The Time Is Now Press Conference

[4:37] Hey folks, welcome to the beautiful State Center of the Performing Arts here in Las Vegas, Nevada. [4:44] A special hello to sports fans and all of professional sports where we're live at UFC. [4:50] Well today, as many of you know, we're excited to be joined by some of the top stars in the history of the UFC [4:57] for the unveiling of our 2015 calendar and to celebrate what is shaping up as one of the most incredible stretches of live events we have ever put on. [5:06] Simply put, the time is now. [5:09] The time is now for bitter rivalries to be settled, like when Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier finally square off inside the octagon on January 3rd right here in Las Vegas. [5:19] The time is now for top contenders and international superstars such as Conor McGregor and Alexander Gustafson to reach new heights. [5:27] The time is now for legends like the great Anderson Silva to return against all odds in epic showdowns and superfights. [5:35] The time is now for title holders such as Chris Weidman and Ronda Rousey to cement their places in history as the most dominant champions of all time. [5:44] And the time is now for UFC fans around the globe to come together to celebrate some of the biggest fights in UFC history. [5:52] Big day for you today. [5:53] We encourage you to tweet your questions for today's launch event to our Twitter handle, at UFC. [5:57] Please use the hashtag, the time is now. [6:00] We will select some of your questions for use later on during today's event. [6:05] Well, of course, we at the UFC cannot wait for the year ahead. [6:08] There truly has never been a better time to be a UFC fan. [6:12] And to that end, we are going to show you for the first time a look at our 2015 calendar. [6:17] As you might expect, you can be sure the octagon will continue its trot around the globe. [6:22] Now, this is the first time ever the UFC has revealed an entire calendar for a year, entire event dates. [6:28] All told, in 2015, we will have 13 numbered events as well as 32 UFC fight nights. [6:35] So here in the United States, the breakdown will be as follows. [6:38] 13 events on pay-per-view, 4 UFC fight nights on Fox, 18 UFC fight nights on Fox Sports 1, [6:45] and then 10 events to air live exclusively at UFCfightpass.com. [6:51] Now, again, rough estimate here, but roughly half of the 45 events that we are scheduled to put on [6:55] will take place here in the United States. [6:57] Six of those events scheduled to take place right here in our home base, Las Vegas, Nevada. [7:03] As far as the global breakdown is concerned, we're planning three to five events in Canada. [7:07] The target markets there will be Toronto, Montreal, and Calgary. [7:12] As for Latin America, planning on holding two events in Mexico. [7:14] That includes a return to Mexico City, where we were just two nights ago. [7:19] Seven events in Brazil. [7:20] That includes at least one pay-per-view. [7:22] We are also hoping to increase the number of European and Middle Eastern events in 2015. [7:27] Right now, looking at five to six events. [7:30] Target markets there. [7:31] Of course, the UK will be back there. [7:32] Ireland, Germany, and Sweden. [7:35] Some potential new markets include Poland, Holland, and Russia, plus a possible return to Abu Dhabi, [7:41] which has been a very successful destination for the UFC. [7:45] One or two events as well in Australia. [7:47] Perhaps even our first trip to Victoria. [7:49] Of course, pending government sanction there, but we obviously remain optimistic. [7:53] And we will return to Asia for two or three live events as well. [7:56] The target markets are Japan, China, the Philippines, and Korea. [8:01] A couple other reminders. [8:01] You can help the UFC choose a fight location in the United States for 2015. [8:07] You can visit harley-davidson.com slash UFC for the chance to bring the UFC and Harley Davidson hometown throwdown to your city. [8:16] Also new for the coming year, I'm told you can actually download the entire 2015 UFC calendar to your mobile device. [8:22] All you need to do is tweet hashtag calendar to our Twitter handle, at UFC. [8:27] That calendar, though, we remind you, is as of today, November 17, 2014. [8:31] So the dates and the fight cards are subject to change. [8:35] A few other housekeeping items before we bring out the stars of the show. [8:38] This Friday, tickets to the following events will go on sale. [8:42] UFC 182, Jones versus Cormier. [8:45] That's January 3rd here at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. [8:49] UFC Fight Night McGregor versus Seaver. [8:52] That is January 18th at TD Garden in Boston. [8:55] UFC 183, Silva versus Diaz back at the MGM Grand in Vegas. [9:00] And the Monster, that is UFC 184. [9:03] Weidman versus Belfort and Rousey versus Zingano. [9:06] That is February 28th at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. [9:09] And then going on sale next Friday, UFC Fight Night Gustafson versus Johnson in Stockholm, Sweden. [9:15] If you need more information on any of that, we encourage you to check out UFC.com slash get tickets. [9:21] All right, now you've seen some brief highlights from our 2015 calendar. [9:25] It is now time to show you some actual highlights. [9:28] These might reiterate just why, for so many, the time is now. [9:33] Take a look. [9:33] There is nothing you can do to stop me, Daniel Cormier. [10:00] He'll realize that he never wants to get locked in a cage with me again. [10:06] Expect very malicious environment that makes it happen. [10:10] I'm beating this guy on the ground. [10:48] Oh, it's standing up. [10:49] I'm stronger. [10:54] I don't want to get the belt. [10:55] Know that I'm the best and I'm coming for that title. [10:58] I think I'm the only crown champ and I'm coming for that belt. [11:04] It's my time. [11:05] I'm ready to do this. [11:06] Let's go. [11:07] We have 16 of the baddest 115-pound women in the world. [11:15] And they're here fighting for the world title. [11:18] And I know that the girls on this season want it bad. [11:21] It's for the world title. [11:22] It's life-changing. [11:24] The belt is the most important thing. [12:21] All right, well, as you all can see, we have got some massive, massive fights headed your way [12:26] over the next 90 days, the weeks and months to come are going to be exceptional for the UFC. [12:31] And with that, it is now time to bring out the fighters who have graced us with their presence here today. [12:37] First up, we get your headliners for UFC Fight Night coming up now quickly, [12:40] December 20th in Sao Paulo, Brazil. [12:43] Winner of four of his last five fights, this Arizona State University wrestling standout [12:47] heads to Brazil yet again, now, though, with an opportunity of a lifetime. [12:51] Please welcome C.B. Dalloway. [13:00] All right, next, please welcome his opponent. [13:02] He is the former UFC light heavyweight champion of the world, Leodo, the Dragon Machida. [13:15] All right, now we get to the two men who will share the marquee at UFC 182 on January the 3rd. [13:21] Undefeated in his professional career, this Olympic wrestler has made waves at both heavyweight and light heavyweight. [13:28] Now he has his chance at UFC gold. [13:31] Please welcome Daniel Cormier. [13:40] His opponent, considered the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in the world, [13:44] and already an all-time great, this man owns the longest title reign in UFC light heavyweight history. [13:50] Please welcome the champion, John Bones Jones. [13:53] All right, next up, UFC fight night main event for Boston, Massachusetts. [14:05] On January 18th, first, we bring out a feared striker looking to burst into featherweight title contention. [14:11] From Mannheim, Germany, please welcome Dennis Sieber. [14:21] With skill and style points, this man has announced his arrival with victories over Max Holloway, [14:28] Diego Brandao, and most recently, Dustin Poirier. [14:31] Please welcome the notorious Conor McGregor. [14:43] All right, it will be an historic stadium event, Saturday, January 24th, from Tele2 Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. [14:49] We get to the main eventers now. [14:51] First up, with eight straight victories, this knockout artist is one punch away now from a UFC title shot. [14:57] Please welcome Anthony Rumble Johnson. [14:59] After competing in perhaps the best title fight in UFC history against Jon Jones in 2013, [15:11] this man went on to make quick work of Jimmy Manoa. [15:15] Now he's gearing up to compete in front of 30,000-plus in his hometown. [15:19] Please welcome the mauler, Alexander Gustafson. [15:30] All right, next up, it does not get a whole lot more anticipated than this. [15:34] A pair of comebacks and a long-awaited middleweight showdown. [15:38] It is UFC 183, January 31st, in Las Vegas. [15:41] First up, a former Strikeforce champion who has fought and defeated some of the top fighters of this era. [15:47] Please join me in welcoming Nick Diaz. [15:59] Ubiquitously regarded as the greatest of all time, [16:02] please welcome back the former UFC middleweight champion, Anderson the Spider Silva. [16:16] All right, finally, time to welcome your co-headliners of UFC 184 from Los Angeles on February 28th. [16:22] First up, undefeated at 9-0, she is riding back-to-back TKO victories over Misha Tate and Amanda Nunes. [16:29] Please welcome the number one women's bantamweight contender, Alpha Kat Zingano. [16:41] Undisputed greatness and arguably the biggest star in the sport today. [16:45] She has ruled the UFC women's bantamweight division since its inception, [16:49] and clearly she is just getting started. [16:51] Please welcome Rowdy Ronda Rousey. [17:02] All right, next up, he is a former UFC champion known for blazing speed and incredible knockout power. [17:08] Now, his sights are set firmly on the UFC middleweight title. [17:12] Please welcome the phenom, Vitor Belfort. [17:23] Now 12-0 with two victories over Anderson Silva and an electric decision win over Lyoto Machida. [17:28] This man is the undisputed king at 185 pounds. [17:32] Please welcome the UFC middleweight champion, Chris Wyden. [17:45] All right, last but not least, please join me in welcoming to the stage UFC president, Dana White. [18:02] Good morning, everybody. How are you? [18:03] Thanks for coming today. We appreciate it. [18:07] Before we get started, I just want to announce the main event for UFC fight night in Broomfield, Colorado, [18:12] on Saturday, February 14th, is Matt Brown versus Tarek Safferty. [18:17] Who has the first question? Raise your hand. They will bring you a microphone. [18:25] Amber Dixon, NBC Las Vegas. What is your big announcement? [18:45] That's the first question, huh? [18:47] Isn't it obvious? [18:49] Yeah, well, I hate to disappoint everybody. [18:51] We didn't get it done in time for this. [18:53] You can all go home now. Thank you. [18:57] Next question. [19:00] Hey, everyone. Ron Kruk with Inside MMA on AXS TV. [19:04] Dana, quite an ambitious schedule going into 2015. [19:08] Some huge, huge fights. [19:11] Could you give us an idea, broad picture, of some of the goals for the promotion, though, as you go into the new year? [19:19] Yeah, obviously, this last year was a very crazy year for us. [19:23] 2012 was brutal with the injuries that we had, and this year, it was so much different because it was all main and co-main events. [19:30] So, obviously, we took this block. [19:33] The time is now. [19:34] We're coming off this year with all these injuries, and the way that a lot of people look at things, television networks, fans, et cetera, they look at things in seasons, like the NFL season, NBA, baseball. [19:46] So, we're taking this block of fights here. [19:49] The time is now. [19:50] We're coming into the new year with all these great fights. [19:53] All these guys are going to stay healthy, train smart, and these fights will happen in 2015. [19:59] A quick follow-up, I'd like to talk to Nick Diaz. [20:06] Nick, number one, welcome back. [20:08] Your last fight was back, last fight was against GSP back in March of 2013. [20:16] What has this layoff done for you physically and mentally? [20:20] It's been a really good learning experience for me, having actual time away from fighting. [20:33] You know, I got in, like, with, I was telling, I got into the sport around the same time and age as VTour, and we were, like, what, 18 years old and started fighting. [20:47] So, I've had, what, three, two, four fights a year for my whole fight career until this, my last fight, I've had the first year off ever. [20:57] So, you know, it was good to, you know, try and live life like a normal person for a year. [21:04] And it's, you know, it did, it, I got a lot of things done that I plan to do in the year. [21:14] And, you know, it worked out, it worked out, it worked out good, it was a good experience. [21:18] And I think, you know, I needed some time off, so it came at the right time. [21:26] In Spanish for ESPN Deportes, what was your experience in Mexico, and what would be the next fight that you'd want there? [22:04] It was awesome. Obviously, you know, we went on sale with huge success. [22:09] The Ultimate Fighter was very successful down there, and the event itself was a huge success. [22:14] A lot of great talent from Mexico did very well that evening, and the fans were awesome. [22:20] I mean, I could, it was as good of an experience as I've ever had anywhere in the world, so I'm really excited about it. [22:26] You know, I've always felt that Mexico was going to be a big market once we really got in there and did it right, and it is, and it's going to be. [22:34] And for Mexico, we will be back there. [22:37] I think we're going to do two or three events there next year. [22:40] And obviously, Mexico City, we're going to go back there again too. [22:44] I don't know when or where specifically, but two to three events in Mexico, and we will be back in Mexico City. [22:50] El evento fue grandioso en México, y la pasamos muy bien. Hay mucho talento mexicano que ahora está saliendo. [22:57] Vamos a volver dos o tres eventos, lo haremos en México, volveremos a la ciudad de México. [23:02] Y bueno, estamos muy felices y queremos volver ya pronto, y estamos muy contentos con todo. [23:19] Hello, Heidi Feng for Fox Sports Radio. My first question will be for Kat. [23:23] Can you describe the extent of the injury that you had that kind of postponed the fight here with Rhonda a little bit later than anticipated? [23:30] Yeah, I had some, like a stinger in my neck, you know, something common in wrestling and things like that. [23:39] I'm doing the physical therapy, everything that I need to do to get healthy right now, and it's going well. [23:46] Thank you. And a question for Connor. [23:49] You had said that you were interested in clearing out the division, and it was going to start with your reign coming up here with Dennis Siever. [23:56] Can you explain exactly why you wanted this fight? A lot of people seem to think that it's, I don't know, a mismatch of sorts. [24:03] It is a mismatch. I'm going to whoop his ass, I'm going to collect the checks, and then I'm gone. [24:23] Hi, Dana. Carlos Contreras from Mexico City, from Millenio. [24:29] Sorry to follow up with the Mexico questions. [24:32] Is Cain Velasquez still going to be your main goal for the pay-per-view in Mexico, [24:37] or we can have a pay-per-view in Mexico in the first semester without Cain if he doesn't get back on track with the knee? [24:45] And what about the time frame for the Ultimate Fighter second season in Latin America? [24:50] Because they already opened the forum for the fighters to get in. [24:55] Yeah, tryouts are open now. [24:56] You know, people should be turning in all their paperwork if they want to try out in Mexico for the next season of the Ultimate Fighter. [25:02] And, yeah, Cain Velasquez, we're bringing Cain back to Mexico. [25:07] You know, that fight, Verdum versus Velasquez, that fight belongs in Mexico. [25:12] That's Mexico's fight, and that's where it's going to happen. [25:14] If Cain doesn't make it, I don't know, Kelvin Gastelum, you have any other headliner in mind? [25:21] Cain's going to make it, and, yeah, but obviously we had a great, you know, a lot of guys did really well down there. [25:31] You know, and, yeah, Gastelum will probably bring him back. [25:34] You know, yeah, the answer is yes. [25:36] You only have 193 in November as a pay-per-view. [25:40] Did you like the November time frame for Mexico City? [25:43] Do I like November for what? [25:45] For Mexico City? [25:46] I only saw you have seen 193 in the calendar as a pay-per-view. [25:51] Do you guys think you will be coming back in November? [25:53] What's the date? [25:55] It was November 14th in the calendar. [25:57] I'm asking you, Pete. [25:59] Huh? [26:02] Do you come back in June? [26:03] I'm deaf, I can't hear what he's saying. [26:05] You hear him, you're standing right behind him. [26:06] What did he say? [26:09] In June, there you go, June. [26:10] Yeah, he said June. [26:11] There you go. [26:12] All right, thank you. [26:13] All right. [26:21] Hi, Dana. [26:21] Chris Matthews, KLAS-TV here in Las Vegas. [26:23] What does it tell you about the business, the growth of the UFC, and how it continues to evolve [26:28] and get better and better when you have all these talented fighters on the stage at one time [26:32] in the Smith Center of all places? [26:34] Right. [26:35] Yeah, no, this worked out great. [26:36] One of the, you know, when you have a year like we just came off of with all these injuries, [26:41] you know, it's obviously horrible when something like this happens. [26:45] The positive is all these fights get log jammed together, you know? [26:49] So this quick amount of time here, you're just going to have incredible fight after incredible [26:55] fight after incredible fight. [26:56] And, yeah, no, it's cool to be in this building. [26:59] I've never been here before. [27:00] This is my first time, and very cool place. [27:02] Question for Anderson. [27:17] Anderson, you are in a media, like, talking, they were talking about a crisis you had. [27:25] I'm going to ask in português, I think it's easier. [27:27] Você teve uma crise de lombalgia que deixou muitas pessoas preocupadas a respeito dessa [27:31] crise. [27:32] Você pode comentar como foi, se você já se recuperou, se isso influenciou em algum momento [27:37] a sua recuperação ou a sua preparação para a luta contra o Nick Dias? [27:42] The question was, you had an incident come up a few weeks ago that had the world and, [27:49] you know, the MMA fans in the scare. [27:51] Can you tell us what happened and if at any time this changed your thought about fighting? [28:01] I'm good now. [28:02] So, when I training, when I go to academy for training, I training too much and my coach say, [28:13] stop Anderson, now you need to stop because you train too much. [28:18] And when I finish my training, I, I, the little pain in my, in my back and go to hospital and [28:26] the doctor say, Anderson, you don't have nothing, go home. [28:31] And I go back to home and I'm waiting for my fight now. [28:35] I'm very good. [28:36] I don't have, never problem. [28:39] My leg's good. [28:41] My back's good. [28:42] I'm very exciting for back. [28:45] And I'm very excited for staying here today. [28:51] Ryan McKinnell, examiner.com. [28:53] Question for Daniel and John. [28:54] Guys, the fight was originally announced for September. [28:58] You had the brawl. [28:59] You had the great ESPN segment. [29:01] The rivalry is hot and heavy. [29:03] Now we're delayed a few months. [29:04] Is there any worry on either of your parts, the public perception, maybe even, that the [29:09] rivalry's cooled down? [29:13] No, we're not too worried. [29:14] I'm not too worried. [29:15] I think this is a fight that a lot of people really want to see. [29:18] Anytime you get two guys who's never lost, I mean, that's the story in itself. [29:22] I'm sure there's going to be a lot of drama and controversy coming up. [29:27] But, yeah, people are definitely interested in this fight and I don't think it's going to [29:31] go anywhere. [29:34] Well, I mean, I think I was excited. [29:35] The fight got a little delayed so I could have a full training camp and I got that. [29:39] So I think the fight sells itself. [29:41] You know, John and I didn't really have to fight at the MGM Grand to get you guys to [29:45] come and watch us fight at the MGM Grand. [29:48] The fight actually sells itself. [29:49] You got two guys that are undefeated fighting for a championship. [29:52] I mean, how much better does it get? [29:53] Member Dixon, NBC Las Vegas, again, for Cormier and Jones. [30:07] How has all of this, it's gone into prior to the fight, has it worked to motivate you or [30:14] has it worn you out? [30:16] Well, I mean, you know, you don't need much more motivation to know that you're fighting [30:21] the number one pound for pound guy in the world. [30:23] So it hasn't helped to motivate me. [30:26] I was motivated anyways. [30:29] I kind of look at it in a sense that, you know, people ask me questions like, well, do [30:34] you think you got under his skin? [30:35] I'm not exactly sure if that's a good thing. [30:37] Rashad got under his skin and got beat up. [30:39] But I'm excited about fighting the best John Jones that there is. [30:42] So if I had to kind of prod him a little bit to get him to train harder and be more committed, [30:46] then so be it. [30:47] January 3rd, I can't wait to fight him. [30:54] Yeah, I would say that Bra definitely brought a lot of motivation to the fight. [31:00] You know, no one wants to lose to someone that they don't really like. [31:03] So, yeah, I'm definitely fired up. [31:06] I'm sure he's fired up. [31:07] And you'll see that come January 3rd. [31:13] And still. [31:17] And the new. [31:18] We got Dana here today, so it's not going to get too crazy. [31:33] We'll see how that goes. [31:34] And I'm just going to say something too, because he can't get the last word. [31:39] Dana, you want to move out of the way for me for a second? [31:42] What's that? [31:43] All right, big boy. [31:48] January 3rd. [31:52] Or we can do it today. [31:53] January 3rd. [31:54] Buenas tardes, Pablo Hernández para el Roctágono.com de México. [32:04] Esta pregunta es para Alexander Gustafsson. [32:07] Estando consciente que estás en línea directa para el título, [32:11] sientes que hay alguna... [32:14] estás preocupado por pelear contra Anthony Rumble? [32:18] So this question is for Gustafsson. [32:22] How do you feel about your next fight? [32:24] Are you worried about it? [32:26] Well, I'm feeling great. [32:28] I'm very excited for the fight. [32:29] He's done good in our division. [32:31] And I can't wait to fight him. [32:33] And it's going to be home ground, Tele2 Arena. [32:36] So, you know, I'm super excited. [32:39] Me siento genial por la pelea. Estoy listo. [32:49] This is a press conference. [32:53] There we go. [32:54] There we go. [33:05] Dave Ross, 120 Sports. [33:06] This is for Ronda. [33:07] And obviously, Ronda, with everything that comes along with being a megastar, [33:12] you're doing movies, you're doing commercials, [33:13] but we all know you love to fight. [33:15] How excited are you to get back in there and do what you do best? [33:18] Man, I was so excited to fight January 3rd. [33:21] I was so in shape and so ready to start camp. [33:24] But the thing is, I don't get ready. [33:26] I stay ready. [33:27] I'm the best in the world every single day of the year, [33:28] including February 28th. [33:30] So I'm excited. [33:31] I'm stoked. [33:32] I literally mourn. [33:33] I mourn when there is no fight. [33:36] And so thank God there's movies. [33:38] I would fight too much. [33:39] My first year of fighting, I've had six times in one year. [33:41] And so, yeah, I've been aching to get back in there. [33:44] And especially in front of my hometown, man, Staples Center. [33:47] It's going to be awesome. [33:52] Evelyn Rodriguez from Combat.com. [33:55] Dana, can you comment on the events that you guys are preparing for Brazil next year? [33:58] You said like seven events. [34:00] Is that correct? [34:01] That is correct. [34:01] We're going to do seven events next year, including a pay-per-view event. [34:07] And question for Vitor. [34:08] Usually, like, Wiedemann is a really respectful guy with his opponents, you know? [34:14] But you and him were kind of talking to each other back and forth on Twitter. [34:17] And like, he also tweeted to you about like when, you know, the commission were going to text you [34:23] and about the antidoping and things like that. [34:26] Can you comment on that, like, as well? [34:28] I can talk about myself. [34:35] I don't talk trash. [34:38] I keep training. [34:39] I'm very confident in my preparation. [34:42] And I believe that arrogance needs advertising. [34:46] Confidence speaks for itself. [34:47] So I'm preparing. [34:49] I'm ready. [34:51] You know, I have a long history. [34:52] I'm just, just by watching you guys, I remember in UFC 12. [34:56] UFC 12, man. [34:58] It's my first UFC. [34:59] 19 years old, I became champion, fighting twice in a night. [35:03] So I'm just so grateful to be competing in UFC and so grateful for Fetiters and Dana to bring this to this main stream. [35:13] So I'm so excited, so happy to be able to get my third title on February 28, 2015. [35:25] Kel Dansby, Black Sports Online. [35:27] My question is for Conor. [35:28] You saw Aldo up close and personal. [35:30] What did you take away from seeing him fight? [35:32] Where do you think he's vulnerable? [35:34] How do you think you match up? [35:37] Yeah, I watched the contest up close. [35:39] It was a great contest. [35:41] And I believe there's a lot of holes I will capitalize on. [35:45] You know, he showed his frustration in the contest. [35:49] But it was a traditional Thai-style contest. [35:53] You hit me, I hit you. [35:55] Both competitors were very similar in styles. [35:57] And that is why the contest was what it was. [36:00] I posed different movements and different reactions than anybody on the roster, not just the division. [36:08] So I am highly confident I will shut Jose Aldo down in spectacular fashion and take over the game. [36:15] I say it how I want to say it, yeah? [36:20] The king speaks however he wants. [36:32] Daniel Lawson here from the Calgary Sun in Alberta, Canada. [36:35] Dana, Toronto, Montreal, and Calgary in Canada next year. [36:39] How important was it to get back into those three markets? [36:42] That's good. [36:42] We're very excited to get back there. [36:44] We're going to do three to five events there next year. [36:47] We're talking about Toronto, Montreal, Calgary. [36:51] Yeah, I'm excited to get back up into Canada. [36:54] Rory McDonald is a, you know, Western Canadian guy. [36:57] Any chance we'll be seeing him fight in Calgary? [36:59] Possibly. [37:01] Could happen. [37:02] Makes sense. [37:02] Pablo Hernandez, otra vez para el Roctagono.com. [37:10] Esta pregunta es para Dana White. [37:12] Alguna noticia con el regreso de GSB? [37:14] Lo podremos ver este año? [37:18] Next question is for Dana White. [37:20] Questions about GSB. [37:22] Do you have any more information on that? [37:24] No, Lorenzo and I went up and met with him up in Canada. [37:27] And he, you know, he's getting back into training. [37:31] As soon as he's ready to fight, he'll let us know. [37:33] But I'm very confident that he's coming back. [37:35] Lo vimos, confiamos que va a regresar y vamos a estar esperando más información. [37:39] Ron Kruk again with Inside MMA. [37:47] Question for John Jones. [37:48] John, can you give us an update on the knee and how the recovery process is going? [37:54] My knee's doing great. [37:55] Right now I'm still doing physical therapy throughout my training camp. [37:57] I'm doing that Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays. [38:00] But it's going great, man. [38:02] I got full mobility back into the knee. [38:05] Just working on restrengthening the leg. [38:08] But, I mean, it hasn't affected my fighting ability whatsoever. [38:12] So it's a major blessing. [38:13] I'm excited about it. [38:14] But, percentage-wise, how close to 100% are you? [38:17] I would say it's about 95%, you know. [38:20] It's not the same. [38:21] But, like I said, it hasn't affected my fighting ability. [38:24] The only difference I can tell is, like, when I'm doing squats. [38:26] You guys probably don't believe I do squats anyways. [38:29] So, yeah. [38:30] I'm doing great. [38:32] Ready to go. [38:33] And then the final question would be, can you give us the details on what exactly happened? [38:37] We had heard some different things. [38:39] But just how the injury occurred. [38:42] So, basically, I was working out with one of my teammates over him. [38:46] We were warming up. [38:46] And we got in a really funky wrestling position. [38:49] And we both went to the ground. [38:51] And my knee kind of fell under my body in an awkward way. [38:54] So I tore my meniscus and sprained my ankle in two spots. [38:57] Hurt like hell, I tell you what. [38:58] But, you know, we got to surgery right away and got on rehab right away. [39:04] And I'm feeling good now. [39:06] Then just final question for both Diaz and Anderson Silva. [39:10] Guys, just give us your thoughts on this matchup, please. [39:26] It's just a fight I've been asking for, you know, for a long time now. [39:32] But, you know, I'm always asking for the best fight I can get. [39:36] So, you know, any fight that's the best fight that I can get that I'm eligible for, [39:44] I've been asking for most of my career. [39:47] So, now, you know, this time is at hand. [39:49] So, you know, I think it should be good for the fans. [39:54] Anderson, tell your thoughts on the fight. [39:57] So, first of all, I'm very excited for back because I talked to my friends and my wife in my home. [40:08] My kids say, Dad, please, no back. [40:11] I say, I need you back because this is part of my life. [40:19] Fight is part of my life. [40:21] And my wife and my kids say, OK, Dad, you're happy, go back. [40:27] And I'm talking to Dana and Lorenzo. [40:30] I'm very exciting for back. [40:33] And for back for fight for my fans. [40:36] And I need to give back for my fans in the United States, for my fans in the world. [40:43] And my fans give me. [40:45] And I'm very excited for fight for Nick because Nick have the great fights in UFC. [40:52] And I'm very excited for staying here today. [40:55] And I'm training hard for my fight for Nick Diaz. [40:59] I'm very excited for back. [41:02] Thank you. [41:03] Heidi Fang for Fox Sports Radio. [41:11] I have a question for Rhonda. [41:12] You always enjoy challenging yourself to keep yourself motivated and going. [41:16] And you say you're the hardest person to keep out of the gym. [41:20] What is your schedule looking like for 2015? [41:22] And how many different projects do you have lined up? [41:26] Well, I'm going to beat Cats and Gana in the most fantastic and respectful way possible on February 28th. [41:31] And then after that, I got a lot of very important choices and decisions and options and all kinds of things that I'm really not spending any of my time or energy on right now. [41:44] The only thing in my world right now is that fight. [41:46] And those opportunities only exist because I'm the UFC champion. [41:48] And so I need to protect the thing that allows me to do what I do. [41:52] And that's this belt right here. [41:53] And that's the only thing that's on my mind for 2015. [41:56] And a question for Chris, please. [42:02] You've been out for some time with a hand injury. [42:04] How is the hand healing up? [42:06] And have you been able to go full speed so far in training and practice? [42:11] I could do everything besides punch. [42:14] So I could grapple a little bit. [42:16] I'm waiting for MRI results to come back. [42:18] I should get them, I think, either today or tomorrow. [42:21] And that should allow me to go and start training even harder. [42:25] But it feels good. [42:26] And hopefully the MRI results come back good. [42:29] But I'm on track. [42:29] Everything's good. [42:30] I was in the catch for four weeks. [42:32] Brace for about two and a half, three weeks. [42:33] So everything's good. [42:35] Thank you. [42:38] Ana Issa, do Sport TV e Canal Combate, vou perguntar em português. [42:41] Primeiro, para o Anderson, como é que foi a negociação? [42:44] E qual a expectativa para ser técnico da casa no Brasil? [42:48] The first question is for Anderson. [42:50] How did the negotiation go? [42:52] And how do you feel about being the coach for the upcoming Tough Brasil? [42:56] So I'm very happy because this is part for my legacy and the guys come to the new Tough, the new fighters come and I'm very happy because I have a great chance for pass for my experience for these guys. [43:24] And I think I think the new champions coming. [43:25] The new champions coming. [43:25] I think the new champions coming maybe. [43:26] Maybe. [43:27] But I talked to Dana and Lorenzo because this is the great show. [43:33] The people watching the show and the people like it, the UFC, like the fighters in here today. [43:40] So I'm very happy because this is the great chance for me for pass my experience for, for the kids and maybe the future champion and come to UFC. [43:53] And another one for Dana and why didn't you decide to do the show like this, you know, this new format, Anderson and Shogun, they're going to be the coaches, but they're not going to face each other. [44:04] And there's a rumor that maybe the Tough finale, Anderson and Shogun, they will fight and not face each other, but they will be in the card and it's going to be in a soccer stadium in Brazil. [44:16] Did we announce this? [44:19] Yeah, so we've done that before, the season with Matt Hughes and Rich Franklin, they didn't fight each other, they both coached and then they fought at the end of the season and that's, that's what we'll do here too. [44:37] I don't know where it's going to be or when, but yeah, these guys will, will coach their teams and then they will fight at the end of the season. [44:43] This question is for Liotto, you're going to fight in Brazil once again. Is there a big difference in fighting in Brazil? [45:01] I think it's a great opportunity for me because to fight in my hometown and I can, I can, I can have help from the crowd and I can feel, I can feel at home all the time. [45:16] Andreas Hill with ShareDog.com. Questions for Anthony Johnson. Can you talk about everything that you went through? You were suspended for about a month and a half. You weren't sure if you were going to be back. [45:30] And then you got a phone call saying that the case was lifted and now you're going to get to fight Alexander Gustafson. Can you talk about your mind state and how you overcame everything? [45:37] Um, I mean, I'm glad it's behind me and I'm just looking forward to the future and I got what I asked for. I wanted to fight Gust. You know, he's the biggest challenge I have right now in front of me. So all of my attention and energy is focused on him. [46:06] That was weird. I'm sorry. Go ahead. Yeah. Amber Dixon, NBC, Las Vegas for Nick Diaz. GSP had mentioned you may be making a mistake moving up to 185. I imagine you disagree. Why? [46:22] George, George didn't take the fight though. So he is going to run his mouth because he should have took the fight when he had the opportunity to take the fight. Now I took the fight and he's running his mouth. [46:35] But the thing is that, you know, the fact is, is like, I could try to, you know, plan for a catch weight, but who knows who's going to make what weight. And I just want to be the best I can be. [46:47] Um, you know, I don't, I don't, I'm not trying to put my opponent through any extra work or anything like that. He's a fighter, um, that he is. And, um, I'm the one that's asking, uh, to fight him, not, not, uh, for him to come down and fight me. Um, you know, I'm, I put on weight pretty easy. [47:07] So moving up at 185 pounds or moving down, um, was even a possibility at one time, or, you know, I've even, I've fought at 160 pounds, but I like to be the guy that can do maybe three weight divisions and actually, um, you know, be able to compete at a high level at whatever, you know, whatever fight, whatever weight. [47:29] Uh, or, you know, I like the idea of a catch weight too. As long as it's a big fight for me that the fans are going to want to see, um, that, that's fine. But the fact is though, you know, we, we, we, we make a catch weight or something 180 pounds. [47:43] And then I come in, you know, let's say, you know, I, I lose more weight and then I'm already small. Um, not that I'm all that small, but, uh, then, you know, my opponent comes in extra heavy and then that's just, that's the, that's, that's the, you know, the fact is, is, you know, come fight day. [48:00] Um, you know, I screwed up by thinking I had a great idea. So, you know, that's, you can look at it however you want, but, um, you know, fight to fight, we're just, we're going to have to have a fight at 185 pounds. [48:13] Thank you. Rhonda, at this point in your career with so much success, do you still hope for that quick win or would you like more of a challenge for it to go a little bit longer for the fans? [48:31] Do you want my mom to have a heart attack? You know what my mom said to me after my last fight? She said, you should have arm barred the girl, that way you wouldn't have hurt your hand. [48:39] You should have done it that faster. So, no, I'm, I'm more trying to impress my mother than trying to impress you. And, uh, and, you know, I prepare for it to be a long fight. [48:50] I'm just needing an opponent that'll push me to that. And Kat could be that person, but regardless if it's a long fight or a short one, I'm still winning. [48:57] Daniel Richardson from the New Zealand Herald newspaper in New Zealand. Uh, just a quick question for Dana. You've said you're going to come to Aussie one or two times next year. [49:10] Any chance you come three hours further? Obviously, uh, Mark Hunt's a huge draw in, uh, Auckland, New Zealand. [49:15] Yeah, uh, definitely possibly. We're definitely going to do one or two events there. You know, who knows? If everything goes great, maybe we could do three. Uh, we're hoping to get up into, into Melbourne this year, so we'll see what happens. [49:27] But Australia, not only has Australia been great to us as far as, you know, the fans and the, and the gates and all the, all the things are successful, but we got a lot of luck out there. [49:36] There's always great fights when we go to Australia. So, yes, we will be there and I'm excited about it. [49:41] Ron Gerard, American Urban Radio Networks, uh, for, uh, Dennis Siever. Dennis, we've heard from, uh, Mr. McGregor, uh, talking about your fight. Many of the fans look at it as a mismatch. He considers it as a mismatch. How do you look at it? [49:59] Dennis, uh, Sie haben von Conor gehört, dass er eigentlich findet, dass der Kampf nicht gerecht ist zwischen euch beiden. Uh, wie empfinden Sie, uh, wie denken Sie darüber? [50:12] Ja, es gibt natürlich einige Menschen, die so denken, aber es ist mir im Grunde egal. Uh, UFC hat mich gefragt, ob ich gegen Conor kämpfen würde. Und ich habe sofort zugesagt. Ich habe noch nie in meiner Karriere einen Kampf abgelehnt. Und ich werde diesen Kampf genauso nehmen wie alle anderen. [50:29] Uh, a lot of people think that it might be a mismatch, but I don't care. UFC asked me to take on the fight, and I will, and I will win it. [50:37] Chris Matthews, once again, from KLAS. Conor, let me ask you, if you burst onto the scene, there's so many great fighters up here and great fights over the next three months, terrific fighters. If, if you were sitting out here and you had to pay for one of these fights or watch one of these fights, who would it be and why? [50:49] Um, as a, an employee of the UFC, I would pay for every single one. But, um, you know, there's a, there's a lot of great stars up here. Um, a lot of huge, huge fights. [51:01] Um, but let's see by the end of 2015, let's see who has the highest pay-per-view numbers. Let's see who has the highest gate. Let's see who has the highest attendance. [51:14] You know, cause I am setting up for that. And we are in talks for a big, big thing. So again, I won't look past Dennis. [51:19] I'm going to see who has the highest gate. Let's see who has the highest gate. Let's see who has the highest attendance. You know, cause I am setting up for that. [51:29] And we are in talks for a big, big thing. So again, I won't look past Dennis. I will look through him exactly where I plan on going and then, and then carry on. [51:39] But I believe 2015 will be my year. Um, I know a lot of the featherweights are bitching and moaning and hating on it, you know, but they, they don't have to, uh, love it. [51:49] They, they can even hate it, but they, they will be forced to accept it. [51:54] Here, here again, uh, Carlos Contreras from Millennial from Mexico. The question is for Rhonda. Now we have a, um, a fight in Mexico City. So the, the, the gate of Latin America is, is opening, being half, uh, Venezuelan. Would you like to fight in Latin America next year? [52:30] I definitely would. I would love that. And, um, I've been looking forward to, yeah, I love fighting at home and I love fighting in the U.S., but I, I grew up fighting all over the world. [52:44] That was the format that I got used to in Judo and I've always had very, very good luck in Latin America. I've always fought extremely well. And, um, I've won the Pan American Championship several times at Pan American Games. [52:54] And, um, yeah, I, uh, I was supposed to fight once in Acapulco and then, uh, I wasn't allowed to and ended up. So I would love to get that chance to be able to fight in Mexico again and really redeem myself for that one junior tournament when I was 14 years old that I'll never forget about. [53:12] get him out. But yeah, I would love to have another chance there. It would be an honor to [53:17] find Mexico. Brent Okamoto, ESPN. Dana, I just wanted to ask you, you know, just announcing all [53:27] of these events, your entire schedule for 2015, do you have some concrete plans in terms of the [53:32] Ultimate Fighter as well, countries that that will be taking place in, and how many installments [53:37] you'll have over the next year? Yeah, the Ultimate Fighter, we're getting ready to go in Mexico [53:41] again, we're getting ready for Brazil again, and we're working on something completely [53:48] different and new in the United States this year. So yeah, I mean, we're, the Ultimate Fighter [53:56] is going to keep rolling on. It's been very successful here and in a lot of other countries, [54:00] and yeah, yes. And then a question for Anderson. There was a report that came out that you signed [54:07] a 15-fight contract with the UFC, and I was wondering if you could speak to that, if that [54:12] was accurate. Yeah, I have more, more fights. And just so you know, Anderson, Brett Okamoto [54:33] will not stop texting me about this. I don't know how many times we have to tell Brett that [54:37] you have signed a 15-fight deal, and he will not stop asking. Well, that's good. I got [54:42] it from both of you guys, so I guess I'm done. And then one question for John real quick. [54:46] You know, one complaint that you had in 2014 was that challengers weren't facing each other, [54:50] so I was wondering if you had a reaction to Alexander Gustafson being paired with Anthony [54:55] Johnson. I got to imagine you liked that that fight was made, huh? [54:58] Yeah, absolutely. It's really great for me as a fan. You know, I know I'm also a light [55:03] heavyweight champion, but I'm also a fan of the sport. And as a fan, it's great to see [55:07] two top 205-pounders going against each other. I did feel like I was fighting all the best guys, [55:13] which I should be, but I didn't get to see, you know, two top 10 guys go at it, you know, [55:17] I wanted to as a fan. So I think this is a phenomenal matchup, and I honestly don't know [55:23] who's going to win. So, yeah, I'm excited to see his belt for it. [55:34] Good afternoon. Sean Harrington, Fremont East Studios, downtown Las Vegas. First off, [55:46] I want to thank the fighters for your commitment. Dana White, same to you. I have a question about [55:52] Herb Dean and his calendar this year. Are we going to see Herb Dean as one of the top referees [55:58] in your matches? That's one of the strangest questions ever. I, too, am a Herb Dean fan, [56:06] and we don't plan his schedule. The commission does. So let me tell you what, whenever big [56:14] fights are happening, all big fights up here on the stage, I want to see Herb Dean in every [56:18] one of those fights, which is impossible, but hopefully that's the case. [56:23] Hi, McKinnell, Examiner.com again. Questions for Nick, and then a follow-up to Anderson. [56:31] Nick, you're facing one of the greatest strikers to ever fight in this sport. You made comments [56:36] earlier that he should retire, he shouldn't come back, and if he does, he should hire a striking [56:42] coach. I didn't make any of those comments. I did say maybe he should fire his coach, is all. [56:51] That's all I said. I didn't mean to sound too rude, but that's what I meant was, you know, [56:57] hey, I felt like maybe a different strategy in this last fight. I don't like to talk about [57:02] people's fights. You never know. Once you're out there, it's a whole other ballgame, but [57:08] that's all I meant by that. It's like, hey, maybe you should have hired on a boxing coach [57:15] that would have trained him to go out there with my idea, but that's, you know, everybody [57:19] likes their idea better. That's all I really said, though. I didn't really, I didn't say [57:25] anything about, you know, I heard one of these guys say something like that, and I just thought [57:29] it was, you know, to be honest, I thought it was way out of line for him to even open [57:33] his mouth and say something like that and give his opinion. I don't like to give my opinion [57:39] when it comes to, you know, stuff like that that has to do with people's lives, and, you [57:44] know, especially when it's, you know, I know what it would be like if it was me, so, but, [57:49] you know, people have their opinions. You know, like, I don't like to pick a favorite [57:53] to win, either. Everybody's like, oh, you know, pick a favorite. I'm like, you know, we'll [57:57] see what's going to happen, you know. [57:59] And Anderson, I don't know. Anderson, your thoughts on that, the way he explained it, and I guess [58:12] his comments. [58:14] He, he, he, there are some news that he said that he was able to get married, and that [58:20] he was able to get married, and he said that he didn't say anything about it, and he [58:25] was well understood. And what do you think about the explanation that he gave? [58:31] Ah, sometimes people are very stupid, you know, we say one thing, they interpret the other thing. [58:37] But, regardless of that, I respect very much all the athletes that are here, today, and all [58:44] the athletes of the UFC, and that's it. There's nothing to say, right? [58:49] You know, a lot of times people take things and mix it around and, and, and explain the [58:55] wrong thing, and sometimes the people have bad intentions with those. So, you know, I don't [59:01] take anything away from, I don't listen too much to that kind of stuff, and I believe everyone [59:06] up here should be respected, and I'm just here to do my job. [59:09] We had a couple questions. We're going to take some questions? Yeah, go ahead. Go ahead [59:20] and do it. [59:21] We're going to get to some Twitter questions from fans. Again, that hashtag, the time is [59:25] now. First up for Daniel Cormier, did you consider fighting in the heavyweight division in the [59:30] UFC? [59:31] I did before, but not anymore. I enjoy fighting at 205. This is the weight class that I, I'm [59:38] going to fight for the rest of my career. So, and I believe that, that if you're there [59:43] for challenges, the best fighter in the world is at that division. So, you seek him out [59:47] and you go and find him. And I got that January 3rd. So, yep, 205 for good now. [59:51] All right, next question for Jon Jones. I know you touched on this earlier, Jon, but which [59:55] one do you think will win in January, Gustafson or Johnson? [59:58] I think it's a great fight stylistically. You know, it's just a phenomenal matchup. [1:00:04] I, I do believe Alexander may have a little more versatile skill set, but I mean, Anthony [1:00:11] Johnson has the knockout power to just finish anybody. So, I think if Anthony comes with [1:00:18] the right amount of cardio, this could be a phenomenal fight. If his cardio is not where [1:00:22] it needs to be, I got Gustafson winning hands down. [1:00:25] All right, next Twitter submission for Nick Diaz and Conor McGregor. Nick, what do you think [1:00:29] of Conor's fighting style? And then Conor, the same question about Nick. [1:00:33] I like it. I like it too. [1:00:43] All right, next question from TheRambler101. Ronda Rousey, this one is for you. Who do [1:00:53] you think are the ones or the fighters to watch in the next 12 months? [1:00:57] Well, the ones sitting up here. That's why we're here is to promote that, right? So, [1:01:04] I'm not going to bring anything else up. It's a pretty self-explanatory question. I don't [1:01:08] know. What else do you want me to say? [1:01:10] That is well played. All right, next up again for Nick Diaz. You are fighting a guy who, [1:01:14] much like yourself, likes to taunt their opponents inside the octagon. Are you prepared for that? [1:01:19] Well, you know, I took the fight. It's just more than I can say for George. He didn't want to take the [1:01:27] fight. But, you know, you figure you try to gain enough weight to go out there and hold your guy down. [1:01:37] Maybe you can't do it, so it's a bad idea. But I figured, you know, maybe I can make something [1:01:41] happen for myself. We'll see, you know. All right, back to, back to Conor McGregor. [1:01:50] Do you see any aspect of Dennis Seaver's fighting style that will be a threat come January? [1:01:58] I feel extremely confident that I will use my movement to freeze Dennis, I believe. He's a compact [1:02:07] fighter as it is. I will use my movement to freeze him. And then I will take his head clean off and [1:02:13] raise it in beautiful Boston city, you know, Ireland number two, I like to call it. And then, [1:02:19] you know, it's on to big business. Jose will be told what to do. He will be told he must fly economy to [1:02:27] Ireland, fill out an 80,000-seat football stadium, break records, highest gate, highest attendance, [1:02:33] highest pay-per-view, and then he will hand over that belt on home soil. So that's my year plan right [1:02:41] there. All right, Conor, thank you very much. This one, I will go right back to you, Mr. McGregor, [1:02:50] also to Jon Jones. Who inspires you guys when you need to be motivated for your next fight? Who [1:02:58] motivates you when you need to be motivated for your next fight? What is your source of motivation? [1:03:03] For me, I am self-motivated. You know, I show up every day and I grind it out. You know, [1:03:11] I train intelligently. I train smart. I take note of how every single human being on this planet moves, [1:03:18] and what way they approach their chosen profession. I focus on the mental aspect of it. So for me, [1:03:27] I motivate myself. I am a self-motivated individual, and I am up here on my own journey [1:03:33] of whooping eyes and collecting checks. I would say my main motivator are guys like Anderson Silva and [1:03:45] George St. Pierre, guys who have these magnificent records in the UFC. You know, my goal is to be [1:03:50] considered one of the best fighters in the sports history, and I know that, you know, to be in [1:03:55] company with George and Anderson, that would be a great start. So just breaking records and trying to [1:04:00] keep up with these guys and catch up with these guys, that's my main sense of motivation. You know, [1:04:04] I believe that if these guys can win, you know, 10 world titles, 8 world titles, 9 world titles, [1:04:09] that I can do it to you and never be tired, never be complacent. So that's my goal is to get those [1:04:14] records and surpass them. That's my motivation. All right, John. Thank you. Got three more Twitter [1:04:21] questions, and then we will open it up to any fans here in attendance today. Ronda Rousey, [1:04:25] who's your pick to win the Ultimate Fighters Season 20? Well, I haven't been watching this season, [1:04:30] really, but I know the girls, and the three girls that I thought really stood out were Rose, Jojo, [1:04:38] and Carla, and I think my favorite is definitely Rose, but I think style-wise between the three, [1:04:47] Carla has the advantage. It seems that the 115 pound division is a striking heavy division right now, [1:04:53] and I don't know. We'll see, but yeah, I'm hoping for Rose, but you never know what happens in a fight. [1:05:01] All right, Ron, we'll stay with you for one more. How are you healing after the surgery, [1:05:05] and is Kat Zingano the toughest challenge for you to date? [1:05:08] I had two in a row. I was not even ready. Scroll back down. What was that? What was that? [1:05:13] They want to know how you're healing after the surgery, and if Kat Zingano is your toughest [1:05:17] challenge to date. Well, I feel like a ninja, but of course she's my toughest challenge to date. [1:05:24] She's the one chick that I haven't beat yet. You know, the other girls, if I said someone that I [1:05:28] already beat was a bigger challenge than her, then, you know, that just wouldn't make any sense. [1:05:32] So she's undefeated. She's a great style matchup. She was going to push me a lot. I think it's going [1:05:40] to be one of those fights that's going to happen in the middle of the ring, and yeah, I just hope [1:05:46] she's healthy and 100% because I want to test myself against the best in the world besides myself, [1:05:51] and I know that she's going to bring it, and I'm excited for her, so heal up. We got something to [1:05:56] show them. We got some great company on this stage, and it's going to be a tall order to show all [1:06:02] these guys up, so you better bring it, girl. All right, one final Twitter question. What do [1:06:09] you know? It is for Mr. Conor McGregor. What fighter in the featherweight division [1:06:14] would give you problems or could give you problems? It's been pretty easy so far. [1:06:22] I've said what I was going to do, and then I went out and done it, so for me, the only person that can [1:06:26] give you problems is the guy in the mirror, you know, the person that you stare at every day, and once [1:06:30] once you have that lockdown, which I do, I believe I'm the most mentally strongest guy on this roster, [1:06:39] so I don't feel the guy to give me problems exists. You know, I think that's in your head. [1:06:45] It's an illusion. If you believe these are challenges, then that's what it is, but for me, [1:06:50] it's smooth sailing all the way. It has been so far, and it will continue to be. [1:06:55] All right, Conor, thank you. Thanks to all the fans who chimed in on Twitter with that hashtag, [1:07:01] the time is now. Now we'd like to open it up to any fans in attendance. If you have questions for [1:07:05] the fighters or for UFC President Dana White, they'll get a microphone to you if you just raise [1:07:09] your hand, and then Dana will face these guys off here shortly. First one for Conor, and then one [1:07:19] real quick for Dana. Conor, I was just wondering if you were going to come up with a system to get the [1:07:24] other fighters in the featherweight system to send you an apology for wasting your time. [1:07:29] You know, all I'm looking for is a simple thank you. If you look, maybe a kiss on the toes, [1:07:40] but if you look back at the last featherweight contest in Mexico, it was between a guy who had [1:07:46] a horrendous fight against Jose Aldo, Ricardo Lamas. He fought like a pussy. He ran for five rounds. [1:07:52] And then you look at Dennis Bermudez, who was on a false win streak. Holloway beat him. So these are two [1:07:57] average okay joining men fighters. Yet there was so much light on that fight. So much attention on [1:08:03] two decisions. You know, Dennis is a decision machine. And Ricardo's fought like a pussy. So [1:08:11] they, and they got, and they still got that exposure. People are even talking about Nick Lentz. [1:08:16] Who gives a shit about Nick Lentz really? Now before I came along, they can say all they want, but [1:08:21] they're up here. They're trying to talk like I'm trying to talk. They're rocking the suits and [1:08:25] everything. You know what I mean? But there is only one. It's you. And just for Dana real quick. [1:08:31] Will the UFC ever come to Scotland? Yeah, we're working on Scotland. We're definitely coming to [1:08:36] Scotland. Absolutely. 100%. Yes. Wow. Scottish people. All right. My question is for Alexander Gustafson. [1:08:46] So you fought Phil Davis and he's the only person to submit you. And he's a very decorated wrestler. [1:08:53] And to see Anthony Johnson nullify his wrestling so easily. And now that you're training with Phil [1:09:00] Davis, are you worried at all to stand up with Anthony Johnson? No, not at all. It's going to be a great [1:09:07] entertaining fight. I can promise you that. You know, he's, he's a, he's a very, he's a great fighter, [1:09:13] Anthony. And you know, he's a very explosive guy. And, uh, you know, I'm getting ready and I'm doing [1:09:19] my homework. So, so I can't wait for that. And another question for Conor McGregor, this event [1:09:27] coming up, the main event is Cub Swanson and Frankie Edgar. Which one of those do you feel poses the [1:09:33] biggest threat to you? Probably neither, but yeah, I feel, I'd feel comfortable against both. Frankie has, [1:09:43] has held a lightweight title. He's challenged at a high level his whole career. He, he, he fights with his [1:09:49] heart, but again, he's an aging competitor. He's on the, he's on, on the, on the downside of his [1:09:54] career. I think that's an accurate assessment. The same with Cub. I believe he's, he's aging. He [1:09:58] looks 95 years old. I say it every time. But for me personally, you know, I have nothing against [1:10:04] Frankie. Um, I respect his style, but I would like Cub to win for the specific reason that he seems to [1:10:10] think that he has been promised the UFC title shot if he wins this fight against Frankie. So I want to, [1:10:17] I want him to win that contest and then I will bake a freshly made pie and smack him clean in the face [1:10:22] with it when, when I get the title shot. All right. My question, my question is for Dana White. When [1:10:32] you checked on Leslie Smith backstage on Saturday night, how gruesome was her injury? Is she going [1:10:37] to be okay? And is there a timeline for her return? Other than Anderson Silva, that's one of the most [1:10:42] gruesome ones I've ever seen. Uh, yeah, it's, it's when somebody's ear is coming off, it's, it's, it's, [1:10:48] it's pretty crazy. And she's so tough. She wanted to continue to fight. She was in great spirits [1:10:53] backstage. They sewed her up and, uh, yeah, it's pretty nasty. Thank you. Thank you. [1:11:00] This question is for Dana. Um, Dana, any news on Brock Lesnar or to your left? [1:11:07] Hey, uh, you know, Brock Lesnar is under contract with the WWE. We have a great relationship with him. [1:11:14] He's healthy. Um, and he has said that he's, he's interested in fighting again. So we'll just, [1:11:18] we'll see what happens. Thank you. Thank you. This question is for Chris Weidman. Uh, Chris, [1:11:26] I heard that you were doing birthday parties with Longo for $100 to $300. Yes, it's a great deal. [1:11:32] We got Matt Sarah making meatballs and marinara. It's, uh, it's all you could ask for in a birthday [1:11:37] party. All are welcome. Anything else? All right. Hi, um, my question is to the ladies of the panel. [1:11:54] You two have really both become household names in MMA. Have you ever received any backlash for being a [1:12:00] strong woman in a sport primarily dominated by men? No, actually, all these guys have been so [1:12:10] respectful and cool. And I can say this sport made all my dreams come true. You know, I got, [1:12:15] I got treated much worse being the bright and shiny Miss America Olympian. These guys, [1:12:21] they, they treat me like I'm gold and no one treats me like a chick. They treat me like an equal. And I [1:12:28] try to treat them with the same amount of respect. And I'm continually impressed with every single [1:12:33] person up on the stage. Um, the only backlash I get is, um, you know, I, I have an outside life. I [1:12:47] have a, a little boy in elementary school. And I think sometimes parents don't really know how to, [1:12:53] how to, I guess, absorb that I go and get in fights for a living. And, um, you know, so there's a little [1:13:02] little curiosity of that. Um, you know, it's just a, it's a good sport. It's a, it's a good outlet. It's good [1:13:09] exercise, all of those things that go with it. So, you know, I, I, I don't think the backlash is [1:13:16] that, that heavy once people get to understand it. This question's for Nick. Uh, Nick, after, [1:13:27] uh, you beat Anderson in January, I was wondering if you're planning on dropping back to welterweight [1:13:32] or maybe making 185 your new home and, and finding the winner of Vitor Belport and Chris Weidman. [1:13:37] Um, I usually look at, um, most of my fights, like, uh, you know, worst case scenario, like I don't win. [1:13:51] So, um, you know, I asked for the fight with, uh, Johnny Hendricks. I mean, I didn't think that [1:13:56] they were going to give me a title fight, but, um, of course, some closed mouths don't get fed. So, [1:14:02] uh, you know, I'm, I voiced what I thought about that fight. And, um, I think that's going to be a [1:14:09] good show too, uh, with, uh, uh, Robbie Lawler. So, um, but yeah, you know, that's, I don't know, [1:14:17] I guess that's, that's my thoughts on that. Is that it? No, one more. All right. [1:14:30] One more, one more. Hey, Nick, what's up? Fallen Angel, baby. We here for you, me and James. [1:14:35] Oh, Angel. [1:14:38] But, uh, my first question for John Jones, since no other, uh, reporter wanted to ask, [1:14:43] you said that you look at Gustafsson and Rumble as a fan, but is there anything more to that? [1:14:51] Is it not anything in there that I want you to see one of the competitors that might beat you, [1:14:57] knock each other off? No wolf tickets, homie. All right. I can't even hear. Where are you? [1:15:01] Listen, listen to you. Don't be scared. Put your hands up. Right back there. All right. [1:15:06] That's funny. Oh, there you are. All right. What's up, Nick? How you doing? [1:15:10] That's funny. Yeah. No, you got to tell me your whole question, [1:15:13] because I was looking for you the whole time. All right. Are you guys done? Are you guys done? [1:15:20] Are you done yet? Are you done? No, um, I really don't, I really don't care, uh, [1:15:25] who wins in that fight, to be honest with you. Um, I'm, I'm expecting to, to beat Daniel Cormier, [1:15:30] and, uh, you know, I've been fighting the best guy in the division for quite a few years now. So, [1:15:35] um, you know, fighting the best is, is what I want to do. And if Anthony Johnson's better, [1:15:40] a better man, uh, then that's what I'll do. And, uh, one more. Dana, you owe me something from [1:15:47] 2012. I've been bugging you for it, too. So, you know what? You say Dana? [1:15:53] Yeah, Dana. What do I owe you? Uh, I fight Anderson Silva's guy. I got ripped off, [1:15:59] you told me I did. Okay. And then, you owe me some WC DVDs, dark, and all the Dark Age DVDs. [1:16:05] You never gave them to me. I had to buy them myself. You guys signed five dudes this year that ducked me [1:16:10] in fights, too. I want you to know that. Five dudes that ducked me, you signed, and they lost. [1:16:15] You know what I mean? You can ask Nick, ask Nate. I'm a hitter. You need to get me up in there. [1:16:20] Quit signing these suckers, Dana. I have no idea what you mean. [1:16:23] And, uh, I personally told you that I would burn you old, old DVDs. You personally told me? You [1:16:29] had your camera guy that walks around you that eats all the donuts, write it down, and I never got him. [1:16:34] All right? I bought them myself, so I want some pride shirts and everything now. [1:16:40] I'm a tiny guy that ducked me, too. Hey, no, give him the mic. [1:16:43] Give that guy the mic again. What are you doing? They're trying to take the mic from you. [1:16:47] NoWolfTickets.com. Hey, I owe you a hundred bucks today. I will give you a hundred dollars. [1:16:53] And then if you beat these guys that you say you beat and all that stuff, [1:16:56] you need to talk to Joe Silva. Have you talked to Joe Silva? [1:16:58] I talked to Joe Silva. He said, get one more fight, but they all ducking me. [1:17:01] You signed Escudero, he ducked me. You signed Giagos, he ducked me, and they all losing. [1:17:06] Ask Nick. We don't play up there in the 209 or the 510. [1:17:09] No. Apparently you do not. So you come see me in back, and you and I are going to square up, big guy. [1:17:16] All right? All right. That's all good. All right. I'm going to square these guys off. [1:17:23] Thank you so much for coming, everybody. We appreciate it. [1:17:34] Different battery. How about that guy? That's great stuff. See, that's good. [1:19:05] All right. Thanks, everyone here at the Smith Center. Thank you all so much for coming out. [1:25:13] We will see you live on Fox Sports 1 Saturday night for Cub Swanson and Frankie Edgar. Thank you, folks.