Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2: Press Conference (FULL)

[0:03] history is back. A man who changed the fight game forever with his brash [0:09] attitude and the skills to back it up. Now, after five years off, he makes his [0:16] triumphant return to the Octagon. He is the former featherweight and lightweight [0:21] champion of the world. The first ever simultaneous two-weight world champion. [0:26] Here is the pride of Ireland, the notorious Connor McGregor. [0:40] Thanks for coming, everybody. Who's got the first question? [0:42] I'd like to start with Connor McGregor. Connor, it has been a long five years away from the cage. [0:49] Being here at this press conference, talk to me about the reaction you're receiving [0:53] from these fans right now. This is why I'm back, for the love of the game and the love [1:04] of the fans. It's great to be back here in Las Vegas, you know, five years out, but I'm [1:09] fighting since I came out of the womb. I'll be fighting until the day I go out. So this [1:14] is another day for McGregor, baby. [1:20] Connor, you have said you have felt a little bit of disrespect from Max after he says he [1:24] can drag you to deep waters and drown you. Why are you taking that as disrespect? And [1:29] what is your response to those comments? [1:31] He's not in against an Ortega or a featherweight. This is a different animal altogether. So all [1:39] the best with that, Max. It's not happening. [1:44] Max, is that the strategy on Saturday to try and outlast Connor in there? [1:48] We're going to find out Saturday night. We're going to find out Saturday night. [1:56] Max, Connor says he's going to go in there and put his paws on you and you're not going [2:00] to lay a glove on him. What do you reckon of those comments Connor has made? [2:05] I can't wait. I see you got two belts. I guess we're fighting for belts come Saturday night. [2:08] So I can't wait to take those pretty belts off his hands. [2:11] You didn't lay a glove on me last time. You're not going to lay a glove on me this time. [2:15] This is a different animal coming back. I've got a lot to prove here. [2:18] And nor am I proving it to myself. So you're up against it. [2:23] I touched your face quite a lot last time. If we're talking about drops, I dropped your [2:28] ass with a high kick. [2:32] Connor, last one from me. You have those two belts in front of you representing Ireland. [2:37] What is in the future for you right now? Is there a third belt on the horizon after Max? [2:42] These belts represent every record in the fight business. I hold them all. So it's an [2:48] honor to hold these belts. And for sure, the OG champ champ going for the triple crown sounds [2:55] like one hell of a story to me. [3:00] Question for Patty Pimblit all the way in the back. The last time we saw you here in Las [3:06] Vegas, you were preparing for fighting one of the most violent fighters in UFC history. [3:10] You're doing that again, but here in Vegas, you know, International Fight Week. [3:14] At Media Day, you said there were a lot of openings against Benoit. [3:18] What can fans expect on Saturday? [3:33] Obviously, I expect Benoit to come out and try and take my head off. He's one of the best [3:41] lightweights in the world. He's going to come out and try and take my head off. But I think [3:45] it proved against Justin Gagey that no one's taken my head off, lad. I'm a scouser. We [3:50] don't get knocked out. [3:52] And I do have to ask, what do you make of this reception here on one of the biggest cards [3:56] of the year and you're getting arguably the biggest pop? [4:00] Um, I'm not getting the biggest pop. Like, big Conor McGregor's year, but, you know, it's [4:05] nice to be getting the second biggest pop behind him, lad. You know who the fucking boy [4:11] is. [4:16] Question for Benoit. At Media Day, you said you could see some holes in Patty's game. [4:21] So what are you expecting from Patty on Saturday? [4:25] I expect all what you have been waiting for, a violent fight. It's going to be BSD style. [4:30] I can promise you. Don't blink. It's going to be a war. It's going to be a battle. I'm [4:35] ready for it. And I cannot wait to be tomorrow and to start saying your thoughts. [4:41] Does the frosty reception from the fans, like, eat at you or is it something you don't really [4:46] care about? [4:47] I love it. I love adversity. I'm born for it. I have been grinding all my life. I will [4:56] be grinding on Saturday night. [4:59] Question for the Notorious. 12 years ago, you said we are not here to take part. We are [5:08] here to take over. Next month, a fellow Irishman, Ian Machado Gary, fights for our belt. How special [5:16] would it be for Ireland to have two champions? [5:19] You know, all I see, all I feel, all I hear is God. And I'm blessed. We're all blessed [5:26] here today. And I appreciate every single one of you and all that's going on. I appreciate [5:30] the UFC. I appreciate Dane. I appreciate my opponents. And they're all my opponents up [5:34] here. Don't get it twisted. You know, they're all angling for a fight with the big boss. [5:39] Let's be real. I wish him well. I hope we do it. Up Ireland. [5:46] And one more for the Notorious. You and your family have been through so much. You've become [5:53] famous. You've grown so much as a person. How special is it to show your four kids that [6:00] their dad can bounce back and come back to the top? [6:03] We are McGregors. To my children, we are McGregors. We represent greatness. And on Saturday [6:10] night, you're going to see it from ringside, baby. The McGregors represent greatness. [6:14] Question for Benoit Saint-Denis. Is the possibility to become becoming the first man to knock out [6:24] Paddy Pimblett? Does it give you some extra motivation? [6:27] Man is a tough guy. And we are both looking to put each other out. And may the better fighter [6:36] win. But of course, I'm excited about making the best performance possible. And that's part [6:43] of it. You only have finishes. Do you have a prediction for us? [6:47] Question for Conor McGregor. Conor, you and your team have long said this is going to be [7:00] the greatest comeback in sports history. Is just stepping in the octagon proof of that? [7:05] Or do you need to go in there, win, and do something special? [7:09] We're coming in to win spectacularly. For sure. That's it. I'm coming in for it all. All the [7:15] marbles are on the line here. This is for all the marbles. So I'm coming in like a missile. [7:20] And for Max. Max, I know you said you want those belts. But do you want your own special belt if you [7:28] win this fight? Maybe a blessed belt? Maybe. What you say, Dana White. I go to this, do something [7:33] spectacular. I get my own belt. I take his belts too. Perfect. And just lastly for Benoit Saint-Denis. [7:40] Benoit, I know a lot of big personalities up there to compete with. But in terms of the fighting, [7:45] you have the most finishes of anyone on the UFC roster in the last five years. What type of statement [7:51] does it make to the lightweight division if you go out there and finish Paddy Pimblit? [7:54] I'm trying to stick to my nickname and I'm trying to build my own legacy like all these [8:01] guys are doing. And I'm blessed and honored to be on this huge UFC card here in Las Vegas. [8:07] And I'm fighting for my people. [8:11] John Bernard with KO Sports. This one's for Connor. Connor, Mystic Mac is finally back. [8:18] What's Mystic Mac's prediction for this fight? [8:21] Destruction. I'm going to destroy Mac's. [8:24] I'm going to eliminate Mac's. The final opponent of mine still within the UFC ranks. All of my [8:35] other opponents are gone. Mac's is the last one left. And on Saturday night, he gets eliminated [8:40] for good. Connor, Mac says he's the best boxer in the UFC. Do you believe he's the best boxer in the [8:51] UFC? I think his boxing is abysmal. I don't rate it once. He has one gear and it's not [8:59] impressive. Very rarely have we seen magic inside the octagon from Max Holloway. Little [9:06] evil Holloway. Saturday night gets destroyed. That's awesome. [9:11] That last one. Connor, you've said five years away from the octagon has kept you fresh and [9:17] you're coming into your prime. Are we about to see Prime McGregor and Max? Do you believe [9:21] him? I am in my prime now and forever. Bring it on Saturday night. You're going to see. [9:25] I believe him. I believe him. He's doing all the right things. He found God. He got his [9:32] beautiful family right here. We're getting ready for a dangerous Conor McGregor. I can't [9:35] wait, guys. No excuses. Come Saturday night. [9:43] My question is for Connor. Connor, you had a recent interview where you said that after [9:50] your first fight, Max copied your style and then went to go win the championship. Can you [9:55] be a little more specific on what it was that Max copied from you? The entire game along [10:05] with Max. You know, Max added some shots of mine, even the carrying of his nation's flag. [10:11] I didn't see that before. So there's a lot of that. And he went on and done good things. [10:18] And that's it. That's why we're here again. So Saturday night. I'm going to show the evolution [10:23] of McGregor. So out with your notebook to the entire fight game. The Mac is back. [10:28] Go ahead. Question for Connor. If the fight gets to the final 10 seconds and Max Holloway [10:38] points to the center of the octagon, are you meeting him there? Handily. Handily and happily. [10:47] And question for Dana White. How does this Conor McGregor return feel to previous Conor [10:51] McGregor fight weeks you've been a part of? What's the question? How does this Conor [10:56] McGregor fight week compare to previous ones? Biggest gate in UFC's history. Thank you to the fans. [11:02] Thank you to our fans. Go ahead. Question for Patty Pimbalet. Patty, [11:09] you've been talking about sharing a card with Conor McGregor for all these years. Now that [11:13] you're sharing the stage at this press conference, I know you're laughing. You seem to be having [11:17] a good time with everything Conor's been saying. Has it lived up to the hype? [11:21] Yeah, it's fucking sick, isn't it? We're all having a good time here, lad. Everyone on stage [11:29] is laughing. All the crowd are having a good time. This is what the sport's about. [11:34] And a question for Max. Conor just judged your boxing and said it was abysmal. [11:39] How would you judge Conor McGregor's boxing? Visbal. Go ahead. [11:49] Question for Conor McGregor. Conor, after every fight, there is a story from the media, [11:56] from the fans, and from the UFC themselves. What is the story you're looking to write with [12:01] your performance on Saturday? The Mac is back, baby. Well and truly. We're so back. We're so [12:09] back is the headline. Go ahead. Conor, your first fight in the UFC was in Stockholm, Sweden. [12:18] We heard Dana talking about the Coliseum in Rome. So my question is, if you beat Max, [12:24] Dublin or Rome? Dublin, baby. We're coming home. Then Max bringing it back. One second. [12:34] And my second question is, who's got the bigger comeback? Oasis 25 or Conor McGregor 26? [12:41] The boys are in town, I believe. The Gallaghers are in town. So I like the Oasis, [12:48] lads, yeah. It's good. I can't wait to see Oasis. Go ahead. [12:55] You're my wonder world. I said maybe. You're gonna be the one that saves me. And after all, [13:09] you're my wonder world. You're the brothers. And I'm sorry for that rendition. [13:21] Question for God. It's hard to follow that. Patty, how important is it to you to show the fans and [13:43] yourself that the setback does not hinder the comeback and that you can get back to the top [13:48] of the lightweight division again? Oh, I know I can get back to the top, lad. I've done this before. [13:52] I lost on Cage Warriors when I was a kid. I've had to come back before and build myself back up. [13:58] And this is no difference. Know what I mean? I'm going to come back and I'm going to win on Saturday [14:04] night and put myself right back in the mixer for the title shot. And question for Benoit. Benoit, [14:11] you said you focused on your dream of becoming a champion. Conor McGregor has two belts next to him. [14:17] Does that increase the motivation to maybe have that fight one day? [14:22] I'm blessed and honored to have a world country behind me. And I'm fighting for them. [14:29] And I'm doing everything I can by grinding to go to the top. And this is my story. And I love it. [14:39] Go ahead. Question for you, Conor. Conor, what do you make of Max offering you a rematch in [14:45] December after he says he knocks you out on Saturday? I find it disrespectful. I find it [14:57] shows he is here for the economics of it. He must not realize the danger he is in. I forecast [15:07] Holloway's retirement on Saturday night. Not a trilogy for cash. And Max, what is your prediction [15:17] for how you finish Conor on Saturday night? I hope he knows how to swim. I'm drowning his ass. [15:22] And then last one for you, Dana. Not a chance do you stand. Not one chance do you stand. [15:33] Keep telling yourself that, brother. Not one chance. Keep telling yourself. We get to find [15:37] out Saturday nights. That's the beautiful thing. Dana, how big is this for the promotion to have [15:42] Conor McGregor fighting one month after the White House? Talk about the momentum for the brand. [15:48] Yeah. I mean, this is what we do. We try to put on the best possible fights that we can. [15:55] I don't understand the question. That's a fucking weird question. Go ahead. [16:00] Conor, you went back to your gym, slept on a bug bed over the winter. Money and fame don't seem to [16:08] get along very well with success unless you get back to the basics and hit refresh. Is that a lesson [16:15] we're all going to learn on Saturday? Honey, I'm home. I returned to my gym. I stuck a little bed in [16:22] the gym and I've been living in the gym. Literally, I've been living at the place of practice. So in order [16:28] for me to exit the gym, I had to walk across the mats and put in a session. No travel, no traffic, [16:34] just right in the tick of it. But a lot of young, hungry lions around me, angling for a spot to be [16:41] in my position. So it's been a tremendous experience, a tremendous camp. And on we go. Glory to God. [16:49] Tell me I've got the wrong assumption. I feel your way to victory is to win within five to seven minutes. [16:56] Excuse me? Tell me I've got the wrong assumption. I feel your way to win is within five to seven [17:03] minutes. I can destroy Max inside 10 seconds. I have knockouts inside three seconds on my fighting [17:12] record. I have Hall of Fame fighters, multiples, Hall of Fame UFC fighters defeated and destroyed [17:20] both together in under a minute. And I can add Max to that. However, don't get it twisted. If we go [17:28] into these deep waters, Max is going to be in a lot of trouble. Badly concussed. [17:33] What happened the first time? What happened the first time? What happened the first time? [17:39] Yeah. You were left in a wheelchair. That's what happened the first time. [17:43] You shot. You shot. Once you go back, you don't go back. [17:48] You said fights don't even count if you don't knock people out. [17:52] You left the arena in Boston wheelchair bound. We are O and O. [17:56] We are O and O to your line brother. Go ahead. My first question is for Conor. Conor, you've experienced [18:08] almost every phase of the game. You've been a prospect, you've been a challenger, a champion [18:13] and obviously this week is quite of emotional for you. Even though it's not a title fight, would you [18:19] say this is the most special fight for your career? For sure. Very important belt. Excited to be back [18:26] and to showcase what human grit and desire and dedication can do. Despite the odds, we can overcome [18:35] anything. Never be a victim of your circumstances. Overcome them. And on Saturday night, I'm going to [18:41] show the world you can, you too can do the same. My last question is for Max. Max, you've been reminding [18:53] us through all week that you're expecting the best version of Conor because he doesn't need to fight [18:59] anymore. He does it for the love of the game. This is quite dangerous in your in your mentality that [19:05] Conor might be an even dangerous version of himself. I can't wait. I think we see the best Conor McGregor [19:11] come Saturday night and I look forward to it. Thank you. Go ahead. Max, you represent the Ninth [19:19] Island, the Hawaiian Islands, your ancestry, warrior spirit. We're here for supporting. How does it feel [19:26] to represent the Pacific Islands on the biggest fight of the year? It feels great. It feels great. [19:32] I can hear all you guys in here. You're welcome. You're welcome. With love from the Emerald Isle of [19:39] Ireland. You're welcome. Hey, thank you. Hey, thank you, Conor McGregor. Thank you, brother. [19:44] I'm back to knock the dust off those red panties, baby. Call their wife. Baby, we did it. [19:51] McGregor's home. Conor, when Max does the pin, if it goes the way, what is your strategy? [20:00] Step back and shoot. That's the strategy, baby. Bring it. Go ahead. Question for Conor. Now that Zufa [20:10] boxing is gaining momentum, would you consider a rematch with Floyd Mayweather at any point on a Zufa card? [20:16] Yes. Data. Nobody thought of that. Thank you, sir. Go ahead. Conor, you've achieved everything in [20:29] the sport. What does this fight mean to your legacy? Everything. This is the comeback of all [20:35] combats in sports history. I'm excited to go and execute it. And Conor, you've spoken about God a [20:41] lot this week. What does your Catholic faith mean to you and how important was it to your comeback and [20:46] preparation for this fight? It is everything in my life. I have mountain moving faith and I am more than a [20:51] conqueror in Jesus. I am an heir of the royal family, an heir of the royal estate. All of God's promises [20:58] are yes and amen in Christ and apply to me. It is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me. [21:05] All glory to God. My question is for Conor McGregor. Conor, right here, man. You say you want to be the [21:16] triple champ, but what happens if Ian Garry wins the title against Islam Nagachev? Would you fight [21:21] the Angari or not? No problem. No problemo, as they say in Brazil. Thank you. Conor, [21:31] sometimes the best gifts come badly wrapped. You've been through the washing machine. Do we see the [21:37] best version? Oh, I'm spotless, baby. Not a mark. The whites are white as fuck. I'm back. You're [21:44] going to see a glistening performance. Thanks to my missus for that lovely cleaning as well. Patty, [21:52] you promise these guys it will be all done in two minutes. Do you stay loyal to these guys here? [21:58] Yeah, you've got to back yourself, haven't you? I know what I mean? I'm coming out to get the finish [22:03] and come away with a bonus. I've got kids to feed now, lad. I want to get that bonus to go home with, [22:09] so I'm coming. I'm hunting for it. Dana, Saturday night, who's got the biggest fans here? Is it [22:17] Patty the Batty or is it Conor? Who's got the biggest what? The biggest fans, the biggest roar [22:23] on Saturday night. I guess we'll find out. Question for Max. Obviously, we have the Ninth [22:31] Island reference. It sounds like Dublin in here tonight, and I'm sure you want to remind the [22:35] fans that it's the Ninth Island. So can you give us a prediction the way Conor maybe gives predictions [22:41] about this fight, Max? You said you want to drown him, but anything more? I'm telling you guys, it's [22:45] going to be a long night for Conor McGurk on Saturday night, man. We're taking it with the deep, [22:48] deep waters, man. Deep waters. The mat goes all night long, baby. All night I'm here for. Let's [22:55] go. He almost lost his school there. Calm down. A question for Conor. You mentioned that you wanted [23:01] to get your second fight and the branding of your contract under faster than what is scheduled. You [23:07] have Dana, obviously, right next to you here on Fight Week. Have you been able to talk to the UFC [23:11] brass or Dana about expediting your next fight like you initially wanted? They know. They know my thoughts. [23:18] We're moving forward. Saturday night's ahead of us. Talk after. And last one from me, Dana, [23:23] following up on that, what are your thoughts about Conor's scheduled to be showing up next year [23:29] instead of maybe as fast as he liked it? Do you have an opinion on that? Oh, yeah. Let's talk about [23:33] it right now. You and I. Yeah. No, I do not. Let's get through Saturday first, and then we'll go from there.