Werdum would’ve slapped Conor McGregor at UFC 197 press conference

Heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum says he wouldn’t have stayed as calm as his teammate Rafael dos Anjos did, during Conor McGregor’s tirades at the UFC 197 presser.

Conor McGregor faces Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 197, March 5 in Las Vegas. On Wednesday’s press conference the brash featherweight champion not only verbally attacked the Brazilian 155-pound titleholder the way he always does to promote his fights, he also insulted Dos Anjos’ whole team at Kings MMA, which he called a “bum gym” in the process.

RDA’s teammate and UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum wasn’t too happy with those comments and responded during a media event in Los Angeles on Thursday.

“When you have a fight with my friend, you have a fight with me, too,” Werdum said. “We’re a family. If you say something bad, you pay for this for sure.” (Transcription via MMA Fighting)

McGregor was late to Wednesday’s presser, but took over the whole scene as soon as he arrived, steadily interrupting Dos Anjos and talking over his comments. The stoic Brazilian stayed calm, Werdum says he would have handled the situation way different.

“When [reporters] had a question for Rafael and he talked over him, this is no good,” Werdum said. “If it was my opponent, I would do this [Werdum makes a gesture like throwing water in his face, then makes a slapping sound], I’d say ‘be quiet.’ But that’s not Rafael’s personality. He’s a smart guy, okay, he controls himself, he just thinks about the fight.”

Werdum says the problem with McGregor is his lack of respect, and that a demeanor like that would not go unpunished with him.

“It’s very important to respect,” Werdum said. “You have your space, I have my space. We have a fight, why do you touch me before. I thought Conor McGregor wasn’t showing respect. It’s not good. If he does it to me, he has a big problem. It think it’s very important he respects my space and I respect his space.”

Fabricio Werdum faces Cain Velasquez in a heavyweight title rematch at UFC 196 on February 6 in Las Vegas.

Heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum says he wouldn’t have stayed as calm as his teammate Rafael dos Anjos did, during Conor McGregor’s tirades at the UFC 197 presser.

Conor McGregor faces Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 197, March 5 in Las Vegas. On Wednesday’s press conference the brash featherweight champion not only verbally attacked the Brazilian 155-pound titleholder the way he always does to promote his fights, he also insulted Dos Anjos’ whole team at Kings MMA, which he called a “bum gym” in the process.

RDA’s teammate and UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum wasn’t too happy with those comments and responded during a media event in Los Angeles on Thursday.

“When you have a fight with my friend, you have a fight with me, too,” Werdum said. “We’re a family. If you say something bad, you pay for this for sure.” (Transcription via MMA Fighting)

McGregor was late to Wednesday’s presser, but took over the whole scene as soon as he arrived, steadily interrupting Dos Anjos and talking over his comments. The stoic Brazilian stayed calm, Werdum says he would have handled the situation way different.

“When [reporters] had a question for Rafael and he talked over him, this is no good,” Werdum said. “If it was my opponent, I would do this [Werdum makes a gesture like throwing water in his face, then makes a slapping sound], I’d say ‘be quiet.’ But that’s not Rafael’s personality. He’s a smart guy, okay, he controls himself, he just thinks about the fight.”

Werdum says the problem with McGregor is his lack of respect, and that a demeanor like that would not go unpunished with him.

“It’s very important to respect,” Werdum said. “You have your space, I have my space. We have a fight, why do you touch me before. I thought Conor McGregor wasn’t showing respect. It’s not good. If he does it to me, he has a big problem. It think it’s very important he respects my space and I respect his space.”

Fabricio Werdum faces Cain Velasquez in a heavyweight title rematch at UFC 196 on February 6 in Las Vegas.