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Conor McGregor's had a busy summer.
On July 11 he become the interim UFC featherweight champion and went straight into filming the next season of The Ultimate Fighter just days later.
McGregor will coach opposite Urijah Faber and the head games got started early. Faber got into a brief 'altercation' with McGregor prior to the weigh-ins for UFC 189, then again during the first days of shooting the reality show.
"It's all friendly stuff, to be honest," McGregor told Yahoo. "Urijah is harmless. He's a harmless little man. He amuses me. He's like an annoying little brother only he's close to 50 years of age. I've been having fun on the show."
McGregor was hesitant to take the coaching gig following a promotional world tour and three-month training camp, but now says the show has been a pleasure.
"Once I got there and I met the people I realized it's an opportunity of a lifetime," said McGregor. "I want to embrace it and put my coaches on. Show my approach to the game, show how my coaches handle training camp and fight preparation. It's an amazing experience and I'm really enjoying it."
McGregor defeated Faber's Team Alpha Male teammate Chad Mendes at UFC 189 following the withdrawal of featherweight champion Jose Aldo.
Critics of the victory cite Mendes' lack of a full training camp, something McGregor says taught him another lesson.
"I learned that I never get it wrong," said McGregor. "I always predict correct. I predicted that I would KO [Mendes] inside two rounds. I bet a large sum of money and I won my bet. When I say I will put someone away in whatever time in whatever manner I say, it will happen. That's what happened. I went in there, lit his body up and I put him away.
"Yet, you have supposed veterans and professionals of the game, or experts, speaking about a full camp. It just made me realize how many bums and rookies there really are in this game. They can't understand that they have never seen clean body-shooting before like they saw in that fight. Myself and Chad understand where he was at in that position. He was shut down and he was broke."
McGregor is set to unify the title with Aldo in December. The fight will likely take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, but UFC president Dana White is once again claiming interest in a stadium event at AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys.
"There are a couple dates and venues in the line," said McGregor. "I believe [UFC brass] are heading out to Brazil to speak with Jose. For me, he is having a breakdown. I said this before. He's looking for his exit from the game. The injury was an opportunity to delay the inevitable so he took it. Make no mistake, when UFC 189 was playing he was under his duvet praying that Chad Mendes would get the win.
"Him and his whole team were praying for that victory so they would not have to face me. I ran out and butchered Chad's body in the knowledge that Jose would be looking with his sore ribs. I just see a fighter who has broke. I hope we can get him to show up, but we will see. All I know is what I knew July 11. I will be there and I will be victorious."
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Boom. WSOF president Ray Sefo strips Rousimar Palhares of his welterweight title and suspends him indefinitely.
‘We made Duane.' Chad Mendes says he's ‘tired of hearing about' former Team Alpha Male coach Duane Ludwig. 'It's just something that I'm sick of and I want out of my life.'
'My gift.' UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey will leave her belt at Flavio Canto's judo school in Rio de Janeiro after she donated $30k to the school in March.
Fortunes changed for Five. Dave Meltzer explains how Ronda Rousey, Bethe Correia, Mauricio Rua, Claudia Gadelha and Demian Maia move forward following UFC 190.
Plea deal. UFC veteran Chris Leben has reportedly plead guilty in his felony assault weapon case.
Watch The MMA Hour with Miesha Tate, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Chad Mendes, Ray Sefo, Dustin Poirer, Gene LeBell, Michael Lunardelli, Alex Davis and Marc Raimondi.
MEDIA STEW
Free Fight: Charles Oliveira vs Nik Lentz.
Gina Carano doing her thing in Deadpool.
The folks at Collider [movie news] aren't huge fans of Ronda Rousey's acting.
Ronda getting mobbed at Maracana.
Karlos Vemola got his arm snapped this weekend. Also great behind the scenes footage of the event.
Part cribs tour, part Luke Rockhold slap fighting some poor gentleman.
Long watches.
...
...
TWEETS
Palhares reactions.
I just wanna say thank you everyone for all the love and support, we will continue to do the best we can to bring you great fights!!! #WSOF
— Ray Sefo (@SugarRaySefo) August 4, 2015
Want to thank everyone for their support, it's much appreciated
— Jake Shields (@jakeshieldsajj) August 4, 2015
So, was the punishment of palhares handed out by the promotion or the commission?
— Jon Fitch (@jonfitchdotnet) August 4, 2015
he's not a professional. It's the right move. https://t.co/htn4TRTc80
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) August 4, 2015
What you guys think abt #WSOF strip #Palhares belt? I agree it is not the first time, it is serious, so easy to get a tough injury
— Gilbert DurinhoBurns (@GilbertDurinho) August 4, 2015
Gotta say I'm all for violence in our sport (soccer kicks, stomps knees to the head on ground) but @MMAWorldSeries made the right call today
— Jake Heun (@JakeHeun) August 4, 2015
"@MMAAlley: Rousimar Palhares stripped of WSOF welterweight title http://t.co/bH5xmGfBdE via @BloodyElbow" that's what he deserves
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) August 4, 2015
If palhares is suspended then the referee must be suspended also.
— Angela Magana UFC (@AngelaMagana1) August 4, 2015
Bc he is a scumbag and doesn't deserve a title fight. Deserves to be suspended long term for blatant bs actions https://t.co/HKvR8I05SD
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) August 4, 2015
I want to thank the @mmaworldseries for keeping the integrity of the sport in tact. Cheating in this... https://t.co/QgEyi7WFqn
— Phoenix Jones (@ThePhoenixJones) August 4, 2015
My thoughts r that Rousimar does not care about the rules everybody else r following he is going to make up his own. https://t.co/8GMp1Hfb9L
— Big John McCarthy (@JohnMcCarthyMMA) August 4, 2015
This whole Palhares fiasco is a little crazy. Seems like he cant control his emotions. But damn impressive submitting Shields and Fitch
— Mike Brown (@mikebrownmma) August 4, 2015
@TimKennedyMMA @GMeekerMMA @ToquinhoMMA 3000% agree @jakeshieldsajj
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) August 5, 2015
Beef.
@QoSBaszler @criscyborg: "Redemption? I need an opponent at 140 if you want a chance to lose faster than last time"
— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) August 4, 2015
Hey midget fuck @PatricioPitbull after you get better let's fight at a catch weight. #DontTalkShitUnlessUCanBackItUp @BellatorMMA
— Saad Awad (@SAADMMA) August 4, 2015
@PatrickyPitbull lol that was funny. I got no beef with you. We'll fight and it's all business but your brother is a different story.
— Saad Awad (@SAADMMA) August 4, 2015
Get well soon.
As soon as I heal I'm going to get what belongs to me. || Assim q eu me recuperar, vou buscar o que é meu. pic.twitter.com/9hx87ce2bB
— Claudia Gadelha (@ClaudiaGadelha_) August 4, 2015
Excited?
#VIXENvsEVIL #UFC192 #OCT3 #UFCHouston @ufc @jessicaevileye https://t.co/Vu1sGMRcmn
— Julianna Peña (@VenezuelanVixen) August 5, 2015
Very cool.
Greatest memory from the fight... @corneliscutman giving me a motivational speech while shoving q tips up my nose https://t.co/2pRi8n8ttK
— Patrick Cummins (@OfficialDurkin) August 4, 2015
Dang.
"@usertalia: All these fights are being announced, but still no @Cowboycerrone title fight announcement. ☕️ "
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) August 5, 2015
Buds.
@LiLHeathenMMA Had to be sure! I did not not want you hitting me anymore! Hope things are well with you too bro!
— Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) August 4, 2015
Finally.
Finally @ufc & @CarlsJr the help I need Thanks @RondaRousey @MMAjunkie pic.twitter.com/FOJeIelm7F
— Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) August 4, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Aug. 4 2015)
Jessica Eye vs. Julianna Pena at UFC 192
Daniel Hooker vs. Yair Rodriguez at UFC 192
Matt Brown vs. Kelvin Gastelum at The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America 2 Finale
Efrain Escudero vs. Leandro Silva at The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America 2 Finale
Found something you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we'll include it in tomorrow's column.
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