Your MMA Mount Rushmore might have a few GOATs, but right now it’s just a two-headed Ronda McGregor monster.
That, according to interim UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor.
Women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousy has ESPY’s, Hollywood and breakfast sandwiches, but McGregor believes he’s on level footing with “Rowdy.”
“I feel both of us are equal at the top of the game,” said McGregor. “She is a special athlete and I’m happy to be up there with Ronda at the top of the game.”
McGregor admits Rousey’s had a tougher road to stardom than he has, but maybe not for the reasons you’d expect. McGregor believes it’s the flaws in his game that have helped him become such a draw.
“I believe, in the male spectrum, that I’m dominating the game. 100 precent. However, in the female aspect, Ronda is a two-time ESPY winner now. She’s a dominant champion. It’s very hard for her because she is so dominant.
“There’s a lot of questions about me. I am thankful for all the questions being asked about me because that generates interest which in turn generates revenue. Ronda’s just so dominant. She’s slaughtering these women ruthlessly.”
Rousey defends her title to Holly Holm Nov. 15 at UFC 193 in Melbourne, Australia.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Shakeup. With welterweight champion Robbie Lawler injured, Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm has been moved up to UFC 193 in Melbourne, Australia.
‘Inconclusive evidence.’ Travis Browne releases a statement after the UFC lifts his suspension due to domestic violence investigation. ‘Sometimes saying nothing, requires more strength than saying everything.’
‘Barnyard fights.’ For two months, MMA Fighting conducted dozens of interviews with fighters, managers, promoters, coaches and others connected to unsanctioned mixed martial arts shows in California, particularly Xplode Fight Series.
ADCC results. See how Vinny Magalhaes, Gilbert Burns and Benson Henderson fared at the world’s top no-gi grappling tournament.
Big Pygmy. Justin Wren hopes to parlay a future Bellator title run into more aid for the Congo. “I’m going to be able to do so much more in the Congo because of this fight.”
MEDIA STEW
Countdown to UFC 191: Demetrious Johnson vs John Dodson 2
The world’s top grapplers debate whether or not Ronda Rousey could win at ADCC.
Carlos Condit sounds crushed not be fighting Robbie Lawler at UFC 193.
Firas Zahabi teaching the flying arm bar.
Rousey’s fast food breakfast looks kinda gross.
“WHAT TO DO IN VEGAS for a FIGHT FAN.”
Long watches.
A second snapchat Q&A with Joe Lauzon
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KNUCKLE UP #351: Sympathy for The Bald One or Why Being the Head of the UFC Has Got to Be the Wor…
TWEETS
FYI.
Guys, I’m not injured. I’m taking care of my finger that I hurt in my fight with Aguilar. That’s it. I will be ready when Joanna is ready.
— Claudia Gadelha (@ClaudiaGadelha_) August 30, 2015
ADCC.
Yup, that was flippin’ embarrassing…always after great performances & that was perhaps worst performance since my sophomore year at Dana
— TheOnceAndFutureKing (@BensonHenderson) August 29, 2015
Hats off to a good competitor in Muhammad…I don’t make excuses but what I do, do, is get better from my losses…#ADCC2015
— TheOnceAndFutureKing (@BensonHenderson) August 29, 2015
[FIGHT IS IN MY DNA] The adccsubmission for me, was good. I fought well in all my fights. But in the… https://t.co/bvf0nVegZc
— Gilbert DurinhoBurns (@GilbertDurinho) August 31, 2015
I took third place at @adccsubmission this year. Lost my semifinal by ref decision and submitted my fight for the… http://t.co/xQ56Obfdxq
— Augusto Tanquinho (@tanquinhojj) August 30, 2015
10p black belt @vinnymma pulls off the first twister in ADCC history #unfuckingbelievable https://t.co/jW8RXveb6e
— Eddie Bravo (@eddiebravo) August 29, 2015
I would love to have a chance to compete on ADCC next edition
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) August 30, 2015
Me and @travislutter at the @ADCC_Federation pic.twitter.com/heGywP2uSX
— Hector Lombard (@HectorLombard) August 30, 2015
Congrats on your super fight win @galvaobjj Another ADCC Title !! #OSS #atosbjj Meus parabéns… https://t.co/2niNJFcRsD
— diegobjjtx (@diegobjjtx) August 30, 2015
Congratulations @MackenzieDern!! What a year for you!! Won Abu Dhabi, Five Invitational, IBJJF Worlds, & ADCC holy wow! #ThisGirlIsOnFire
— Lauren Murphy (@LaurenMurphyMMA) August 30, 2015
ADCC &BJJ need more professional commentary.This nonchalant way of talking about players bc they all know each other from SoCal isn’t good
— Cole Miller (@colemillerATT) August 30, 2015
…
I got more ink. pic.twitter.com/p0DsqQ55q5
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) August 31, 2015
Good luck.
And so it begins… The @clipperrace parade under Tower Bridge is about to start, lead by #TeamGREAT https://t.co/vgpmUZ50zW
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) August 30, 2015
Wrasslin’.
Wow! Just witnessed my 3 Yr old put a whipping on @therock and @johncena just stood there and did nothing about it! pic.twitter.com/zxC3ah3PVE
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) August 30, 2015
@ChrisWeidmanUFC @JohnCena Yup, I’m still doing jobs and putting talent over. Kids got his daddy’s left hook
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) August 30, 2015
Ideas?
Who would you like to see as the next opponent? http://t.co/GVS04TFgWt via @mmaViking @UFC @UFCEurope @Mjolnir_MMA
— Gunnar Nelson (@GunniNelson) August 30, 2015
Get well soon.
Dear Melvin Guillard’s hand, You sure picked an awful time to break. #bellator https://t.co/2TEZCicP9H
— Din Thomas (@DinThomas) August 29, 2015
VMA shame.
*throws remote at tv* #VMAs
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) August 31, 2015
Ummm huge Kanye fan but FOR SUUURE have something planned before u grab the mic and accept an award, huh. #MTVVMAs #Kanye4president
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) August 31, 2015
I just punched myself in the face for watching the #VMAs
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) August 31, 2015
Miley Cyrus song sounds like it could go down as an all time great…#mtv succeeded in making me feel awkward on my own couch tn. #VMAs
— Chris Wade (@CWadeMMA) August 31, 2015
It has become very evident that the best decision I made today was not watching the #VMAs
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) August 31, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced this weekend (Aug. 28-30 2015)
cancelled Robbie Lawler vs. Carlos Condit at UFC 193
Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm moved from UFC 195 to UFC 193
Rafael Carvalho vs. Brandon Halsey at Bellator 144
Hayder Hassan vs. Vicente Luque at UFC on FOX 17
Jim Alers vs. Cole Miller at UFC on FOX 17
Kiichi Kunimoto out, Li Jingliang vs. Nakamura Keita at UFC Fight Night: Barnett vs. Nelson
Muhammed Lawal vs. Linton Vassell at Bellator 142
Phil Davis vs. Emanuel Newton at Bellator 142
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via jaywolf1.
China forces ONE FC to postpone Sept.1 Shanghai event to Sept.17
Well this is going to be a short fanpost just updating you on this event.
China has forced ONE Championship to postpone their Sept.1 Shanghai event to Sept.17 due to Sept 3rd “Commemoration of 70th Anniversary of World Anti-Fascist War”
That is the same thing that forced M-1 to postpone & move their M-1 Challenge 61 card from China to Russia.
…
Check out the rest of the post here.
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.