Conor McGregor Angers Fabrício Werdum — ‘Vai Cavalo’ Would Have Slapped ‘The Notorious’ At ‘UFC 197: Dos Anjos Vs. McGregor’ Press Conference


There is much hype surrounding UFC 197: dos Anjos vs. McGregor now that it is coming up quickly. Announced late last year, the upcoming premiere UFC event has garnered plenty of chatter among the MMA community for highlighting a champion-versus-champion fight in which one title is on the line. UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor will go one-on-one against UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos. Since “The Notorious” is gaining 10 pounds for the fight, the bout will be in the lightweight division in which dos Anjos’ title will be on the line. Dana White’s dream of UFC having a double champion might come true.

Business aside, many in the MMA community are looking forward to this fight mostly because of Conor McGregor. Over the past year, many have become fans of McGregor not just because he’s phenomenal in the cage, but he is an artist when it comes to hype. Unlike trash talkers like Ronda Rousey and the Diaz Brothers, McGregor can spin a story that engrosses MMA fans. Simply listen to his speech on fighting in other divisions outside of featherweight at the GO BIG media conference in Las Vegas.

Now we all know that any fight with Conor McGregor is the “money fight” and his opponents, whether they win or lose, will celebrate with their wives by “busting out the red panties.” This is definitely true for the “stuck in the mud” lightweight division. Needless to say, but having such a silver tongue will surely bring forth many enemies. Now McGregor has gained the ire of a champion of another weight division, UFC heavyweight champion Fabrício Werdum. As a matter of fact, Werdum was so angry, he would have slapped McGregor at the UFC 197: dos Anjos vs. McGregor press conference.

For those who do not know what happened, UFC held their press conference for UFC 197: dos Anjos vs. McGregor earlier this week. According to Fox Sports, when the media asked Rafael dos Anjos a question, he was always interrupted by Conor McGregor, who provided his own answers instead. Dos Anjos apparently isn’t the kind of guy to fight anyone during such an event, but his friend and fellow camp mate at the Kings MMA Gym, Fabrício Werdum, would have done things differently.

“When the guys had questions for Rafael, he talked at the same time. This is not good. If I’m there, if my opponents said that, I’d grab the water or the juice and (motions to throw it on them) — 100 percent, or I’m going to say (motions a slap) ‘Be quiet!’ It’s a different personality.”

Fabrício Werdum also took offense to some of the statements Conor McGregor made about Rafael dos Anjos, as reported by Yahoo! News. One such statement that really angered Werdum was how dos Anjos was sent on a four-day media run throughout his home country of Brazil but McGregor had to book Anjos a hotel.

“We’re sending Rafael on a four-day media run throughout Brazil, and we’ve got to book him a hotel. I’ve got to book him a hotel in his own home country. That should tell you all you need to know.”

Though Rafael dos Anjos is a native of Brazil, he has relocated to Orange County, California, following the same mantra Fabrício Werdum followed in finding MMA success by making himself a “citizen of the world.” Werdum does not see any borders in the fight world and sees other cultures as a means to learn and grow.

“I’ve been all over the world, man. I’ve lived for two years in Croatia, one year in Japan, Brazil, Spain, and all those different countries. It’s OK, man. Just try to live your life. Why you stay in Brazil, when you live in all different countries you have a good life? You just go, and try to have a good life with your family.”

In the end, many will simply say that Fabrício Werdum, like many other MMA fighters, are taking Conor McGregor’s hype talk way too seriously. And to be fair, if it weren’t for McGregor’s ability to hype fights, they wouldn’t be as big as they are. Werdum has every right to be upset with McGregor interrupting Rafael dos Anjos whenever the media asked him a question. Sadly, MMA hype has become synonymous with being rude.

[Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images]

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