UFC 189 Media conference call transcript
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.