UFC 189 World Championship Tour Quotes – North American Wrap-Up
Las Vegas – Undisputed UFC® featherweight champion Jose Aldo and challenger Conor McGregor are embarking on a world press tour spanning 10 cities in five countries over the course of 12 days to promote their upcoming world title bout at UFC® 189: ALDO vs. McGREGOR on Saturday, July 11 at MGM Grand Garden Arena to highlight International Fight Week. The event also features Robbie Lawler defending his UFC welterweight championship for the first time against No. 2 Rory MacDonald.
JOSE ALDO:
UFC 189 World Championship Tour – North American Wrap-Up – March 26 & 27
“Everything he (Conor) says is pretty strange to me. I’m ready for anything; I know what he’s going to do so I really don’t mind. I’m ready for anything he says or anything he does.”
“I’ve been the champion for a long time. They’re all going to talk, but I’m going to (continue) my reign and they will all fall.”
“I don’t take it the unprofessional way, I’m pretty professional. I just let him (Conor) do what he does, but when the fight comes I’m going to win. That’s what I do; I’ve been a champion all of my life. I’m going to go in there and win and keep the belt.”
“Everything is talked about (regarding moving up to lightweight). I already talked to Dana, so after this fight we’ll figure out what is going to happen.”
“I don’t really care how the fight goes, I’m going to win. My whole career, that’s how it goes, I go in there and win the fight. I don’t (predict) anything.”
“After this fight, I’m going to win, I’m going to go home, he’s going to go home crying and my pockets are going to be full of money.”
CONOR McGREGOR:
UFC 189 World Championship Tour – North American Wrap-Up – March 26 & 27
“They are not lines or nothing. I’m not trying to say anything as a line. I’m just saying what I am going to do to him. I’ll say it to him now and I’ll show him later.”
“Before I came along, he (Jose) was co-main event to the bantamweights. Now, we’re on private jets going all over North America, all over the world. Even top-15 featherweights are headlining cards now. It’s the McGregor division, make no mistake about it. If I leave, and go to the lightweight division, the featherweights go back to the prelims, it’s that simple.”
“It’s like in the jungle, one king gets old, he starts getting sloppy, he starts stagnating then a young gorilla comes up and kills him and takes everything he owns. That’s what is happening here.”
“It’s (media) part of the business, it’s something you must fall in love with. I honestly see it as a separate discipline. There’s boxing, there’s wrestling, there’s jiu jitsu, but there’s also media obligations – that is a separate discipline. Fighters can be broke under that spotlight, it can drain them and they lose the fight before it even begins, so it is something that I have learned to fall in love with. Not any particular part of it, just in general I have learned to accept it and become comfortable with it; that is what I am about; I become comfortable in the uncomfortable.”
“F— show business. This is the fight business.”
“Any man that makes the walk through the gate and steps in at any level, I don’t care if it’s in a small hall or it is amateur, if you step in you have my respect.”
“It’s good to come here (NYC), I find it fascinating how Ireland – we’re a nation of about 4.5 million – yet, we spread all over the world. When I come here I see Ireland everywhere. We literally built this city, so it’s good to be back.”
ROBBIE LAWLER:
UFC 189 World Championship Tour – North American Wrap-Up – March 26 & 27
“It was awesome to be in New York with these fans. They are amazing and really energetic to the point where they are still hanging around after the press conference. Their energy is excellent and helps in pumping up the fight.”
“I can’t wait to get back on the grind for this upcoming fight. This is what I love to do. I fight because it’s how I live. I’ve been doing this for 15 years and the competition is what I love. I love the sport.”
“It’s going to be an awesome fight (between Jose and Conor). Look what these guys brought to the table; look at these fans out here going crazy, this is awesome.”
“It’s nice to be a part of this. I’m a laid back guy so it’s nice for Conor and Jose to put on a show here. Come July 11th, I’ll be the one putting on a show.”
“I don’t really pay much attention to anyone else. I concentrate on myself; it makes life easier and let everyone else decide those things (matchups). I worry about myself and what I can control which is working hard and staying humble.”
“I don’t really care where I fight on the card. I’ll fight first, I’ll fight in the back, I’ll fight in the alley I don’t care. I’m not here to be the main event or this or that. I’m here to put on a show and beat people up and that’s what I concentrate on. I don’t really worry about where I’m at on the card.”
RORY MacDONALD:
UFC 189 World Championship Tour – North American Wrap-Up – March 26 & 27
“It’s an honor to be in this International Fight Week card, but this is not what drives me. I have never been so focused. I will show my best on July 11th. Lawler is internationally respected. A very good fighter, I feel people from Toronto will respect him a lot.”
“I can’t pinpoint anything. Both my losses were huge for my growing. Identifying weaknesses, not only technically but mentally has been a big part of it. I’m thankful for all the experiences I’ve had in MMA – the ups and the downs, all of it is a blessing and I’m happy to be here.”
“I’ll fight anybody, he’d (Conor) have a tough fight with me I think.”
“I feel very confident with my skillset in every martial art discipline. Wherever the fight goes I feel confident. I take a very similar approach to Robbie, I worry about myself and not my opponents and I prepare myself for war.”
“Every experience I gain confidence, more and more confidence, with my growth in this sport. Not only the evolution of my techniques in the gym but also my victories in the cage.”
“I have fire in my veins. It’s something I was born with and I live with.”
Regarding bringing the welterweight title back to Tristar where Georges St. Pierre held the belt for six years: “Everyone wants the title back in the gym and I’m going to go get it.”
EMBEDDED:
Rio de Janeiro:
Episode 1
Las Vegas:
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Los Angeles:
Episode 5
Boston:
Episode 6
Tickets for UFC® 189: ALDO vs. McGREGOR , presented by Bud Light, go on sale Friday, March 27 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $1,000, $750, $500, $350, $225 and $125 (prices do not include applicable service charges). Tickets are available for purchase online at ticketmaster.com and mgmgrand.com and UFCFightWeek.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000. Tickets will also be available in person at any MGM Resorts International box office. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.
UFC® 189: ALDO vs. McGREGOR, presented by Bud Light, will be available live on Pay-Per-View at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Avail-TVN, and in Canada on BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $49.99 US/CAN for Standard Definition and $59.99 US/CAN for High -Definition.
About UFC®
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