Morning Report: Conor McGregor demands the 'interim' be dropped from his UFC featherweight title

Don't let Conor McGregor catch you calling him the "interim" UFC featherweight champion.

'F**k that," McGregor told GQ UK magazine (via Daily Mail). "What do you mean interim? [UFC featherweight champion] Jose Aldo and I had a date, he didn't show, someone else took his place, I beat him, easy. So don't give me interim."

With Aldo suffering a rib injury, McGregor scored a second-round TKO win over late replacement Chad Mendes at UFC 189 in July. Rebooked to headline against Aldo Dec. 12 at UFC 194, McGregor isn't convinced he'll actually face the pound-for-pound great.

"I still don't think he will show," said McGregor. "I am trying to be optimistic but I am never wrong, I always predict the outcome of my fights and I am never wrong. I have beaten him already. He is dead. Look at his body language. His body is weak and his mind is weaker. I can smell the lack of confidence.

"If the mind is not in it, the body won't follow. He cannot beat me. He knows it. It's why he went running last time... I can hear it in his voice, I can see it in his eyes, I know when a man is beaten, and he is beaten mentally."

McGregor also discussed his eventual exit from the sport, mentioning a concern of head trauma, specifically.

"I am not stupid," said McGregor. "I am a very bright guy. I know that in the fighting game, you get people who get brain damage and do themselves long-term harm. I am into it in a big way, and I am good at it, and I am going to get very, very rich and then I will get out and we will see what comes after that."

5 MUST-READ STORIES

'I want you guys.' Tim Kennedy to return to the UFC, vows to "smash" performance-enhancing drug users.

'I'm more than willing to bring it to her.' Rose Namajunas says she's the "test that everybody's been waiting for" against Paige VanZant.

Re-booked. Neil Magny steps in for Matt Brown against Kelvin Gastelum to headline the TUF Latin America Finale.

Not just Shinya. Bibiano Fernandes is anxious to defend his ONE Championship title but has also been offered a fight at Rizin FF.

Interesting. Ronda Rousey's head coach, Edmond Tarverdyan, has filed for bankruptcy claiming no personal income, no stake in Glendale Fighting Club and over $700,000 in debts.

MEDIA STEW

Vitor Belfort bouncing back.

Bellator: Road to Vengeance. (part 2 here)

Highlights from the regional scene.

Ian McCall says he's one good injury away from retiring from fighting.

This comes via request from a major Jhenny Andrade fan on staff. Probably NSFW.

Luke Rockhold doing a bit for Golf Digest.

Long watches.

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TWEETS

Not so light heavy. via his Instagram:

226 lbs right now and feeling amazing. I've been hearing concerns about me doing so much strength training, but just know that there's a method to our madness. Right now we are in a strength building phase. Totally aware of all the different things needed to be an elite martial artist. #agility #endurance #cardio #mattime #newskills
Believe in the process

226 lbs right now and feeling amazing! #BelieveInTheProcess pic.twitter.com/xe788Wvyme

— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) November 4, 2015

Excited?

*New Main Event for #UFCMonterrey , EVERYONE in the top 10 either said no or were out by injuries. I... https://t.co/jBB3RWNpB9

— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) November 4, 2015

Here I come to save the day! #staytuned #fightersfight @ufc #ag2g pic.twitter.com/9Oi40LBQPM

— Neil Magny (@NeilMagny) November 3, 2015

I keeps saying it , he's a dangerous fight for Anyone in the top 10 https://t.co/21NchTSwHA

— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) November 4, 2015

Buds.

@MieshaTate it takes a lot of courage to say what you have said. My hats off to you.

— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) November 4, 2015

Running Back Legacy pic.twitter.com/Qnu80zFJKu

— St. Louis Rams (@STLouisRams) November 3, 2015

Big thanks the @STLouisRams for letting us visit the training facility and watch practice this afternoon. #blessed pic.twitter.com/Jym90HQCNZ

— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) November 3, 2015

Congrats.

I landed on the cover of @GolfDigest! Check out how I deal with annoying golfers: https://t.co/5epTLKClnA pic.twitter.com/hQUZELZ639

— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) November 3, 2015

Check out @LimitlessCBS tonight on @CBS with me. Thank you to the whole #Limitless team 4 all of your hard work! pic.twitter.com/K9QBOywNVx

— Andrei Arlovski (@AndreiArlovski) November 4, 2015

12 more days and im back to work !! And my books out in January ! https://t.co/PErywVlC94 pic.twitter.com/XNzOlzUWvK

— Chris Leben (@cripplerufc) November 3, 2015

Camping.

The busiest days are the best days #UFC194 https://t.co/C9PiTcNa2F pic.twitter.com/cdyYo86XnT

— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) November 3, 2015

One more amazing session done and one step closer to the victory with the man @speedofsport... https://t.co/cocqvLvt8Y

— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) November 3, 2015

It's not often that I get to be taped with my fans inspirational words. Today, I'm training for you.... https://t.co/qvbUfI3UQI

— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) November 3, 2015

Mixed reviews.

@ForrestGriffin looking sharp with the new haircut @ufc #UFCAthleteSummit pic.twitter.com/jdWaRF68mN

— Robert Whiteford (@Flyinjudoka) November 3, 2015

here's my exit form @ForrestGriffin #UFCAthleteSummit pic.twitter.com/ra757NS71b

— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) November 3, 2015

You mean best part https://t.co/j2KPjNnAij

— Forrest Griffin (@ForrestGriffin) November 4, 2015

No context needed.

Well, slow or not, you ain't getting it in THERE without lube and that's a pretty hard stand for me. #kedziekeystosex

— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) November 3, 2015

It happens.

Had a visitor waiting in our room when we got back from dinner #hewantedthehbomb https://t.co/4leTe0jWXD

— Dan Henderson (@danhendo) November 3, 2015

Had a visitor waiting in our room when we got back from dinner #hewantedthehbomb

A video posted by Dan Henderson (@danhendo) on Nov 3, 2015 at 8:13am PST

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (Nov. 3 2015)

Kelvin Gastelum vs. Neil Magny at The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 2 Finale

FANPOST OF THE DAY

Today's Fanpost of the Day comes via ynassar.

GMC 7 Preview

The 7th edition of the German MMA Championship (GMC) returns again this Saturday with a card that is worth your attention.

The event features a number of the best prospects this side of the Atlantic. In addition to the light heavyweight, lightweight and bantamweight title all being on the line the card also features a number of 'superfights'.

The main event sees Jonas Billstein (15-4) defend his light heavyweight title against Joachim Christensen (11-3). At 24 years of age Billstein, who is ranked 2nd in the German LHW division, has already amassed considerable cage experience and has even fought in Bellator on four occasions (going 2-2 in the promotion). He will face Christensen who is known for being a puncher with solid takedown defense who is equally comfortable on his back where he can make use of his black-belt BJJ skills. He is also ranked number 3 in the Scandinavian MMA rankings just behind none other than Ilir Latifi and Alexander Gustaffson! Christensen might be on the wrong side of 35 years of age, but for Billstein a win here would be a huge feather in his cap.

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Check out the rest of the post here.

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