Crowd storms and broadswords, Conor McGregor has a lot going on.
In Phoenix, AZ sneaking in some UFC 183 promotion during Super Bowl week, the contender explained what compelled him to jump out of the Octagon and charge featherweight champion Jose Aldo.
After dispatching Dennis Siver Jan. 18 in Boston, McGregor leaped the cage to confront his next opponent before being corralled by security.
“It was just instinct,” McGregor told CBS Radio’s Chad Dukes. “I knew he was floating around in the crowd. During fight week I got told of these little posters he was doing. Something stupid. So when the fight was done I saw him and jumped over that cage and I wanted to put that energy straight through his chest like a bolt of lightning. That was it. I was just going off my emotions.”
As for the fight itself, McGregor’s prediction sounded all too familiar.
“I feel I will break him,” said McGregor. “I feel in the first exchange that he’ll turn into a grappler pretty quick. He’s made a career out of beating small wrestlers his whole life. I’m not a small wrestler. I’m going to tower over him. I’m going to enter that cage and I’m going to come at him open palm, something he’s never seen before. I feel I will break him down the same way I break them all down.
“They have it convinced it’s all talk. It’s a joke. When it’s in there it’s no joke anymore. The blood rushes out of their face and jumps out of their body. They go white. I can see their eyes turn to glass. That’s what will happen to Jose.”
And while everyone enjoys a good out of context broadsword picture, the story behind the recent tweet is pretty great.
FREEDOM!!!!! pic.twitter.com/s2rkSuVa1a
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) January 22, 2015
“I woke up one day and a woman from the hotel in Boston came up with a giant sword, literally,” said McGregor. “It had a McGregor crest. Anyway, I wakes up one morning, knock on the door and it’s a woman from the hotel with a big sword. Someone had dropped it with a letter. It was from a fellow McGregor saying, ‘You inspire me and this is for you.’ It was a claymore sword. It was basically the sword they fought with in the Scottish highlands back in the day when they were swinging that thing on a horse. I tell you what, it is a heavy sword. It’s the real deal.”
McGregor is expected to face Aldo sometime later this summer in Las Vegas, Nevada.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
‘I’m not trying to rush anything for anybody.’ Nick Diaz apologizes to the fans for missing his open workout and, in his own way, explains his absence. ‘When we got to the airport I was like, I think I’d just rather sleep in my own bed tonight.’
‘We’ll see.’ Dana White responds to Anderson Silva’s claim that he’s several fights away from title shot.
Predictions. Luke Thomas makes his picks for UFC 183.
Minotauro. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira talks about his emotions seeing his long-time friend Anderson Silva back, whether he thought he would ever fight again, his prediction for Silva vs. Diaz, and his own fighting future.
‘Nick’s not in on the joke.’ Training partner Joe Schilling isn’t impressed with how the Diaz brothers have been promoted and portrayed by the UFC. ‘Really, Nick and Nate are like the most genuine, honest people you’ll ever meet in your life.’
MEDIA STEW
UFC 183 Embedded episode 3.
Staredowns from UFC 183 media day.
Anderson Silva’s Spider Life episode 7.
Nick Diaz’ media day scrum.
Mike Tyson chats with GLORY heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven.
Free Fight: Ronda Rousey vs. Alexis Davis.
Long watches.
Jan. 30 The MMA Report – Dana White, Tyron Woodley
TWEETS
Ranked.
O que vale não é o quanto se vive…mas como se vive.. pic.twitter.com/BrLdrRqDJb
— Anderson Silva (@SpiderAnderson) January 30, 2015
Ready.
Yeah ur boy is in the low 70s its almost time 2 eat! And Im not talkin bout post weigh in dinner! @ufc #ufc #UFC183 pic.twitter.com/E6T0JqALjY
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) January 29, 2015
Interesting.
I am gonna be hanging around Las Vegas for the next few days for the possibility that Nick Diaz doesn’t fight. #lastminutereplacement
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) January 29, 2015
Watch.
UFC183 Episode 2 w/ @JoeLauzon and #TeamLauzon #UFC183 @UFC #UFC https://t.co/dyqZKruWOV
— Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) January 29, 2015
Doom + Big Brown any questions? See it saturday on @MythBusters https://t.co/ukTdpOS0ux
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) January 29, 2015
Ladies need fights.
No fight news yet.. Be patient … I am … #teamtiny
— Tecia Torres (@TeciaTorres) January 28, 2015
Can’t even sleep because I’m so mad I can’t even book a damn fight
— Raquel Pa’aluhi (@RaquelPaaluhi) January 28, 2015
I’m not fine with sitting around and waiting. I wanna fight. That’s all I wanna do is fight. I don’t give a shit about anything else
— Raquel Pa’aluhi (@RaquelPaaluhi) January 28, 2015
. @ufc @danawhite @seanshelby All I wanna do is punch face in front of my fellow Aussies #letmebangbro pic.twitter.com/9L4fAzhK8g
— ‘Rowdy’ Bec Rawlings (@RowdyBec) January 30, 2015
“@bethecorreia: far would you go for a dream? I … I’d do anything ” anything except book a fight with me?
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) January 30, 2015
@DRkneevil wants to fight, I want to fight…? PUT ME IN COACH @danawhite @seanshelby #letjojofight #overkill2015
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) January 30, 2015
and Meathead.
@danawhite hey lil buddy, I’m looking to pick a fight. Any suggestions? #WillWorkForCash #ImTooPrettyToSitOnTheShelf @ufc
— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) January 29, 2015
Beefin’.
The official call out of @KimboSlice . @ScottCoker @BellatorMMA #mma #kickboxing #jiujitsu #ufc #bellatormma http://t.co/FaUwu8sHHB
— Seth Petruzelli (@silverbackseth) January 28, 2015
@ColbyCovMMA Are you still saying dumb stuff to try get attention? pic.twitter.com/DnT8UM6SSu
— Cathal Pendred (@PendredMMA) January 28, 2015
My thoughts about this @Unclecreepymma you won’t call me a douchebag to my face!! @TeamAlphaMale pic.twitter.com/80zuOkKJoQ
— Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) January 30, 2015
Get well soon. Don’t look.
I had to withdraw from #InvictaFC11 due to a severely dislocated toe. Click the link for GRUESOME pic http://t.co/fbhd1vA791
— Emily Corso (@EmilyCorsoMMA) January 30, 2015
This Week In Struggle.
Lunch and dinner! #MakingWeight101 #LiquidDiet #135 #UFC183 #ProteinSource http://t.co/EwpB4NLyih
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) January 30, 2015
“@PastorChase: @Cowboycerrone took my first BJJ class tonight… threw up after.” Well I throw up before every fight if that helps
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) January 30, 2015
I gotta do double the media than everyone else! Because I do Spanish and English media. Perks of being… http://t.co/HJGUfeJMP7
— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) January 29, 2015
Usually takes 25 minutes to get home. Just getting home 3 hours later
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) January 26, 2015
Just a couple poker victims lol @lukerockhold and @brianstann now they are saying they just wanna go… http://t.co/9O2oLbwgHu
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) January 30, 2015
#creepymessageoftheday http://t.co/HDHcxmnN2x
— Felice Herrig (@feliceherrig) January 29, 2015
Dentist in a couple of hours
— jimi manuwa (@POSTERBOYJM) January 28, 2015
So this is how my Sunday is going…. Just got t-boned in an intersection when a guy ran a red light, thank God… http://t.co/A6Ovlb9Ues
— Josh Burns (@JoshBurnsMMA) January 25, 2015
I am terrible at flirting. Yep. Super bad.
— Paige VanZant (@PaigeVanzantUFC) January 28, 2015
Man I hate being stupid I really do. I wish I was a little dumber so I didn’t realize how stupid I am
— Forrest Griffin (@ForrestGriffin) January 27, 2015
Don’t quit your day job 🙂 RT @illwillbrooks86: I just came to say what’s up and instead I get put to editing work. pic.twitter.com/Cpl28xWPhg
— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) January 30, 2015
Two Gracies, one gi. Not an easy day in the office #TeamGracie http://t.co/n9tD7QECu4 pic.twitter.com/m3JquDGjT4
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) January 29, 2015
“@digz611: @dc_mma -Hey DC–U already got your ass kicked by #champ–NOONE WANTS TO SEE IT –U HAD YOUR CHANCE-GO AWAY–“u want me 2 retire?
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) January 26, 2015
If he does I don’t blame him “@markholmes1981: @JonnyBones do u stink @SugaRashadEvans still hates on u?”
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) January 27, 2015
This car hates me, and I hate it. It’s mutual! http://t.co/7sopnV7XRW
— michael wootten (@mikewootten) January 29, 2015
Selfie! pic.twitter.com/IFf4TIUidV
— David Michaud (@bulldawgUFC) January 30, 2015
I fucking hate when you buy something and they ask you to buy 9 other things I said no Ya dick head
— Michael (@TeamRocBiggie) January 27, 2015
Well, not my best moment on the mat today but too cool of a shot not to post. And great tr… http://t.co/XZXFn0ZjlR pic.twitter.com/wxmKjN2gvB
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) January 26, 2015
Haha 5’11 Tryin to add some height2 my gene pool! RT @Flash_Joey: Just saw @chadmendes downtown. Pretty tall girlfriend. #teamalphamale
— chad mendes (@chadmendes) January 26, 2015
I didn’t have eyebrows till I was 16. pic.twitter.com/xbkdJYxs0r
— Joseph Benavidez (@JoeJitsu) January 30, 2015
Gotta sweat out 3 months of Johnny walker black and wingstop lemon pepper wings
— Clint Hester (@clinthester) January 26, 2015
Every Bigfoot/Sasquatch show is mental blue balls.
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) January 25, 2015
Just ate a paper towel by accident
— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) January 26, 2015
Millionaire Matchmaker tried to make me look bad but my girls know who I really am. #FamilyNight with… http://t.co/xKRtnPBh73
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) January 26, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Jan. 29 2015)
cancelled Nik Lentz vs. Thiago Tavares at UFC Fight Night: Thatch vs. Thompson
Clay Guida vs. Robbie Peralta at UFC Fight Night: Lamas vs. Mendes
Justin Jones vs. Ron Stallings at UFC Fight Night: Lamas vs. Mendes
Nick Catone vs. Vitor Miranda at UFC on FOX 15
Josh Copeland vs. Jared Rosholt at UFC 185
Andre Fili vs. Godofredo Pepey at UFC Fight Night: Faber vs. Assuncao
Shayna Baszler vs. Amanda Nunes at UFC Fight Night: Faber vs. Assuncao
Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.