forward, I’m still going to press him, I’m still going to bust him. There’s just going to be a lot more in my tank. I’m going to be a lot more prepared for a man that can stay in there with me. But even still, I struggle to give him past round three. If I was to make a prediction which I will right now, I believe I will repay the favour and KO him inside the second round.
Kavanagh: McGregor looking for dominance
In an interview on Fox Sports, Coach Kavanagh says McGregor is looking to make a statement.
I really feel it has to be a very dominant performance to make the type of statement that Conor wants to make. For me, round 1 was quite one sided. I’m pretty sure anybody would have scored that round for Conor. That’s the way I see it going this time. Even more in Conor’s favor, because there was some exchanges in that first round that he was still figuring out which way Nate moves. Whereas now it’s been a fairly obsessive couple of months where we feel we have a very strong game plan to counter everything he does. I expect it to be one sided, but how long as it lasts, it’s difficult to predict. But as long as it does last, I expect it to be one sided.
Alvarez targeting McGregor or Diaz
Alvarez says he targeting either Diaz or McGregor for his next opponent at lightweight.
I’ve got my eye on Nate Diaz-Conor (McGregor). I would love to the fight the winner of that whole crew…I keep getting asked by all the media — you fight all the best guys in the world and at the end of the day the media asks ‘what about Conor McGregor?’ so I’m sick of being asked about his name.Him or Nate. I have some history with Nate, too. Either one of them.
Slaps McGregor’s photo
During a panel discussion Alvarez talks about wanting to fight McGRegor or Diaz in November. When taunted by the host holding a McGregor mask:
It’s hard to be intimidated by a guy who gets his suits at Build-a Bear…Hey, anywhere, Ireland, wherever he’d want to do it…He may not even win. My thought is he’s not going to win. [Me and Nate Diaz] almost got into a fight outside of the cage. I was fighting his teammate and he didn’t like it. I wouldn’t mind settling that score. Either one of those guys.
When the host asks,”Do you feel nothing towards this face?” Alvarez slaps the mask away.
Get this guy out of my face! He’s just a blank face to me.
Bad Blood preview
McGregor and Diaz appear in a trailer for Bad Blood, which premieres August 14 at 10pm/7pm ET/PT on FS1. Diaz:
They thought he was untouchable. Like he was Superman.
McGregor:
We were certain to fight each other for a long time. And then it came about. It came about quickly..I was dominating the fight, and then, like that, I lost. How can I slap a guy’s face all around the Octagon for eight minutes, and then lose that way?
UFC 202 Bad Blood: Diaz vs. McGregor 2
McGregor and Diaz appear in UFC 202 Bad Blood: Diaz vs. McGregor 2, a preview of the UFC 202 fight, released by UFC.
UFC 202 Embedded: Vlog Series – Episode 1
All the fighters appearing at UFC 202 — McGregor, Diaz, Johnson and Teixeira — are featured in a Vlog Embedded Episode. Diaz is seen shopping at Whole Foods; Johnson is shown weight training; Teixeira is shown running; and McGregor shown at breakfast and doing cardio training on a bike. McGregor:
I do a sprint on the treadmill, and on the rowing machine, and then I do my endurance on the bike. That’s my cardio finished.
Diaz:
He can talk all the shit he wants. Don’t bug me none…He’s been watching me the whole time. After that last fight he’s doing what he should be doing. Training and doing more rounds. Who gave him the game plan?
UFC 202 Embedded Vlog – Episode 2
On Episode 2 of UFC 202 Embedded, Cerrone water jets and wakeboards at the lake; Johnson visualizes fight night then goes to a gym in Florida; Teixeira follows an ice bath with some homegrown vegetables; Diaz is shown training, and McGregor talks about training with Danis. McGregor:
We came out here eight weeks early. You need to acclimatise to this air. It’s desert out here. It’s unforgiving out here. We got the gym set up — state of the art facility. And I brought out my team. People who’ve been grinding with me since day one… If feel I jumped up three levels, as a martial artist, as a fighter, and as a man. It’s been an amazing experience.
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.
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.
UFC 202 Embedded: Vlog Series – Episode 3
UFC releases UFC 202 Embedded: Vlog Series – Episode 3. McGregor gets styled for a magazine cover shoot and studies his technique; Diaz hits the gym. Johnson tours New York City and Teixeira gets in one last training session before packing for fight week. Cerrone cruises the Strip on a motorcycle.
UFC 202 Press Conference Water Bottle fight
White introduces the UFC 202 fighters, however McGregor does not appear for over 17 minutes. After a few minutes Diaz and his entourage leaves for the door, while his team shouts insults at McGregor, who responds:
Shut your f-king mout. Shut your mouth. You’ll do nothin’. Not one of yous will do nothin’.
After Diaz throws a water bottle towards McGregor, he responds by throwing a couple of bottles towards Diaz. White then closes the press conference.