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MMA

21st Jan 2016

One Conor McGregor comment drew howls of laughter at the UFC 197 press conference

On form

Patrick McCarry

Rafael dos Anjos has taken the bait.

It is amazing how each fighter falls into the traps laid out by Conor McGregor.

Looking like a mix of Tom Hardy and Matthew McConaughey, The Notorious was in top form at Wednesday’s UFC 197 press conference as he completely disrespected the lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos. He arrived 30 minutes late, constantly interrupted RDA and, once again, described the Brazilian as a traitor to his people.

Dos Anjos will have surely known what to expect from the verbose Dubliner but he was left rattled.

McGregor described RDA as a man who fights on ‘free TV’ and ‘a bum version’ of Jose Aldo. However, it was on the theme of dos Anjos now living in the United States that the featherweight champ warmed to.

“I will sent him home… to California,” McGregor declared at one stage.

He continued, “I am going to send you back to our Brazilian TV partners, Globo and Combate Sport, and have you answer to the Brazilian people why we have to book you a hotel in your own home country, why your kids names are Bob and Donald – why are you raising American children?”

McGregor’s comments often drew cheers and laughter from the assembled press conference crowd and his ‘national holiday’ line elicited the biggest response on all. McGregor said:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BAx0pB-lVRm/?taken-by=sportsjoedotie

A Brazilian reporter asked McGregor where he would train for UFC 197 and was told Dublin.

McGregor said, “Hard work, dedication, sacrifice, trust in my surroundings and then I will fly back to the west coast two weeks out.

“I come in here I cash cheques, I transfer them into Euro and head back to my home country with all the money.”