Morning Report: Conor McGregor apologizes to Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate for sexually explicit tweet

During an impromptu Twitter Q&A session Monday, UFC featherweight Conor McGregor gave an off-color response to a question regarding a hypothetical sexual scenario involving UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and fellow Ultimate Fighter coach Miesha Tate. Rather than choose who he’d prefer spending a night alone with, McGregor took the political route by involving them both.

Monday night, no doubt after hearing from UFC code of conduct Czar Matt Hughes, McGregor removed the tweet in question before posting the following apology:

I would like to personally apologize to both @RondaRousey & @MieshaTate ….. https://t.co/Za8ECKKsH0

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 15, 2013

I would like to personally apologize to both Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate. This morning I quoted a song on Twitter in an attempt to make a joke, which I now I see was totally unacceptable and offensive. I have infinite respect for Miesha and Ronda as individuals and as athletes. I have always been a big fan of women’s MMA and the incredible talented athletes that compete in the sport. I regret making this offensive comment and I sincerely apologize to anyone whom I offended, but especially Ronda and Miesha.

No word yet from Rousey on the matter, but Tate seems to have chalked it up to just a poor take on humor.

@TheNotoriousMMA its all good, appreciate the apology but I knew you were just joking!

— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) October 15, 2013

Star-divide

5 MUST-READ STORIES

JDS vs. Klitschko? Just ahead oh his rubber match with heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos says he’s interested in possible future action with the Klitschko brothers. “I think if they give me four months to get prepared, I can beat them,” he said. “In the beginning of my all my camps, I do just boxing. I love to train boxing and I think I have enough skills in boxing. I know how to see a good fight. Four months, that’s what I need.”

Snaps and pops. Mike Pierce has an MRI scheduled Tuesday morning to determine what damage may have been caused in his bout with Rousimar Palhares. “I felt it pop a couple of times, once in my ankle, and once in my knee, but the MRI is going to be the determining factor,” Pierce told Ariel Helwani. “I felt it [pop] after the ref was already on top of us and I was tapping the ref. So it was long after the fact.”

Gil on Nick. Gilbert Melendez tells Dave Dolye he believes Nick Diaz could be lured out of retirement given the right challenge. “I think with the right opportunity, for the right thing, he’ll come out,” Melendez said. “Whether it’s boxing, whether it’s kickboxing, whether it’s whatever, some sort of challenge would be great.”

Glory for Rico. Glory’s Rico Verhoeven explains why he believes he’s the No. 1 heavyweight in the world following back to back upset wins over Gokhan Saki and Daniel Ghita. “Hard work… I’ve been boxing a lot with one of the top competitors in the world, Tyson Fury, and his trainer took me on the pads and showed me small stuff I can fix. It dropped in my head like ‘yeah, I can do this.’ First people just said ‘oh, he has big legs, he can kick’, now it’s ‘he can kick AND he can punch.'”

Moar Chael. In part two of MMA Mania’s exclusive with Chael Sonnen, ‘The American Gangster’ is picking Georges St-Pierre against a very tough Johny Hendricks. “I think GSP is going to win that fight. I will tell you, he’s in the toughest fight he’s ever had. Johny Hendricks is not only the number one contender, but there’s a pretty good margin between Johny Hendricks and the next best guy.” (see part one here)

Star-divide

MEDIA STEW

Star-divide

Joe Rogan ranks the greatest heavyweight KO’s in UFC history.

Star-divide

Free fight: Roy Nelson vs. Cro Cop.

Star-divide

Vlogs from Ronda and Anderson Silva.

Star-divide

You had me at ‘Randy Couture wearing a trench coat.’

Star-divide

Get it, Tom.

Star-divide

This week’s episode of Knuckle Up with Eugene S. Robinson.

Star-divide

And they said deep half in MMA was dead.

Star-divide

TWEETS

Star-divide

Toquinho apologizes to Pierce.

@MikePierce170 I hope you are okay, man. I respect you and your family. I’m praying for you to be well, sincerely. pic.twitter.com/7dbF5uBs0s

— Rousimar Palhares (@ToquinhoMMA) October 15, 2013

…and Renzo’s take.

@ ToquinhoMMA: @ RenzoGracieBJJ thanks for the words master, I have been crucified as a bad character, a person of evil … You are not

— Renzo_Gracie_BJJ (@RenzoGracieBJJ) October 15, 2013

Star-divide

Imagine the talk leading up to this.

@arielhelwani well if Diaz wants a fight at 185 I would happily welcome him to the division.

— michael (@bisping) October 14, 2013

Diddy now Mickey?

Garden workout with my good friend @mickey_rourke http://t.co/x3b5sfzm2g

— michael (@bisping) October 15, 2013

Star-divide

Get well.

Saw my Doc this morning. Gave me clearance to start boxing. Went straight to the gym to start punching people! Haha feels great!

Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) October 14, 2013

Star-divide

“Good to hear, we’re following from afar, success!”

@StefanStruve goed om te horen, we volgen je van een afstand, succes!

Alistair Overeem (@Alistairovereem) October 14, 2013

Star-divide

Jack Link’s couldn’t find a seven footer?

Taking on all challenges at the convention today. http://t.co/8fqnnFteCC

Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) October 14, 2013

Star-divide

Interesting take.

@ufc Im a artist no different from Picasso or Taylor swift or Mozart it’s just done in motion #artist

— Bobby King Green (@BobbyKGreen) October 14, 2013

Star-divide

Good day all around for War Machine.

Proud to announce a new sponsor! @condomdepot !!! Been buying my Trojan Magnum Ecstasy’s there for years now, in bulk!! Haha!

— War Machine (@WarMachine170) October 14, 2013

BTW new PO was a fair dude and alsooooo, I got switched from high level to medium probation cuz I’m a good boy! Nice!

— War Machine (@WarMachine170) October 14, 2013

Star-divide

Rematch?

Finally brought myself 2 watch my fight 4 the first time. Been waitin cause I knew it would make me angry! Sorry 2 complain, I won! #rematch

— TJ Dillashaw (@TJDillashaw) October 14, 2013

Star-divide

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (Oct. 14 2013)

Cheick Kongo vs. Vinicius Queiroz at Bellator 106

Justin Scoggins vs. Richie Vaculik at UFC Fight Night 33

Star-divide

FANPOST OF THE DAY

Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via leriksson.

WMMA October Recap part 1 – Megumi Fujii ends career in disappointment

Since October had many fights, I decided to recap two weeks into the month

This is where I separate what’s relevant in WMMA from what isn’t. Lets take a look, there is video for every single fight today. woo! … hoo!

135lbs: Amanda Kelly def. Hannah Stephens via round 1 KO

Stephens had no business being in the cage with Kelly. I thought striking from range, they were sort of equal, but once it got into clinch Stephen’s got her Frank Mir on and wilted. Elbows and knees for days.

Kelly says she cuts from 145lbs but she still looks frail. Being a Muay Thai Champion at bantamweight, I have to make the comparison with Miriam Nakamoto. Nakamoto looks much bigger, thicker, and her strikes look a lot more vicious. Kelly has this Martin Kampmann feel to her attack. Nonetheless, it was a decent MMA debut, but my expectations are moderate.

Check out the rest of the post here.

Star-divide

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.

During an impromptu Twitter Q&A session Monday, UFC featherweight Conor McGregor gave an off-color response to a question regarding a hypothetical sexual scenario involving UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and fellow Ultimate Fighter coach Miesha Tate. Rather than choose who he’d prefer spending a night alone with, McGregor took the political route by involving them both.

Monday night, no doubt after hearing from UFC code of conduct Czar Matt Hughes, McGregor removed the tweet in question before posting the following apology:

I would like to personally apologize to both Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate. This morning I quoted a song on Twitter in an attempt to make a joke, which I now I see was totally unacceptable and offensive. I have infinite respect for Miesha and Ronda as individuals and as athletes. I have always been a big fan of women’s MMA and the incredible talented athletes that compete in the sport. I regret making this offensive comment and I sincerely apologize to anyone whom I offended, but especially Ronda and Miesha.

No word yet from Rousey on the matter, but Tate seems to have chalked it up to just a poor take on humor.

Star-divide

5 MUST-READ STORIES

JDS vs. Klitschko? Just ahead oh his rubber match with heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos says he’s interested in possible future action with the Klitschko brothers. “I think if they give me four months to get prepared, I can beat them,” he said. “In the beginning of my all my camps, I do just boxing. I love to train boxing and I think I have enough skills in boxing. I know how to see a good fight. Four months, that’s what I need.”

Snaps and pops. Mike Pierce has an MRI scheduled Tuesday morning to determine what damage may have been caused in his bout with Rousimar Palhares. “I felt it pop a couple of times, once in my ankle, and once in my knee, but the MRI is going to be the determining factor,” Pierce told Ariel Helwani. “I felt it [pop] after the ref was already on top of us and I was tapping the ref. So it was long after the fact.”

Gil on Nick. Gilbert Melendez tells Dave Dolye he believes Nick Diaz could be lured out of retirement given the right challenge. “I think with the right opportunity, for the right thing, he’ll come out,” Melendez said. “Whether it’s boxing, whether it’s kickboxing, whether it’s whatever, some sort of challenge would be great.”

Glory for Rico. Glory’s Rico Verhoeven explains why he believes he’s the No. 1 heavyweight in the world following back to back upset wins over Gokhan Saki and Daniel Ghita. “Hard work… I’ve been boxing a lot with one of the top competitors in the world, Tyson Fury, and his trainer took me on the pads and showed me small stuff I can fix. It dropped in my head like ‘yeah, I can do this.’ First people just said ‘oh, he has big legs, he can kick’, now it’s ‘he can kick AND he can punch.'”

Moar Chael. In part two of MMA Mania’s exclusive with Chael Sonnen, ‘The American Gangster’ is picking Georges St-Pierre against a very tough Johny Hendricks. “I think GSP is going to win that fight. I will tell you, he’s in the toughest fight he’s ever had. Johny Hendricks is not only the number one contender, but there’s a pretty good margin between Johny Hendricks and the next best guy.” (see part one here)

Star-divide

MEDIA STEW

Star-divide

Joe Rogan ranks the greatest heavyweight KO’s in UFC history.

Star-divide

Free fight: Roy Nelson vs. Cro Cop.

Star-divide

Vlogs from Ronda and Anderson Silva.

Star-divide

You had me at ‘Randy Couture wearing a trench coat.’

Star-divide

Get it, Tom.

Star-divide

This week’s episode of Knuckle Up with Eugene S. Robinson.

Star-divide

And they said deep half in MMA was dead.

Star-divide

TWEETS

Star-divide

Toquinho apologizes to Pierce.

…and Renzo’s take.

Star-divide

Imagine the talk leading up to this.

Diddy now Mickey?

Star-divide

Get well.

Star-divide

“Good to hear, we’re following from afar, success!”

Star-divide

Jack Link’s couldn’t find a seven footer?

Star-divide

Interesting take.

Star-divide

Good day all around for War Machine.

Star-divide

Rematch?

Star-divide

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (Oct. 14 2013)

Cheick Kongo vs. Vinicius Queiroz at Bellator 106

Justin Scoggins vs. Richie Vaculik at UFC Fight Night 33

Star-divide

FANPOST OF THE DAY

Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via leriksson.

WMMA October Recap part 1 – Megumi Fujii ends career in disappointment

Since October had many fights, I decided to recap two weeks into the month

This is where I separate what’s relevant in WMMA from what isn’t. Lets take a look, there is video for every single fight today. woo! … hoo!

135lbs: Amanda Kelly def. Hannah Stephens via round 1 KO

Stephens had no business being in the cage with Kelly. I thought striking from range, they were sort of equal, but once it got into clinch Stephen’s got her Frank Mir on and wilted. Elbows and knees for days.

Kelly says she cuts from 145lbs but she still looks frail. Being a Muay Thai Champion at bantamweight, I have to make the comparison with Miriam Nakamoto. Nakamoto looks much bigger, thicker, and her strikes look a lot more vicious. Kelly has this Martin Kampmann feel to her attack. Nonetheless, it was a decent MMA debut, but my expectations are moderate.

Check out the rest of the post here.

Star-divide

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.