Conor McGregorhas promised blood will be split when he takes on Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone atUFC () on Saturday – but insists it won’t be bad blood.
‘Notorious’ fights for the first time in months in Las Vegas this weekend , coming face-to-face with his opponent in a final press conference in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Previous pre-fight press conferences involving McGregor have been remembered for colorful language, even more colorful outfits and the odd scuffle.
This one however was a far more amicable affair with McGregor and Cerrone laughing and smiling throughout their exchanges with the assembled press – with the Dubliner even interrupting a question to complement ‘Cowboy’ on his snakeskin suit.
McGregor was a far more relaxed figure than the one on show ahead his October 2020 meeting with bitter foe Khabib Nurmagomedov – or the one that joined Floyd Mayweather on a wild round-the-world press tour the previous summer.
“I have not changed too much, I am who I am,” McGregor said. “Granted, it is a different opponent and circumstances but I am excited to be here. I have a solid opponent, a veteran of the game. I’m in a good spot and happy to be here.”
“There will be blood spilled on January (****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************, but it won’t be bad blood.
While there was plenty of respect, McGregor’s confidence in his own abilities remains as true as ever, promising to knock out Cerrone and embark on his most successful year yet.
“I feel I have the speed advantage. I’m feeling confident and I am fully committed. I made this game what it is. I’m going to remind everyone of that.
“I can read Donald like a children’s book.”
Live Updates
************************************************************************************************************ (-) ***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** – (T) : (**************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: **************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
************************************************************************************************************************************ (Z)
And that’s all for tonight. Join us again tomorrow when the UFC 246 show continues.
2918525 – (****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** (T) : (************************************************************************************************************************************************************: 15. (Z)
And that too passes without any fireworks – a steely staredown followed by a handshake.
******************************************************************************************************************************) – – (T) ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: (************************************************************************************************************************************************************: (********************************************************************************************************************************************************. ********************************************************************************************************************************** (Z
The two fighters re-emerge for the face-off …
15000 – (-) ***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** (T) ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: (**********************************************************************************************************************************************************: (************************************************************************************************************************************* (Z)
That’s a wrap. All very friendly, clearly there is plenty of respect between McGregor and Cerrone.
– – (T) **************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: (**************************************************************************************************************************************************************: 02 Z
The biggest challenge of Cerrone’s career?
He’s a two time champ, it’s the toughest battle to date. This is the biggest one so let’s see what happens. “
******************************************************************************************************************** – 03 – (T) ************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** (****************************************************************************************************************************************************************: ************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** (Z
What does McGregor think of Cerrone’s striking ?
“I feel I have the speed advantage. I’m feeling confident and I am fully committed. I made this game what it is. I’m going to remind everyone of that.
“I can read Donald like a children’s book.”
– 02 – (T) *****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: (****************************************************************************************************************************************************************: 50. 320 Z
Will McGregor be ready to step in if one of Tony Ferguson or Khabib drop out?
“Look at the history, someone always pulls out. They are known for not making that walk. That is something I have said to Dana, yes.”
(******************************************************************************************************************************* – 03 – T**********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************: 470 Z
Would McGregor prefer to fight Mayweather or Pacquiao?
“That is tough, I would love the rematch. I feel now I could get that victory. For me, I have the aspiration to win a boxing world title and something I will look to achieve in the future.
“I am feeling very confident in my boxing abilities.”
(******************************************************************************************************************************** – – (T) *****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: 30: ********************************************************************************************************************************** (Z) **************
Any announcements on Zuffa Boxing?
“We ‘ll see what happens!’
(******************************************************************************************************************************* – – (T) ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: 28:
********************************************************************************************************************** Z
Why is McGregor acting so differently with Cowboy?
“I am as real as it gets. I react to how the situation is. This situation seems to be a bit different so I react accordingly. I’m just being real.”
4335211 – – T (****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: : (**************************************************************************************************************************************************************************. ************************************************************************************************************************************ (Z)
Conor fighting three times this year?
If he does that, plus you have Khabib vs Tony and the Jon Jones fight, it will be good. It all sounds good to me. ”
– 03 – (T) ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: **************************************************************************************************************************************************************************:
******************************************************************************************************************** Z
Is McGregor feeling under pressure to win ?
“I don’t feel pressure, pressure creates diamonds. I’m well prepared, I’m going to put on a phenomenal show.”
– – (T) **************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: (**************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: (******************************************************************************************************************************************** (Z
Dana White’s expectations****************************
“We always end big, January is usually the slowest time of the year so to kick off with a fight like this is awesome. “
– 03 – (T) ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: (***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: ************************************************************************************************************************************** (Z)
Getting back to the real Conor McGregor
Sometimes we have to go to certain places to realize what we need to do. I feel energized and refocused. “
(************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************ – (T) ************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** : (****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************:
********************************************************************************************************************** Z
McGregor fighting with a new focus?
I’m still a young man reaching for the stars, aspiring to do what hasn’t been done before. “
(**************************************************************************************************************** – 06 – (T) ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: (**********************************************************************************************************************************************************************: (*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************. ************************************************************************************************************************************ (Z
Has Cowboy’s focus changed after getting the McGregor fight?
“Fighting it just what I do. Fun comes into my training like this man [Conor], he hasn’t fought in a year and a half but I bet he has trained every day. This is just what we do.
I’m still having fun, kicking a ** and doing what I do. “
4335211 – – (T) : (****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: ********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** (Z
Fighting Alex Volkanovski at featherweight?
“Maybe It’s a little too much but never say never. “
2918525 – (****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** (T) : **************************************************************************************************************************************************** 223 Z
A reporter asks if the fight was ever in danger of not happening due to McGregor’s legal issues
“Nope,” is White’s blunt reply.
– – (T) ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: (******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: (******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************. ************************************************************************************************************************************************ (Z)
One reporter raises a question about McGregor’s legal issues – the crowd boos and Dana White attempts to shut him down.
15000 – (-) ***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** (T) ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: (****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: 41. 426 Z
This is all very amicable so far – McGregor interrupts a question to complement Cowboy on his jacket.
(****************************************************************************
********************************************************** () ******************************************************************************
************************************************
Read More
And that’s all for tonight. Join us again tomorrow when the UFC 246 show continues.
And that too passes without any fireworks – a steely staredown followed by a handshake.
The two fighters re-emerge for the face-off …
That’s a wrap. All very friendly, clearly there is plenty of respect between McGregor and Cerrone.
The biggest challenge of Cerrone’s career?
He’s a two time champ, it’s the toughest battle to date. This is the biggest one so let’s see what happens. “
What does McGregor think of Cerrone’s striking ?
“I feel I have the speed advantage. I’m feeling confident and I am fully committed. I made this game what it is. I’m going to remind everyone of that.
“I can read Donald like a children’s book.”
Will McGregor be ready to step in if one of Tony Ferguson or Khabib drop out?
“Look at the history, someone always pulls out. They are known for not making that walk. That is something I have said to Dana, yes.”
Would McGregor prefer to fight Mayweather or Pacquiao?
“That is tough, I would love the rematch. I feel now I could get that victory. For me, I have the aspiration to win a boxing world title and something I will look to achieve in the future.
“I am feeling very confident in my boxing abilities.”
Any announcements on Zuffa Boxing?
“We ‘ll see what happens!’
Why is McGregor acting so differently with Cowboy?
“I am as real as it gets. I react to how the situation is. This situation seems to be a bit different so I react accordingly. I’m just being real.”
Conor fighting three times this year?
If he does that, plus you have Khabib vs Tony and the Jon Jones fight, it will be good. It all sounds good to me. ”
“I don’t feel pressure, pressure creates diamonds. I’m well prepared, I’m going to put on a phenomenal show.”
Dana White’s expectations****************************
“We always end big, January is usually the slowest time of the year so to kick off with a fight like this is awesome. “
Getting back to the real Conor McGregor
Sometimes we have to go to certain places to realize what we need to do. I feel energized and refocused. “
I’m still a young man reaching for the stars, aspiring to do what hasn’t been done before. “
Has Cowboy’s focus changed after getting the McGregor fight?
“Fighting it just what I do. Fun comes into my training like this man [Conor], he hasn’t fought in a year and a half but I bet he has trained every day. This is just what we do.
I’m still having fun, kicking a ** and doing what I do. “
Fighting Alex Volkanovski at featherweight?
“Maybe It’s a little too much but never say never. “
A reporter asks if the fight was ever in danger of not happening due to McGregor’s legal issues
“Nope,” is White’s blunt reply.
One reporter raises a question about McGregor’s legal issues – the crowd boos and Dana White attempts to shut him down.
This is all very amicable so far – McGregor interrupts a question to complement Cowboy on his jacket.
(****************************************************************************
Read More
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings