The UFC 197 press conference kicked off on Wednesday. Conor McGregor, as expected, taunted his upcoming foe in Rafael dos Anjos on multiple occasions. According to the featherweight champion, the only thing his opponent offers is that gold belt, and nothing else.
“I chose this (fight) because I came into this promotion as a two-weight world champion. I had always wanted to replicate that. That was the goal, to continue to create history,” McGregor said. “This man across me has a title.”
“He has nothing but that,” he said. “He is a ‘free TV’ fighter. He has nothing else to offer me, except that gold belt.”
McGregor went on to take shots at Dos Anjos’ decision to leave Brazil and live with his family in the US.
“I KO’d the country of Brazil’s true champion,” he said. “Seeing how (Aldo) handles himself, how his team handles himself — they never learned the language of the oppressor. They never came to America. He trusted his people, unlike this guy standing next to me.”
“That’s why the people of Brazil love Jose Aldo. That’s why when Jose Aldo steps off the plane, the country of Brazil greets him regardless of result!” McGregor continued. “We’re sending out Rafael to a 4-day media run in Brazil in a couple of weeks, and we’ve got to book him a hotel… I’ve got to book him a hotel in his own home country! That should tell you all you need to know.”
“He will never step off a plane and get a hero’s welcome in Brazil. He ran from the country of Brazil.”
“Just seeing the pride that the Brazilian’s carried for Jose and the pride he carried for his people touched my heart. This is one of the reasons I wanted to give back to Brazil. March 5, I will behead Rafael and I will drag his heads through the streets of Rio de Janeiro to a parade of people. It will become a national holiday.”
McGregor also went on to make a prediction about his fight, saying he’s in for another quick night at UFC 197.
“I will dust Rafael inside one minute. He is a slower, sloppier version of Aldo. He’s like a bum version of Aldo. In absolutely everything, I believe inside one minute, I will dust him. I will exit the contest, fresh. I will cash the check, and I will sign the new contract for UFC 200, at the brand new MGM, and we’ll re again.”
Will Mystic Mac’s prediction come true yet again despite moving up in weight and facing the dominant champion at lightweight? I guess we’ll find out on March 5th.
Watch the entire press conference above.
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