UFC 189 Media conference call transcript

UFC 189 poster

ZUFFA, LLC - LAS VEGAS

Moderator: Dave Sholler

July 1, 2015

4:00 pm CT

Operator: Good day, and welcome to the UFC 189 Conference Call. Today's conference is being recorded. At this time I'd like to turn the conference over to Mr. Dave Sholler. Please go ahead, sir.

Dave Sholler: Thank you. Hello to all of our media, and hello to all of our fans listening live on UFC.com. This is the UFC 189 Media Conference Call -- UFC 189 next Saturday night, Chad Mendes versus Conor McGregor for the interim featherweight title, and Robbie Lawler versus Rory MacDonald for the welterweight title.

All four participants are on the call. Without further ado, let's go ahead and go to the first question.

Operator: Thank you. If you'd like to signal to ask a question, you may do so by pressing the Star key followed by the digit 1 on your touch-tone telephone. If you're joining us on a speakerphone, please make sure that your mute function is turned off to allow your signal to reach our equipment.

Once again that is Star 1 if you'd like to signal. And we'll pause for a moment to assemble the queue. And we'll take our first question from Ron Kruck with Inside MMA.

Ron Kruck: Hey, guys. Thanks for the time today. I'd like to begin with a question to Conor McGregor. Conor, you are going from preparing for Jose Aldo, a Muay Thai stand-up fighter, to facing a very strong wrestler in Chad Mendes. Did you have to completely blow up your strategy and game plan? Give us a little insight on that.

Conor McGregor: I don't have a game plan. I just go in there formless, ruthless, cold. And that's it. It does not matter who is in front of me, or what style or what approach they have. My approach will win the fight.

Ron Kruck: Conor, quick follow-up. Was there any thought of not accepting this fight with Chad Mendes? And if the answer is no, why not?

Conor McGregor: Not one thought. The approach for me was I came in and I told them that I was going to destroy everyone in the division; one by one I would get every single one of them. I said that time and time again. It was never about the champion. It was never about any of that.

It was about me destroying every single one of these featherweights, and essentially making it a one-man division. So it doesn't matter what way it happens, whether it's Jose first, Chad first. They're all going to get it. Every single one of them is going to get it.

Ron Kruck: And my final question, Conor, is the UFC just announced that they'll be back in Ireland October 24. Have they spoken to you about that event possibly being a featherweight unification fight with Aldo in Dublin if you are to get by Chad Mendes next weekend?

Conor McGregor: I spoke with Lorenzo two days ago about it, and he was trying to say, well we want bigger stadiums, because this in the O2, which is a 9500-seat stadium in Dublin. So he wants me on a bigger one.

But I'm saying you don't have a show in my hometown and not have me on it. So most certainly I want to be on that card. So we will see what way it plays out, but any time the UFC rolls into my town, I most certainly want to be on that card.

Ron Kruck: Very good. Thank you. Final question just to Chad Mendes. Chad, once it was official that Aldo was out how long of a training camp will you have had preparing for Conor McGregor?

Chad Mendes: I've been preparing for Conor McGregor since the first time I seen this dude fight in the UFC. What I knew was, he's going to talk his way up to the top. He beat every person they put in front of him. It's time for me to get in there and do what I've trained for my entire life, and that's become the champion.

I live a healthy lifestyle. I stay in great shape year round. I never let my weight get too far out of control. And, for me, taking anything on three weeks, this is perfect for me, especially fighting a guy like Conor. This is a guy that I know I can beat and I'm going to get in there and I'm going to do that.

Ron Kruck: Thanks for the time, guys. We'll see you in Vegas.

Operator: And we'll take our next question from Matt Juul with Boston.com.

Matt Juul: Hi. My question is for Conor and Chad. Conor, as seen in Boston, the Irish fans come out in droves wherever you fight. And there's certainly going to be a lot of them out there for you in Vegas on fight night. Do you find it an advantage having sort of like your countrymen rooting for you when you're on foreign soil?

And for Chad, do you think the Americans will show up, or be as vocal on fight night for you, when you guys throw down?

Conor McGregor: It's definitely an advantage. I don't think people can understand what it's like until you're inside that Octagon, on the screen, and are in your face, all week in your face.

It's essentially like entering a bear pit, so I don't think people understand that until it's too late, and they are bang in the middle of it, and I'm pressing forward. I'm banging shot after shot until eventually they crumble. So it's most certainly an advantage for me.

Chad Mendes: And I think this is a great advantage, and I do believe that the Americans - I believe a lot of these Brazilians are going to be backing me up as well. I have a lot of fans, a lot of family, a lot of friends, people that are rooting for me, and a lot of people want to see me destroy Conor.

Matt Juul: Awesome. Thanks, guys.

Operator: And once again as a reminder, it is Star 1 if you'd like to signal to ask a question. We'll take our next question from Damon Martin with FOX Sports.

Damon Martin: First question is for Conor. Conor, yesterday we saw the news with Jose Aldocome out kind of suddenly. But in your own head, had you already thought that Aldo was going to drop out of the fight? Is that something you had contemplated since you heard about the rib injury?

Conor McGregor: I'd been contemplating it since long before the rib injuries, long before. As soon as the fight was announced, I've been contemplating it. I knew - like I said before, the eyes never lie. And every time I looked into that man's eyes, I saw fear. I saw glass. So I anticipated he would not show up.

And when he got his opportunity to pull, he pulled. So it's something I expected. I don't blame the man. I was going to (expletive) butcher him. Rip him limb from limb. So I probably wouldn't want to face that either. So it is what it is.

Damon Martin: With that said you mentioned earlier that it was never about Aldo, it was about the title and about obviously beating every featherweight out there. But is there some part of you that feels like there is a score to be settled with Aldo when he comes back?

Conor McGregor: 100%. If he man’s up, we should most certainly get it on. But I don't know whether he will be back. Like I said, he's gone running and I don't think he'll be back.

Damon Martin: Do you feel like this fight then is for the real featherweight title?

Conor McGregor: If a man (expletive) out, and he has (expletive) out time and time again, he's pulled out of contests time and time again, I mean the medical reports state that he is fit to fight. So there's no more question. You're fit to fight, and you're not going to fight. The belt rightfully should be stripped, and this is for the real featherweight belt.

Damon Martin: Awesome. Thank you, Conor.

Operator: And we'll take our next question from Aidan O'Donoghue with Irish Sun Newspaper.

Aidan O'Donoghue: Hi, there. I have a question for Conor. Conor, you've had a longer training camp than Chas has, but from his point of view, this came along, was unexpected, and he's happy to have this fight. Do you think your longer training camp is going to benefit you? Or maybe he's going to have a shot in the arm from getting this opportunity?

Conor McGregor: I have been in fight camp since I'm 8 years of age. I am prepared for this. I have been preparing for this moment for a long, long time, and I don't really pay attention to how long he has or how long he hasn't had.

I just look at his past performance and I feel he is in the wrong weight division. I feel he gasses too quick. That's what I see happening. I see exchanges early. I see him gasping for breath, and I see me butchering his facial structure out there until I take the victory.

Aidan O'Donoghue: Okay, thanks, Conor. And one question for Chad. Chad, you previously described yourself as the Mike Tyson of the division, with a mean blast double-leg. How do you think your striking's going to compare with Conor's?

Chad Mendes: I think my striking's going to be ready. Conor's never faced anyone like me before. I have the athleticism, the strength, the power, the speed, and I have wrestling to put him on his back and finish this fight. This fight is mine.

Aidan O'Donoghue: Okay, thanks, guys.

Operator: And we'll take our next question from Jose Olivar with the Sacramento Bee.

Jose Olivar: Thank you. This question's for Chad. Hey, Chad, I know you found out about this fight fairly recently here. But could you just talk about - is Duane Ludwig going to be in your corner for this fight? Or have you been working with him at all to prepare you for this fight? I know its last minute, but have you gotten a chance to work with him? Or are you going to work with him at all?

Chad Mendes: No, Duane left us. Duane lives in Colorado now. Duane, he doesn't work with Team Alpha Male anymore. I've been working with a new head coach, Martin Kampmann. And I have a great stand-up coach, Joey. We have all these great guys here at Team Alpha Male that I train with every single day. So I have plenty of knowledge and plenty of years in this sport, so I'm feeling good.

Jose Olivar: Got you. And so could you kind of talk about when you found out about this fight? I know you talked about how you kind of felt (inaudible) not being chosen or not being tapped to replace Aldo. Could you just talk about that?

Do you feel at all that when you found out that Aldo was injured, did you know that you were going to get a call right away? Or were there any doubts in your mind that you were going to get a phone call?

Chad Mendes: No. Within 24 hours, I was in Vegas talking to Dana. So, you know, right away I knew it was me and Frankie (Edgar) there, right there at the top. I thought there might be a possibility but, this shot is mine.

I talked to Dana and we made it happen, you know? I told him, give me that contract. We'll sign this baby right now. And we did.

So, Frankie, he's a tough guy. He's up there. He's beat some great guys his last few fights. He's right there in the mix. But, I just knocked out a guy that took Aldo five rounds, in the first round. So I feel like I deserve it. I had fight of the year with him last year. Couple small things changed, we even have that fight in the States, and I possibly win that fight. So, I'm right there.

Jose Olivar: Got you. And last question for you. If you do win this fight, what's the plan? Do you want to defend your title if Aldo doesn't get back in time? Or do you plan on just waiting for him and kind of unifying the title?

Chad Mendes: I'm down to do whatever, man. I'm focused on winning this fight. Once I get that belt, whatever the hell the UFC wants me to do, I'm in there to fight. I'm going to beat the best.

I think a fight with Frankie would be pretty damn fun for the fans to watch. Frankie's the guy that I've looked up to and watched fight for a long time. I love his style. I love his pace, his tenacity. That's the guy that I would love to get in there and fight. So it's ultimately up to the UFC, though.

Jose Olivar: All right. Thanks, Chad.

Operator: And we'll take our next question from Brad Okamoto with ESPN.

Brad Okamoto: Thanks for the time, guys. A couple questions for you, Chad. Obviously this was a big opportunity. It wasn't one that you were going to turn down. What is the biggest challenge, though, about going into a five-round, big title fight in Las Vegas, headlining the card, on just two weeks' notice? Is it trying to get timing? Is it trying to get your cardio up? Is it cutting the weight? I mean what would you say is the single most difficult part about it?

Chad Mendes: I mean I wouldn't pick out one single difficult thing. I mean everything's pretty much right on track where it would be if I just went through a full training camp. I don't stop training. I don't just go through a camp, fight, and then completely leave the gym and never see it again until I'm ready to start camp again.

You know, this is training year round. This is our job. This is what we're made to do. This is what we're doing for our lives, our livelihood. And I love doing it. So, I felt ready. I've been training. I've been hitting it hard.

I got the call, it was three weeks out. You know, at that point it's just fine-tuning that weight down. I said before, I don't get too far away from my weight, my fight weight. Fifteen, 20 pounds max. For me, when you get a call like that, you jump all over it, and I'll be ready.

Brad Okamoto: And I've seen this in previous interviews you've done that you're not going to go into this fight emotional. But you have said that some of the things he has said have made it personal for you. And I wondered if you could expand on that. I mean we know he's called you short, but you don't seem like the kind of guy who would really take that to heart. What has he said exactly that has rubbed you the wrong way?

Chad Mendes: Yeah, the short (expletive), I mean I don't really give a (expletive) about that kind of stuff. I've been short my whole life. But, for me it was, we had to do an interview right before my Aldo fight, and he was talking about putting balls on my head and just being very unprofessional.

This is something that made it personal. And for me, you don't (expletive) do that. You know, this is a fight game. This is something somebody could seriously get injured. And that's what I'm looking to do when I get in there against Conor McGregor.

Brad Okamoto: And my last question. You were probably assuming that he was going to make some kind of prediction on the fight. That's what he's been doing, really throughout his UFC career. He said that he's going to finish you in four minutes. And I guess I would just ask you, what do you think is going to be happening in the fight, four minutes in?

Chad Mendes: Yeah, Conor, I'm going to give you a little more respect, buddy. I'm going to finish you within the first three.

Brad Okamoto: Thanks, Chad.

Operator: And we'll take our next question from Dave Deibert with Postmedia News.

Dave Deibert: Hi. Thank, you guys, for the time. For Robbie and Rory, same question for both of you. How much do you guys go and look back at the first fight? Do you take away from that? Or is it so long ago, a couple years that it just doesn't necessarily amount to too much?

Rory MacDonald: For me, I don't really look at it at all. I've come a long way since that fight. I'm just practicing new techniques and become a whole new fighter since then. And I'm focused on bringing a new attitude and just a better version of myself into this fight.

Dave Deibert: Robbie?

Robbie Lawler: Yeah, I don’t know. I don’t spend too much time watching tape and doing those kind of things. I watch a little bit of tape. My coaches do all the breaking down of my opponents and I just go out there and train every day and try to become a better fighter every day. So I’m just pushing myself. Not too worried about who I’m fighting as much as I’m worried about how I can grow and how I can go out there and dominate who I’m going out there and facing. So last fight didn't really matter - July 11 is the only date that matters.

Dave Deibert: Good. Thanks, you guys. Then a quick one for Conor. You talk a lot about the business aspects of the fight game. Naturally you might think that a fight that’s had this many months of buildup won’t do the same numbers on Pay-Per-View as a fight with two weeks. Is that something that you pay attention to at all, seeing - assuming Pay-Per-View cut bonuses, extra cash that comes with extra sales. Is that something that you think about at all with the opponent change?

Conor McGregor: Of course it’s something I think about. It’s what it’s all about. This is prize fighting, it’s about the money. But, I feel this is the McGregor show. People are showing up to see me. It doesn’t matter whether it’s Jose or Chad, I mean, it would have been nice if Jose didn’t (expletive) out but we’ll take the substitute, we’ll take the B-level guy and we’ll still break records with this.

Dave Deibert: All right.

Chad Mendes: And people are going to want to tune into this fight because they're going to want to watch me destroy Conor.

Conor McGregor: Chad, you...

(Crosstalk)

Chad Mendes: There’s going to be a lot of people tuning in, I know it.

Conor McGregor: They ain’t tuning in for you, Chad, let’s call a spade a spade here. They ain’t tuning in...

(Crosstalk)

Chad Mendes: They hate your mouth.

Conor McGregor: You should have stayed home, kid. You shouldn’t have answered that phone, yeah. You shouldn’t have answered that phone.

Chad Mendes: Okay, keep talking buddy, keep talking.

Dave Deibert: All right. Thanks, you guys, very much. We’ll see you in Vegas.

Operator: And we’ll take our next question from Jack Encarnacao with the Boston Herald.

Jack Encarnacao: Conor, can you tell us if you have any thoughts on what UFC can do to cut down on fight cancellations due to injury like this?

Conor McGregor: I don’t really know. I don’t really care about stuff like that. I just know I show up. I know I train smart so I don’t really care about what other people do. I mean, just train smart, be intelligent. There’s a lot on the line. Don’t be bringing in random schmucks to imitate and people that you don’t know, you know what I mean? You need your circle of people that you came up with. That’s who got you to this level that you’re at now is the people that you train with day in day out.

It’s not all of a sudden you've got a new opponent so you need to bring in this guy or that guy. It’s the wrong approach. Even the way Chad and his little team over there are doing it with chopping and changing coaches and it’s just a sign - it’s the wrong environment. And that’s why time after time they come up in second place.

Jack Encarnacao: You’ve talked about how you suspected through the World Tour that, Jose Aldo, I think your words were - was looking for a way out. Can you be specific on what signs you picked up on that told you that?

Conor McGregor: I said it already when you look into a man’s eyes and you look them dead in the eye you can see straight into his soul there. And no one else even watching can see it. It’s only between you and him. And I looked into his eyes and I knew, this mother (expletive) doesn’t want to be here. He doesn’t want it the way I want it so that was that.

Jack Encarnacao: And did you draw anything from the instance during camp where Aldo provided a drug sample and then ultimately it was discarded. I know you called him a little weasel for that and then he gave...

Conor McGregor: Look, it was that little weasel, I was at the MGM and they dragged me and I got tested. I don’t blow it I did a blood and urine no problem. Didn’t make a fuss about it. I’m happy that the sport is getting cleaned up. First question I asked was, “When are they going to Brazil?” And he said, “We’re going to Brazil next week.” He pointed to the guy that was going to Brazil. This guy is going to Brazil. I said okay that’s good. So I carried on with my day.

And then I hear that that man went out to Brazil and ends up getting thrown in jail and (expletive) fines and all this crazy (expletive). It’s - it was a weasel, so I called it as I saw it. Who knows whether that is the reason. Maybe he came off something. Maybe the buddy starts getting weepy I don’t know. But who cares? He's gone running. You won’t see him again, you know what I mean? He was beaten mentally before he was beaten physically. So it doesn’t matter if he was on something or whatever all that stuff. It means nothing now. He's gone.

Jack Encarnacao: Conor, do you think Chad is a tougher fight than Jose?

Conor McGregor: I think Chad is the substitute, the B-level. I think he's a wrestler with an overhand that gasses. You know what I mean? I think his body - his body weight to his height and his body is in disproportion and I think that hampers him as a fighter. I think that’s why he gasses and he gets that tiredness.

And that’s why, when I’m pressing him, I’m pressing him and we have these exchanges and these scrambles and his belly is going to be breathing in and his body is going to be screaming for oxygen and I’m going to be still there in his face cracking him with everything I have, every shot, the heel, the knee, the elbow, the fist, every shot in the book I have. And that will be that. Eventually he will give like they all do.

Jack Encarnacao: Thanks.

Chad Mendes: I don’t know how you’re going to be pressuring anything from your back.

Conor McGregor: So, listen, what are you going to do? You can’t even pass guard, you’re a wipeout on the mat. You get me down, you hold me down. I’ll butcher you from the bottom. I’ll get back up and butcher you on the feet.

Chad Mendes: All right well what are you going to do? You going to do the slip on me? (Expletive) what do you think you’re...

(Crosstalk)

Chad Mendes: All right, dude, you're so tough. So tough. We’ll see.

Jack Encarnacao: Thanks, guys.

Operator: And as a reminder it is star 1 if you’d like to signal. We’ll take our next question from Peter Theodosiou with News.com.

Lawler vs MacDonald 2

Peter Theodosiou: Hi, guys. Just a question for Conor. You mentioned before that you’re interested in a stadium show and with the Irish arena being too small how - UFC...

Conor McGregor: Well I didn’t say the Irish arena was too small, that arena in Ireland is a phenomenal arena, the atmosphere and the sound, it’s 9,500 but we make ourselves heard - 9,500 screaming Irish sound like 195,000, you know, I never said it was too small. It was Lorenzo who said it was too small for me; we want to do a stadium show.

Well, yes, I do want to do a stadium show but if you’re coming back to my home city I want to be on that card. I built this here, you know what I mean? I am the one that put the UFC on the map here. So if you’re coming into my hometown you best believe I want on the show.

Peter Theodosiou: Okay. UFC 193 in November will be in Melbourne, Australia. With it sitting four months away in a popular market for fighters from the UK and Ireland does the possibility of fighting at an Australian stadium sort of appeal to you?

Conor McGregor: Yeah, you know, it does not appeal to me really, because it has no significance to me. It’s the Dublin stadium I want. This is the dream. This is what I create. There’s probably nobody on the roster that could fill a stadium right now except me. So for you to take that and try and put me in another country to fill the stadium it doesn't really interest me.

When the stadium happens it’s in Croke Park, it’s in Dublin, Ireland. It’s in my home city. It’s what I have built. It’s what I have earned so that’s what I will get.

Peter Theodosiou: Thanks, Conor. Just one for Chad. You fought both in Brazil and now you’re going to fight Conor in - probably an Irish hotbed in Las Vegas. How do you feel being the antagonist once again?

Chad Mendes: Doesn’t bother me at all, man. I got a ton of people that are coming to this fight so I’m going to focus on what I got to do. I’m going to get in there. Not like any other fight. I’ve done it, I stepped in Brazil and saw all the fights there and shut that out and you have the task at hand, you get in there and get it done.

Peter Theodosiou: Okay. Thanks, guys.

Operator: And we’ll take our next question from Gus Ryan with Independence.ie.

Gus Ryan: Good evening, gentlemen, thanks for your time. First question just to Conor, a lot of the media outlets are reporting that you were the favorite against Aldo and you’re an underdog against Mendes, and that’s probably down to the wrestling of Chad Mendes, a lot of the social media - not a lot but some of the social media posts that have come out from your camp recently have showed you working on your wrestling. How good is your wrestling compared to some of the US fighters who do it in college and in high school?

Conor McGregor: I am very confident that if we exchange in any grappling sequence I have the ability to dominate him. I have my wrestling coach out here, Sergei is a multiple time champion, he's been with me my whole career since I’m 15 years of age, I have been training with Sergei. So he has been with me this whole camp not just because the opponent change has been Chad.

He's been out here since we have arrived in Las Vegas. So my whole team is out here. My team since Day 1. My team that have been with me from the beginning are all out here, my wrestling coaches, my standup coaches, my sparring partners, my jiu-jitsu coaches, my whole team.

Gus Ryan: And are you - do you get a little bit tired of hearing that there is no wrestling or no decent wrestling in Europe and that as soon as Conor fights a wrestler he's going to get his toughest test yet.

Conor McGregor: No, this is part of the business. People want questions answered, that’s what makes money, people are interested to see. So I am happy that people have questions. If they didn’t have these questions well then it wouldn’t generate as much interest. So it’s part of the game and I’m okay with it.

Gus Ryan: And then just a quick one for Rory MacDonald. Rory, you’re a quiet enough guy and you usually don’t get involved in hyping fights. Have you been impressed the way Conor has taken to the hype machine and really brought attention to UFC 189?

Rory MacDonald: Yeah, of course. I mean, Conor is good for the sport. He's making us all more money, not just himself, there’s more attention for this Pay-Per-View and it’s good for everyone in my opinion.

Gus Ryan: And then lastly, Robbie Lawler, it’s been said about you that in your training you don’t do heavy sparring rounds. Is that the main reason that you’ve kind of had your second coming in your career? And do you think that’s what’s wrong with Jose Aldo and his camp, that’s the problem of why he seems to get injured an awful lot?

Robbie Lawler: No, I spar a lot now, ever since I moved down to American top team I’ve been sparring so I’ve been sparring for the last 2.5 years. That’s’ why I’ve been able to make my run. I’m healthy. I just think it comes down to people not knowing their bodies, not listening and having training partners who are beating them up a little bit more than they should.

You should have guys you trust, guys who move around and guys who push you every day. And it’s - you have to be smart out there so you can come in healthy. And I think people need to listen to their bodies. Some guys might be working too hard pushing it too hard and that’s how you get broken down and beat down.

Gus Ryan: Great, thanks a million, gentlemen. Thanks for your time.

Operator: And we’ll take our next question from Steven Marrocco with USA Today.

Steven Marrocco: Hey, Conor. I was wondering if you’d heard any numbers on the number of tickets sold to Irish fans and maybe whether or not there’s been any refund requests since the change in cards.

Conor McGregor: The number, I believe, was 2400-2500 from Ireland in particular but that doesn’t factor in the Irish that are living in America and the Irish that are coming in from all other areas of the globe. But I believe 2500 specifically from the island of Ireland purchased tickets.

Like I said, it’s the McGregor show. As long as I’m on the show they will show up and I look forward to putting on a show for my countrymen.

Dave Sholler: Steve, this is Dave Sholler. I’m going to chime in there to support Conor and that statement. More than 20% of ticket sales have come from Europe representative out of Ireland in particular. And at this present moment there have been no substantial refunds to report.

Steven Marrocco: Okay, thank you for that. And then, Conor, a quick follow up. There’s been a rumor going on on Twitter that you are undergoing PRP therapy for your knee, is that accurate?

Conor McGregor: Well what is PRP?

Steven Marrocco: I believe its stem cell therapy or it could be platelet rich plasma? There’s a variety of different treatments that go to rejuvenating the knee.

Conor McGregor: No, my body is good. My body is good.

Steven Marrocco: Okay. All right, thank you very much.

Operator: And we’ll take our next question from Kel Dansby with Black Sports Online.

Kel Dansby: This question is for Conor and Chad. Assuming Aldo comes back sometime this fall and one of you guys will have to fight him to unify the title, would you be willing to take that fight in Brazil? It seems he's backed out of his last couple US appearances.

Are you willing to then go down there and take the belt to his home turf and defend it down there or would you request that he fight in the U.S. or somewhere else like Ireland? Conor you can go first.

Conor McGregor: Sorry, were you talking to me there? What was the question?

Kel Dansby: Yes would you be willing to fight Aldo, if you win the title, would you be willing to go to Brazil to fight Aldo or would you like to make him fight somewhere else if you...

Conor McGregor: It’s the McGregor division now he bottled it, he went running. It’s on my call now. So if he wants to come back with his tail between his legs, that’s no problem he can come back we can do the stadium in Dublin but it’s on my call now.

Chad Mendes: I agree man I fought that guy twice in Brazil now. I’ll get that belt and fight in the states this time.

Kel Dansby: And last question for Robbie. You’re the champion coming in here you’ll be the only undisputed champion come UFC 189 but you’re flying under the radar.

Does that give you an advantage? Do you like kind of going under radar and having the co-main instead of headlining the event?

Robbie Lawler: It doesn’t matter it is what it is. I just stick to what I do just train hard and concentrate on myself what the UFC do the promoting. Conor is doing a great job of promoting the fight, Mendes is coming in to fill in and I think it’s going to be a good fight.

But I’m not too worried about that stuff. I concentrate on myself, I concentrate on getting my body stronger, I concentrate on getting my mind stronger so that I can go in there and put a show on July 11 and beat somebody up.

Kel Dansby: All right thank you guys.

Operator: And we’ll take our next question from Ariel Helwani with mmafighting.com.

Ariel Helwani: Hey guys thanks for the time. First I just wanted to ask Chad a quick question. I know prior to the second Aldo fight things got a little heated between you two.

But would you say that you’ve never felt this way about an opponent, that it’s never been this personal for you before a fight?

Chad Mendes: You would go there, hi Ariel. You love stirring up (expletive) bro. No man, this is, yes this is a fight that I’m super pumped to get in there and do man. Like I said two weeks’ notice or a day notice or having a full (expletive) camp I’m not turning this fight down.

Ariel Helwani: Okay and for Conor, I know that you never actually faced off with Chad you’ve never actually looked in his eyes but when you hear that he says that he was annoyed and disrespected by your comments on that BT Sports show which was almost a year ago.

Do you think that you’re in his head; do you think that this is a man that’s treating this fight too personally, that he’s too emotional about it?

Conor McGregor: I don’t really care about that, we’re too close to the fight. It doesn’t really matter but I can hear a quiver in his voice there. I feel when it comes down to it in the exchange - I see him more as an athlete than a fighter so I feel he will break in there.

It doesn’t matter whether the build-up of this happened or not he will get in there and he will break.

Ariel Helwani: Thank you.

Operator: And we’ll take our next question from Isaac Nowroozi with the Roar.

Isaac Nowroozi: Hi I got a question for Robbie Lawler. The first time you fought MacDonald it was a split decision win. I know you said that doesn’t matter but how important is it to you to get a more decisive victory?

Robbie Lawler: Could you repeat the question please?

Isaac Nowroozi: Last time you fought Rory it was a split decision win. I know you said that fight is in the past but is it important for you to get a more decisive victory in this fight?

Robbie Lawler: Yes I think that’s always the plan. It’s one thing I want to do, I want to go out there and finish people I don’t want to go out there and leave it up to the judges I want get in that space either give a submission or knock somebody out.

That’s how I play and I don’t want to leave it up to the judges, so yes, I want to put a stamp on this fight.

Isaac Nowroozi: So now a quick question for Rory if you could, kind of that you’d want the first fight to)come in and try to prove that you are a different fighter now than you were then?

Rory MacDonald: I’m not really trying to prove anything I just believe I have a new attitude, I’ve come a long way and I feel at my best right now and I’m just going to go in there and show that to the world. I’m just going to perform and the rest will take care of itself.

Isaac Nowroozi: And a quick one for Conor. Conor, Chad predicted that he would be issuing three, I know you love your predictions do you have a prediction for this fight?

Conor McGregor: If you have been listening I said four minutes into the first round he will be unconscious.

Isaac Nowroozi: All right thank you very much guys.

Operator: We’ll take our next question from Liam Ducey with Fairfax Media.

Liam Ducey: A question for Conor. Conor, Chad has I guess questioned your mental fortitude. Referencing your last loss in 2010. I mean do you rate those sort of comments that you’ve come a long way in the last five years?

Conor McGregor: No I do not rate them. I know my growth, I know my work ethic and I know where I have come in this game. And now I am in a position where I am invincible.

Liam Ducey: Thanks. For the interim belt and why this ((inaudible)) to the people I guess the dialogue here at ((inaudible)) an interim champ but you just...

(Crosstalk)

Conor McGregor: They’ll always say something. Let me tell you because you sound like one of them people, they’ll always say something to try and discredit what I am doing here.

There’s always going to be a question that the rest, every fight there is a question, now it’s the wrestler question but no matter what and now you’re talking there’s going to be the interim question.

Then when I smoke Chad he’s only had two weeks and there will always be something to try and discredit me but at the end of the day cash beats credit every day of the week and that’s what I’m here for I’m here to shoot this man down, break that Pay-Per-View record and cash them big fat checks and (expletive) everybody that is doubting me.

Liam Ducey: Robbie the first title defense, how do you feel about it I mean you’re falling under the radar but in terms of the promotion it’s almost like the first defense of your career is sort of an afterthought how do you feel about that?

Robbie Lawler: It does not bother me at all. I don’t care if I’m the first fight, the last fight I’m going to go out there and showcase my skills. I concentrate on myself. I let the UFC do all the promoting and I let all the media ask the questions they want to ask and guess what I get to do, I get to go out there and showcase my skills. So that’s what I concentrate on.

Other than that it just makes life easier when I concentrate on myself and what I can control and what I can control is how hard I’m working and staying healthy so I can get to that point July 11.

Operator: And we’ll take our next question from Duane Finley with UFC.com.

Duane Finley: Hi guys these questions are for Robbie and Rory, I’ll start with Robbie. You went from one of the roughest patch of your career to writing one of the most impressive chapters that I think, arguably in the current era, than made with the comeback that you’ve had.

You’re on the verge of defending your welterweight title man what’s this journey been like for you and what’s it meant?

Robbie Lawler: It’s just a lot of hard work finally paying off. It’s a lot of never say die always believe in myself and this is hard work by my training partners and my coaches throughout the years.

But I’m not really concentrating on that kind of stuff right now I’m concentrating on today how I can get better today so I can continue to write my story and beat people up and don’t let this right hand...

Duane Finley: Now, has say anybody who wrote you off during that stretch, in your comeback there’s been a lot of attention on you. Has that been any motivation for you Robbie to kind of prove to people that you still had this in you to do this?

Robbie Lawler: No I’m self-motivated I don’t need people to doubt me for me to wake up and work hard every day and try to prove myself. That inner strength that I have I want to go out there and showcase what I’m capable of to all the people who believed in me.

All my training partners who helped me out along the way, that’s who I’m doing this for. I don’t need any extra motivation from the naysayers.

Duane Finley: Thanks Robbie. Rory this is for you, you’ve been fighting grown men since you were a teenager and you’ve been competing against the best in the world for the last half of the decade.

So, now you’re on the verge of potentially becoming the world champion. What’s this journey been like for you?

Rory MacDonald: It’s awesome. I love what I do, I love my life and I’m just going to continue to do what I like in my life. You know, it’s been an incredible journey through martial arts for me, through my years as a teenager and growing up into a man with it.

So it’s been incredible and I’m just focused now on having the best performance in my life and leaving it all there July 11.

Duane Finley: And, throughout your progression in UFC you were labeled as kind of the heir apparent to this 170 crown a long time ago but yet you showed a lot of patience as you’ve made your progression.

What’s that process been like with you as kind of measuring your growth and patience and knowing when you’re ready to make the step you’re about to make?

Rory MacDonald: Well I knew that, when I got into the UFC, I knew I wasn’t ready to fight for the belt. When I first got in, I still had a lot of growth to do.

I needed a lot of experience with top level guys and it took time but, step by step I gained that experience, I kept practicing techniques, developing new styles and keeping an open mind as a martial artist and I’m here. So and the road doesn’t end here after this, the life of a martial artist, it keeps going, after my career is over I’m still going to be training martial arts and growing.

Duane Finley: Excellent thank you for your time.

Operator: And we’ll take our next question from James Ankobia with the Zoo Magazine.

James Ankobia: Thanks for your time guys just a couple questions for Conor. Conor you really talk about being an interim title. Would you say people’s champion is the one prior to your undisputed holder of at the moment?

Conor McGregor: I don’t really care about that either. The approval or disapproval of people is not something I pay attention to it’s not what I do this for. As far as I’m concerned this is the real world title on the line.

If Jose (Aldo) is afraid I won’t show up well then he’s done, it’s done with that now. Now this is for the real feather weight belt. So I don’t label this an interim belt one bit this is the real UFC featherweight world title.

James Ankobia: Okay, Arnold Schwarzenegger came out and said you’re one of the greatest, you’re probably one of the greatest athletes around. When the terminator co-signs you do you care about that he’s half robot does that officially make you the baddest man walking around on the planet?

Conor McGregor: Arnold is an absolute legend of a man I mean his story, he came out with the United States of America absolutely butt naked he couldn’t even speak a lick of English.

He became a Hollywood megastar, he became Governor of California and I mean if he could speak or he was full blooded American he would probably be President right now so that man is an absolute legend and he knows what he’s talking about when he’s talking about me.

So it’s an honor to hear those words from my friend Arnold.

James Ankobia: Thank you, just a question for you Chad. How important is it for you to be the first man to shut Connor McGregor‘s mouth in the UFC?

Chad Mendes: This is huge man like I said this is a fire I don’t turn down. I got the offer and I said give me that contract right away. So, this is a huge, huge opportunity I’m not turning it down.

Operator: And at this time I’d like to turn the conference back over to Mr. Dave Sholler for any closing remarks.

Dave Sholler: Thanks John that does wrap up today’s call. Before we got I want to thank Chad, Conor, Robbie and Rory for joining us. I also want to run through a couple of key initiatives taking place over the next few days so everyone is aware.

Tonight on ABC Ronda Rousey on Jimmy Kimmel Live she’ll be talking about UFC 190 as well as international fight week. And then tomorrow on Conan airing live tomorrow Conor McGregor he’s in LA now taping so that will air tomorrow and Conan O’Brien on TBS.

In addition, we have some media events to announce for you Wednesday July 8 we’ll have our official UFC 189 open workout. They will start at 1:00 pm, studio A and B at the MGM Grand. It is free and open to the public.

It features Mendes, McGregor, Lawler and MacDonald. Then Thursday July 9 starting at 11:00 am again that’s 11:00 am different from our normal 1 o’clock start time we’ll have our UFC 189 and TUF Finale press conference.

That will start at 11:00 am KA Theater at the MGM Grand. And last but not least head on over to the ufcfanexpo.com. We just announced today the names of all the attendees of the UFC fan expo, everyone from the Daniel Cormier, Dominick Cruz to Arianny Celeste, Bruce Buffer, CM Punk and so on and so forth.

So a great list of names that’s available at ufcfanexpo.com. See everybody real soon UFC 189 draws closer next Saturday night live on Pay-Per-View. Have a good day.

Operator: That concludes today’s conference thank you for your participation.

END

Catch the UFC 189 spectacle Live and Exclusively on SONY SIX HD and SONY KIX on Sunday, 12th July 2015 at 7.30am