Summary
Highlights
Khabib Nurmagomedov starts the press conference without Conor McGregor, emphasizing his punctuality and focus on the fight. He discusses the magnitude of the fight, his preparation, and the importance of making weight. Khabib expresses a personal element to the fight, stating it's 'more than defend my title' and 'more than fight for the title.' He also clarifies that he will not shake McGregor's hand after the fight and addresses lingering anger from past incidents.
UFC President Dana White comments on McGregor's late arrival and the overall hype surrounding UFC 229. He reveals that the pay-per-view numbers are tracking higher than the Mayweather/McGregor fight, potentially smashing the 2 million buy mark. White acknowledges the disappointment of not having a face-off but confirms it will happen at the weigh-ins. He also dismisses rumors about a new 165-pound weight class, stating it would deplete the existing divisions.
Conor McGregor finally arrives, attributing his lateness to traffic and suggesting Khabib left early because he 'doesn't want to be around me.' He reasserts his confidence, predicting a knockout victory and emphasizing his readiness for all aspects of the fight, including grappling. McGregor escalates the personal attacks, calling Khabib's manager a 'snitch, terrorist rat' and criticizing his background.
McGregor discusses his legacy in combat sports, acknowledging Dana White's praise but humbly refusing to compare himself to Muhammad Ali. He expresses extreme hunger for Khabib's head, stating he's 'starving for this man's head.' McGregor also touches upon the success of his whiskey brand, the possibility of fighting more than once against Khabib, and his eventual goal of becoming a billionaire by age 35.