On the mend from a torn ACL, UFC featherweight Conor McGregor is making sure he’s gone, but not forgotten. Speaking with Irish independent radio station News Talk, McGregor isn’t keeping his slings limited to his own division. In addition to lambasting UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo and other notable contenders, McGregor made time for one of his favorite targets.
“I would love that [Diego Sanchez] fight, but he’s been getting his ass whooped in the past couple fights. I don’t want to end his career. He’s already slowing. Like he said, he’s been with the promotion for nine years. He’s been there since Ultimate Fighter 1. He’s the original Ultimate Fighter. The guy can barely string a sentence together. It’s time to call it a day.
“This is a dangerous game. You don’t want to hang around this game too long. I’m going to get in, whoop everyone, take the belts and go home with all the money.”
As for Aldo, McGregor reaffirms his thoughts on the champ, disagreeing with others who peg the 145 pound king as one of MMA’s best.
“I don’t think so. I think he’s basic. His movements are limited. He doesn’t do any crazy movements. There’s nothing that jumps off the page when I look at him. I thought that straight away. A lot of guys think he’s this and think he’s that. I certainly don’t. That fight will happen and when that fight does happen everyone’s going to see. I’m going to prove what I’m saying.”
McGregor is none too impressed with deposed No. 1 contender Ricado Lamas following his unsuccessful title bout with Aldo at UFC 169. Last summer the Irishman trivialized Lamas all together, saying no one cared about him.
Aldo-Safe. Mendes-135er. Lamas-Nobody cares. Cub-OLD. TKZ-Open. Edgar-135er. Siver-OLD. Poirier-PeaHead. Guida-Boring. Lentz-Boring. Koch-?.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) August 22, 2013
“Well, it’s true,” McGregor insists. “Nobody does care. When he got the fight against Aldo he fought like he was happy he got the chance. He didn’t fight to win. He fought to compete. He fought for the chance. I’m not fighting for the chance. I’m not trying to just get up there so I can say I fought for the belt. I’m taking it. That’s my mind frame.
“You can tell by a guy by the way he speaks and what way he approaches the fight. What way he’s thinking. He fought just for the chance. He didn’t fight to win. He fought to see the bell. The same way I thought [Max] Holloway fought. He didn’t fight to win. He fought to make it three rounds.”
Rounding out the division, McGregor even touched lightly on Dustin Poirier and Cub Swanson.
“[Poirer] has an unusually small head. These are all facts. He’s got a big frame with a little, small peahead. Cub Swanson is a little wrinkly mother f***er. He looks old and s**t. I’m just stating facts.”
Although not confirmed, McGregor is likely to return to action at the UFC’s Jul. 19 event in Dublin, Ireland.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
New headliner. Renan Barao will defend his bantamweight title to T.J. Dillashaw in the main event at UFC 173.
GSP’s ACL. Former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre suffered a tear of his left anterior cruciate ligament while training. Read Dana White’s response here.
All clear. Rousimar Palhares has passed his pre-fight drug test, ensuring he will indeed face Steve Carl at World Series of Fighting 9 for the welterweight title.
Royler vs. Bravo. Win or lose at Metamoris, Royler Gracie says his legacy in Jiu-Jitsu won’t be affected.
Uniform talk. After an alleged mockup of middleweight champion Chris Weidman sporting a UFC uniform was released, the promotion responded, saying no deals with apparel companies are in place.
MEDIA STEW
Alexander Shlemenko vs Brennan Ward promo.
New TTTHS.
Cyborg weighs-in and squares off.
Ray Sefo previews WSOF 9.
Neil deGrasse Tyson talks MMA and invents what’s actually a very basic self defense technique. (Skip to 9:00)
Metamoris 3 official trailer.
Long watches.
World Series of Fighting 9 – Carl vs. Palhares full final press conference & video
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(Shameless plug) Darce Side Radio: Bas Rutten, MMA Fighting’s David St. Martin
TWEETS
Get well soon.
Tore my left ACL in training. Surgery in a few days. Rehab, pain, hard work, no shortcuts- I’ll soon be back at 100%. Thanks for the support
— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) March 27, 2014
Like?
–Exclusive– Leaked from the UFC offices. A preview of the new UFC uniform. Looks pretty good. Clean. pic.twitter.com/6CV0nQwaVA
— FrontRowBrian (@FrontRowBrian) March 27, 2014
Here’s another UFC uniform mock up. @UnderArmour pic.twitter.com/PPHJPsbigk
— FrontRowBrian (@FrontRowBrian) March 27, 2014
Google says a ‘bebida alcoólica cão de caça’ is an ‘alcoholic beverage hound.’
Lil’ help here…how do you say “BoozeHound” in Portuguese?
— chael sonnen (@sonnench) March 28, 2014
Back to San Jose.
Thanks @sanjosesharks for hosting us tonight! http://t.co/JmHVpgFcwP
— Cain Velasquez (@cainmma) March 28, 2014
Excited?
@TJDillashaw DUDE!!! 🙂 This is Amazing, you got this man! Much deserving !!!
— Joseph Benavidez (@JoeJitsu) March 28, 2014
We’ll see.
Yes he is my opponent, but he is not my enemy! #WSOF #March29 #FightingForYou http://t.co/Nwjqhz2rFe
— Rousimar Palhares (@ToquinhoMMA) March 27, 2014
Last time?
to fight in front of my entire family one last time would be fantastic! Is even consider a welterweight fight #Albuquerque 6/7 #anyone
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) March 28, 2014
Chuck Wolfe found employment in Africa I see… http://t.co/8ozKFXMKlM
— Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) March 28, 2014
Find Kimbo.
Can someone tell me where is Kimbo? http://t.co/dvHBLCHJ5t
— Hector Lombard (@HectorLombard) March 28, 2014
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Mar. 27 2014)
Roland Delorme vs. Michinori Tanaka at UFC 174 in Vancouver
Magnus Cedenblad vs. Krzysztof Jotko at UFC Fight Night: Munoz vs. Mousasi
Renan Barao vs. T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 173
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via Tyler212.
WSOF 9: Carl vs Palhares breakdown
This Saturday Rousimar Palhares will be challenging Steve Carl for the WSOF Welterweight title! This fight has flow under the radar, but I think this has the makings of a pretty exciting fight. Palhares was recently cut from the UFC after defeating Mike Piere via heel hook, but refusing to let go……yet again. Steve Carl defeated Josh Burkman via triangle choke to obtain the welterweight strap. Well it’s the time you’ve all been waiting for!
Breakdown:
Steve Carl- Steve Carl has been on fire lately, winning 7 straight fights including 3 in a row in the WSOF. He has been a submission machine since he started his career, racking up 16 submission wins. Despite all of his submission prowess, I still do not think he should go to the ground with Palhares. Steve Carl is an aggressive fighter who likes to throw strikes and go for the takedown. He needs to hurt Palhares on the feet first before attempting to take it to the ground. He also must avoid Palhares’s guard, from there he can be caught in one of Palhares’s nasty leg locks. He also needs to be aware that Palhares will will to jump to a leg lock from any position. The keys to victory for Carl will to keep it standing and, If it does go to the ground, remain on top and in a dominant position.
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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