UFC 189 Media conference call transcript

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

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