MMA Fighting - The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani - The Best of Conor McGregor

Episode Date: December 21, 2015

In this special edition of The MMA Hour, we take a look back at all of Conor McGregor's appearances on our show. From his debut back in Feb. 2013 prior to his first UFC fight to episode 300, they're all here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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as far as requests to be on this show. We finally oblige in our sort of international feel this week. We go to Ireland now and we welcome in Connor McGregor. There he is. The beard of one himself. Connor, how are you? Thank you so much for stopping by. Yeah, thanks very much for having me, mate.

Yeah, Conno's at how about you? How are you? I'm doing great. I hear a bit of an echo. Can you maybe turn down the volume on your computer? Yeah, yeah. How about now? Can you still hear me?

I can hear you, yeah? Okay. I don't use this Skype. I only set this Skype up so I could go on this show with you. I don't really use this too much, you know what I mean? So I'm going to have to start getting used to these kind of things. Well, you look great, and you sound great, and I appreciate you stopping by. Yeah, that's good, man.

I like to look the way I feel, and I feel fucking amazing. Ellie, why so amazing? Because, you know, I'm living the dream, you know what I mean? Here I am. I'm just over five weeks out from the biggest fight in my life. And things are going good, and I'm getting great support at home. As you know yourself, you're at the saying yourself, everyone's hounding you to get me on this show.

And the artists really get behind their athletes, you know what I mean? And I'm looking to go out there and impress. And that's it. That's why I'm feeling good, you know? All the years of hard work, and now here we are. Dana White was in Ireland recently and he was hounded about you they were asking him all these questions

I can't I'm not lying every week I get tons of fans saying get the notorious MMA on the show your Twitter handle of course they love you so much are you aware that you are beloved so much by your fans and especially Ireland

it's grown each fight each fight it seems to get more and more you know but it's it's only going to it's only the beginning you know what I mean that's what I think this is only the beginning I'm here to take over I'm not here to shake no one's hand or I'm not here to be the token artist guy in there I mean I'm in there I'm in

there to get in and win and uh that's it you know I'm looking forward to him I'm looking forward to showing the people of Ireland the true martial artist you know I mean and shown shown the UFC and the world of MMA and martial artist that they haven't seen before you know do they love you're the first or do they love you because you're you well I'm not the first you know I don't know what I don't know they love me because I don't know I don't know it is but I'm not the first guy either you should know this you know what I mean you're the report you know

Tom Egan was the first UFC 93 he was my teammate we were only we're only kids back then he got he got a shot to fight and it was a little bit too soon for him you know what I mean we didn't really know what we were doing back then and then we have another guy another Irish guy but he he likes to carry the English flag you know what I mean so

so I don't know maybe because there's an Irish guy in there carrying an English flag now they we have an Irish guy carrying an Irish flag the tricolour you know I mean that's that's why that's why there's big buzz going on, you know. And I, and I apologize to Tom, you are right. I will admit, though, not as much buzzed for his fight as opposed to your debut.

So that's why it felt like the first, 93 feels like years ago. You get my point, right? Yeah, well, Tom, Tom was on the card basically because they were in the hometown, you know, and they were looking for a hometown guy to promote the show, you know, but I've built up, I've built up a hype around myself with some good wins and some good performances.

There's a, I'm not, like I said, I'm not just the token artist guy. I'm not on this show because, I'm not here because they're in Dublin. I'm, like you say, I'm fighting in Sweden, you know what I mean? So they want me and I don't want them, so to speak, you know what I mean? So there's a good bit of hype. And I'm looking forward to going in and proving everyone right. Why do they call you notorious? My coach came up with that, you know what I mean?

Because sometimes I'm not getting into a little bit of trouble. Oh. I don't know, just because I'm notorious. Where do you get into this trouble? Just over the years, you know what I mean? So growing up and that, I've been in and out of trouble. I've been with my coach John Kavanaugh for a long time

and there's been some ups and some downs and you know what I mean? This and that and that. But, you know, he stuck with me and he believed in me and that's basically where the name came from, you know, because I was just getting into trouble and drifting off and doing other things and then coming back and, you know,

but the past couple of years now, I've stuck with it. now and now here I am you know what I mean so I don't know that that's where the name came from anyway why'd you get into MMA why when I was younger it was always combat was always combat on me on my mind you know I mean it's always self-defense I got in there to be able to defend myself just because just like situations that would happen you know what I mean where someone something would happen where you know what I just out on the street or whatever and I just wanted to be able to defend myself and that was it and that's how I started I wanted to be able to defend myself on the

street and I started doing some kickboxing so I started doing, then I've done some boxing and I'll just travel around, you know what I mean, trying to do all martial arts, you know, ready for anything, you know what I mean, stay ready so I don't have to get ready. You know, it seems like the Irish fans have been begging for the UFC to return to Ireland since

the first and last event at UFC 93. Were you there? I was there, yeah, my teammate Tom was fighting, you know what I mean? I was there. If they got an event in the OTO, it would sell out in seconds. What did your man say? about what the last time

your man Gary Cook because I couldn't hear it but I heard you saying Ireland what did he say? He said he predicts they will be back there within the next 18 months Wow I was thinking

I was thinking as sooner than that well I wonder I wonder will they think that when I go in and when I go in and put on a show now in five weeks and make a name for myself you don't know what I'm hoping

to drag them back to the to Ireland you know what I mean and drag them by the scruff of the neck back and get a show long because I have some teammates in the gym that are ready to go as well it's not just me there's a whole

whole load of motherfucker is behind me waiting to go and I'm going to kick in the door and I'm going to kick in the door and drag them right back to Ireland well I'm sure a dominant performance As soon as this fight's done

I'm going to be on like George Nier going on his knees and start begging for a begging for a world title I'm going to go on my knees start begging for a come back to the O2

come back to Dublin Ireland well to be honest I'm not going to get on my knees I don't beg for no man but I'm definitely going to be saying it a lot I definitely want them to come back to my hometown and the summit. You know, we have a long history of combat

in our country, you know what I mean? A lot of people are true fans of this game, you know what I mean? So it's about time to start coming back and get the fucking act together and come back, you know what I mean? I mean, Danny even says it himself that he gets hounded. Well, if he doesn't want to get hounded, then let's do it, let's do a show, you know what I mean? I think they may erect a statue in your honor right now

because of this talk. And if you get them to come back sooner than 18 months, you're going to be an Irish legend, my friend. I am an Irish legend man I'm a living legend yeah I see myself as the champ already already you're the featherweight champion already I see myself as the champ from day one

before I even started training I always saw myself as the champ that's how I've seen myself I've visualised myself already there I visualise everything I've visualised this conversation I visualise the walkout I visualise everything going on I know I have shots picked out that I'm going to throw in this fight in five weeks you know I have seen everything in me head and now it's going to happen. You see it in your head, you're going to see it before your eyes.

That's what I say. Could you fight tomorrow? You seem like you're going to jump out of the screen right now and fight me. Stay ready so I don't have to get ready. I'm ready to go. Oh my gosh. I'm ready to go, yeah? And you're not just the champ.

You are a two division champion for Cage Warriors. Featherweight, lightweight. That's obviously a big deal. When you won the last belt, did you know that, I think you fought, you fought like what was the New Year's Eve time around, you know, just a couple months ago. Did you feel like, all right, it's inevitable. The call is coming.

After that last win, did you know that your time was coming in the UFC? I felt, like I said, even before that, when I came out, my mother, I felt it. You know what I mean? My mother always said that I came out, the doctor said to me, ma'am out with my hands up like this, yeah? And the doctor said to me, ma'am, you have a boxer on your hands. You know what I mean? I knew what I was going to do from day one.

and here I am, you know what I mean, I knew, even before the budging of fight on New Year's Eve, I knew I was going to get here, you know what I mean? My team knew I was going to get here, my coach new, my family knew, you know what I mean? I had belief from everyone, had a belief in myself,

and now here it is, you know what I mean, that last fight I felt at home, you know, each fight I'm learning, each day I'm learning, I feel like I'm growing every day. You know what I guess? This couldn't have come out a better time for me, you know what I mean?

I'm ready. Honestly, I am ready. Like I said with Tom Egan, it was a little bit too soon. We were only kids at the time. I didn't know what the fuck was going on. Jumping in there in 0-2, 9,000 screaming people didn't know what the fuck was happening. You know what I mean? Now we're ready.

If I have experience on some big shows, I've had some big hype fights fighting for them two titles. You know what I mean? There's a lot of successful guys that came from Cage Warriors. And I'm now in the UFC, like Dan Hardy, Michael Bisping and a load of those guys. And none of them ever had two belts, you know what I mean? I had the deuce. I was wanting around two belts. None of them guys had us out.

I'm looking to have as good a career as those guys, if not better. What's the scene like over there? Because, you know, we hear a lot about the English scene, and a lot of those guys now coming more to the US because they feel like they need, you know, better wrestling, training and whatnot. What kind of training are you getting over in Ireland? Yeah, I'm training. I always train.

I just train everywhere. Travel around. I like to travel around, and I try all styles of martial arts. So I've been back and forth as well to Iceland. We're going to Nelson, and those guys from Iceland come over some good, good solid grapplers and some good solid wrestlers. You know what I mean? But see all this crap about going to America and all.

People think they need to pack up, pack up and leave their coach. And like, see the way guys change coaches halfway through their career. You're in the wrong frame of mind if you're doing that. You're in the wrong frame of mind if you're leaving the guys you came up with and going to some other gym and trying to start up. I mean, I've guys that I started boxing with that went over to the wildcar gym with Freddy Roach and those,

because the pro boxers, and they're just another pro in there, you know what I mean? I'm with who I'm with. And I'll certainly go around traveling and sparring and training and meeting new people, of course, but I'm with who I'm with, and I'm with them until the end. I mean, that's the frame of mind you need to be in, not move away to somewhere and do, you know what I mean?

It's not the answer, you know what I mean? So, people are always saying to me, oh, you've got to go to America I'm going to do fuck all. I'll go to America when I am going to America. You know what I mean? But I certainly won't be packing up and moving over. I'm from Ireland.

You know what I mean? Ereda. And I'll be here till the day I die. So I'm keeping this on record. When you go on a five-fight winning streak or whatever in the UFC, you're not leaving. You're sticking there. I'm not going to see you go to Greg Jackson or ATT or anything. You're sticking there, right?

I would certainly, man, I would certainly travel abroad and maybe go training with those guys for a month. but then my home is Ireland. I'm not, I'm not packing up and moving everything, you know what I mean? There's no way in hell I'll ever do that. But I will definitely travel around, traveling around and meeting new people.

And, you know, no matter what, even if you're trying to experience pros or beginners, like if you're traveling around and you're getting variety in your sparring partners and your training partners, no matter what the level is,

you always feel like you're learning and you feel like you're grown and you're experiencing different body types and things like that, you know what I mean? It's always a good thing, So I certainly will travel around, but I'm from Ireland, and that's where I'll be basing. I'm not jacking it in and moving abroad and thinking that's the answer to all my problems,

because it's not, what you're looking for is not out there. What you're looking for is in here, do you know what I mean? Now, I do know what you're saying, my friend. Now, are you in Dublin right now? Oh, man. This may be the greatest guest in the history of our show right here. Look at you, making news right here, making an impact. That's what I was told about you.

What are you eating, by the way? Peanuts? Blueberries. Blueberries. Fucking delicious. Are you... Blueberries are good for lean and out. You know what I mean?

I'm a lean motherfucker as well. Lean as they come. Are you in Dublin right now? I'm in Dublin. I'm in my house. I was in training this morning. There's a guy from MTV following me around the past four days. I'm getting a mad amount of press.

I'm not really used to it. It kind of does me head in a little bit as well, but there was a guy from MTV following around. for the past four days, he's making a documentary. It's going to be out this Friday if you want to retweet that shit. You know what I mean? No, you have a lot of followers. Well, I'll see.

Yeah, this Friday. I'll see if it's up to my standards. I was in today, done some grappling, then done some pads. Then now after this, I'm going to head back down and do some more grappling. And then that's it. Just carry on all day every day. Now, you're not getting a big head on us now that you're getting all this attention, right? You're going to stay grounded.

I'm not, I don't know. I'm just me. I'm not thinking anything. I'm just the way I am, I'm not going to be the way I am. I'm not going to be the, I'm always going to be the same. You know what I mean? It's just the way I am. When you walk around in Dublin, do you get a lot of love?

Do a lot of people coming up to, getting a lot of attention from the common folk? Yeah. Not really, to be honest. I don't really go anywhere. I don't go anywhere. I wake up. I go to gym. I go get some field.

I go back to gym. I go back to the bed. You know what I mean? Sometimes I didn't have a tour session. I mean, that's what I do. I don't want to be going anywhere to be seeing people or not. You know what I mean? But you're my man from MTV following me around.

I'm not really used any of that. And then there's another, there's a TV station called TV 3. They were out, it's like an Irish thing. You know what I mean? They were the news people and they were out doing a little thing on me. And this is the kind of thing you have to get used to me. You know, it's a pain in the ass. You know what I mean?

Having to do all this stuff while they're training as well. But I'm definitely, I'm definitely up for doing it. If it's going to get me out there and it's going to get Irish MMA out there and it's eventually going to lead to these guys coming back and having a show here, you know, once a year or whatever, you know what I mean, and getting my teammates on, you know what I mean? We're struggling. We're broke as a motherfucker's over here, yeah?

All those guys training over here 24-7 haven't got to pot the piss in. I mean, so I want to bring shows over for all these guys so we can all get fucking paid. Are you married? No, I have a girlfriend. Yeah, shoot me now. Oh, okay.

I was going to ask what the love life was like because you seem like a very, you seem like a good catch. What? You seem like a good catch? What the fuck? Yeah, I am a good catch, yeah, well, yeah. My girlfriend, I'm with my girlfriend there a few years. Man, she keep, she put me, keep me head straight, you know what I mean?

You need a good woman in your life. Have you got a woman yourself, already, or is this, or is MMA your woman? I've got a wife and a son, my friend. Nice, nice, good, is she good looking? She's very good looking. I appreciate you asking. Which, look at your face, I don't know. Look at this guy.

I'm only mad. I know. me ask you about Marcus Brimidge. We haven't talked about him. A bit of a funky character into the video games, likes to do the backflips, but he's looked very good in the UFC. What do you think of him? Yeah, if he's played at him, he's three and all inside the octagon. He's fought some prospects and that. I don't really look, I don't look into what these guys are at, you know what I mean?

Because at the end of the day, there's no opponent, you know what I mean? You're against yourself in there, so I don't really, I don't really look too much into him. He seems okay. seems like a nice guy, he seems like an okay little boxer, and he's athletic, but we'll see, I think his movements,

I think he's limited with his movements and I look to exploit that, you know what I mean? I'm moving many different ways, and I'll definitely be getting in there and looking to exploit that. By the way, are you on the main card? I should be on the main card,

but I don't know. This is my first time out, you know what I feel like a wily veteran, I'm going to feel at home when I get in there, yeah? It's going to feel like nothing. See what everyone talks about being afraid and all life for your,

nothing. I'm going to walk out there head held high. I mean, hands up in the air and stomp out right forward for him. Not a caring of the world. What's the most, what's the most amount of people? What's the most amount of people that you fought in front of? Um, 4,000. Well, this is going to be different, my friend. This is going to be different. There's going to be way more people than 4,000. Sold out Erickson Globe Arena. Are you ready for that? I don't give a fuck. It makes no difference. It's my way. It's me and him in there. Like I said,

I'm going to go straight for him. Hands in the air. Open palm. Chuck Norris style, yeah? Wow. How do you expect to finish him? Um, I don't know. I have a few shots picked and he's a self-paw as well. Let's see what happens. He's tough. You'll see what happens. I am going to finish him though.

There's no doubt me mind. I'm going to walk away. I'd like a nice bonus. You know what I mean? I'm in there to get paid. I'm like I said, we're all broke over this neck of the woods. not a thing going for any of us you know what I mean so I want to start getting paid maybe get me to get myself a nice car or something I mean having even got a car at the minute and maybe maybe some nice clothes or something

I mean a few suits and some shit like that so I'm looking to get paid I'm going to go for him and look to finish him anyway by the way what happens to your cage warriors titles you wouldn't believe what happened to them cage warriors titles yeah when I won them titles when I won the fourth one I uh yeah um my coach john

wanted me to bring, because he hangs all the belts we have up on the wall. And he's always saying, Connor, bring down your belt. And we hang it up on the wall. I was like, oh, yeah, yeah, I forgot it. I'll bring it down tomorrow. And then I forgot it again. And that happened for months. And then I wins the next belt.

And the same thing again, can I bring down their belts we hang up on the wall? I was like, I can't. And then this guy got in touch wrote me a nice message. He said, like, he wanted me to come down. I didn't want some filming about a talk about suicide and bullying. And you know what I mean? And he said, would I come down and say a few words and bring me two belts. I was like, man, of course

I'll do that, man. That sounds great. So it brings me two belts down to the gym, does the few words, leaves the belts there. The only time the belts are in the gym and then Cage Warrior staff come over to film one of my teammates is fighting for the title called Pendred so they're filling, the PR

team are filming him. And I wasn't there. And didn't they take the two fucking belts back with them? So now, so now right now I've no belts. And I mean, I was planning I'm not giving them belts back to me honest. When I came down, to it, I was just going to delay it as long as I could to keep them belts and then maybe when I came down to it then probably just pay for the belts.

You know what I mean? Just say, look, I'll try it's a few quid and I'll just keep them belts. Because to be honest, I don't know. I'm going to get them belts back somehow, to be honest. I don't know what I'm going to deal, but I will get them belts back. That is a travesty. You leave something down for two seconds and it's a width, just like that. That is a travesty.

You need to get those belts back. I mean, they're yours. But are you the champion or are you now, like, have they vacated the titles? I'm always the champion, yeah. no one beat me. No one took them belts off me. I'm the champ, yeah. I'm the two-way champ.

Like one-fifty-five-pound champ and one-45-pound champ. All right. But I think, I think, of course, of course now I'm fighting this. They're going to put two other bombs in there to try and fight for it. But there really is only one champ, and they know it as well as I know it. And his name is Connor McGregor.

This might be my favorite interview of all time. I'm getting hit up here. People are loving you, my friend. You know, I got to say, say, I think it's an apropos time to say this. You know, it's my favorite movie of all time? What? In the name of the father.

You know that movie? Yeah, I know that. You know, yeah, all right, guys. I love that movie. I was stuck in chair at a bombing, yeah? That's all right. You didn't like it? I thought it was great.

I really enjoyed it. No, it is a good film. It's a good Irish film. There's some good Irish films out there. Yeah. It's actually a good Irish TV show at the minute I call Love Hate, and I'm actually bent into that. It's about Irish ganglands, yeah?

from where I'm from, crumling and dream there's a big, it's a big TV. show, it's having good success, but it's damn good Irish TV, it's not good. You know what I mean? When you see something good coming from our country, I like to support it, you know what I mean? I'm not like one of those little negative, negative people that like to hate on shit, you know what I mean? I support

good things that are coming from my country, and you know what I mean? And that is one of them that show. Maybe I don't know if I start getting my little celebrity up, maybe I might see a cameo. Well, you are a good thing coming out of the great country of Ireland. He is Connor McGregor, his Twitter

handle is The Notorious MMA. You probably are a fan of his after listening to this interview if you weren't a fan of his before the interview. So hit him up, follow him as he makes his way to the UFC April 6th, Stockholm, Sweden, UFC on Fuel TV number 9. He fights Marcus Brimidge. This has been a pleasure. I really enjoyed this.

I'm happy that they terrorized me to get you on the show, your fans. And I wish you nothing but the best of luck in your UFC debut and beyond. I'm sure we'll be talking to you many times, though. Brilliant. Thank you very much. I really appreciate them. Thanks for them, kind words. All the best to you.

good luck on April 6th. Thank you, man. Thanks very much. There he is. Connor McGregor stopping by. And wow, as I see on my Twitter right here, that was unbelievable. That might be one of our greatest guests ever. It's the best guest ever.

He's up there, right? No, it's number one. There's no other guests to talk about. This is the best guest and the best interview we've had. And I don't want to hate on other guests because we've had great ones. I mean, this has been a great show with Gary Cook and Brian Stan, et cetera, et cetera. But wow, let us know. Where does Connor McGregor rank as far as all-time great MMA hour guests?

And not only that first time on the MMA hour, comfortable, dropping lines, eating blueberries, laughing. I mean, he was outstanding. That was unbelievable. Thank you very much to him. and I appreciate all the fans who were, as I said, hounding me to get him on the show. You Irish fans are incredible, blown away by you guys, and I do hope that you get your UFC fight,

UFC card in Ireland sooner rather than later. The moment he won on Saturday, the moment he won the people's main event, as I dubbed it, I was flooded with tweets with people saying, you must get this man on the MMA hour on Monday. He must come back for round two. We said it a few weeks back, perhaps the greatest

MMA hour debut in our short history and he is so kind to join us once again right here on the MMA hour. There he is. Connor Mack himself. Look at him. What's up, man? How are you,

are you, both, are I? I'm doing all right. It's so great to have you back on the show. I need to load this down, don't I? What'd you say? Do I need to lower this down? No, no, no, you look great. Should I not be able to see you, but

I could see you the last time? Yeah, well, we changed studios now, so it's a little different, but have no fear. Under construction. But we're here and we see you, and that's all that matters. Now, first things first, where are the blueberries? Because we saw when you got back to the locker room, you're eating the blueberries, and I got a lot of tweets about that, so I was expecting you snacking on some blueberries

right now. Yeah. No. I don't know. I just had some blueberries in my bag, but I tell you what, I do have kale chips there. Yeah, they're pretty all right. Hang on. Them little bad boys there.

Oh, yeah. Did you make those yourself? Because I hear you're quite the show. Do you cook those yourself? Because I hear you're quite the chef. Yeah, no, I didn't cook to myself. Yeah, but I do like cooking. I do always say, like,

sometime, someday I think I might open up my own, my own little place. It'll be, you know what I'm like for visualization? And I do visualize having my own place, like my own little restaurant kind of thing. I've already got the name of the restaurant, if you want to know that. I would love to know it.

Do you ever hear of like sloppy joys? Of course. Well, I would call mine shredded joes, yeah, and just have it like pure healthy food and have it like kind of like a sports bar and have like UFC memorabilia and have all the fights on. I think a place like that would do good business. Well, you're on your way, my friend. I mean, you're $60,000 richer, not to mention your purse. You're in the UFC. You're in overnight.

Oh, yeah. I'd like to know, do you have a pot to piss in now? Yeah, yeah, yeah, I have a few pots to piss. I have a choice of pots to piss in now, yeah? Someone tweeting me that, yeah? I guess kind of has a choice of pots to piss in now. I thought that was funny, yeah? It was a surreal thing to watch, and we're not saying that we had any part of it, but it just, you know, ever since you were on the show, the following week, Marcus was on the show, I felt like this fight should be on the main card, we started calling it the people's main event and just watching it

with the people on Saturday, and then the explosion of tweets that I got. imagine what you got after your win. Just to see the people rallying behind you, how surreal has all of this been? To finally live your dream and not just make it to the UFC, but debut like that. Yeah, man, it is unbelievable. Words can't describe it. I mean, as I was walking out, I was walking out, and I could just see Ireland flags everywhere. The Irish rugby jersey, you know, I can see people, Irish flags, and I could see it everywhere

in the whole arena. I couldn't believe it. But words can't describe. lives, you know what I mean, everything, everything just went the way I said it was, you know what I mean, I said I was going to steal the show, I said, I honestly can't put it into words, you know what I mean, I still feel like I'm in a bubble here, you know what? I haven't come down. I still feel like my adrenaline is kind of going, I'm still don't, I don't know what the fuck to be doing with myself, you know what I'm just kind of twitchy all the time like that. But, like, even, even all over the week, like, throughout the week when I was on Sweden, it literally felt like I was playing the video game. I literally felt like I was playing UFC undisputed. And when I got back in after the fight, and this guy walked up to me in a suit and was like, Dana will see you now. I was like, Dana will see you now. I was like, we walked in, me, my coach, and Dana was there. And I don't know, it was just crazy. I got really, it literally felt like I felt like I was on playing the video game. I don't know. It was fucking nuts, man. It really was something else. It's a well-old machine to UFC. You know what I mean? They run. They run. Run shit, probably me, the people that came off and we didn't know what, what do we expect, you know what? They don't really know much about MMMA and my family and all. They didn't, me, my man, they don't really know too much, you know, but my dad's, me dad's the biggest fan of it now.

He hasn't stopped watching it since I've came back. And obviously, Dana tweeted the picture of, of you guys being saying that you are for real. What do he say to you? What was that conversation like? He was just saying, man, he was saying, pretty much came at you, man, pretty much was tough, which he did. He did. He came in and gave me some exchanges and he went for it. You know what I mean? But he just said, he just said, well, don't mind. I've been getting hounded by all the Irish people. And I just said, look, just have that 60 Gs ready. Because there was still like 8'5-7 on the car.

So I was like, listen, just have that, have that 60 G is ready. You know what I mean? I'm trying to plant it in his mind. And I ended up getting it, yeah? And congratulations for that. I know that must have made you very happy. Now, things were a little dicey earlier in the week. And we saw this on your video. blog, you had to get your wisdom tooth taken out because you were an incredible pain. What happened there? I didn't have to get a taken up, but I literally from the Sunday, the fight Saturday, the Sunday before that I wakes up, I'm waking up in the middle of night and I literally couldn't close my mouth.

I couldn't close, I opened my mouth past a certain bit. And like the gum from my wisdom tooth was just coming over the, and my gum was coming over the wisdom tooth and it was the most hollowest pain of this thing ever. And I called the doctor out to the house. and I said I need antibiotics he said there's an infection you're going to have to take antibiotics

I told him I had the fight coming up so he gave me light antibiotics and that was a bad thing because I took them antibiotics for like four days and they were a little baby antibiotics that didn't do jack shit

so I'm over there in Sweden and I'm waking up having slept I couldn't sleep for the whole for all them days and then Wednesday morning I wakes up in Sweden I just said to John and

I said to listen I have to go to dentors I have to go somewhere I can't, I'm in pain so we got in touch with Bert watching it he said, yeah, there's a place here, go there, so we went there and the dentist there was telling me

them antibiotics, like if you went more than nothing, you know what I mean, so then I had to take big heavy ones three, three, three antibiotics a day, twice a day, so six, six antibiotics a day I was taking it it was just, it was just another thing, you know what I mean? I wasn't going to, nothing could have stopped me in there, you know what I wasn't going to be broke,

it's just another thing, you know, Adversity causes some men to break and others to break records. And I chose to be the second one, you know what I mean? So that's the way I looked at. I just looked at it as another challenge and fuck the pain. You know what I mean? It's only a tilt at the end of the day. I got through it.

So you had to take this medicine. Is there a chance this could come up in your post-fied drug test? Is there an issue there? No, no, because they were aware of it. And they got onto the UFC doctor and he was like, no, they're okay. I could take ibuprofen up until 24 hours before the weighing in, so I did that, 24 hours before the wayans. I stopped taking the ibuprofen and I continued with the antibiotics.

I didn't take the antibiotics on the Friday of the wayans, and then I took one on the Saturday, and then that was it. But what else could I do? I wasn't sleeping, you know what I mean? I literally didn't sleep for four days straight, me mouth. I couldn't open. If you've ever had a wisdom two pains, the nastiest pain ever, you know what I mean? So I had to do something, but now they know about it anyway.

Look, they're not going to rob that for me. There's not, there's nothing about them antibiotics doing, you know what? It was just like to kill an infection. I mean, it would have made me worse. You know, you're obviously a very confident guy, but was there ever a point you're not sleeping? You're bothered. You're thinking about something else where you're like, gosh, this is bad luck. I'm not on my game here.

This is affecting me. Were you ever sort of doubting yourself because of this too thing? Yeah, I never doubted. myself but it was tough you know what i mean i'm limited calories and not only that the week before that the week before the sunday me last week of training i went in on monday morning and i done some jiu jitzo and i had twinge the nerve in my neck so i literally couldn't turn my head that way all the way and then literally that was like so the final week i trained two weeks before trying i had to sit everything out and i was getting treatment and acupuncture so like for the final two weeks i literally didn't do

anything you know what i mean so i definitely it was a tough time you know what i mean you but honestly, nothing could have stopped me there. I just kept saying, listen, I'd beat this guy on my deadbeds, you know what I mean? That's the way I was looking at it. Nothing could have stopped me, you know what I mean? Absolutely nothing. You said three letters in your post-fight interview that we don't usually hear in UFC post-fight interviews. You said WWE, and then you referenced Stone Cold Steve Austin in the back with the other media.

What were you trying to say there? Because I wasn't quite sure if I understood, I think I know, but what were you trying to say? No, because people were saying that. I was getting in his face at the Wayans and all this. I'm not trying to do it. I'm just having a... It's all a game, you know what I mean? I'm just playing up like the WWE, you know what I mean?

It's all an act, really, you know what I mean? I never had bad feelings towards Marcus. I never had good feelings either, you know what I mean? I didn't love him, I didn't hate him. I didn't anything him, you know what I mean? He doesn't... The opponent doesn't come into the equation. I'm just playing up.

I'm just getting people talking about the fighting where they... You know what I mean? Just get the hype. going and I knew I knew no matter what happens I was going to perform in there but outside of it I definitely want you know what I want people talking I want I want to create a story

you know what I mean good or bad is that a good thing to admit because people like to buy that stuff they like to eat that up is it good to admit that um yeah I don't know I don't really give a shit whether it's good to admit it you know I mean

all right I'm still it's not going to make a difference you're still all them motherfuckers are still going to pay for that Yeah, trust me on that. That's all that matters. So, so no hard, did you even talk to him after? Did you, did you share some words? No, I didn't, I didn't talk to him after because, I didn't talk to him after.

I haven't seen him. If I had a son of him, I would have spoke to him. You could see it in him. You know what I mean? I could see it in him. I was saying, man, he is emotionally attached. I could even see it in his coach. That he, this coach was emotionally attached.

I just knew. I was saying, this guy's going to be coming forward and going to be over trying his shots. And you know what I mean? When you're emotionally attached, you're judging. your judgment is clouded, you know what I mean, your reaction time is off. It's either too much, you're either firing too fast or you're firing,

do you know what I'm trying to say? Yeah. It's awful, and I thought that would happen. Now, fair plate did it a little motherfucker. He came out, he came out and came,

came going for it, you know what I mean? He threw some shots, and all those, I was listening to the broadcast there, Kenny was saying, I took some big shots. I didn't take,

any shots, to be honest. One might have been a little bit off-balance, but I was in it. I took no shots, so I don't know what the crack that was. I don't know what the, what the fuck that was there, bro. No, I respect Marcus, he's a good guy,

and I look forward to seeing him again, you know what I mean? Because at the end of the day, whether you beat a guy or he beats you, you know what I mean? You have a bond with these people for the rest of your life, you know what I mean?

You want to see them do well. If someone beats me, I want to see them go on and do great things. If I beat them, I still want to see them go on and do great things, you know what I mean? So you have a bond with, which are opponents,

no matter what, you know what I mean? Even if, even if there is a lot of shit, talking. There always is shit talk, but to me it means Jack's shit. Honestly, you can say what you want to me, and I'll say what I want to you. It's going to come off, it's going to just roll off my back, you know what I mean, like water

of a duck's back, as they say in Ireland. I don't know, they probably say that in America as well, but they say that in America, yeah? They say bulletproof vest, waterproof back. You know what your man's Stitch was saying? He's walking back. You know, just the cut man's Stitch. You're a bad motherfucker. Are you Irish? I was like, yeah.

The Irish are like the Mexicans, man. I'm going to call you loaded weapon. I was, fuck. Like, hearing all, you know, I don't really hear American accents or not too much. And just hearing everyone's accents and all. It was just, it was crazy. It literally was like I'm in the game.

It was literally like I'm in the game. And then both, both are mad, motherfucker. He is. He just, he gets you gone. He, he, that man runs the show, yeah? Oh, yeah. That man really runs the whole shit. He's the unsung hero.

He's the unsung hero. He's, he's the, he's the guy that you don't, hear about as much, but without him, who knows how they go? Yeah, no, 100% that man runs the show. He was the only guy, you know, that you're in contact. All the fighters are in contact with it. And not only is, the fighters are in contact with him, and he's in contact with everyone else that is doing everything else.

And he really is the man behind it all. It was great to meet him, and it was great to meet everyone and get me foot in the door, you know what I mean? I told them all I was going to steal the show earlier, and I wasn't messing about that. You know, it's not going to stop here. You know what I mean? They'll give me someone in Boston, and it makes no difference here what it is.

I'll go through them as well. I'm just going to keep going. There's no stopping me. You know, just a few more minutes left with you, Connor. We really appreciate the time. I have to admit and correct me if I'm wrong here, when you were on the show the first time, a month or so ago, like I said, you were sitting back, you were eating,

you were dropping the F-bombs. You were very cocky, very confident. You seem to me now the same guy, but very tired. You seem almost exhausted from the whole experience. Now you're coming down from Cloud 9. Is that accurate? Yeah, that could be accurate. I'm just, I don't know, I'm just chilling out with me gaff as well.

Can't a man chill out in this house without me fucking saying he's tired? I don't know. I feel fucking great, man. I feel rich as a motherfucker as well, I don't know. I don't know. I feel good. But like, even before, you know what I mean, excellence is not a skill. Excellence is an attitude, you know what I mean?

It's all in your head, you know, you tell yourself, you are what you are. You are whatever you tell you, say, you know what I mean? I'm telling myself I'm the two-way champ. You know what I mean? That's that. What does that mean? I'm the two-way world champion. Two-way?

What do you mean by that? Two-weight. Oh, two-weight. Oh, okay. All right. Two-weight, world champion. Well, you're going to go up and down weights. I mean, I'm not afraid.

I'll go lightweight. I'll go featherweight. I'd like, I wouldn't mind maybe a lightweight scrap for the next one. Oh, really? Just to get in because I definitely want to be up and down. I definitely want both divisions now when I'm about. So the next. one in Boston, you wanted to be at 155?

Yeah, I wouldn't mind 155, yeah, because as well, my first one in America as well, you know what I mean? It's a big travel as well, so I'd like to be, I'd probably like it at 155. My Sean Shelby came up to me and said, don't, we don't want you to go near, we don't want, I want you to stay

at 155. I'll honestly take, I'll take either one, you know what I mean, 155 or 145. You said at the Post-5 press coverage, what's that? Yeah, no, going one. You said that you were, you were going to collect social welfare checks, or you were on the verge, or what was going on there? No, no. See, as you know, Ariel, or maybe you don't know, it's UFC are peanuts. Yeah. You know what I mean?

If you're not signed to the UFC, you're a broke motherfucker like I told you in the last interview. So I was collecting the social welfare, you know what I mean? Up until, you know what I mean? So now, and I was just basically saying that that, because people ask me questions, and I was just saying, listen, I don't know what the fuck's going on here. Here I am. Up on a big stage and Dana White is right there. And I don't know.

I'm actually having to fucking clear what's going on. I was in a bubble. I was in my day just last week I was in collecting the social welfare. you know what just did. Manchelard is chasing this dream on a nuttack, you know what I mean? I hope the guys from Ireland and whoever around the world,

you know what I can see, might me, that it can just change like that, you know what I mean? One minute, seven seconds I go from being known to having money and money to me name and having my name out there,

you know what I mean? So I hope that inspires people to get out and chase what they're chasing, you know what I'm going to get after it. And just to show how confident you were, you planned out, you picked out a pretty sweet-ass suit, I must say. I mean, that thing was great.

With the bow-time, whatnot, I want to know, how did you ford that thing? You're collecting social... How did you afford it? Yeah, that's what we called hand-me-downs, yeah. In Ireland, we call them hand-me-downs, yeah? That was my great-grandfather Joe's Blazer, that was, yeah? Handed down through the famine.

Now, do you know what? I knew. I knew I was going to be on that post-flight press conference. So I packed some nice pair of slacks. I packed a nice dicky bow. What you think of that dicky bow, by the way? I was nice, wasn't it? I liked it.

I must admit, I thought it was awesome. A little touch. All it was was a dicky bow, 10 euro. You know what I mean? And people are talking about the dicky bow, kill motherfucker. But I ain't, I packed all that. Because I knew, I knew I was going to be on that post-5 press conference.

I packed some nice, nice pair of pants, nice pink shirt, nice bowtile, blazer. I mean, I packed it all because I knew. I knew I was going to steal the show and they were going to want me on that post-five press. conference and you know what they say when you see in your head who says that when someone says when you're seeing in your head you're going to see it up by your eyes and that's what happened um what are the first couple things that you want to buy with with this money that you have now

i don't know i'm saying i'm going to buy a card and i'm going to listen if i'm going to have to talk to someone yeah because i know to talk to someone who knows about money because i know jack's yeah i don't have a bank account i've never had a bank account do i mean i'm not i've never had you know what i don't I'm going to have to talk to someone about what I'm going to do with the money, but if I was to cash that now, I'd cast that right now, that money, I'd be broke by next week, you know what I mean? So I'm going to talk to someone, sort of there what I'm going to do with it, and then get back at it, you know what I mean?

I want to, this doesn't stop for me. I don't stop at it, you know what I mean? There's no break for me. I'm, I stay in shape, you know what I mean? Not going to catch me out of shape, not never, you know what I mean? So I'm straight back into it and keep going, keep going at it, and get back in and look for more of these knockout of night bonuses. and sub-in-night bonus isn't.

I'm not looking for that fight-a-night bonus either, you know? Because that to me is a loss, I'm looking to dominate sub-a-night or fight-a-night, or even maybe, do you know what, there should be performed at a night, if anything. There should be a performance of the night and knockout of the night and a sub-a-night, as well as fire-a-night.

A fight-night is great, but, you know, even when you hear, like, two people in the pre-fight press conference, let's make this fight in the night, no, I mean, they're saying, yeah, we're going to make this fight a night, trying to just make a fight. To me, that's, that's sending yourself short. You know what I mean?

You're not, I don't know, it's not the wrong. You're not reaching for the stars. You're reaching too short there for me, you know what I mean? I'm looking to, I'm looking to steamroll everyone, you know what I mean? Get the of the night bonus, but not the fight in the night bonus. And you've received an immense amount of love, and we'll get to that in a second, but I'm sure with that come some hate as well. And somewhat famously made some headlines in Ireland.

And you and Kenny Egan, who's somewhat of a boxing star over there, Olympic and all that stuff. What's going on there? Because I saw back and forth on Twitter, you got some people that you need to put in place. So how does you feel like you do? Yeah, we have some, we have Olympic, our Olympic amateur boxers are heroes in this country. I don't know what I mean? I don't know where that Phil thinks he gets off. I went on to Twitter.

You know, my Twitter is blowing up at the minute. And I mean, I was just scrolling through the little interaction thing. And then I see it's that fucking dope puts up some picture. about MMA or some sort of little joke and had put my Twitter thing in it, the Twitter handle. And I just wrote Tom to shut his fucking mouth that in pure unarmed combat,

in true combat, you know what I mean? That man is a novice. You know what I mean? So, and I just talked to shut his mouth and then he was like, oh, I was only having the crack. You know what he heard of say? I only have their crack.

But I don't know that Phil person need to have the crack. You know what I don't have the crack with me. I'll crack in my totally left hooks into the chin. And then some other little mudda... It's harmless, to be honest, you know what I mean? I don't know.

There's a vibe going on, I suppose, you know what I mean? Because, again, this sport has only grown in Ireland, and we have a long history of boxing stars, and maybe they're a bit jealous, you know what I mean, that now that it's kind of torn in, it's probably already happened. This is, like, probably a debate that has happened in America in probably the 1990s or early 2000s when all that boxing versus him and makeup was going on.

This is probably only happening here now, you know what I mean? So, I don't know, fuck them off. It's kind of like, to me, it's kind of like rugby and soccer, you know what I mean? It's like a soccer player saying, ah, rugby, rugby's not good because it's too rough, you know what I mean? They need to get over that shit, you know what I mean? Because there's a new breed of bad motherfuckers around town and you're looking at them right now. How do you think you'll be received in Boston? I hope good, you know what I mean?

Boston is, I know there's a lot of crazy artists motherfuckers floating around Boston. So I'd imagine, I'd imagine we'd be looking, I'd be looking good, yeah, but I imagine I guess some good support out there. But again, you could boom, you could, I could come into a chorus of bills, you know what I mean, I'll play up to that shit, I'll play it all off, you know what I mean, it makes no difference. Well, definitely, I think, I think the Boston, I know Boston is a strong Irish connection. Man, that, that's going to be special. But when is it? It's four months, isn't it? It's August 17th. Yeah, it's a long way away. I don't, I don't like that. It's a bit too long.

Do you know what also I found out? Because I thought when you're signed to the UFC, you couldn't compete in Jiu Jitsu tournaments or any other tournaments like that. But I heard Ben Henderson was competing in a BJJ tournament. So there's no-gui Europeans on in Rome in June. I'm going to get on to the UFC and see can I compete in that because I would love to,

those Jiu-Tunas run, they're a great vibe. I don't know what I mean? It's a real chill and it's competition, you know what I mean? So I'm going to see will they let me go. over and compete in that. That would be next to me, I'd imagine. Unless maybe there's something that could come in before that, I don't know. I think they want you to fight in Boston and it makes sense.

And I don't know if you know this. That day, August 17th, a new channel is launching here in the United States called Fox Sports One. So it's a very big deal. And they're putting a UFC event on the first day that the channel launches over 80 million homes. So it's a big thing. And I have a feeling they want you to be on there because of the Irish connection, Boston and whatnot. But just so in case you don't know about that stuff, because you don't get that challenge Europe, that's a big card for the UFC. Yeah, 100%. Just give me a minute there. I'm just going to shake me head, yeah, because I need to get them dollar bill signs there on my eyes, yeah?

Because that's all I heard when you said that, yeah? Maybe you can ask for a new contract already. Yeah, I don't know. I'm not going to push me luck. The man's at the hand of me, the man's going to give me a 60G check, you know what I mean? I'm not going to start demanding contracts. I'm just going to take it as it is and have fun you know what I mean don't give a fun

I'm just here to have fun you know what I mean and when you have a love for life it's contagious you know what I mean and it just attracts good stuff and attracts good things to you and it has been working from me so far

so I'm just gonna keep going keep having fun and just keep doing what I'm doing and nothing changes to me and not just keep doing what I'm doing two last things

anyone who makes sense for you on that August 17th card do you want to call someone out? No anyway 145, 155, whatever they say. There's no one that I really... I suppose maybe a man Norman Park is 155.

He's fighting. He's the other kind of Irish guy, but he's from Northern Ireland, and he carries another... That's all a history thing. I don't give a shit about that, but that would be a good fight because the Irish-American thing,

and it would be a great contest for the European. and seeing, you know, me and Norman kind of came up together on the same kind of circuit. Since before the UFC, and we were always mentioned in the same bracket. So it's definitely a fight I would look, I would like to have all right against Norman at maybe 155. I suppose that could happen in Boston, but you never know, but that would probably be won. But other than that, really, no, anyone I'll take you.

I get the sense that you don't like Norman because the last time you were saying there are people who hold the flag or different flags, and a lot of your fans in Ireland thought that was a shot at Norman. Do you not like this guy? Yeah. No, I don't have any ill-fean-as-known. I'm just, it's one of those things, you know, it's a fight that makes sense. And we came up, we came up the same way.

And I think, I deal him in half a minute, I would. You know what I mean? So I don't really, I don't have any ill-feanus towards a guy. You know what I mean? He carries his, he's from Northern Ireland and carries his flag. I'm from Ireland and I carry the tri-colour. I mean, it's like, it's like, probably what I would have a thing with is, you know, I'm from where I'm from, yeah?

And if a UK, if a UK MMA site or something, or an MMA site said I was UK fighter, Connor McGregor, something like that, you know, which does happen, I will write to them, well, I'm actually, I'm actually Irish, or I would write something like that, you know what I mean, whereas he, you know what I mean, he considers himself British, so when people, when people say he's Irish, he should come on and say,

and say, no, actually, I'm British, you know what I mean? maybe, maybe he should do that. You know what I mean? That would be one thing. You know what I mean? Have respect for where you're from. You know what I mean? I'm proud of where I'm from. He should be proud of where he's from. But at then day, none of that shit means, you know what I mean? He'd be done in half a minute.

He wouldn't want, he doesn't want that for you either, yeah? Okay, last thing, Connor, before we go, and this has been great. I want to know if you, if there's anything you want to say to the people out there, because I know right now it's around 8 p.m. in Ireland. Like I said, my Twitter, it went nuts. They voted for you for, you know, this weekend. They said, you're the most anticipated UFC debut. They had this poll on Fuel TV.

We had fun with the whole people's main event thing. People were begging. Literally, I've never had this before where people were demanding that you come on the show on Monday. They wanted you back. What do you say to these people who are supporting you and almost living vicariously through you? Yeah, it's crazy, man. It gives me energy, you know what I mean? Just this does just give me energy just to keep going and keep chasing me.

I know I have so many people. of course there's negativity you know what I mean there's a lot of negative people people that maybe want to see me fair but there's three times as many positive people who are giving me such good vibes

you know what I mean so and I like to focus on the positive the positive you know what I mean and then the negative just shrinks away you know what I mean so to all the people that support me man thank you so much and you're not going to be

disappointed I just can't wait to get in there again I mean it feels like this this one has worn off already I mean this win has worn off already. I want to get back in. I've already been thinking about, you know, I'm already thinking about shit. Today I spent the day watching, watching some videos, you know, on just things. I was watching an Ikeedo, yo. You ever see that Ikeedo? There's like this karate thing

that these guys stand together again. They're in the, in the game. They literally punch and kick the body only. It's a mad looking, it's a mad-looking, it's a mad-looking sport. But then they do these, like, rolling flip kicks in all, man. It's from crazy. So I'm just back on what, I'm just back doing what I'm doing, know what I mean? fucking trying to learn, trying to grow, just add some new shit. It'd be nice to catch one of them one of them rolling kicks

somewhere down the line, definitely. I don't even know what to fuck about the talking about there. Hey, I can put you in touch with my good friend the Honorable Sensei Segal, who is an Akito master? He could teach you a thing or two. Is that what you're trying to say?

Do you want me to hook you up with Sensei Segal? No, no, no, no. I'm a chuk-nardis man, I'll, you know that, yeah? So fuck the SIGal, yeah? No, no, man. I'm a chook notice, man, yeah? You know what?

It would be great. You know the way they walk out with Stephen Sagan? I would love to walk out with Chuck Norris, man. That for me would be their shit, man. Have you got a contact there for Chuck, no? Well, let's see what happens. And I'll stroll out with him on me back, you know what? That'd be fucking sweet.

I'm surprised I was trying to do that before because Chuck Norris is the fucking man, yeah? You don't fuck with Chuck Norris. Well, on Fox Sports One, the launch of that network, to come out with Chuck Norris is quite the entrance. So you put it out there. You're the man for that. Yeah, you start tweeting to Chuck Nottis.

I don't even, because I just follow this page and it's not really Chuck Nourniz, but it's all the Chuk Nass jokes and that, that's absolutely hilarious. But if you know someone who knows someone who wraps on, and if you know someone who can get in touch with Chuck Nullis, you do that, mate, yeah, because that man is more than welcome to join my entourage,

yeah, the man's a living legend. Look at you, always taking, taking, haven't I done enough trying to get the fight on the main card, people's main event? Always asking for more, aren't you? Yeah. Sorry? Always asking for a little more out of me.

I mean, I feel like this is a one-way street. You got it going as well from here, the people's main event. And, man, I appreciate that very much. Since that show, since the first show we're doing, you know what I mean? That blew up after the first show. And it's not a blown up after the debut as well. But even before, you know, just from that interview with you on that show, I know, it all hit the roof then. So, I have a good little thing going on me and you are there.

So let's keep it going. I don't know if you know this, but one of my signature videos is I go somewhere and I walk around town with someone. for a full hour. People have said they want me to go to Dublin and walk around town with you. Are you down for that? Yeah, 100%. Let's do it. All right. That sounds good for you, yeah? All right, cool. Well, Connor, for now, we appreciate it. Congratulations. Enjoy it. Have some blueberries. Have some chicken pizza. I don't know what else you're eating over there.

Yeah, what did you think of that chicken pizza? I stared at that picture for like 10 minutes. I didn't understand what it was, but it looks amazing. That is the nicest paleo dish you're ever going to get in your life. Yeah. What you do is, You get three chicken fillets, an egg, put it into it raw, yeah? You put it into a food process. I waz it up with a little garlic and a little chili powder and make it into like a snot. It literally goes like snot, yeah? Take it out there and put it into a tray.

Put it out like a base of a pizza. Sticking it into it up in 15 minutes. Take it out. Stick some tomatoes, waz up some tomatoes in the food process, some chili paste, some tomato paste, some fresh basil. Butter, put the sauce on top of the pizza, on top of the chicken. base and then start packing it with more shit. I packed it with like lamb, mince, chicken, sausages, avocado,

onions, peppers, chickpeas, and suck it back in the oven for 15, 20 minutes more. And it was the fucking nicest thing I've ever had me life earlier. See Shreda Joe's, yeah? That might be Shreda Joe's signature dish, yeah? That's what I was thinking about. That's a victory pizza if I've

ever heard of one. Yeah, yeah, lean and clean, yeah. Well, that's great, Connor. Enjoy it. Take it all and then we look forward to what's next for you. Something tells me we'll talk to you before August 17th again, but enjoy everything. And once again, congratulations,

and thanks for giving us a few minutes of your time today. No problem, Mario. Thank you so much, mate. Thank you very much. There he is. The notorious one. Connor McGregor is stopping by. Unbelievable stuff out of him.

He is the latest sensation in the UFC, defeating Marcus Brimidge in 67 seconds. and winning the knockout of the Knight Award, $60,000 richer. He now has a pot to piss in. He now has more money to buy suits, perhaps even a car. Let us go to the Skype Machine and welcome in our good pal, Mr. Hollywood. Look at this guy with the sunglasses. Now he's late to the show before he was begging me to me.

What's that? What's that? What's that say on them? Oh, is that Gucci? I can't see it. Rayban. Rayban, you could do better than that. Ray beyond. If you're from Paris.

Look at this guy. All of a sudden, where's the Dickebo? No, I left the Dickey Bow off. What's happening, but? What a difference a few months makes, huh? I mean, last time you're sitting back, you're on a kind of... It's only a pair of shades out of it. Oh, well, I sense an aura. I sense an aura.

It's oozing out of you. Yeah. Did you not sense that the first time, though? To be honest, I did. I did. Do you feel like a different person? Like I said to you before, you know, I always felt like the champ. I always felt like this was going on.

This was all going on in my head. Now it's just happening in real life. You know, there's a guy. See that guy there? He's following me around in the documentary. Wow. Hello. There's another guy.

See this guy right here? Yeah. I put him in sleep today. you choked him out yeah he wanted to know we were just talking about being choked out and talking about chokes and talking about jujitsu

and he ended up getting the balls up to and he wanted to see what it was like so I put him in a rear naked choke and we got it on footage it's going to be on the documentary and it was funny he started shaking and it was pretty fun yeah

what's this doc kill guys well what's this documentary you're talking about um this is this is going to be on the national broadcasts, RTE, it's the big TV station in Ireland, and these guys are following me around the past couple of months. They were in Vegas, coming to Boston, you know, so RTI are splashing out.

They know they see MMA and they see the growth and they see where this is going. And this documentary is going to just put it in that spotlight that bit more, you know. I'm happy to be a part of it, you know, putting mixed martial arts and martial arts in general in the spotlight here in my country. I felt like this was what I was here put here for. you know what I mean so I'm going to represent it in a good light by strangling their

their director by strangling the producer live on air oh gosh and and this is a big channel is this the channel that that late late show is on as well this is a big network right yeah yeah this is a big it's the biggest TV station in Ireland yes the national broadcaster so it's a big deal you know and are you surprised all this is happening this quickly I mean you're only one and oh in the UFC but it feels like in some ways your ten and no by the attention and by the buzz surrounding you. Yeah, I don't, I don't know, you know, I don't get phased, I don't get comfortable, I don't get complacent.

I went there for dinner with the dawn, and we went there at a meal. And I was saying to them, just because we're here now, and you bring me out for these meals and shit, don't think I'm going to get comfortable, don't think I'm going to do what a lot of other schmucks have done. They got lazy, they got sloppy, sluggish, you know, and come fight time they show up, and they're out of shape. Their shots are off, you know, they're not firing. me, I don't get complacent.

If anything, these kind of things and all this going on spores me to walk harder. I use it as motivation. So what was that like, you and Dana Way? I saw a video of you guys driving down Las Vegas Boulevard like Thelman Louise, squealing like little girls. It looked like you were having the time of your line. It looked like a great time.

Don't be hating. It was crazy. I mean, I was only saying to her, I've been doing interviews all week, I was only saying to a guy yesterday. I used to drive my girlfriend as a little Pugio 206, and I don't already have Pugio 206 is over in America or wherever you are, but they're little small bangers, yeah? And there was smoke coming out of the engine.

It used to shake down the road. But in my head, I was cruising down the Las Vegas strip in a soft-hop Ferrari F430 with the dom beside me. You know what I mean? And then fast forward five years. And what happens? I'm cruising down the strip. And a soft-hop Ferrari F430 with the dawn.

I'm in my head. In my head, this was always going on. I'm borderline insane, Ariralee. That's what makes me so damn dangerous. And that's why people love you so much. Why do you think he likes you so much? It seems like he has taken a real liking to you. Yeah, I don't know.

Yeah, I don't know. He's from Saudi, which is like the Irish part of Boston, you know. I don't know. I don't know why. I don't think any other prelim guys that have fought one show when the prelim have gone out with the Don. You know, I don't even think main eventors are going out with the fucking Don. I mean, but I don't know.

I'm Irish. He has some Irish in him as well, you know, that Boston heritage, that Irish heritage is all those Boston people have, you know. And I come to fight, he can see that. Surely he can see, you know, I come to fight. I'm not fucking about here. I'm not here to be a token Irish guy. I shake no one's hand.

I'm here to go forward and go out every single one of them, you know what I'm. Stay in shape, I stay ready, you know. I don't know. I suppose all those things maybe make me make him like me, you know what I mean? But honestly, I don't know. This is a guy who... But I ain't complaining. This is a guy who's been around the fight game for a long time, and he talks often about

guys getting big heads and having people hanging around them, things like that. Did he give you advice about, you know, now that you're entering this new chapter of your career, what not to do? No, he didn't really say not what to do, you know? We were just talking about everything. Literally, I was waiting for six hours, you know, just me and here. We had, got some field and nice... steak place to give me give us he hooked me

up with this Kobe beef you ever have that have that Kobe oh yeah it's nice it's the massage beef straight from shipped in from Bangkok yeah or Thai fucking Taiwan or something it's serious air beef but um no we were just talking about twice we were talking about everything

he never really gave me he just said I don't know what he said I can't even remember I was in a blur honestly I felt drunk yeah I felt drunk from around it was like it was like back to that fucking back after Sweden when I went backstage and everything felt like a video game

it felt like a video game it felt like a video game, but instead of the UFC game, which is what I felt like the last time, it felt a bit more like Grant Hatho this time, yeah? Flown around the soft operario. It was, it was crazy. Surreal, right? Surreal would probably be... Surreal. And I just told them, you know, look, you know, I see other people's mistakes, you know,

and people thinking they're part of the promotion and they're part of the furniture. You know, they can show up sluggish and they can be Mr. Media, you know what I mean? But that's not me. I don't get comfortable. I'm always looking for the uncomfortable, you know what I mean? So I don't get complacent. This only makes me work harder, you know what I mean? I mean, it's business at the end of the day.

Whether we go for, we go out and go out and float about Vegas and do some shit, it's still business at the end of the day, and business is not personal. So I come in shape, I come to fight regardless of result, win or lose, people are going to want to see me, you know what I mean? August 17th, once again, I would prove that, you know what I mean, and go get myself, get paid again, you know, because I'm not. I'm running low, are you? I have a gambling problem and I have a shopping addiction.

So, you know, those things spur me on, you know what I mean? So I need to get back in there and start making some money again, you know what I mean? What are you gambling on? Absolutely, everything. I'd gamble on the weather tomorrow, yeah, if you want to give me odds. But now, see, I had this, we had this book, bookies that Patti Power, the big bookmakers over here, you know, and they were sponsoring me. And it all went ahead. The UFC allowed the logo inside the Octagon.

It was a big deal for me, you know. Last minute it fell true. But they gave me a few quid as a token or something. They stuck money in the account. So I've been literally in this Patti Power account. Do you bet on MMA? I bet on MMA. Anthony Perosh to be, what's it, the hippo?

Get out of here. You bet on him? The hippopotamus let me down six grand, yeah? But I had 700 euro on an accumulary, which is about $1,000. dollars. And Al Parash, well, a 40-year-old, who would have thought that, but fair play to me, I mean.

Oh, you bet against them? You bet against them? I bet for my galas, yeah. I had a big accumulator. I had a big accumulator. I had a load of fights on. I had a load of the guys. Of course, I bet on all the fights.

I always bet on the fights, but that one just recently, Perosh upset me with, what was it, 14 seconds? Yeah, it was unbelievable. Now, will you bet on yourself? Sorry? Will you bet on yourself?

am I a little bet on myself? People are saying I can't bet on myself. I don't know whether that's a loud or something. I don't know why it isn't it. Why if I bet on myself to whoop someone's eyes? I mean, it's not as if I'm betting against myself. Then obviously there's something funky about that. Right.

But if I'm not going to win, how is that not allowed? People are telling me I can't bet on myself, but I don't know. You know, I might just give someone some money and maybe put a bet on. I don't know. I don't really want to think. You know, that's the, although I have a gambling problem and all that shit, but I don't, I don't. I don't think about

Gamble at Mo 7. I mean, I have to fight ahead of me, but to be honest, I might do a little accumulator on the rest of the card. Oh, that's fun. Some good fight on that card. Now, what's the most expensive...

Can't I steal the show. What's that? Tell me again who's going to steal the show. Well, I told you, it's the people's main event, right? Is this the people's main event, you versus Max Holloway? What? Is this the people's main event?

I don't know if it has the same kind of panache as you versus Marcus Brimidge. Well, the opponent does not come into the equation. This is my show, yeah. This is the Irish coming home. Era, coming to Boston, you know what I mean? The Irish men are coming home to it. It's native land, Boston, United States.

So the opponent does not come into the equation. I am the main event. You can stick me in that main event and you know quite well, it's not going to turn heads, I mean, it's going to steal. I'm going to steal the show every time. Were you disappointed when Ogle backed out and you were now fighting Holloway? I'm emotionalist to it, Ardiel.

Like I said, a million times before. I don't know how many times I'm going to have to say it again. The opponent does not come into the equation. There is no opponents, you know what I'm going to? But Andy pulled out. He had staph infection 25 weeks out of fight, you know what I mean? Or six weeks out of fight or whatever. But staff infection is a little bit of cream and some antibiotics for five days, max.

So you have to train on your own for five days. You know what I mean? The fight was six weeks away. But it is what it is. He pulled out. I'm not, I don't complain. I don't bitch, I don't moan. I mean, the fact that we had to travel around, he had to travel as well,

to Canada, to Vegas. We had to do that little round trip to get the visa sword because there was all sort of problems to get the visa sword. Oh, yeah. So I'm sure that's weighed his decision, but like I said, I don't bitch, I don't moan, I get it done. This is the thing I stay in shape. I can travel around and disrupt my training

because I'm always in shape, you know what I mean? I squeeze it in anywhere. I don't bitch, I don't moan, I get it done. And I'll find out I will come and perform, I mean, and I know the Dom Juan's going to have a nice six-figure there for me. Six-figure check. Fuck them bonuses, yeah? I'm finished with them bonuses.

Now I want the little sly backhanders that no one even knows about, yeah? Yeah, they're the ones I'm out. I know you watched 163. What do you think of all those performance? Are you ready for this man? Yeah, I stay ready. There is, again, Ardo, come on, there is no opponents, you know what I mean? This is my division.

This is my time. If you think I couldn't slot in there in either, place of those two guys last week, then you need to take a closer look, my friend, because I am born ready. I stay ready so I don't have to get ready, and I don't fear none of these guys. I will go forward, I will go at them.

Do you think I'm ready? I think you're, you know, someone was asking me yesterday about the featherweight division, right? And I said, obviously, Ricardo Lama's, I think he deserves it. But I think the guy that people aren't talking about, I mean, obviously they're talking about you. I think you're two fights away, honestly. And I wouldn't

be surprised you win this fight let's say they'll probably maybe try to put you in Manchester and then the next one I think you'll probably get it honestly with the buzz I wouldn't be surprised Ariel I bring a whole nation with me a whole nation a crazy Irish motherfuckers are behind me you know what I mean not many people can say that so I'm carrying

a whole nation with me in there I come to perform I talk to talk and I walk the walk you know what I mean so August 17 I'm going to prove my worth once again and then whatever's after that you know really this is my world title I'm defending my belt here on August 17.

I mean, this is the way I approach it. They want to give me, you know, if they want to give me that touch shot, it's all good. I'm ready to go. I'm always ready. They didn't give me the welterway touchdown there and swing for the fences. You know what I mean? I'll go for it. I come to fight.

I come to perform. I'm ready. Is it true back at UFC 93? I heard this yesterday that you were going up to people and saying, I'm Connor McGreg. And this was a few years back. I'm Connor McGregor. I will be in the UFC very soon. Remember my name.

Something to that extent. Is that true? UFC was in Dublin yeah yeah yeah UFC 93 well I'll go way back before that my very first UFC event was USC 85 in London the O'Too Arena and Matthews Tiago Alves and at the end of the thing that was when I seen Bruce Buffer and I started saying to Bruce Buffer hey say my name Bruce

and now entering the Algonneuraths and he got my name mixed up but I didn't just see Bruce I also saw shit I'm not to forgetting the referee I saw one of the referees and say, hey, take a good look at his face because you're going to be rescuing people from this guy soon enough, yeah? And the referee just looked at me like I was nuts. And then Dana was there as well.

I said, hey, Dana, how much have you got in your pocket right now this second? And he literally just looked at me and didn't answer. So he probably thought that was disrespectful. But I don't know, I was only a little kid running around UFC 85. I've seen all these little stars and just running a muck, you know what I mean? And then UFC 93 came along. I had a little bit. My teammate was in there.

I was only a nipper, you know what I mean? Only a young man. and I'm sure I was floating around telling people I was going to be in there as well like I was every day and like I always am you know what I mean I was confident I am confident you know what I mean so I always knew this was I always knew this is here you know what I mean honestly I saw it upon my eyes and I swear I can't stop it no one can stop this I mean but what I visualized just seems to be keep happening over and over I mean it seems to be coming to reality and there's not a damn thing anyone can do about it

Connor, you mentioned the people that you have behind you, and a lot of your Irish fans are telling me... West Beyond. Are you the most below... Hang on a minute. Detron, yeah? Oh, yeah. I saw that shirt. That's a nice shirt.

How's the hair looking? It's just a... I'm going to get a cut, to be honest. There's another one. There was this guy, this barber crew, want to offer me a few quid. And they cut my hair and they give me a few quid to have the logo in the shorts. But I don't know. I'm still...

I think that fell true. but I don't know, I'm just going to get maybe a short-back-in-size, or a crude or a, what you call it, you know, like, you know a sharp-back-in-sized, you know what that is? Yeah, yeah, yeah, and you're going to keep the beard, though, right? This beard goes nowhere, I, I trimmed it a few times, and then every time I trim it, I'm like, fuck, I shouldn't, I shouldn't, I shouldn't, I, I shouldn't, I, I always regret trimming it. Don't trim it, don't trim it, don't trim it. Now I'm just trying to let it go, and I give a little massage every now and again. So, so you mentioned, look, if you listen to my show, and I know, I know,

you are a loyal listener of my show. We are beard officinados here. I have the show, yeah? I am the show. I tell you what, next time I'm on, I want the percentage of that pay-per-view shit you got going on with this MMA hour, yeah?

Yeah, well, don't come late next time. I mean, all of a sudden, you're coming 50 minutes late. Well, I'll be on time. You know what I mean? If the UFC, oh, the UFC want me there? I'm there on time with a bell on, yeah? Oh, okay. You want me on for free.

I'm going to take my time. I'm going to eat some feel. I'm going to pick out what shades. I'm going to wear it with his interview. I mean, because I've got a few of these now. You talked about the fans, Connor. Are you the most beloved, are you the most famous fighter in Ireland to come out of Ireland since Steve Collins? You know Steve Collins, right?

Steve Collins, man, a legend. Steve Collins is an Irish legend, and we have many boxing legends from our great nation. I don't know. It seems to be going that way. I seem to be the face of combat in my country. Like I said, I carry a nation of people with me in there. This is only the beginning. first of many. There's many guys to come behind me.

There's many of us that are ready right now, you know? Like I said before, we stay ready. But Steve Collins is a fucking legendarial, yeah? And funny enough, I train. I drop over to his brother. His brother has a gym, a pro boxing gym over in, oh, just house. About a couple of minutes away in my house,

his name is Pascal Collins, it's called the Celtic Warrior Gym. And funny enough, he used to live in Boston, and I used to have a gym in Boston and all, but I, no, I head over and train with those guys, and they are, true legends of Irish combat. You're a fan of his?

Yeah, I'm a big fan of Steve Collins and the Collins brothers, man, they're really nice people as well, hard walkers, and they've got a knowledge of the boxing game, you know what I mean, that I soak up any time I head over that way, you know what I mean, I get some good sparring over there, some good tough guys. Like, we have a great history of boxing in our nation, so

all the young Irish up-and-coming pros and all the amateurs, and I'm just waiting for their big break as well, so I head over to that, James, some top-quality pros over there got some top quality sparring. Well, Connor, I'm happy you have that crew there because you know our show, we're second to none. We make magic.

Say hello to Steve Collins. He's on the line right now. Steve. Steve. How are you on, Connor? What's up, Steve, man? How are you, man? That's fucking nuts.

How are you going to be on the show? Are you in? Let me say something. Are you going to see you? In Boston, it's called a flat top, all right? So when you're going to get a hecker over there, you go in an ask for a flat top. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

But you were in Boston as well, Steve, yeah? I am indeed. I just want to say one thing, Connor. You know, you're the greatest part as I've ever seen, and I'm glad I'm retired. Steve, man, thank you so much, man. This is absolutely crazy. I did not expect this to be going down.

How's Pascal and all? I was trying to drop, that. Pascal's away at the minute, isn't he? I was trying to drop down yesterday. I text his pro, Stephen Norman to be able for Sparner. He said, if you wanted to become a professional fighter, he's no doubt on his mind,

he's going to be the best. the world is that the best. You see, you've got the heart, determination, the dedication, and the single mind and focus that it takes to become a champion. That's what you have. And that's where you're going to be so successful. And people are going to talk about you for a long time.

You are the new Celtic warrior. I'm the old news. You're the latest news. Yes. You're the greatest. I'm the latest, Steve. Yeah. Oh, man, Steve. You're sitting there on two minutes, Steve. I'm going to go out and do a few sprints, yeah?

because that's at the pump of me up right there. This is amazing. Steve, what do you think of this guy? Do you think he can be a champion? Do you think he has what it takes, the demeanor, the style, the aggressiveness? What do you think of him? It's once in a lifetime someone special

comes along with who's a complete package. And as long as, as kind of keeps going and the only way he's doing, there's no doubt in my mind and the minds of all his fans and followers, he really won the greatest fires that the war has ever seen for a long time. doesn't take any shortcuts. He's got so much natural talent, but that's not, he doesn't

rely on his natural talent. He works really hard. He's dedicated. He takes no shortcuts, and he's got so much natural ability. That's not a pleasure to have him go out there, or represent our nation when he fights all over the world, because he enhances the reputation of all these fires. People like him is why we have such a good name in the fight game. Connor, I'm getting goosebumps listening to this. What's your reaction? I am blown away here. Honestly, I am in shock. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. shaking here, you are an Irish legend, man. To hear those words, honestly, I'm

going to go run 10 miles right now. I was even doing 15 rounds, sparring. A fresh guy every round just there about 2 hours ago. And I'm going to go run 10 miles because of that, yeah? I swear to God, man, that's a... If it wasn't true, I wouldn't say it. Connor, you used to watch Steve, you have memories of watching

him and dreaming of being what he was to your country and now doing the same? Did you used to think of this? He was a legend, man. I remember when he whipped Chris Eubank, you know what I mean? Wipped his ass. I remember watching that back in the day. I was only a little nipper, you know what I mean? Honestly, I'm a shock here and I honestly don't know what to say here. You're speechless. You're finally speechless. Every time I go down to Pascal's gym in Blanchers Town, the Celtic Warrior Gym,

I'm welcome with open arms. You know, they are such good people and they are legends of the of the comeback game in Ireland and they hear them words coming from a legend like Steve Collins. I am speeches for the first time in my life, Raleigh, you know that. And Steve, are you going to watch Conner's fight next weekend? August 17, it's a big fight for him. Absolutely. You know, I've obviously got a new interest in the game because Conner, you know, it's so exciting to watch me.

He's been so successful. I actually think these guys, what he does, I think they're all absolutely crazy. Nobody would pay me to get a fight them, guys. My top box was a dangerous game until I came across guys like Conno McGregor, and them guys, they scare me. So I want to be his friend forever, you know? Oh man, Steve. Are you in Boston right now?

Are you in Ireland? No, I'm in London at the moment. Man, if you can make it over to Boston, that would be something special. I would love to go to Boston. Boston, you know, my eldest daughter was born there, a fourth world title there. You know, I had most of my professional memories

have all been in Boston and Brockton, Massachusetts. It's like a second home to me, and my wife and I go there to visit friends and relatives, and it's a great town. And, Connor, you will love Boston. Boston, and more importantly, I guarantee you, that Boston's five-mans are going to love you. They're so like us in the way of thinking and the way they live,

that you're going to be at home. And do me a favor. Go down to Southies. I say hello to all my old friends down there. And don't hang around the bars too much because it will not do all your hard work, okay? Yeah, yeah. I will do, Steve, man. I swear I got, I hope Dana White maybe is watching this,

and maybe we can get flown over to Boston and walk out with me because here's one for you. It's only me and my coach John going over because of all the trouble is getting visas and things like that. So literally, and then I have another guy in Boston, Tom Egan, the guy that I started training with back in the day. He lives over in Boston now. He's married to a Boston woman, so he's a U.S. citizen.

So it's going to be me, John and Tom. And then I don't have another corner, man. There's one space left there for another corner. You can somehow that... You can get over there and walk the only. I'll be honest. And if it brings me over there, I won't charge for appearance money because it will be an honor.

You know, part of your corner. Wow. We could make this happen. I guess the touchdown of White's here. Steve can get that Wright Jones into the ring. I was playing Wright Jones M.MA. Yeah, I've heard about that. I've heard about that, Steve. You recently got re-licensed.

You want that fight. You've been looking for it for almost 10 years, right? 15 years. And do you know what? He should have been a sprinter. He can run. Connor, you want it? Oh, Steve, I swear they got a 20-mile running on a run now, yeah?

I feel like tweet Roy Jones right now are in here. Conorne, do you want to see that fight? Do you want to see Steve versus Roy Jones? I would love to see that fight. Yeah, I would pay top dollar to see that fight. Like everyone in our nation would pay to see that fight. Steve Collins is an Irish legend. He's gone out in history.

He's a living legend. And to see him getting on Wup Roy Jones Jr. Man, what a spectacle that would be. What did you say, Steve? Listen, run this past down and wide. He loves Irish guys, especially those that can fight. and it's going to get two of the best for a long time. He's going to be old and the new

together in one ring and one night in one stadium. Not quite me to the other than... I'm going to blow you myself, Steve. Yeah, the way I pulled me up here, yeah? Fucking, yeah. Well, he seems to... Yeah, it's all over that. That's going to happen one.

That's going to happen down the line. I can feel that now, yeah? Steve Roy is kind of flirting with M.A. We see him with the Anderson Silva, Rampage Jackson, but you're saying, hold up. You want a piece of him first. Oh, look,

that maybe they won't have his career. He's in run of us 15 years. We don't mess around. We don't mess around up here, Ariel, in there. And then our little nation of Ireland. We are a nation of warriors. We come to fight. And, you know, Steve,

Steve has been retired for a while now. You know, but the thing is, that love of competition, it never leaves you. That fight that you have in you, that age doesn't come into the equation. Once you are a fighter, you are a fighter,

and, you know, it never leaves you. You hear you, Con, you never lose your power. You never lose your heart. That's with you forever. That's amazing. Yeah, man, Steve, you are a legend. Steve, any part of you.

parting words for Connor McGregor as he prepares to go to Boston to fight there for the first time, the biggest fight of his career. All I'm going to say is, Conner, when you're going to absorb an atmosphere, you're going to feel a home in Boston, because Boston is our town. I'm telling you know, when you walk in there, it's like fighting their own backyard and only it's multiplied. It's like fighting at home, you know, with home, because Boston is just like being home. The people will love you, and your style of fighting, and the way you fight, you won't want to leave that town afterwards.

I promise you it's where you're going to make history and it's where you're going to win your world title. And I hope to be there sometime to see you live and be part of the great history you're going to leave behind you in your era. Man, Steve Collins, thank you so much and I will carry that tricolor high and rock it with pride.

Thank you so much for them coming wars, man, and I'm blown away. You're welcome. It's a pleasure to hear you. And it's a pleasure to hear you to talk about me the way you do because called from you, it's a real compliment and thank you for the competence, Connor.

And I'm delighted to I've had this conversation with you, and I wish you all the best, but I've no deal. You've got to be a world champion. You just will. It's just there. You're made to be champion. It's only much the time. Thank you so much, Matt.

I swear to God 20 miles. This camera is going to follow me 20 miles here. Thank you very much, Steve. We appreciate you calling in. I know how much this meant to Connor, and good luck getting that fight against Roy Jones. No, it's my pleasure. It comes off.

It comes off. It's not what I want to try and, for my hand. I'm going to start the campaign. I'm going to have the campaign. I'm going on that, yeah. I'm not mates in Boston. I hope all as well and assemble love,

and I hope to be back there soon again for another vacation. Thank you. There he is. Steve Collins. Connor? Wow. Only here. You came late.

You tried to big time us. You tried to give us the big boy stance. But how about that? Steve Collins. I'm not afraid to admit I was putting my place there. Steve Collins is an Irish hero. He's my hero. You know what I mean?

This is an Irish. warrior that's around since as long as I can remember and to hear those kind of words and just to be speaking to him man I swear to god I'm pumped up here I'm I'm even more so ready now you know you know I honestly I don't know what to say I'm blown away here you know you're blown away this kind of comes at a great time for you you're about to leave this I mean knowing how much he means to you this gives you that kind of extra push right not that you really needed it but it feels like, I could feel it, that you're, you're actually moved by this. Yeah, yeah, I'm prepared to die in here, Arirley.

And if you come up against me, you better be prepared to give your life because I am prepared to take it. All right. You know, and hearing those words from Steve, that just, that just magnifies that, you know, that just makes it, makes me even more so like that, you know what I mean? That Irish spirit, I carry that artist spirit in there. When lose a draw, I'll leave it all in there, you know? I will approach the fight.

you know, I will go forward. I will be spontaneous. I will be creative. And I will give it my all every single time. Well, that was an amazing moment. I got goosebumps just listening to interact with Steve Collins and seeing your reaction and feeling your reaction. Great stuff. Connor, pleasure, as always, to have you on, even though you came late. No hard feelings. I'll let it go. Good luck over there in Boston, and maybe I'll run into you. If you win the fight, we'll get to do a post-fight interview. How about that? Are you over there, yeah?

Of course. Are you kidding me? First show? What are you talking about? I will definitely run into you. All right. If I won. You know, I won't win the fight.

Say it, say it now. Who's going to win the fight? I think you're going to win. My man. Thank you for having me on. It's always a pleasure. And thank you for bringing Steve Collins. That means so much to me.

I know everyone from my nation who was tuning in here to this is going to be blown away by that. That's from his news right there. I'm honored. Thank you so much. My pleasure, Connor. Always a pleasure, and we'll talk to you next week in Boston. Thank you so much. Bye-bye. There he is.

The notorious one. Connor McGregor stopping by a great moment there. Love doing that. And I want to thank Anthony Evans over at the UFC for helping make that happen. A brilliant moment. If you don't know who Steve Collins is, one of the true Irish legends when it comes to combat sports, the Celtic warrior, as they called them, a guy who retired several years back,

but recently came out, as he approaches 50, that he got his license again and is searching for that fight against Roy Jones. He once said that he would go to Roy Jones's house and fight him for free in his driveway. That's how much he wanted to fight him for whatever reason. It never panned out. And you can hear, and that's why I kind of set him up, we knew this was going to happen. And you can hear how fighters like Connor speak about someone like Steve Collins, a guy who really at one point helped put Irish combat sports on the map.

And now he is really the Steve Collins 2.0. I mean, who else coming out of Ireland right now in combat sports is getting the attention, the notoriety, the spotlight that this man is commanding? And that was a fun moment. That was an awesome moment. I really enjoyed that. So thank you very much to Steve. Collins, thank you very much to Connor McGregor for stopping by. And of course, you can see him in action

August 17th in Boston. Only on the MMA hour, my friends. Only on the MMA hour. We make those moments happen. Let's go to the skint machine and welcome in. There he is. The man with the beard. Connor, how are you? I'm doing, I'm doing great. Okay, a lot to talk to you about here. Oh, and he's brushing it. I like it. You haven't trimmed that thing, right? No, no, no, I'm never ever going to trim it. Yeah, I trimmed the ones at twice and I always regret it straight away, so I'm never going to trim it again. Okay, a lot to talk to you about, and I love it. Keep it going. How is the knee doing? You had the ACL surgery. How are you feeling right now? Yeah, I'm going to show you real quick. Oh. You see it? Oh, yeah. Whoa. Wow. I mean, look at a muscle definition in that leg. The physio said that's unheard of, I have my muscle definition back, you know? They shake.

I saved it as well, so it was like a little bitch leg for a while. No hairs on a little skinny-ass leg, but I'm getting the muscle back and I'm putting in the work out here, you know, following the same... Following the identical route that GSP took, you know, same surgeon, same... Same everything, you know what I mean, same rehab. And he was 10 months, and the doctor reckoned, the surgeon reckon he could have been back earlier. So my physio reckons I'll be back full training in six months the way I'm going, you know what I mean? I'm a super freak. I'm a specimen of movement.

And I feel good, you know what I mean? Just going to keep a positive head and get it done. Now, the fact... There's a lot of ass weapons to be handed out, are you know what I mean? Yes, of course. And we will get to that. I'm going to get back fast. I'm out here on my own, you know what I mean?

Out of here in L.A. doing a roof. On my own, don't have no family, don't have no friends. I'm in a little room on my own. I have my management team part of the time, come by everything now and again to look after me. And then, of course, the UFC, making sure. everything is looked after as well, but really, really I'm on my own here, you know what I mean, doing it, doing it. Now, dedicating myself to this, this is just a new, this is just a new phase to what's going on in my story, you know, another chapter that I will, I will overcome.

Now, why are you in California, not in your home country where you're more comfortable of Ireland? Just because, yeah, well, I'm, I mean, the surgeon was out there, the best surgeon they had, you know, the guy that I worked on Kobe, the guy that worked on George, the guy that worked on Tom, on Brady and the rehab setup is really good out here you know so I'm going I'm going home now at the end of the month um I'm trying a big party you want to come yes are I invited of course you're invited yeah no fat chicks yeah don't bring Mrs. Halwani wow oh Connor now you may have crossed the line my friend I will beat you down I'll beat you where you stand no boy yeah what we're talking about again uh we're talking about why you're in California So you say it's better there.

But let me ask you. The rehab is top notch out here. I mean, I'm in here. They just know, not that it's not bad back home. I'm going to go home now at the end of this month and see what kind of rehab is back home and what kind of setup is back home. Well, the setup is too good out here.

You know what I mean? Honestly, I'll do anything. I'll do anything it takes to get me back full health and quicker than everyone else. I plan on setting records here, you know what I mean? But at the same time, I'm going to set records on this return. People are going to study me. study this injury and study how I came back from this.

At the same time, though, I'm going to listen to instructions. I'm not going to do something. I'm not going to rush it either. I'm well aware that you rush this injury and you're right back to square one. I'm taking instructions. But honestly, I'm planning on setting records here. Were you shocked when you found out the, do you have like a man servant there? What's going on?

Someone giving you tea? What kind of like? Yeah, yeah. He's my boss. He's my team. Ryan's a nice guy. Oh, Ryan's the best. Bring him field and looking after me. literally I've been in this hotel the past

the past while now you know what I mean after that surgery it's it's tough it's tough on the minds you know you're just you're just in bed you're just locked in bed you know what I mean dwelling over everything and you're damn right it was a shock you know I mean I only found out on Twitter I was already planning my next contest you know I mean I was going to everyone my next contest was a top 10 opponent there's no doubt in my mind I believe Diego Brandeau got that got that fight that I was supposed to get against Fourier and I don't even know what

date that was scheduled for but I I believe that was my fight. But anyway, I was, I was, I was going out, I was going on, I was going on everyone. You know what I mean? I was planning my next contest, my next time getting in there. And then I goes on Twitter and I sees this thing that Dana White tweeted, Fox Sports has just announced, fuck sports, McGregor injury, 10 months, ACL, MCL, P-CL, fucking all sorts of CLs.

You know what I mean? So I'm sitting there and shock. My heart is in me, my heart's at, my heart's at the coming out of my ars are you, I mean, so, and then, and then a message goes on from Dana, and fucking, the beard is glorious and you know it out of you there. It's getting nice and tick and everything, you know. See, do he, see a man, Healy. Yeah. Kibush, Norma, Dirk, a, bleak.

And start saying, I made him cut the beard, man. That's horrendous that is. He was like fighting women or something. Sorry with that. Leave the guy's beard alone, I mean, you make him cut his beard and then give him an asswub, man. That's got the, that's got to sting bad for Healy, you know. I mean, but... What if the commission tells you to shave that for your next fight?

What do you do? What kind of stink do you put up? Honestly, we're going to... I was thinking a bearer, but we're going to have problems. I don't know what... I don't know what will happen. It's not happening at him. I mean, what I'm going to tell you this as well?

Finding a guy with a beard compared to fighting a guy who's freshly shaved. What is the freshly shaved head and freshly shaved my face and the stubble off the bald head and the stubble off the thing? When someone's fighting for head control and that hits your chain and stuff, it rips you at the shreds.

You know what I mean? The beard is a little bit of a cushion. I mean, beard is not... Don't don't fear the beard, you know what I mean, don't fuck with the birds. How much do you hate Dustin Kimora today? You tweeted a picture that he screwed up your parlay. You would have won 11,000 euros, is that correct? Yeah, I don't hate the guy.

He dropped them with a body shot and everything. It's just one of those things, isn't it? But to be honest, I rushed that one. I rush that one. I always do studying on it, you know what I mean? I like to, I've limited myself now to only betting on the fights. It's what I'm, it's what I specialize at. I specialize in this game.

And so I, I have only, like, you could have cut me off on the morning one time betting on, let's say, I'm betting on these live bets, just go online and these live bets, and the matches are like five minutes from over, and it's nil all. And I'd bet that it's going to remain a draw. You know what I mean? So let's say there's three or four a year in a row. I banked three or four in a row real quick and stick a few quick. That was, that was where I was after a while. And I mean, so I stopped doing that. Now I'm only betting on the fights, but I rushed that one.

I mean, I didn't study the other guy as much. You know, Dustin was an undefeated guy. He was in Holloway's camp. I don't know. I just kind of liked him. I like this style. I don't know. He let me down.

What can you do? It would have been a nice few of quitting. So we've asked every guest on the show thus far. We've had Yorah Fabor, Chale Sunnan, Dan Hardy, Chris Wybman. We wanted to get everyone's take on this. Now I'll ask your take. Who won the fight between John Jones and Alexander Gustafson?

In my eyes, they both won. I mean, they should have. They should have brought out a second belt, just handed the two of them belts, because that was a special, special contest, you know what I mean? Gustafsson, good in the pocket, his boxing. You know what I mean, John Jones' dynamic kicks, man, it was a special event. And that to follow the Mayweather at Canelova, you know, it was just a beautiful team for the sports, you know, to show, true combat, you know, is where it is at?

and man there was no loser in that contest but if if I had if I had to choose you know John finished the stronger

and I'd probably have to say John and my heart probably say probably say hey I look now on these whiskers as well I think

dude the guy in the shop the guy in that trimmed my beard said five more months before I get them probably oh you're gonna do

you're gonna do that yeah I'm gonna try I see what it's like oh one I'm gonna my hair but you're still

but you're still fading it on the side there yeah what we're talking about oh yeah yeah now I think if I'm being honest

I think John I think John's just done enough you know I mean but I mean what a contest he would have taught that

you know I didn't think that you mentioned Mayweather did this prove that MMA is a better sport than boxing and more

I mean that fight not that I meant that like that you know boxing's great and I really I loved that that Mayweder

can have fight that was a master class in defense you know what I mean a lesson in evasive invasive combat he taught Canello

and he teaches everyone when I mean well when it comes to MMA and the excitement and the back and forth and the the unpretictability and it's so dynamic

you don't know what the fuck is going on in there you know what's going to happen it and it was a special event and it just re- you know

just reinstate my not that I love this game but it just really made me look at this and think man I'm happy to be doing what I'm doing I'm in love with this game

you know what I mean so it was a special contest. Knowing you now, I feel like you... I can't want to see the rematch. Hopefully, you know, hopefully they're he-look because I'd imagine both of them are in a hell of a lot of pain right now.

Knowing you, I feel like you were shadow boxing on one leg, you were so amped after watching that. Yeah, yeah, I've been squeezing in workouts now, I don't let this get to me, you know what I mean? I'm an intelligent martial artist, and I adapt to my situation. You could put me in the jungle. You could put me anywhere on planet Earth,

you know what I mean? I'll come out surviving. I'll come out with me. well-fed and well-dressed and looking good, you know what I mean? Right now, this injury, I'm only having one leg on my adjusting to it. I hobble into my bathroom, and my bathroom at the sink, and I lean over the sink, and I start doing push-ups, and I mean, clap push-ups leaning over it, do about 100 of them, I'm doing about 500 sit-ups a day, I mean, then I'm doing my rehab all this.

I'm getting like two sessions a day, pretty much, you know what I mean? Now I'm a lot more mobile, now I'm a lot more mobile now, you know what I mean? I'm two weeks one, one day, two weeks two days. Just over two weeks over the surgery. I'm on the bike. I'm walking. I'm leg pressing. Wow.

You know what I mean? Like I said, I'm a specimen. Scientists have already gotten touch, and they want to pay big money to get my body and study my body after I'm gone. I'm a specimen of movement, my friend. You know, after the Max Holloway fight, you created quite a stir with the videos and the tweets, about, you know, talking about the division, and you're getting it a bit back.

You have Aldo saying, who, the Irish guy, you have Nick Lentz taking some shots, Chad Mendes saying who. Are you liking the fact that the featherweights are stepping up and giving it a bit back to you here? Yeah, I mean, you know, when that interview that I done with Fox, you know, they said, we're going to do Ward Association. I'm going to name something. You're going to give me your response. I was like, okay, it's that name not the top ten.

I gave an honest assessment of what. I believe it was correct. I believe my assessment was correct. What about you, Ariel? You believe that was correct? Aldo, I believe was too safe. I believe Chad is a 135er. I believe Cub is aging.

I believe Deniseever is aging. I believe Poirier is a peahead. I believe Lens is boring. You know what I mean? I'm just stating a boring hillbilly. I'm just stating facts. You know what I mean? And of course,

get response, respond all... Yeah, of course. Honestly, there is no one else in. this division. This is my division. You know what I know it. Hey, how many times I'm on this show now? This is my fourth time. Yep, that is true. In less than a year. Who's the most? In a year? I think this might be the record for less than 365

days. And this are 200th. So we brought the big out the binguds today. I set records out of it. Set records. Oh, how's the show going? This is a big one. Yeah, it's 200. Yeah, you know who's next? Don't cold Steve Austin. Your boy. No way, man. That is too kill. I was only watching a documentary on Netflix about him. What a kill motherfucker that guy is.

Not as cool as Stevie Collins. What? Will he be in your corner, Steve Collins, for your next fight? I set that up for you. Don't forget. Yeah, Dana rang me the Tuesday before the fight. Okay. I mean, I was talking about the entrance.

He was talking about the bot. I want me to come out to you too. And then he said he's going to get Steve Collins. Wow. I'm going to fly Steve Jones out. And then it turns out Steve was busy. or Steve couldn't do it or something because it was last minute, you know, so.

But I believe that would happen down the line. Now, maybe, honestly, I'd like to be back, I believe I'm going to be back before the Dublin card. Wow. That's my aim. I want to be back before the Dublin card. I have a contest back maybe at 155. I'm going to, you know, honestly, I feel,

I feel too fast for these guys at 155. And 145 is just too damn easy, you know what I mean? So I might have 155 on my return. and then a meaningful fight, I won 45 in Dublin. Now I mean, a meaningful fight. Yeah. I don't know what way

it's going to play on my comeback, what kind of opponent they're going to give me me, or what kind of what, you know what I mean? But I know I'm going to make it look easy. I'm going to make the return look easy. No one has the mind I have. No one has the intelligence I have to this game. You know what I mean?

So it's going to be like I never left. And not only isn't it going to be like I never left, it's going to be, you know, I'm going to improve. I study this game. I study movements. I take my notes. This is just, like I've been saying, this is just a new phase of training, you know what I mean?

I'm off-site. You know what I mean? You're doing an apprentice. You're on-site for a while, and then you go off-site and go out to college. Now I'm in college, you know what I mean? Studying videos, taking notes. And I'm going to, you know, I keep it fresh in my mind,

and it will remain fresh in my body. So I'm on my return, I mean, I'm still going to be whoop my ass. It's still going to be creating headlines. I'm mean, so I'm just buzzing to get back, you know what I mean? My life is contact area, And for some, for this, I never knew nothing about injuries, you know what I mean?

I knew injury. I didn't really know much about the ACL injury. I mean, someone to take this away from me, you know, it's been tough. It's been tough on the mind, tough on the brain, out here on my own. I mean, but I just reinforced. And I'm out here doing this, you know, I'm out here doing this. And I'm out of dedicate myself to this. And no one's going to stop me.

I'm unstoppable, you know what I mean? In some ways, I feel like it might help you. It gives you even more motivation because all you have is, you know, your bum leg and your thoughts right now. That's all you can think about, right? my bum leg man I'll give you a smack on my bum leg right now No definitely yeah You know

I'm here Honestly if I wasn't for the internet I didn't have the internet set up I'm just sitting here chilling now So everybody's past already I've been doing them Asano Tories And I've had a bit of fun day on that And getting them trending in Ireland

I mean I put up as this thing Hashtag Asno Taurus And it just be trending in Ireland Within like Within like five minutes Okay That'd be fun Final question for you

Have you thought Like you say that one fight and then the Dublin fight, who's the guy you want to come back to? Who do you want to face in your return? Honestly, it's a long way, it's a long way to be, to be, to be, to be, to be calling people out. But I'd love, I'd love a 155 fight.

That 155 fight I taught was in slow motion on Saturday night, if I'm being honest, you know what I mean? I believe I'd be too fast for these guys, for any of these guys, so. And I fight at 155, you know what I mean? I fought at 155. I've held belts at 155. I've knocked.

people out on 155. There's a different dynamic. There's pros and cons to it. And there's pros and cons to fighting up and down. They're a little bit, they're faster, they're faster that fed away. Max was, Max was, Max is one of the fastest guys, you know what I mean, he was a defensive fighter, he took a defensive approach. I mean, but a lot of the 155s are sluggish, you know what I mean? They do, to me, they seem a bit more open. They, I honestly feel I go in there and light 90% to that division up. And so I don't know, I'm gonna have to think about it. And I haven't even sat down to the U.S.A. or anything. I'll show on Shelby. I know he wants me to stay at 145,

but we'll see what happens. We'll see what happens. All right. Well, we will be following the rehab very closely at the notorious MMA. Always a pleasure. The beard is looking great. Keep the spirits high. My man. And please join us again when you're ready to return. We appreciate it very much. Very big deal for us today's show. So thank you so much for stopping by Connor. And good luck to you. All the best. Hope to see you back soon rather than later. Thank you, man. Congratulations on your 200 show. Still making peanuts, though, I reckon. Thank you. Maybe you can give me a couple of tips in the future. Yeah, yeah, yeah, good, man. There is. The notorious, Connor McGregor stopping by. We wish him the best.

Hopefully, he returns to the octagon sooner rather than later. He is one of a kind, and he says he wants a piece of the 155 pound division. How about that? How about that? Conne McGregor, if he goes up and he goes up and And remember, when he fought for Cage Warriors, he was a lightweight and featherweight champion over there. So this is a guy who has obviously done a lot in his career in both divisions. And thus far, in the UFC, he is 2-0 as a featherweight defeated Marcus Brimidge in April. And then, of course, defeated Max Holloway in August at the first Fox Sports One show. That was a big deal. And, of course, things may have, I don't know, slowed down for him a little bit.

but if he says he comes back, six months, ACL surgery, that might be a little too quick. But if he comes back in seven or eight, I don't think that the momentum will halt all that much on the McGregor train. I really don't think. I think that there is enough buzz, and he keeps himself out there, that I think a lot of people will still be interested and be excited about him. The man who I think his star was born on the MMA hour as he was sitting on his couch, eating blueberries without a pot to piss in. Things have certainly changed for this man,

but he is kind enough to join us. Once again on the show, of course, we're talking about the notorious one. Connor McGregor. Connor, are you there? What's your body on my man? How are you good. What's going on?

Connor via the phone is not quite the same. I know. I'm hugging about a hair day, so I thought I'd mix it. up a little bit, yeah? I wanted to see that new tattoo of yours. Let's get one thing straight out of you, yeah? Yeah.

Your show didn't make me. I made your show, yeah? The whole nation of Ireland watches this show now, thanks to me. So, you're welcome, my friend, eh? Well, thank you very much. I wanted to see that new tattoo of yours. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm getting inked up out here. I got a nice chest piece, represent my gym, straight black jam.

But I didn't just want the original, our logo is a gorilla, so, but I didn't want just a regular one. I want to mix it up and get my own little version so I decided to get King's crown on that gorilla and have him eating a motherfucking heart and I mean

and then I have my arm done up and I think I'm just gonna get I think I'm hooked on these tattoos and that people are trying to talk me out of but I'm just gonna do my own thing you know what I like tattoos

I mean I can do fuck all else right now out here you know I'm out here in my fucking arm so I may as well pass up some time and get some inked so you're gonna get your whole body inked I don't

I don't know about that. Let's not go fucking nuts. I'm not talking like when I was Maui motherfuckers. I mean, just a little bit of ink, you know. Never hurt nobody. Did you talk to your, I know you have a team behind you now. Did you talk to your people about, you know, sponsors and things like that? Do they like the chess plates, so to speak?

I mean, you know, hearing a lot of guys, no matter what, Ariel, success, success silences everything. You know what I mean? No matter what way a person looks or what way a person acts, success if that person is successful, then that's all that matters. I mean, that's all on focus.

I'm going to shit what way I look or what way I come across to certain people. I know my success inside that up is on and the way I carry myself, you know,

I don't have to come on to a show. I don't, first of all, I have to beg to get onto the show like that other fucking Frankenstein with a poof-looking mother fucker I have to beg to get on this show and beg for a sponsor

and I feel bad for the guy fucking reality TV show, reject, you know what I mean? I honestly, I feel for the guy coming on begging for it. begging to be on the show, begging for followers.

He begging some... What kind of interview was that shit? Where he begs this South African guy for a fucking Audi. Hey, motherfucker, buy an audio yourself if you want an Audi. You fucking reality TV show reject. What a loser, man. That interview with that guy doing, I swear to go,

I was the funniest thing I've ever watched my life earlier. Ever left field as well. A light heavyweight, a light heavyweight eight-foot stick of shit from England. talking absolute shit that he knows nothing about. I mean, it was the weirdest thing I've ever watched. I watched Jealousy come out of a man's pores.

A guy that's not even in my division! I swear to God, man, it was the funniest thing ever, but... I don't care about it. All I know is, when the door shuts and the bell rings, nobody does it better than me. Nobody is more calm. Nobody's more controlled. I walk the walk, Ariel.

I don't just talk to talk, I walk the fucking walk. And you best believe, I will walk through everyone in that top ten. So no matter what way I look The belt is mine And that's all I care about I'm not here To beg people for For this and for that

Like that other reject You know what I'm about I'm about the belt I'm about getting myself healthy Getting back on track I'm out here on my own area I'm in Los Angeles On my fucking own

In an apartment I wake up I go to rehab And I go home And I'm in my thoughts You know what I'm playing I'm scheming I'm peeking up the window

Walking around my apartment I'm butt naked like a freak You know what I mean scheme of my fucking return. So fucking, that's all I give a shit about. I'll give a shit about my sponsors. I don't know that shit. You know, UK, so you mentioned you're referring to last week's show.

For those that missed it, here's a very quick clip of what Luke Barnard had to say about Connor McGregor. Very quick. Here we go. Yeah, Connor's done a very good job of marking himself, buying followers and making himself and making himself look important. And my, my sponsors, like, go on, get above him, and then we'll buy you a cup. So he says you're buying, buying followers.

Oh, what an absolute loser. Just listen to that. You know as well as I know, my friend. I carry a nation. The nation of Ireland is behind me. It's not my fault that loser is a reality TV show. Reject. It's not my fault he didn't win the show.

You know what I mean? It's not my fault. I feel for the guy stuck on that reject contract that he's on. I feel for the guy. Maybe I might buy a minority myself in a couple of first time. I'm not saying look after the fucking bum. But honestly, what the fuck do you even say to that?

Absolutely loser, I'm on my. First of all, first of all, if you ask me the guy, it's brainwashed, is brainwashing at its highest level right there, yeah? He thinks, if he gets,

let me get this straight, yeah? If he gets to a certain amount of followers, if he equals my followers, yeah, it's cringly stuff, to be honest, I don't even like mention it, but I have to mention it

because the guy came on to a spout to go on the show to talk about it. talking about me, so I'm only human I replied to these idiots, you know what I'm saying? Right. The thing is, he has to get a certain amount. If he gets to my amount of followers,

some guy he never met from South Africa, some guy from South Africa is waiting in the wings. A guy from the Malincan tribe in the middle of fucking East Africa, or South fucking Africa, is waiting for this English twat, English reality TV show, Reject

to reach the same amount of followers as some Irish guy. And if that happens, that South African from the Malincan tribe also doubles up as an Audi dealer is going to buy him an Audi? Come on, Ariel, what the fuck? What the fuck do I even say to that shit? Man, it was the weirdest thing I ever saw in my life, man.

I don't know what... I feel for the guy. I have to mention my name to get some attention. I honestly, I feel for the guy, you know what I mean? But it's not my fault. We all have the same 24 hours of the day. Don't fucking hate me for... You know what I mean?

Don't hate me for stealing the show. Don't hate me for my support, because you know what I do. I never begged it on this show. This is my fourth time on this motherfucker show. This is my fourth time on this show. Tell me, tell me when I ever begged you to go on this show. Never. Tell me when.

Never, never. And tell me, tell me, tell me how many people have helded you to get me on this show. A lot. They like you. Now, tell me this. Do you think I'm doing what he's saying, I don't? No, I said it myself. Now, tell me this.

Do you think he's an eight-foot? stick of shit, Frankenstein look alike ugly motherfucker. You know, it's interesting. It feels like every week, almost, someone is calling you out. It is crazy.

On this show, on this show. People come, on the show. I want to play you another clip. I won't get you to respond to it, because this is fun. Here's a couple of weeks ago, your friend Diego Sanchez talking about you. You're watching on your record, and you're acting like, you're

the Muhammad Ali of Ireland. you got lots of on your record, buddy, and who are they? Like, come, dude, like, come on. Like, why do you think you're freaking Superman when you ain't done it? You've got to walk before you could talk to talk. He didn't walk to walk. He fought, like, two fights in the UFC, and he's freaking champion? I think it's a bunch of crap.

And for the guy who come and disrespect a guy like me, and I didn't disrespect him. I just told him how it was. I'm like, look, man, what have you done? Like, you're going to talk shit about my friends. You're going to talk shit about guys like, you know, guys like, all the guys. All the guys. All the guys.

You're talking shit about Chad Menda. How are you going to talk shit about Chad Mendes? Chad Mendes will eat you for lunch. Like, this guy will eat you for lunch. You have not proved that you can wrestle. You have not have not proved that you're legitimate on the ground. You have not proved that what are you going to do when you got a Diego Sanchez on top of you, ground and timing you?

You have not proved that you are equivalent to that situation. situation? So what do you think? Diego Sanchez? Yeah, yeah. Well, look, without due respect, Alia, the guy is a husband. He should be in Belatar with the rest of the husbands. There's no doubt about it.

The only reason he's still fired is because he defends shots with his nose. But let's go way back. Because he's saying I disrespected him. All of a sudden, I start going on him. I disrespected the top ten. That's why he got involved. But let's go back way forward than that when it really started. In the lead up to that much Holloway fight in Boston,

when I was doing all my fucking media shit and Dana gave me that media work out and I had all that obligations to deal. That husband, that has been loser was all over Twitter slainting me and saying, who is this guy? He's just a hard job. Holloway's going to knock him out, blah, blah, blah.

Tweet after tweet, after tweet after tweet. And even then, I didn't acknowledge it. I said, what, that guy's not in my past. I don't give a shit about that guy. I'm saying, I leave him to it. Let him say what he wants. Then the fight where Holloway was over. it was done. I had beaten Holloway.

Then I... And as far as I was aware, at that time, four to six weeks I was going to be out. I was told, at the back of that arena, four to six weeks, mate, you'll be back in there. So I'm thinking, okay, dude, who's next? Who do I want next? I know who I want next.

I want anyone and everyone in that top ten. So I went... I've done this interview of Fox Sports, and they asked me about the top ten, and I gave my honest opinion on every one of them. Prairie was a peahead. Just to remind you, was a key head. Cubs Swanson was old.

Nicklance was boring, a boring hillbilly. Jose Aldo plays a too safe. Chad Mende should be 135. He's a 65 inch reach. I have a 73 inch reach, Ariel. Who the fuck else? I believe Frankie should be 1.35 as well.

I get my honest opinion on guys that I want to face. Excuse me for wanting to face guys in my top 10. I apologize. And then this has been gets involved. Once again, start saying you have no respect. I'm trying to cause this shit again. So I'm saying, okay, okay, then, okay, okay, okay,

I can't let him say anything again. Now I'm going to have to respond to this husband, schmuck. That should be in Bellator. So I responded. I called him the fattest, sloppiest, slowest, martialest I've ever laid out on. I've ever laid out on, eyes on. And I told him I'd go to 170 and whoop his fat ass easy.

And you can call me on that, yeah? That's how, that was my response. You're trying to... People... And all these MMA media losers, Jeff,

you're the only MMA media guy I was do, because the rest are just fanboys that have access

to a comedy. Let's call a spade of a spade area. Yeah? Mommy owned it a camera. You know what I mean? I have internet access.

You know what I mean? All these, all these losers are trying to say, I started this shit with Diego. No, no, motherfuckas

do your research. He was the one that's shouting about me. I was, I had my attention locked on the top 10.

Nobody else. I want to calm that ladder because I know, and they fucking know as well. And not only they know, you know as well, Ariel, yeah? I had my eyes up on the top ten. I ignored what Diego was saying in the lead-up to the Holloway fight that he was saying, Holloway was going to nothing else. He was this guy getting right around in Danish Ferrari,

all this jealous shit. I ignored it. And then he got involved again. So then I said, okay, I'll push the top ten aside. I'll push them aside, and I'm going to go at Diego Sanchez for a little bit. And then the injury came out. It turns out the injury was more severe than I was. told.

Then he's all over Twitter making fun of that. And you know what I mean? So again, I replied. A lot of shit has been said between myself and himself. I'm no fucking edge. I said a lot of shit about him. A lot of, a lot of damning comments. You know what I mean? But you best believe that motherfucker started it. But enough is enough. What said is said, we will throw down.

I message, Dana. I message Sean Shelby. This fight will happen. And I guarantee you, I got... This is what I want. I want the motherfucker to come at me because Hollow, I so much respect for Holloway. He's a great competitor. I believe he, I believe he whooped Dennis Bermuda's ass

as well. I believe he's unbeaten inside that octagon. He took Bermuda's head off, clean off in that fight. But I whooped his ass. He went running. He didn't want to exchange. He was under defensive. He was dead to see the bell. I want the motherfucker that's going to come at me and throw down. I want, I want

Mark Hunt big full silver shit, yeah? That's what I fucking want. And you best believe that Diego Sanchez's fight will happen, Arrealee. I'm going to make it fucking happen. Whether it will be the next fight, because my timelines and shit, the fight, I guarantee you, before that man retires, I'm going to whip him.

I'm going to school him in evasive combat. You can mark my motherfuckin' words out of it, eh? What about Cole Miller, who went on the microphone and called you, what do you call him, McGruber, and said a lot of the same things? What do you think of that? Oh, I see it. These motherfuckers are there a lot. He also called me.

He goes, I see him flying here and I'm flying there, looking all GQ. Well, at least he's honest, because I do look fucking GQ, yeah? You can call me Con on Mike GQ. Oh, shit. No, I thought that was funny, man. That's a fight that interests me, you know what I mean? Cole's all right, to be honest. I don't mind the guy, you know what I mean?

But I tell you, this fucking sport is crazy, my friend, yeah? I'm only here for a month, I really. I'm only here fucking four months out of it. I've been on this show four times I fucking nearly got the sack from saying derogatory comments about our female champions and shit

I don't know what the fuck is going on but I'm just being me I'm just being me I'm not I say what I say what I think you know what I mean so people it's gonna rub people up the wrong way

you know what I mean it's also gonna rub people look the wrong way that I have a nation behind me and I'm getting serious support but don't fucking hate me you know what I mean it's not my fault

what are you about your own situation you know what I mean so I have to say about that, you know? But at the end of the day, Ariel, I'm injured, yeah? I'm currently rehabbing. You know what I mean?

Just fuck all I can do. I'm only responding to these idiots that are talking to me. I have a job. I'm under no illusion of the work that is ahead of me. You know what I mean? And I'm not slacking.

I have this rehab. I'm nailing this rehab. You know what I mean? I'm giving everything I fucking have to get back in there and whoop everybody. I'm on the, I'm under no illusion of the work that's ahead of me. But I will be back.

And you know what, Ariel? no matter what card, whatever card I turn on, whatever the main event is, whatever number of fight I'm not, whether I'm the first fight at night, whether I'm the second, anywhere, you know it's going to garner more attention than the main event. No matter who it is,

I don't care who it is. And I know that sicken's a lot of people. I fuck, sometimes I try and, I know, look, I hate me too, I fucking hate me too. Sometimes I try and hate myself. Yeah, I get butt naked and look in the mirror and try and hate that, that image of perfection that's looking back at me, but it's

damn impossible. Okay, so with all that being said, Connor, do you consider yourself, are you the fighter of the year? I mean, the attention that you've received, the attention that you've generated, the two wins inside the octagon, is Connor McGregor, the 2013 fighter of the year. This is when we do these kind of awards things, you know?

Where do I collect? You just tell me a time and a take and I'm there to collect that award, and you best believe I'm custom-fitted in something spectacular, yeah? Representing Dichon as well, and I'm saying? Anyone there watching, hit at Betone.com, but don't leave it too long.

The new notorious range is selling out fast. Detroit number one, the rest are deadlines. Oh, shit. Give us an update on the knee right now. How far away are you from being 100%? I'm heading back. I'm heading home in the New Year's. I'm really happy about that.

And I get to see my friends. I get to see my family. I get to see my gym. you know what I mean we're opening up a brand new facility a brand you want to see this facility oh my fucking God it's unbelievable yeah the biggest facility the country has ever seen it cater to everybody

beginners to pros all the way true you know we've got it all now so I'm looking forward to going home promoting that gym the doctor said the surgeon said I'll be grappling by February you know I mean I'll be grappling by February that's my prayer's answered right there

and I'm not a Jesus man I'm not I'm not I'm not a holy man but I swear to God I miss the match so much, you know what I mean? I can't put out the words. It's the only thing that distracts me from everything else. The only thing that eliminates all, it's the only thing that eliminates everything else

outside in my life, you know what I mean, is that time on the mat, studying judicious, studying the mechanics of the human fame. And I just can't wait to be back to everybody is when I can be back and doing some judicious. Now, I'm not trying crazy, crazy straight judicious, but I will be on the mat and I would be drilling technique, and that

to me is good enough, you know what I mean? I'll take it from there. And again, I'm, I'm raring to go, I swear I God, I'm rarely to go. I can't put it into words how much I'm ready to go here. But again, at the same time, I'm listening to instruction. I'm not stupid. I follow instruction to the T. I'm well aware.

I studied, I know this game like no other, yeah? I study this game like no other. I'm aware of the setbacks that other athletes have had on this injury from brushing it. I'm thinking they can do too much. I'm just following instruction to the T. If they tell me I can do it, I ask how much of it can I do?

How often can I do it? And that's the approach I take. And I will be back. You know what I can do no more. I can do no more. You know what I don't even want to... I'm over this media shit as well. I mean, this probably last one I'm doing.

I mean, because I got my torn off the media stuff to me. I'm all bullshit, yeah? But I'll be back. I'll be back. I'm hoping May. Well, who knows? I'm just going to keep my head to the ground. I keep walking hard.

Are they waiting to do this, this, uh, this Irish? Island show for when you return. I've watched this show called The Late Late Show in Ireland twice in my life. Both times when you were on it, it's a fascinating program, the mix of characters on there. And when the last time that you were on a couple weeks back, you said, you implied that they were going to wait for you to come back around May or so. Is that still the plan? First of all, the late, late show is the world's longest running talk show.

So, that up from a military area, eh? us artists, we started talk shows, yeah? We run talk shows. The late show is the longest running talk show in the history of planet Earth, yeah? Your whole shit right now came from the late late show. So praise that damn show, right? For again, yeah, sorry, back to where we were at.

May, they said, Lorenzo said to me at UFC, Manchester, Hannah, we have May booked in the O2, but it depends on you. If you're not ready, I can also not go back September. So I said, yes, May, let's do it. And then I've done a little bit of studying. May 30th to the day

is 40th, or 10 months to the day that I am over ACL surgery. Now, on the calendar, George St. Pierre, on months, it was 10 months. It took them. But if you count the weeks, it's deceptive. It was actually

48 weeks, which is 12 months. You know what I mean? So, and May 30 would be 40 weeks from me, which is 10 months. And I don't know, if you count the weeks, is a little bit deceptive, you know what I mean? So I, I gone to Lorenzo, I told him that information, I passed that information onto him, and he said, don't worry about it. We can move it to September.

So again, it's up in the year. Okay. I'm back to you, due to February, and I will take it from there. But it's either going to be May in Ireland or September. But if I'm being honest, I'd imagine it's going to be September. I'd imagine I'll have a return fight somewhere in June, July, May, June, July, possibly June, July and then

a fight in June July whatever the fuck that is and then to be honest I would love I would love Diego Sanchez in Dublin and I don't care to wait that's my path I want to take

and then when I whoop his ass I honestly believe they could give me that belt I honestly believe that they could give me that belt I know a lot of people don't like to think about it and I mean but Ricardo Lamas and Josealdo with all due respect nobody cares about Ricardo Lammas and I don't mean that to be disrespectful, but they don't.

You know what I mean? Me versus Aldo would sell shit loads more than Aldo versus Lamas. You know what I mean? It's harsh, but it's true. You know what I mean? I don't know. I have my comeback to June and July, whoever that is against, who knows. And I mean, again, things are so far away.

The landscape came, like Sean Shelfare, because I spoke with Sean Shelby, I spoke with Dan. I spoke with Renzo. The landscape changes in that amount of time. So we can continue in talk and say, I want to fight this guy and that guy and that guy. You actually know what the fuck is going to happen all the next couple months. I just, again, I just don't give the shit there.

And I'm just slow. I just go with the fuck. I just want to get back on the mat. That's all I'm looking for. Just get back on that damn mat and do what I love to do. Because I hate everything else. I don't want to do nothing else. I don't want to, I don't want to come on and start begging shit looking for sponsors like a loser.

I want an absolute loser. I just want to go on the mat and train and learn about the human frame. And that's all I give a shit about. I don't care about no other shit. Don't care about no South African. South African guy What is that shit, Ariel? What the fuck is that shit?

Did you explain that to me, please? I don't know. I actually, I asked him in the interview, if you saw it, I said, you know, you get these weird emails from people in Nigeria and things like that, asking for money. I hope that's not one of those situations here

because it sounds a little strange. Ariel, it was the weirdest thing I've ever watched in my life, yeah? Honestly, I feel for the guy, you know what I'm saying? But I don't know. I might buy him an Audi myself. Give me another fire thing.

I'll buy the poor bastard at an Audi. You know what I mean? It's fucking hell. I feel for the guy, reality TV show, Bidjek. Hey, let's finish on this, Connor, and I really appreciate the time in you coming on. You know, I noticed yesterday you mentioned how you kind of fell down on Saturday, but then your spirits were up. How are you dealing with the ups and downs of this? Because I can imagine, you know, not being with your family, you're in L.A., rehabbing.

I'm sure there's a roller coaster ride of emotions that you're dealing with. How do you feel like you're dealing with everything? Because it sounds like right now you feel like you can go five rounds. of course you're not 100%, but it has to be mentally taxing, right? It is probably the most mentally taxing thing I've ever gone through my life, and any athletes will tell you that,

you know what I mean, when you can't train and you can't do what you love every day, and then on top of that, then on top of that, I'm out on a place on my own that I don't know, anybody, you know what I'm at the top of it off. So it is tough. I was only talking to my friend this morning

who said, an injury is not just a process of recovery, it is a process of discovery. And that really here home to me because it really is a process of discovery. I'm really learning about my mind here. I'm really learning about my real psyche here, you know what I'm saying?

So I just take everything with a learning a learning curve, you know, and I'm looking at all from everything. It is tough. But if other people can do, if Dominic Cruz can do, I'm paying close attention to Dominic Cruz and his story. You know, I hope that guy comes back on much ass because that is a story that's going to, that

inspires me, you know what I mean? Not once, but twice he had a setback, you know what I mean? To be the champ and then to get it all ripped away from him. You know what I'm paying close attention to his story, and I hope, again, I'm paying close attention to that fight, and I hope he comes back on whoops' ass because I would take so much inspiration from that.

But if he can do it, I can do it. If George can do it, I can do it. They all face ups and downs and down, you know what I'm no different. I just need to bite my fucking gum shield, right down on my gum seal and get it done. You know what I mean? And that's what I'm doing. You know what I mean?

And unfortunately, unfortunately, a lot of people seem to keep mentioning my name and keep bringing my shit back up, you know what I'm trying to, I don't know why, trying to get attention, or whatever, but I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing. And come back and go past, and come back and steal the show,

and come back and be the real main event. I don't care where it's on the card out of it. And you know as well as I know, it will be more anticipated than the main event, whatever that main event happens to me. And who's people want to hate on that. Let me leave you with this. You're in Los Angeles right now, right? In April of 2013, eight months ago, Kobe Bryant tore his ACL. He returned yesterday to the NBA.

in eight months. That's got to give you inspiration. That's a high-level athlete, right? Did you know that? Yeah, I only was talking to my manager today about that. Literally about 20 minutes before our phone call, I was talking about Kobe Bryant story. Kobe Bryant was in the same rehab place as mine.

On that same, anti-gravity treadmill, walking back to get back to fitness. So again, of course, I take inspiration from that. You know what I mean? You all go through ups and downs, and I mean, unfortunately, mine happened early. It's not to happen early in my career, you know what I mean? But look, I would be back out of it.

I mean, all I can do is, all I can do is get to work. And that's what I'm going to do right now because I'm late for rehab right now as we speak. Okay. And I'm heading to rehab right now. And I'm going to hit a heart. I bought myself a punch bag yesterday, eh? I swear to God, it was like Christmas. I have a hooked up there.

And I have a gym on top of my apartment. And I just went up and we hung the punch bag from one of the machines. It was an amazing thing. But I swear to God, it's like, all my Christmas has come out of once. I mean, I'm just going to beat the shit out of here. I'm going to beat the fucking. And see out every night. And just visualize.

Just visualize and dream. You know what I mean? Isolation. Visualization. Motivation and dedication. They had a piece of success. And that's all I need. That's all I need to do.

Connor, it's a pleasure as always. Thank you so much. Good luck to you. My man, you know we've ruined this show, yeah? You know who is your show. We appreciate it. Great to hear from you. All the best.

Happy holidays. And thanks for stopping by. Good luck with the rest of your rehab. My man. Thank you so much. Tell Mrs. Elvani, I was asking for us.

I hope he has a good Christmas. All right, bye-bye. There he is. Conradger, the one and only stopping by and dropping bombs on people left and right. That was vintage, Conne McGregor. On July 19th,

in Dublin, Ireland, it's one of the more anticipated fights of the year. There has been back and forth. We've been chronicling it all year long, and it was last Wednesday that it was a few.

officially announced that Connor McGregor will be fighting Cole Miller on July 19th, and the UFC's return to Dublin, Ireland, I expect these tickets to be sold out probably within, you know, an hour, five minutes, 20 minutes. People are very excited about this. And so we're going to be joined by both of them. Right now, we are trying to track down Connor, but we have Cole here. So that's a small victory for Mr. Miller. Cole, how are you? Hey, I'm doing good, Ariel. Thanks for having me. Oh, great to have you on the show. So in you agreed to this, we wanted to have you and Connor on at the same time, and we're having a hard time tracking down Connor. What do you make of that?

I don't know. Maybe he's training. Maybe he's preoccupied with something a little bigger, more important. Who knows? God ask him. What's more important than my show? I don't know. I made the, you know, I made the day happen. You did, and this was in the middle of your training, so I appreciate that very much. Let me ask you this. Yesterday, not yesterday, not yesterday, A few days ago, Connor said in an interview that he thinks that you're petrified, that he feels it, that he's been listening to you, that he sees that he's going to be able to break you, he feels it in your voice, he hears it, he senses it. Are you sweating this guy? Just going enemy territory, all that stuff? Is this a concern to you? Yeah, you know, I think it is a concern. You know, I don't think that I'm petrified of him or scared of him. but going into the envy territory,

that it's something that you have to take into consideration. And if you think you're just going to walk in and it's not going to be a big deal, I think that kind of makes you a little bit of a fool. But taking in, you know, it's a consideration like the crowd, the environment, the amount of hatred that you're going to be walking into, and to say that something like that won't have an effect without really addressing it with the proper kind of training

and mental adjustments that need to be made, that's pretty foolish. I saw an interview that you did recently. I believe it was with Yahoo Sports, and you said that, you said this. This is the quote. People keep saying, we're going to fight him on his home turf. I've expletive fought 18 times in the UFC Octagon. The way I see it, it'll be more my home turf than his. I think he's going to feel that once the door closes.

Now it seems like you're kind of thinking about the environment. Has there been a switch? No, I was thinking about the environment from the get-go. I'm talking more like, you know, once, you know, being there during the weight-cutting week, you know, with dealing with the people in the streets, dealing with the walk to the cage. Okay. You know, that's going to be deafening, you know. And before you get into that cage and the door locks, you know, that's some stuff that you're going to,

you're definitely going to be hearing, you know, when you're walking out to the cage before the fight. So that's, you know, I'm going to have to train for that, mentally prepare for that. But I did mean what I said. When the door shuts, then we are in my hometown. So we are being joined by Connor right now in Ireland. Connor, how are you? The champ is here. So I know you came a little late there, and I was worried that you might not show up.

But, of course, I had faith that you would be here, and I appreciate the time very much. What did you think of what Cole just said about the environment? How it will be deafening? Will he be fighting in enemy territory or once the cage door closes, might you as well be in, I don't know, England or Atlanta or New York City? Does it not really matter once you're in that cage? Yeah, I don't know, Ariel. I didn't really listen to what he was saying.

But what I did, what I was debating was when I was going to come on this show. Because I already told you, this is my show, yeah? I'm a Gregor how I want this show to be called, yeah? Right, exactly. But do you have, and I appreciate it very much, do you have a response to him? Do you think it will be him against the world in Ireland, in Dublin, to be exact, on July 19th?

As soon as that man steps off the plane, he is stepping onto a battlefield. He knows it. I know it. He opened his mouth. I didn't even give a shit about him. Nobody in the UFC gave a shit about him. 18 fights in the UFC are 17, I don't even know.

and the motherfucker couldn't even get off Facebook. Mark Zuckerberg rang and tried to get that man off Facebook. Nobody cares about him. I'm going to go in. He opened his mouth. And listen, he opened his mouth. When that door rings, when that bell rings,

when that door shuts, he is in danger, yeah? I'm going to stop him in the very first exchange. He opened his mouth. He should have kept quiet. A Celtic saying Many a time a man's mouth broke his nose

And this is one more of those sayings, yeah Many a time a man's mouth broke his nose That man's omitted his mouth And I'm going to break his nose Cole, do you feel as though You kind of hit the lottery here in a sense That everyone has been calling Connor out And you got the fight in Dublin

The big fight that's probably going to sell out within minutes I mean you just kind of threw it out there Many, many months ago Before it was kind of of invoked to call this man out, and the UFC went to you first. Do you feel like you kind of hit the lottery here? Yeah, I kind of do feel like I hit the lottery. Absolutely.

What do you make of what he was just saying there? I mean, he's saying he's going to break you in the first exchange. Those are some big words, especially for a guy who's been in the octagon that many times, as many times as you have. Man, he's talking about stopping me in the first round. I'm going to be the one that stops him in the first round. His jaw is going to be so weak from running his mouth. The first punch I'm going to hit him with.

it's going to lay him out. Connor, if you look at your record, there haven't been many blemishes, but a couple of your blemishes way, way, way back in the day were on the ground. You worry about what Cole can do on the ground? Man, listen, it's a long, long time ago, yeah?

Cole, I'm going to break you. I'm going to break you. Hey, bro. You don't know. I am going to break you. You're too slow. You're the slow as motherfucker I've ever seen. You're the slow within the division.

I've been slower. You're a slower to everybody on the division. I can dare you. I win and I'm slower. I'm weaker. I'm not as agile. I don't have any of those gifts. I'm just better than everybody that I beat.

And I'm going to be better than... I love it. You're slow. You're going to be... You're less agile. I love it. Tell me more. Tell me more, Carl.

Ask. I got you into trouble. Your mouth got your... Your mouth got you into trouble, brother, eh? Your mouth got you into trouble. You're going to pay you. You're going to pay for what you said, yeah? Yeah.

Yeah. See when you open your mouth? And you call me Cullen or whatever the fuck you call me. You know my fucking name, yeah. I'm going to make you say my name. I'm going to make you say my name. Okay. Okay, Cassus Clay.

Come on with it. I am going to make you say my name, yeah? You're going to say my name. In that outdoor, when that door rings on the bell, when that door shirt and not bell rings, you are going to say my name. All right. Connor, let me ask you. Last two performances for Cole, a lot of people, including myself,

think one of his best stretches of his UFC career, you know, finishing Sam Cecilia like he did back in January. Have you been at all impressed with the guy? Have you been watching what he's done? Has he been on your radar? No, no. Honestly, in war, speed is the essence of war, and I am the fastest in this division.

Nobody is going to touch me. I'm too fast for this man. He is going to hit air and he is going to hit the floor. He's too slow. He's too sloppy. He's too basic. He does not stand the chance. The only time I even

acknowledge Cole Miller, like I said before, 18 fights in the UFC. And one time he mentions my name and where does he end up? He ends up on the main event. I want him to thank me. I want to thank you right now

on this air. I want him to thank me for giving him this opportunity for allowing him to have this main event's loss. He mentioned my name now he has a main event. I want to thank you for that right now. You want to thank me? Okay.

I want you to tank. I want you to thank me. Oh, you want me to thank you. Oh, sorry. Sorry about that. Yeah. I appreciate it. I want to thank you for his fight in my career.

Cole. Nobody gives a shit. You are the man. 18 fights. Honestly, I swear to God. I understand where you're coming from. If I was in the UFC for 18 fights, and I was in your situation, and I saw a motherfucker like me coming up, I'd hate me, too.

I don't understand where you were coming from. But at the end of the day, you melt that you into big, big trouble here. I know you're afraid. You're too slow for me, Cole. I'm not to break you in the first exchange. I know. I just said that. I just said that.

Cole, what do you think of Conner's ground game? What ground game? What ground game? Joe Duffy and some other. dude that I already forgot. I just looked it up 20 minutes ago, and I already forgot his name, too. These guys made him look like nothing. I said in another interview. He will never, never, ever, no matter how long he trains, be as good as I am on the ground right now, and I'm still getting better. He's a joke on the floor, and when I get him there, it's going to be over

on the first exchange, the first grappling exchange. And Cole, let me also ask you, I mean, he looked very, very, very, you know, he looked very dominant in his first two UFC fights, but he's coming off a serious knee injury. Do you think he may not be as dominant when he fights you? If he isn't as dominant, I don't think it'll have anything to do with the knee injury. He's going to be in there with somebody that's highly skilled as me, and that's what's going to come down to. Who's better on that night, and that's it. It's not going to have anything to do with a knee injury or, you know, if somebody's mom died the week before, all it's going to come down to is who's going to put who out in that cage first. Connor, is this going to be like Chale going to Brazil? Are the Irish fans, I'm starting to get a sense that they aren't huge fans of Cole Miller and they love you more than any other fighter in the UFC, maybe the history of the UFC, what you've done for them,

and you single-handedly brought this event to Ireland, as you predicted, you would last year. Is this going to be, like, does this guy need security over there? No, look, I have absolutely no problem whatsoever with Cole Miller. In fact, I actually, I kind of like Carl Miller. I kind of love Colmilla. I love him like my bitch. I love him like my bitch, Ariel, yes? He's a nice guy.

I have no problem with him. His mouth got him into trouble. If he dies, he dies. July 19th, he's going to feel him when he steps off that plane. He's stepping onto a battlefield. He's not going to be able to handle me. He can talk about my ground game. He can talk about my opponents.

He can talk about my past. he is, at the end of the day he is talking about me. Cole Miller, in this industry, is what you call a jobber. And a jobber is that a guy that's brought in and make the good guys

look good. What are all those guys I beat? What are all those guys that I beat? What are they? If I'm a jobber, what are there? Listen, Cole, like I said before, this division, I'm looking past you, Cole, here. I want

I want the goal. Jose's a schmuck. Chad's a schmuck. Cubs are schmuck. Your teammate Dustin's a schmuck. All you guys are schmucks, yeah? This division is filled with a who's who of husbands and rookies. You were on the husband list.

Nobody gives a shit called. You should have no problem with me then, bro. Cole, I'm going to break you, brother, here. I'm too fast. I'm going to hit you where you think you can't be here. No, didn't I just say that you were faster than me in the beginning of the interview, but I'm better than you. That's what it's coming down to.

How do you feel about his height and reach advantage, Connor? Well, let's talk reach, Ariel. As a statistic man, he has not got to reach on me. He has the height, but the guy is a stick. He's a tall, lanky stick. He looks weak in the midsection. He has nothing for me, Ariel. The man has spoke, the man, the man has, he spoke under post-fight adrenaline.

Dude, like I said, on Fox. Aerial. We'll make more groundwork. Post-fight adrenaline. You were brave. And guess what? Where did you go? Where did you go after you said that?

You ran out of the cage. You ran. You ran. You ran away. Now guess what? Now guess what? Now it's happened. Cole.

Now it has happened. You're a nice guy. Don't get me wrong. You're a nice guy. I'm going to break your nose, and I'm going to look at you out of the fight. I'll take you well. I'll show you my hometown. We'll have a good night.

Trust me, July 19, call. When you step off that plane, you're stepping onto a battlefield. Bring everyone with you. Bring your whole team. Bring Dustin. Bring P-head with you, yeah? And I'll whoop him, too. Connor.

Just get him off the line. We'll make real conversation happen. This is fascinating. I know a lot of fans are enjoying the back and forth as well. He thinks the fans are stupid, so he's just going to keep recycling shit. People have already said in the past, Muhammad Ali's already said, he's doing some stuff from Rocky movies.

He thinks very little of his fans. You know, he thinks he's so original. Yeah, Cole, what the fuck are you talking about? In this game, people get confused. People forget about the arts and focus on the game. And then there's people that focus on the game and forget about the arts. There's that specific, special individual that can do both. And when that door shuts, you are looking at that specific individual.

Cole, you're 42, you're balding, nobody gives a shit. Facebook. mention my name and what are you got? Facebook is where you went on. That's where you were on. You were on Facebook your last fight. You mentioned my name and now you're made me. event. Like I said before, I want to thank you right now this second. If you don't tank me right

now, well, then you may as well forgive me. Because July 19th, I'm going to break you. I swear to God, one round. The first exchange, you're too slow, you're too sloppy, you're too basic. Bring dustin with you. I want dust. I want dust. I want Justin. I want Justin by, Jay. I want to the top 10. I didn't give a shit about you. I didn't even ask for you. I want the top 10. You're a smook. You're a husband. You're a nobody. It should be easy for you then. It should be real easy for you then.

Easy payday then. Yeah, it's going to be slow, smooth, smoothest fast, Cole. It's going to be the smoothest contest. Hey, listen, don't worry about it. You're going to wake up, well-rested, and everything. You're going to feel good waking about this fight, yeah? Don't worry about it, brother, yeah? I want to look out the July 19th.

Cole, when I spoke to you last month, you were saying, you know, I'll believe it when I see it as far as the contract and the fight is concerned. Did you think there was a chance that, Connor would not agree to this fight, but you seemed a little hesitant when I was talking to you via text message. It's fair. It's fair manifested in different ways. Yeah, I was kind of unsure whether or not his knee was going to get cleared by his position

or whatever they were saying they were waiting on his clearance. So I was kind of unsure what they were going to do about it because I think I'm probably stylistically the worst matchup for Connor. So I was kind of unsure if they were going to do it. You thought that the UFC might not want to book him against you because they didn't want to have him lose? Is that what you're saying? It will take less than 10 seconds for me and to be on the ground before I catch him in a submission. Cole, please, Cole, please, Cole.

You have not got a hope in hell. You are a jobber. You are brought in here to lose. You know it, and I know it, and they know it. You have no hope in hell. Do you think they want you to lose, Cole? Well, I think they've invested a lot into him, you know, with the marketing. Say it.

Say it right now. Say it right now. Say it right now. Say what. Say what. Say what. Say what you know. You know they want you to lose.

Say that to me right now. I just said that. I already said it. Good girl. Good girl. anyways back to what I was saying with all the marketing they put into this guy

and they're pushing him real hard of course that's what you know they want they're coming to his hometown try to get him every advantage that he possibly can have would you say he's going to need that he's going to need that Connor were you trying to

or did you hope that the UFC and I know you alluded to this but like did you try to convince them you know give me a bigger name you said you weren't all that interested in him you called him a job and all that stuff like were you disappointed ultimately when they offered you up Cole Miller for this fight in Dublin

I mean, honestly, Ariel, Cole was the last person on my radar. I had much... I'm not going to overlook any man. Because any movement, any movement is dangerous, you know. At the end of the day, he's 18 fights, he's a schmuck, he's a husband,

but I'm not... At the end of the day, I'm facing me. It's me versus me. and me versus me, I'm the best that ever lived, and I am preparing like I am facing me. I'm not preparing to face Cole. I'm preparing to face me.

And me preparing to face me, I'm preparing to face the best. You know what I'm saying? I am preparing to face the best. Cole, do you kind of feel like you're fighting for the entire featherweight division to shut this guy up, to put him in his place? Because it seems like everyone wants a piece at him.

You feel like you're kind of representing all those guys who have been there with you for the last few years in the UFC? Yeah, I think that, well, you know, my original complaint was that was about, was these guys, you know, like you're talking, when the UFC, the top 10, how hard they've worked to get to that position where they're at. But as far as just stopping in from his mouth, you know, unfortunately, that's just part of the game.

I'm, you know, kind of like Connor would say, and I'm more concerned with myself. I'm a martial artist. You know, I try to always take my game to the next level. try to be a better person, try to be a better martial artist, be a better fighter, be a better, you know, wrestler, kickboxer, jihitsu fighter, and try to make like where all that hard work that I do is not just for what's going on in the cage where I'll be able to be better outside of it as well. You know, Connor, in the boxing world, as I'm sure you know, Floyd Mayweather has this situation where he's essentially handing out lottery tickets to fighters.

Like, he gets to pick and choose his opponents. And I know it's different in the UFC, but it feels like you're, kind of that guy in the featherweight division right now. Like more people are calling you out than the champion, than the top contender. Do you feel like you're in that position where you can like, you know, give these guys opportunities just for the opportunity to fight you? It's almost

like, to them, it's bigger than a title fight at this point. Like I said, Ariel, I want that man to tank me right now. I want him to tank me. Literally, one fight ago, he was crying about how he couldn't get paid or how he couldn't do this, he couldn't do that.

mention my name now he's in the main event Slough Cole, thank me you're welcome when the story is told when my story is told you're always going to be a part of it

so you are welcome I want you to thank me right now Cole yeah thank me right now live on this air thanks for the easy fight thanks for the easy fight Connor appreciate it

does anything concern you at all Connor about his game no No, honestly, like I said before. You know, so that way everybody can take the facade. Listen, Cole. Hey, Cole.

Hey, you are going to have to be. Come on, man. You're too slow. Andy Smogel. Andy Smogel who worked you in our last round. Listen, I don't get tired ever. Ever, I don't get tired. I can go all day.

This is the best time for you. You think this part is the best time for you and me coming up this injury. Colin, honestly, I don't think anything about your... I'm not even concerned about your need. Listen, your ground game is weak. In my eyes, looking at your ground game, it's specific. You have no tough game.

You're weak on top. You're weak on top. You're weak on top, call. I will pull guard on you. You have no top game. I'll speak to you. I honestly, I guarantee you, when the bell rings, and when you're back in the...

against that fence. You're going to try and jump guard and try and stall this file. Trust me, I'm prepared for you in a bullshit tactic. I'm such a staller, Connor. Yeah, yeah, Cole. Awesome, Cole. You're a nice guy. Honestly, I have no problem with you. I met you in, I met you backstage in Boston. In Boston.

You were petrof in Boston or wherever it was. No, I was not. I was terrified when you were fighting money. And I was looking at you backstage and I was thinking, and I said to me, coach, I said, you know what? I'm going to stick a load of money on Manny Gamburian because this guy looks absolutely petrified. We were in the same warm-up area.

I saw that nervous energy. I know what way your mind is right now, Cole, yeah? I am in your head. I know what way your mind is. Let alone, let alone when you were finding on an undercard like this, this is a main event. You are coming to my hometown.

This is what I envisioned all my life. You think you have You have no hope in hell, Cole. I am in your head. I know, I know, I know the way you are backstage. I know the way you are on stage. You have no hope in hell. Cole, would you say this is the biggest fight of your UFC career?

I mean, you fought on some big pay-per-views, you fought some big names. 100%. This is definitely going to be the biggest fight. It's on the main event in Ireland. against Connor with all this buzz and hyper... Say my name. Say my name. Connor.

I just said, I thought your name was fallen for a year. Your name is Connor. Say my name right now. I'm going to make you say my name, yeah. I'm going to make you say my name, yeah. I'm going to make you spell my name in there, yeah? I can't even concentrate on the questions with you just running your mouth.

It's so bad. I'm going to make you spell my name in there, yeah? You are going to spell my name in there. what do you think of Connor's persona the dress code the suits everything that he's done

in the last year he's really evolved into one of the great characters in our sport what do you make of this call is this is this your style do you at least can appreciate

what he brings to the table here for the sport and the growth of the sport yeah I mean like you know he's got his monocle and his pocket watch and his nice fancy suit he's trying to develop

his brand and stuff like that but you know tapping people out as my brand we're going to find out on July 19th, what's up with that? So are you going... Yeah, Colin, honestly, I have no problem with you. Honestly, I really do.

I find you amusing. Honestly, I love you like my bitch, Carlis. July 19th, you are going to be my bitch. Connor, at this point, are you 100% clear? There's nothing to do with the knee anymore, right? I have been cleared a long, long time, Ariralee. I just needed to go to L.A. because the surgeon who worked on me was in L.A.

So he needs to have the final say, so the U.S. he could have final say. I've been grappling, I've been spying. I've been full on a long, long time. Like I said, I sent myself, when this injury happened, and I had to sit on the sidelines and much all these husbands and all these rookies

take center stage, I sent myself the easiest, the easiest goal ever to come back better than anyone has ever come back before. Trust me, he is going to feel speed like he has never felt before. I'm the fastest in the division. Ariel, I'm too fast for this man. You're not the best.

You're not the best. You've got all this speed without the skills. You have no fun of- Tell me how fast I am. Tell me right now how fast I am. I've got all this speed. You're right. You are correct.

Tell me again how fast I am. love it. I swear I got it turns me on when you damn it is. Cole, do you think he is the fastest guy in the division? I know obviously you haven't followed him, but what you've seen. I don't know things that that's in the division, but he does have some speed. Some good speed. He's pretty agile. He moves well. You know, things like that. What concerns you the same question I asked him? What concerns you most about Connor? I think he's going to try to avoid the fight as much as possible. I think he's going to try to use all his footwork to dance around. He's not... Oh, come on, Carl.

You think I want to try to avoid the fight. You can do this all day. You said you can do this all day. That means you're playing on stretching this out. I'm going to be trying to take you out of there. All the second. And I'm going to let you know. I'm going to let you know in fight.

I'm going to tell you I go all day. When you're backing up against the fence, I'm going to let you know I can go all day. Come on. You think I'm going to count back. You think I'm going to try and avoid the fight? Oh, please. You're going to be on the back floor from the barrel. We are going to collide and you are going to collapse.

And that is the end of it. Collide, collapse July 19th. I'm going to open up this division. I'm going to show what I know. I'm going to show what everyone else knows. I'm the most feared man in this division. Nobody wants a peace. You don't even want a peace.

I know you don't want a peace. You spoke my name when the adrenaline was running high. and then the adrenaline came down and he ran out of the cage and then all of a sudden you calm down and you're like actually I don't

mind him he's okay actually he does this he does that I understand you had that post-line adrenaline I understand but unfortunately for you it has got you into deep

deep trouble dude you said that like eight times Ariel do you have another question or can I get off the phone? I will say it one more time Thank you. You made your point.

You are in cold. You know and I know it. Come on, man. You know it and I know it. You're too slow. Come on. How slow are you? You are the slowest in the division.

You're the slowest in the division. It's as simple as that. And I'm the most skilled. And I'm going to take you out with those skills. That's it. Most skill. Come on, call the most skills. You're the most basic.

You're too slow. You're too slow. You know it. Your team. Blah, blah, blah. Bring Dustin with you, because I had a whoop person as well that night. I hope Dustin there, which is, and I'll whip him as well, eh? Cole, we appreciate the time very much.

I'll let you go. I know you stopped your training for this. Connor, stick around for a second. I have two other extra questions I want to ask you. Any final things you want to say to Cole, excuse me, to Connor, Cole, before we let you go? Man, after I get that, you know, performance of the night bonus, I'm going to make sure I buy his mama caravan and Perry Winkle Blue. Hey, tank me.

Tank me right now. Thank me right now for giving you this chance. Thank you. You know, thanks for a way to my time. You wouldn't be here. Come on, Colin. You couldn't even get off Facebook. You could not get off Facebook.

Facebook tried to get you off Facebook. You mentioned my name? I know you're here. Mike Zuckerberg tried to get you off Facebook. Come on, Cole. Thank me right now on this air for giving you. you this opportunity. Thank me right now.

Thanks for being so bad on the ground, Connor. You're going to find out what a real ground fighter is on July 19th. Yeah, yeah, Cole. You're a rookie. In my eyes, you're an advanced blue belt. You're specific in certain areas. Your top game is poison. You are rubbish, Carl.

Trust me. What are you going to do? You're going to end up on bottom? You think you're going to get a day down? You think you're going to end up on top? My right hand is My right hand is going to take you down That's going to be it

Oh, Cole Honestly, I do I swear to God I honestly, I love you like my bitch I swear to have fun I love you, I love you like my bitch If you die You die

I'll be ready for it That should scare you Thank you Cole Appreciate it very much All right, later Later Say thank you Thank me right now

Conard Great stuff Appreciate the time very much Let me just ask you Since it came out Just last night It affects you Chad Mendes Josealdo

You're very good at breaking down The fights Who wins this fight? Title fight was just announced Did you know this by the way? I had an idea That was The way they are going to go

With this fight I messaged Dana The other night And I told him UFC Dublin Will be the fastest selling UFC events in history and I will bet you

a title shot on this. Wow. He hasn't replied yet. I'm going to stop Cole and I'm going to go for that belt. We can do the rookie dance all we want. They can keep giving me these husbands

they can keep giving me these rookies. I want the gold. I'm here for the gold. Alou Mendez how do I see it going? I don't know. Personally, like I said before, I think Mendez should be a 135er.

He looks blown out at 145. He looks like a little bodybuilder. His body type is not designed for combat. He gases after halfway to the first round. He reminds me of a little midget Phil Barone. But I don't know. I believe Aldo should win this contest. Aldo said yesterday that,

I've only had two fights in the UFC, and I think I am the king. Yes. And that is right. That is right. I hope he bowed down. I hope he bowed down when he spoke of the king's name. I hope he did. And I will make him bow down when he speaks of the king's name.

We have it on tape in your first appearance back in February of last year, when you predicted that you would be the guy to bring the UFC back. to Ireland. And you've always told us that you envision things, that you see things happening. So how do you envision this road now that you're back, now that the knee is in the past, how do you envision? Okay, coal happens July 19th, and then what's the road to the title shot? And how long are you the champion of this division, in your opinion? Personally, I'll be the champion by the end of the year. I am already the champion right now. I am the people's champion. I have the division hoping I fail. I have the, you know, the

UFC fans hoping I succeed. At the end of the day, me, McGregor versus Aldo, sells more than McGregor versus Mendez. It's as simple as that. It is as simple as that. I am a bad stylistic match for Jose. I will, I'm going to whoop cold July 19th. I'm going to, preferably, I would like, when is this, when is this A Aldo Mendes fight? August 2nd. So right around the same time as your fight. My mind frame was on July. Stop cold in devastating fashion.

Put a stamp on the division. Call out, call out that guy. Whatever that guy's name is, Jose, Jose, Josie. Right away. I'm calling him out straight away. I want him at the guest fire. bring him as the guest fire. Bring Jose Aldo as a guest fire for UFC Dublin.

I don't think I make those decisions, but I think now that the UFC, I'm sure they are listening to this. Bring him as a guest fighter for UFC Dublin. I'm going to stop Colin devastating fashion. I'm going to stop him in the first exchange. And then I will call him Jose Aldo. McGregor, Aldo,

sells much more than McGregor. Man, no one gives a shit about Mendez. no one cares about Mendez like I said he's a midge of Phil Barone he's a little bodybuilder midger Phil Barone no one cares he tires after the first round

his body type is not designed for this game it's that black and white I'm gonna stop cold July 19th September September preferably I'd look to Falado I don't know what way this August thing is gonna go

but whatever July 19th, stop cold, August, September, maybe Cubs Stevens, stop one of those. And then the end of the year card, that big end of year card in Vegas. Stick me on that. Give me that cold. I think you set it up. If you beat Cole, I think Dustin Poyer would make a lot of sense. You just said you wanted him out there in Ireland, and then I think a win over him would warrant a title shot. Listen,

Cobra is the guy Dustin is the guy that I probably should be fighting, realistically. Cole has spoke about how I have blasted his teammates and how I should

fight him before I earn a shot to fight these guys. So, listen to his mind frame compared to my mind frame. His mind frame is on. I need to fight him before I want a a shot at these guys.

And he's talking about Nick Lentz and Dustin Porriere. You know, it's a different mind frame. McGregor, Porriere, should have been on that UFC end-of-year card when Diego Brandeau fought Porreier. I believe if that injury had not

had not happened, I would have been fighting Dustin Porriere on that end-of-year card. And then I would... I would already be... speaking to you right now with the gold wrapped around me. I was expecting that. Let me ask you one last question, Connor, and then I'll let you go, and thank you so much for this.

I appreciate the time very much. I know you're very busy and being pulled in a thousand different directions. But when we last had you on the show... I love it. Ariel, I love this. I am here for everything. I am here for the success. I am here for the gold.

I am here for the fame. I am here for the money. Every part of this game, I love. I love my... job more than any of these guys. I love it. Every bit of it, pull me left, put me right, I love it. I relish in these opportunities. So last time we had you on the show was December and you were saying, you know, you were getting a little, you know, it felt like there was some aggression and it was pent up and you said, I'm probably going to

take a break from talking to the media. This is my last interview. I just need to go focus on getting to be 100% and whatnot. By the time you actually fight inside the octagon, gone in July. It will be 11 months since your last fight. Can you just put us into how you will, the emotions and everything that you've been through over the last year and still sitting there and still, you know,

talking your talk and not backing down from everyone, but just being away for someone who loves his craft so much, who loves his job, as you say, who loves to be active, how will it all culminate on July 19th for you? Ariel, it is going to go smoothly.

Like I said, tune in, July UFC fight pass Satanda sports BT sports I'm hoping Fox Fox need to jump on this Fox want to jump on this Fox want this card

Fox want this there's no UFC fight night card that Fox I've ever touched but Fox want this card I want Fox I want this to broadcast on Fox I want every all I want all these Americans to see to take a good look at the new king

and the guy that's not I'm not here to make friends I told you this on my very first interview I wasn't here to make friends I'm not here I'm not here to make up the numbers I'm here to take over I'm here to own this game

now now that this injury has passed and I've been fully grappling and I'm fully sparring life is good again that time when we spoke and I said I'm going to stay away from media I'm going to stay away from this

it might have been maybe because I had not been able to train I had other distractions. Now my life is good again, yeah? Movement, my movement for me is meditation. Now I can move. Now I can strike. Now I can feel,

now I can feel the human body. Now I can feel movement again. You know what I'm saying? I am a happy man right now. I am lapping this up. I'm like, I am here to take over, Ariel. main event

my hometown Dublin Island this is my show this UFC fighting night UFC Dublin is the Connor McGregor show it's that simple is the Connor McGregor show Cole is brought in to get his ass whooped

he knows it I know it you know it everybody knows it I relish this I love this game I love my job I'm grateful that Dana Lorenzo Sean Joe that these

have given me this opportunity. You know, like I said, when I wanted to bring the UFC back to Dublin, Ireland, and I said I was going to drag them back by the scruff of the neck, that I think I was going to be main event, honestly, I did not think I was going to be main event. Now that it is here, now I'm going to prove my work. Now I'm going to prove to everybody what I have been saying. All these guys in this Fed away division have been joining teams.

these guys have been joining teams hoping I'm joining teams hoping I lose I love it I want them all to join teams because it's me versus them Connor it's great to have you back looking forward to this so much thank you for the time today and good luck as you prepare for the fight on July 19th can't wait for it it might just very well be the most anticipated fight of the summer it certainly is in my mind I've been waiting for this for a long time so best of luck and thanks again and that has nothing got to do with coal.

Tell me right now that has nothing got to do with coal. I like the dynamic between you two. I think it's a lot of fun. Tell me right now that has nothing got to do with coal. You know as well as I know it. It could be anyone. It's me you want to see. Tell me right now it's me you want to see.

I think it takes two to tango, but of course, we haven't seen you in a long time. You are the draw. that's why they're going to your hometown. It's something that I hope I can witness in person, to be honest. Yeah, Fox need to cover this card. They knew, they do. The very first UFC fight night. Fox covered a very first UFC fight night.

The fastest selling UFC event in history. Headlined by the king, the new king, the most feared in the division, the notorious. Ariel, I will see you there, my friend. Thank you so much, Connor. All the best to you. Really appreciate it. My man. My man.

There he is. The one and only, Connor McGregor. Thank you so much to him, July 19th. It goes down. And thank you so much to Cole Miller as well. Great stuff from the both of them. In the history of this show, I think it's pretty safe to say that the most popular guest ever has been Connor McGregor. I don't think there's any doubt to that.

And it has been a while, and understandably so. The man has exploded. He has turned the world of MMA upside down. He is arguably the biggest star. in the sport. He is the face of the featherweight division. He has a gigantic fight coming up in December. He is the face of the ultimate fighter right now. I mean, what he has done in the last two plus years, nothing short of amazing. You know the story. You know the ride. But he has found some time out of his very, very, very busy schedule to return home. You can always come back home.

And there he is. Connor McGregor, back home on the MMA hour. How are you, my friend? I am absolutely amazing, Ariel. Thank you for that great introduction. That is why you are at the top of your game, because you can recognize greatness. You can recognize when a man is doing something different and pay him that respect. People who cannot pay that respect and understand what's happening and hold bitterness and whole bitterness and whole grudges to it and hate on it, they'll never reach the pinnacle of what they're trying to do. And you recognize what's happening. As I recognize what's happening with you and what you are doing, your 300 episode, you're the top reporter in the game. It's no

surprised that you are that way. So I am honored to be back here on your 300 episode. What a feat. Congratulations. And let's talk. All right. Well, thank you so much again. Your first appearance eating those blueberries. I mean, that goes up there in our Hall of Fame. I don't know if anyone will ever be able to top that. So it's so great to have you back. I was worried for a second that you'd forgotten about us. But I know deep down, you're still the same old guy. You're still the same old Connor. Yes, yes, I am. As hungry as ever, right? I have not changed, Ariel. There's a lot that has changed, but I have not changed. I'm still the same person.

I'm still on the hunt. I'm still on the hunt for that number. You know, I watched that first episode back when I first came out to a show, and I'm no different. I still eat blueberries. You know what I mean? Keep them laying. After that show, I was getting people were, like,

Photoshop on my face on the packets of blueberries, and I was thinking in my business mind of saying, shit, I should capitalize on this and start selling blueberries now. But no, it's been a crazy ride. And I truly, I feel every now and again I get this, I almost take a back step or I go somewhere else and I come back reinvigorated. And this is just another one. I just keep getting reinvigorated to go again and keep pushing and keep breaking down barriers

and climb to heights that the game has never seen before. You know, I'm happy that we're talking to you back in Dublin. You recently returned to Dublin right after the Go Big Press Conference, and it had been several months. I mean, you had been all around the world and back, and you finally came back with the belt. What was that moment like when you stepped on Irish soul and you were greeted by this amazing crowd at the airport?

I mean, the support I'm getting is unbelievable. But I think everyone back home, they understood the work ethic that I put in. They understand what I came true. I think it was clear for a lot of people, the amount of hours and the amount of sacrifice and everything that I've gone through all the all the media all all the travel all everything so when I actually came home I feel my people have recognized that and they haven't been too um invasive they've given me you know what I mean

everyone is respecting and and it's it's just been a great a great vibe and I to walk back into my gym straight blast gym I almost feel like I had to like learn how to mix back in with society or something it just felt it felt weird to like be around it and people going about their normal day and um but it's been it's been a fucking it's been amazing for me you know the the air back home i can't you know living in los vegas the air is is very very dry it's you don't see fluffy fluffy animals running around outside in in los Vegas the only animals that that survive out in that climate are reptiles and snakes and lizards and that's the type of animals you see out there and there's there's very good reason for

that is because the air is fucking you can't live in that air you know one of the things i noticed and i missed from being out there was the air back home in ireland it's fresh it's clean now i have my home and it's right it's up in the countryside it's true you have to get through two gates to get to my house it's it's it's sitting right on a golf course i wake up every day i i have a cup of coffee i walk out onto my onto my balcony and i just breathe in that fresh air and and begin my day so things are going absolutely amazing for me now and I feel reinvigorated and ready to go and unified that belt

I find throughout camps I have words that almost stick in my head throughout the whole camp the last one I felt the word was capitalized I wanted to capitalize on every opportunity that I could and that came my way and this time I feel the word that's sticking in my head is unify you know that's that's the word I'm going in here

with unify and I'm going to unify that belt I'm going to silence the critics. I'm going to put Jose away. And that's it now. Now we're going to see what people have to say because I don't get into better shape anywhere else except home. When I train at home and with the bodies and the people I have back home and the coaches and everything back home, I enter the octagon like an animal.

With that last one and what I was faced with and the work ethic and the injuries and this and that and I was I essentially went into that octagon on one leg now I feel I am home and I feel coming through that adversity I feel I have gained three new legs I feel like I will enter this fight with four legs so I'm in a great place mentally and physically my body is right and I'm moving in sequence in both ways I can spin boatways I can land boatways I'm going to destroy Jose and I'm going to I'm going to lay claim to that pound for pound number once but they will understand soon. They might not, I know there's a lot of bitterness,

and there's all these bums that are hating me, and rightfully so, you know, I mean, it is what it is. They continue to hate, but I will continue to show up and win, so that's it. Can you finally explain to us the extent of your injuries going to that fight? We've heard things like that. You've talked about a little bit here, but we don't know exactly what you were dealing with.

Are you comfortable with talking about it now? I mean, I was injured. I re-injured my leg. It was bad? I couldn't walk. I could not walk. I couldn't even... There was a period in the camp

where I couldn't even stand up straight. Wow. You know what I mean? Two weeks before the fight was when I was starting kicks again. So everyone that was around me in that camp that I brought in, the reason it all shaped up like that

was because I went traveling the World Tour and I got injured on the World Tour training with unfamiliar bodies in a competitive atmosphere. This game breaks you down enough. You must find comfort with your training partners. And it's about making it to the contest, keeping your body fresh and your mind sharp.

It's the same thing that I tried to instill into those ultimate fire contestants because every single one of them were banged up also. They came from a fight to get into the house. So everyone had a banged up knee, a banged up elbow, a bust up face. The game breaks individuals. So there's no point in being in the gym

and breaking yourself down. So that's what I learned through that whole experience. and when I injured myself on that world tour, I had to bring people that I was comfortable with and lock my frame away. That's honestly what I felt like I did. I had to lock my frame away. And it was almost like I was in a prison cell at times.

But I always said to myself, every damn day I woke up, I said the true grates, they conquer adversity. The true grates can slice true adversity, no problem. And that's what I done there. I faced my adversity and I conquered it. Jose had his adversity, he ran from it. He might be able to come back and he might be able to peek his head back in the door,

but he'll never be able to leave that, the fact that he ran when I didn't. And they knew about my injury and the same way I knew about his injury. And I told him, I said I would not target the body. I would have fought fair play. I would have attacked the chain. It was the chain I was going to hunt. And he still pulled out of it when they knew about my situation and I didn't pull, but they were looking to target that area. But it is what it is. And I said, I've seen him at the ultimate fire, I've seen him at the press conference. I'm not trying to get in the guy's head. I'm not trying to mess with his head.

I'm honestly, I'm not messing when I say I'm trying to cuddle him and trying to baby him to this fight because you put it on a man too much. They don't show up, and it's the same thing I'm realizing. I've seen in the boxing game with Fury and Colichco. Clitchco pulled out with a saw a carve, you know. When all this is going on, they don't realize until they're in the, until they're in the fire. And then they look for their exit.

So I'm taking my foot off the pedal. I wish Jose well. I wish him a safe camp. I hope he trained smart because they don't train smart over there. They get banged up and banged up and banged up. And their body breaks. And that's what you're seeing. That's what you're seeing with Henan.

That's why Henan had that second fight against TJ and could not make adjustments because his training and his preparation does not allow him to make adjustments. Does not allow his movements to grow and he cannot change his reactions because it's repetition, repetition, it's routine. And routine and repetition is, is the answer. If the question is how can I lock up the human frame, how can I restrict freedom of movement, how can I close my mind off to other forms of movement? So I just wish Jose well. I hope to see him on the night. Do I think he will show? I still don't. I still don't. I'm rarely wrong, but like always, I will be there. The numbers I bring, they will be there. So that's all I can say. Who are you expecting then? Who are you expecting? on December 14th?

I don't know. I'm not fully going to say he's not going to show up. I'm not fully going to say he's not going to show up because I'm still hoping he does. You know, like I said, take the foot off the pedal, try and school him how to do it. School him to the game. How to prepare for World Championship fights.

There's a lot at stake. You can't be bringing in people that are coming to hurt you. He hurt his rib when he brought in an opponent to mimic my style through a lazy, wide, spinning back kick and I caught him on the left rib. I saw the footage and everything. I know everything about that whole camp. I know everything about everyone and everything.

So I just hope he trained smart this time has learned his lesson because you do learn from injury. You come back with a better understanding of preparation. And at least I did. So I hope he does and he shows up and we can put this to rest and allow me to unify that belt and give me that pound for pound number one spot, which is mine. And I know it's mine.

And deep down he knows it too. so that's it that's all I say on that when you squared off with him at the press it's amazing because you guys have squared off now

like 10, 15 times but you never fought I mean you squared off against this guy an unbelievable amount of times but you still have yet to fight him what did you see this time as it was different

than the other times in the World Tour when you looked in his eyes I saw I saw a man who was late for a fly he was late for an airplane fly you know what I mean he had a flight to catch

so I didn't see nothing. You know what I mean? I just, I don't, I see glass. Like I said before, I look into those eyes and I see glass. You can hide it with everything else, but the eyes, they don't lie, Ariel. I know I've said it a million times, but they truly, truly don't. And you look dead into someone's soul.

You can look into someone's soul and you look into their eyes. And I just saw a man that's looking to get the fuck out here as quick as possible. So I looked around the platform up there, everyone else that was up there. And I told them, stay ready for this. Like I said, on episode of the... one of our show. Stay ready so you don't have to get ready. That's something I said. That's everywhere. That's everywhere. But it rings true. Stay ready for opportunities because opportunities present themselves and you must grab them with both hands. So I hope everyone up there and everyone

that's linked to my name and everyone that's praying for my name to be linked to theirs stays in shape because who knows what will happen. Was that a conscious decision on your part prior to that press conference? I've never seen anything like that where a guy just pretty much goes up there and turned himself into a lone wolf and like a noosey is just spraying everyone in sight. If a brawl would have broken out there, I think you would have been by yourself. I think you alienated every fighter up there. Did you do that on purpose? Was there a reason for that?

I'm by myself. I would have whooped everyone's ass up there as well. Make no mistake about that. You know, I don't know. I'm just recognizing what I'm bringing to the game. It's me who has all these fights. I essentially set the game on fire there at that press conference and flew home to sweet, sweet Dublin, Ireland

with my gold belt and my multi-millioners of dollars and I'm waiting my next multi-nine figure contract which is en route. So that's what I do. And I just let everyone up there know. I let the bosses that weren't up there know. What I bring, my worth. Even fights that have linked to my name

are main event status. There's no one of fire in the game that has that. When fighters lose to a fighter to defyter, not a draw, but when they lose to me, their draws. They can go to different regions and headline and make seven-figure revenues on the gate. And that's what I'm doing. They're offspring numbers that nobody else would know

or really pay attention to it. But I pay attention to it. My name brings numbers. If you have an association with my name, whatever the result, you will have, you will be main event slots after that because that's what my name brings. It puts you into a spotlight.

It gives you that status. So I'm well aware of that. These are also cards that I should have my hand in the pie as well. You know what I mean? I should be getting compensated for these cards as well, I feel. So I just went out there and let that be known. Let that be known. Let the facts be known.

I'm going to fight here. And it wasn't just because we were up on that stage. I said it backstage as well. I said the numbers rule. All the belts and all the shit mean nothing. Everyone was handed a belt. Jose was handed his belt, the belts mean nothing. Numbers ruling this game, and I'm the ruler of the number.

So I let that be known, and what's the middle-way guy, Luke, you know, he was touching a belt, and it's about being number one. I was thinking, looking at that schmuck. I was like, listen, you, you fool. You're on this, like, romantic bachelor reality TV show. I'm trying to talk to me about that shit. You're a bum. He's a bum, like the rest of them are bums, and I just wanted to let that be known.

It's my name that's bringing numbers. It's my name that's bringing this revenue. So be grateful. Recognise it. Recognising somebody that's doing something great will allow you to go and do something great. Hating on it and being bitter on it, you're going to fall.

Look what happened to... What's that other schmuck's name? Luke Barnett. Remember him? Yes. Do you remember him? Yes. Where's he at now?

Where's he at now? Do you know what I'm saying? And that's no disrespect to him because people can be wrong at times and people can not understand how they... I would not rub it in on people, But you just have to recognize, don't be bitter. Because you won't get better then.

You know what I mean? You'll be stuck. You'll be left behind. But people will be people. And they'll allow it to eat away at them. They focus on other people instead of focusing on themselves and they'll never reach that high, high height. I can only continue to repeat myself and try and educate them.

But if they don't listen, then fuck them. You know what I mean? I'm still here. I'm still here at the top. I'm still here with the highest paid. Let's compare contracts. Because now the contract I'm talking, I really is nine figures.

Nine figures I'm talking. Nobody in the game has talked nine figures. That's 100 million plus. That's my contracts. So that's where I'm a. And I've done it the way I've done it. So either learn from it or don't. That's on you.

Are you confident you will get that contract? When you're bringing in 50 to 60 million revenue on a on a fight where the main event guy has pulled out two weeks before you think that you think anyone else can do that this next one we're estimating a gate of 10 million

10 million dollars just for the gate alone this is going to bring in 90 to 100 million dollars this card here so you're damn right I get I came at them with facts I came at them with numbers I didn't go around the bell I looked them dead in the eye with straight facts and that's all you can when somebody comes at you with clear facts

clear numbers there's only one thing can do in that situation. Respect it. You've got to respect good business. If you don't respect good business, then that's on you. So I'm very confident that we will come to a deal and it will be in the non-figure mark. Rightfully so. I said after that press conference, I was very surprised. Everyone kind of handled themselves pretty well, but I was surprised that of all people, Joseph Duffy didn't say anything because he's the guy who could say, look, I fought you before and it was a long time ago, but I beat you. So, you know, I got a fight in Dublin. why don't you sit down?

He didn't say a thing. Did that surprise you? Not particularly. I felt, you know, it's easy for people looking in. Even fighters looking in that they don't understand when it's all added on. I'm sure he's feeling that now, all that main events, all the obligations that come with it. It's not just showing up at the gym. It's not just that no more.

There's a lot more to it. So I saw a man who choked up there, but. It is what it is. That fight, how can he say that? How can he say anything about that fight when one year after that fight, he got beat and he quit the sport. So I laid out the facts about his career already. He faced it. One year after me and him fought, he was beating for the cage where his lightweight title,

and he quit the sport, retired, moved country, changed teams and took up another sport. They're facts. Then he sees my success. and sees the Irish success, even though he's off somewhere else. He ain't in Ireland. He's never been in Ireland. He never trained an island once in his life.

And then he sees all of this. Then he shaves a shamrock in his head. Then he calls himself Irish Joe and tries to come back and capitalize off of that and milk that. Now I can't hate that because make that revenue, make what you can for your family.

I don't hate that man for that. But facts are facts, and that's the story of his career. So we'll see how his career plays out. I wish him well. I feel it's going to be an interesting contest. I think Dustin's in a good place. Dustin's in a good place mentally, I feel.

He's came true with that. He's experienced that. I feel Joe was new to it. But we'll see. I'm interested to see how it plays out. You know, there's many fights brewing, and I have my eye on every one of them. What's it going to be like for you on the 24th of October

in the market that you built? When you were on this show, for the first time, you said I will drag them back to Dublin. Dublin was not on their radar. you brought them back there and it was one of the most memorable nights in UFC history. On the 24th of October,

you will not be on that card. He will be main eventing that slot. And he has been given this title of the last man to be, Connor McGregor. Does that piss you off that he's in that main event slot in the market that you built?

Not one bit, you know. I would have likened... I felt it should have been Patty's show. I felt Patty, it should have been Patty's main event or maybe Gunny, but Gunny is going to be on my card in Vegas. I felt that was the night for Patty, but I feel that it was the night for Patty,

But I feel Paddy, Asling, and Carl, it's going to be, they're the true main events. Joe was not from Dublin. He was not, he was born in Ireland, but he's currently in Canada. He's from London, Wales. I don't know where the fuck he's from, but he ain't from here. He ain't never stepped in that arena. He ain't never trained around this area. So, but I don't mind, you know, it's good business.

You sell it as the last man to beat me, and you put him against the guy that I've beat, and it instantly has my name. attached to us. So I cannot, like I said, there's only one thing you can do on your face with good business. You respect it. And that's what I do. I respect good business. Build up those, build up those opportunities. Maybe a rematch down the line with Dustin. Maybe a rematch down the line with Joe. There's, there's, I don't hold grudges on that. You know, I did ask to be on the show. I don't care if it's, you know, the reason I wasn't on the show is because the venue's too small now, you know what I mean? The venue's not too small for me. The venue's perfect for me.

So I would have happily took that main event. I felt I've earned a right to be able to say when I want to fight and when I do not want to fight. And that was one time, like most times, I want to fight. You know what I mean? I would have liked him to be on that card. But it is what it is. I'll take my seat.

I'll enjoy the atmosphere for Paddy's fight, the crazy Dublin atmosphere supporting their own, for Cahill's fight, for Ashling's fight, supporting their own. And then I'll sit and watch the main event that I have built for them. so I look forward to it. Have you been assured by the UFC brass

that if you beat Jose Aldo in December that your first held defense will be at Croke Park? Is that 100% fact at this point? I haven't really spoke about what's next because we're still in the what's now. Okay. That is right now. So we'll see.

Crow Park will definitely happen. I have no doubt about it. We're in no hurry with. I will continue winning. I will see what state the Federalweight Division is in after that weekend. I feel it will be up in flames at that stage. I feel it will be dead in the water.

Like I said, it would be. Like I said, I would do. And then I feel I will head up to that 155-pound division and dice that up as well. So if Frankie comes through, a win. Maybe then I'll consider staying around. Or I don't know. Let's see what happens.

Right now, like I said, the board that's on my mind is Unify. Is that the last guy left, though? like if Chad wins the night before, is it pretty much cemented that you move up to 155 at that point? Not that I can't ever come back down. Right. Not that I ever can't come back down. If something's brewing, I'll come back down.

But as far as your next fight? After the Aldo fight? Yeah. I'd like, I'd like, I'd like the Crow Park fight to be my world title of lightweight fight. That's what I'd like. I'd like to get crown that second belt in Crowe Park. but we'll see

see what happens we have a couple of minutes left you good yeah walk away walk away brother I'm good I just finished my evening massage at a good training session today I went down the gym done some jiu jih Tzu done some capo wear I done some flow sparring come home I have my deep tissue guy here

and rub me out I have employees now I'm good I have employees now and my employees are making more money than the half them booms on the UFC roster so it's a damn good life for me and I'm enjoying every minute of it. I'm wondering... Don't walk away, brother, your 300 episode.

Fucking hell, fair played you. 300 long. That's long. That's double the amount... Oh no, well, it's almost double the amount of the UFC shows. Yeah. That's big. Fair play, yeah.

Well, you know, there have been more than 200 UFC events because you have the fight nights and all that, but whatever, I'll take the compliment. Hey, I'm wondering about your experience on the Ultimate Fighter because Ronda Rousey famously said it messed with her. she didn't like it. I would say this. I want to get your take on it, but I will say this just off the top.

I love the fact that you're not wearing the jersey, that you don't look like everyone else. You still show up in the suit and all that. Finally, finally someone has done this because when I saw Brock Lesnar wearing that jersey on that show on the, I think, 13th or 14th season, it ruined it for me.

The aura was gone. And I said, I don't want to see Connor McGregor wearing a green jersey. Thankfully, you have not done that. So what's a bad thing? Yeah, I mean, I don't know. The fights are on. But did you enjoy...

We're all locked up in a shack. Well, in fairness, I wasn't in a shack. I was in a seven-bedroom, 12,000 square-foot mansion. But still, the amount of time I spent dinner, it felt like a damn shack out there a while. But there's fights on. What else have we got to do? Stick on a nice short, nice tie, nice pair of pants. I don't know.

I enjoyed it. I enjoyed waking up, getting dressed, going to watch the fights. I didn't want to go backstage. I didn't want to be in people's faces. You know what I mean? The coach and staff that I've... brought over my padman, Rowdy on Roddy, my wrestling coach,

Sergei, Tom as well, Eric, my Jiu-Jitsu coach, I brought Gunny over. I wanted to give them a platform. You know what I mean? But they haven't really played into that too much. They've just kind of played on the story of me not being there and then I am there and all this type of thing. But the coach and staff I brought over

done a phenomenal job and done the job that they were supposed to do. I came in. I didn't baby nobody. I don't need to hold nobody's hand. I get in and show them what situations I feel will happen in each fight and let the chips fall where they may. Eriah played it like team and you've got to do this.

You've got to be on time. Push, push, push. They're all banged up. They're all grown men and they're all banged up bad. They're all locked away in a house. You just got to create an environment where they can come into the gym, free their body, sharpen their mind and send them in.

And keep watching. I know there's a lot of controversy about my coaching style versus his coaching style, but stay tuned. Let's see how it plays out. You know, on the show, it seemed clear to me and correct me from wrong, you really didn't want to do this. Like, three days after your fight, all the drama, it really felt like they had to drag you in there.

And at first you had to almost convince yourself that this was something that you were going to be a part of. Were you kind of unhappy there for the first couple days that you had agreed to this? Two days before I started, I said, I'm out here, I'll see his later. I'm not doing this. I'm only finished.

Like, fair enough, if I had a Bialdo and then I had been Mendez or I had been a fight at the end of it or something, I don't know, but just it seemed pointless to me and I didn't know about it until until after they fight even who the coach was I just kind of put it into the back of my mind and then when I'm in the octagon

after the chat is K-O'd your eye comes out to me and says I'll see it in a few days and I was like what the fuck how am I going to see him in a few days and then all of a sudden it was him so I messaged him two days before the show started I said there's no point in me doing this

nobody cares about this unless there's a fight let's schedule a fight there is the date October 24th the show wraps then I'll whoop your eyes in Dublin, my hometown, the show that I built, give me that, and then I'll go and smoke Jose in December.

But they played the safe bet, and they didn't give it to me. But I understand that. So whatever, I was just, at that stage I was drained, you know what I mean? So I just wanted to go home. I want to go home with my family. Enough was enough now. Let me just chill for a fucking mini. But then when I got there, I swear to God when I got there,

and I was watching the day we were watching them fight to get into the house and Dana Torrance and was like this is think of what he said to me he said think of what we're known here we're sitting here and watching these fights live and just what and and I just stopped and taught to myself this is fucking

this is brilliant he's right we're chilling here watching these young kids trying to chase their dream and you're watching the story from the start like before they walked out I'm reading little because on the cards they have like little bios of them like they tell a little bit of their story so you're reading their story in their background

and then you're watching them walk out and fight. It was actually a phenomenal, phenomenal experience, and it just took me that time. It just took me back. I said to myself, why am I doing this for? Am I doing, you know what I mean? Do I want to do it or not?

You know what I mean? If I was to go into that show with that kind of negative attitude and that vibe that I didn't want to be there, it wouldn't play right. It would only make more. It would only bring on more of those feelings. So I sat back and I was, grateful for the opportunity that I had here to where I could come in and watch this and be a part

that is and I'd watch the show like many of us had watched the show years and years ago so I was like I was thinking to my head why am I why do I want to go what I mean this is just six weeks let's go let's go and have fun here and have a new experience this is an experience that I can look back on and for the rest of my life and this is a once in a lifetime experience that very very few people get to experience so that was the approach I took after that very first day and I grew with it, you know what I mean? So I felt that was the right approach. To have a positive outlook on it and to realize that

this is what I'm in the game for, for these once in a lifetime experience. This game, I absolutely love this game more than I love anything, you know what I mean? So I had a lot of fun then with it, and it was great to be a part of it. It was great, you know, it was great to give the opportunity to my coaches as well. I mean, there was a

paid opportunity for them, get their faces out there, and then I had Artham in there, and and then other people. It was just a great experience overall. Keep watching the show, because it tones even better. Who is the true number one face

of the Ultimate Fighting Championship? Is it Connor McGregor or Ronda Rousey right now? We are... Can I say something? By the way, before you answer, I feel like you choose your words wisely when you talk about Ronda. Am I on to something here?

I have a lot of respect for Ronda. I have a lot of respect for Ronde. Rightfully sorry. She's as dominant as they come. I'm a big fan of Rhonda. I always have been. I always big up her fights. I always celebrate.

So I don't choose my words wisely, but I don't, I'm not going to disrespect anyone. You know what I mean? Not in the way. You know what I'm saying? You're not in the way, and you're good. Ronda is the queen, and I am the king. Any lessons to be learned from the John Jones situation for you?

I don't know. I haven't really well. He's back now. I'm happy to see him back. John's a great guy. I've met John many times. I messaged him a few weeks back, wishing him well in this time. And I hope to see him back and I can't wait to see him back. Just to give him that bit of support. The same way I feel with that Nick Diaz situation, which is absolutely ridiculous. I can't wrap my head around that whole situation. I mean, five years is absolutely ridiculous. I wish him well as well. I've always been a big fan of Nick and his style of fighting. It would be a sad day if Nick doesn't lace up the gloves again and make that octagon walk. So I learn from everything. I learn from every situation, but I just keep myself grounded. I pick up my focus again. Sometimes I lose it, but I pick it back up.

And when I pick it back up and I'm on, and I have that hunger, there's no one that can do this game better than me. There's nobody that can do what I do. The biggest show in UFC history is on the horizon. UFC 200. It's coming up July of 2016. Do you feel like you must be a part of that car? And if you had your way, who would it be against? What's the perfect scenario? When is it July? July 9th, 2016.

Is there a venue? Oh, it's in that new MGM? The new MGM, yep. First UFC event there. I feel Jose December, maybe Crow Park, April, May. And then July, UFC 200. maybe a defense of the lightweight belt or maybe a fight for the lightweight belt. Maybe fight for the lightweight belt there. I don't know.

There are many great fights there. Many fights brewing. There are many big numbers to be had in the future. And I'm just going to continue making them and continue racking them up and enjoying the riots. A couple last quick things. I'm wondering your coach John Kavanaugh told me this time around you're staying in Dublin for this camp. You enjoy tremendous success. leading up to 189 in Vegas, you're going to Vegas around four weeks before the fight.

Why are you changing things this time? You know, I've spent time in Las Vegas in its most, in its most heaviest climate at its hottest. Like literally mid-July, it's unbearable. If there was no air conditioning, you know, you have a relationship with the air condition when you're in Las Vegas. You know what number you wanted on at what particular time of the day. day. If there was no air conditioning, we'd all be dead. So it's it. I spent a crazy time in its craziest time. So now it's rolling into December. I feel Vegas is a second home for me. I'm comfortable in it. I feel three weeks, two weeks is plenty for me because I have acclimatized

to that in the past. It will be nothing to me. And then at home when I roll to the gym, there's a million bodies down there every day. Now that I don't have to lock my friend, now that I'm free to train with anyone and move anyway again. I'm enjoying my train. I'm enjoying my train. I'm enjoying my training here. I show up to the gym, I do whatever I feel, and there's many bodies to walk with and to learn with and to grow with. So I always get in absolutely phenomenal shape back home. So I feel I will turn myself into an animal. And then three weeks before the fight, I will make my way to Las Vegas and begin bringing my weight down and preparing for that fight. And then I will go in and be in tip-top shape and run through Jose. It was beautiful to see just how emotional you were after winning the interim title in July. I had a chance to talk to your father. He was on this show. That was tremendous.

It was just great to see all your friends and training partners having the chance to talk to you in the locker room was a moment. It was just great to see you enjoy that moment. Was there a singular moment that stood out, though, a conversation you had with a family member or coach something that happened that night or in the days afterwards where you'll always remember When you're 80 years old and just sitting around, that you'll always remember, wow, it all came together for me that night. I don't know when I hugged my mother,

and when I saw my mother in the octagon, I hugged who were there. That was a special moment for me. And, you know, there's something that people from where I'm from, anyway, I don't know where other people are from, but where I'm from, when people make it and have success, there's one thing on their mind, and that's family, and that was what I had in my mind, When I came home from Las Vegas, I spoiled my family.

I took every bill off of my family. I paid for my mother's mortgage. I gave everyone brand new cars. I gave them, you know, on the climb, I always visualized giving to people that are around me, what it would feel like to roll up one day and say, hey, you don't got a, that mortgage on the house is gone now. I'm not to take, that's no problem now. Don't worry about that. They are things I used to dream of.

and see what were their reaction. So when I came home, I invited them up to my home, and we were set down, we had dinner, and we talked about all these type of things, and I took every bill off of their hands. Every single bill, my whole family is retired young now, so that's the things that that motivate me to push on, and that's why I do.

That's why I went through that struggle, and I'm why I pushed and pushed and pushed and pushed and faced that adversity and conquered that adversity, like true champions deal, so it could come home and do that for my mother. my family, and look after the people that have been around from day one. Same with John. John's been around and helped me so much,

and I'll never ever stop being grateful for John's help. So I came home as well and helped John. And I mean, I don't know, I just want to give to the people that have given me so much. So that's something I can be grateful for and keep pushing. And that's why I keep pushing. That's why I keep pushing. But a moment would be when my mother came into the Yacht Dian, I hooked down. And that was a special moment for me.

Connor, final question. We'll end on this as we look towards December. And it's amazing to me. And again, by the way, thank you so much. I know how busy you are. This really means the world to me that you'd come on. It's amazing. Even today, Anthony Pettis said headlines.

He still hasn't beaten anyone. And even at the press conference, they were saying that. And Chad Mendes and Porre were sitting right over there. Still hasn't beaten anyone. When will this talk end? Will it ever end? will it end after Aldo in your opinion? Do you just sit back and laugh?

Max Holloway is doing what he's doing. Mendez has done what he's done. Porre has done what he's done. Look at Brandau in his last fight. Marcus Brimidge is still around. Why are they so reluctant to give you the credit that you deserve? I don't care. You know what I mean?

Like I said before, I am not in this game to get for credit. It's cash I am here for. At this level, I am after the numbers. So they'll never give me the credit I deserve, but I do not seek credit from them, from people I do not know. I seek cash from them. And that's it. Pettus can say, I have never fought anyone, but he's never fought anyone.

Who's he fought? You know what I mean? Who has he fought, really? He's fought nobody as well. And his numbers are really, really low. He lost his last fight, so that's a crazy statement from Anthony. And I don't mind Anthony. He's okay.

I like his style of fighting. I think it would be a good fight down the line. But he needs to check his mind frame and he needs to look at the numbers and see who really is at the top of the game and make his climb back because as far as I'm concerned, he's back on the fight pass events right now, I believe,

or, you know what I mean? He's fighting. He's lower now, so. But there will always be something, Ariel. When Jose falls in one, they'll come up with something else. so I don't know. I'll still be here and I'll still be winning. I say this to all the people who come up to me. A lot of your friends come up to me.

Has Connor change? Is he different from when he was on your show the first time? It's amazing. It's the same exact guy and that's the best compliment that I could give to someone. Again, thank you so much, Connor. You're all class, my friend. You're a top man. I really appreciate you coming on. Best of luck to you in training. Best of luck in the fight. I can't wait for it. One of the most anticipated fights of all time. But again, it means the world that you would come on the show today. I truly, truly appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you so much, Ariel. I'm grateful you'd have me on.

We've had some fun on all these episodes. I think this is my fourth or fifth, maybe fourth? Oh, fifth, at least. You remember we had Steve Collins on? Remember that moment? Oh, yeah, that was unbelievable. I tell you what, you know what I want to do one day when it's all wrapped up, like make a little, like, continuous ones, you know, have them all back to back.

That'd be something that we could look back on. But I appreciate you having me on the show. Congratulations on your success, and I'll talk to you soon, I'm sure. All right. you so much, Connor. There he is. The one and only. The notorious one. Connor McGregor, unbelievable as always, a pleasure as always, riveting as always. What more can you say about the man? It was February of 2013? Was it 2013? Or 2012? 2013? One of those. Time flies. Right before that Sweden show he came on this program.

And he called a lot of the things that have since come true, amazingly, while saying he didn't have a pot to piss in, while saying, you know, there wasn't much going on for him at the time, didn't have, I think he didn't have a car, he was eating blueberries, it's an unbelievable appearance. And it really is true. It's the same guy. It really is.

Don't be fooled by the suit, the watch, the shoes, don't be fool by any of that. The haircut, it's really the same guy. Support for this show comes from Chase. If you're a fan of women's sports, you're always looking for ways to get closer to the action. And your Chase card can get you exactly that. With a Chase card, you can experience more. That means access to pre-sales, preferred seating, and more savings.

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