Conor McGregor: Rafael dos Anjos is a 'bum version' of Jose Aldo
On Wednesday, Conor McGregor called his shot against Rafael dos Anjos as he predicted not only another first-round finish, but said he would put away the lightweight champion in under one minute.
McGregor obviously didn't seem all that impressed with dos Anjos while also comparing the lightweight king to Jose Aldo, who he just recently defeated at UFC 194 in December.
McGregor also had no problem saying that he would finish dos Anjos and then return for another title fight on July 9 at UFC 200 at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
"I'll be fresh after 197. I believe I will dust Rafael inside one minute," McGregor said during the pre-fight press conference. "He is a slower, sloppier version of Aldo. He's like a bum version of Aldo. I believe in absolutely everything. I believe inside one minute I will dust him, I will exit the contest fresh, I'll cash the check, I will sign the contract for UFC 200, the brand new MGM and we'll go again.
"2015 was my year. 2016 is also my year. Every year is my f--king year."
McGregor was extremely critical of dos Anjos following his last win over Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone -- a fight the lightweight champion won in just 66-seconds.
The Irish champion says he saw a ton of flaws in dos Anjos' performance even in victory and it's those openings he plans to expose when they meet on March 5 in Las Vegas.
"I feel he is very, very sloppy. His shot selection is very poor," McGregor said. "He has a tenseness in his body when he loads, we will enter and he will try to close into that distance and enter into the pocket but he will taste some strikes in there really, really early. He also dips, it's honestly like a slower, sloppier, more stuffed version of Jose Aldo.
"I feel I will guide him onto some strikes and as he has been KO'd before, I will KO him once again. That's how I feel the fight will go. It will be another KO. I swear I'd love to beat the ugly out of him and drag him into the second and third rounds, I would love to do that -- but I feel like I'm going to dust him in under one minute."
Amidst his digs aimed at dos Anjos, McGregor actually complimented his last opponent for his dedication to his home country of Brazil, something he doesn't believe the current lightweight champion can share.
As soon as the fight was announced, McGregor took to Instagram where he slammed dos Anjos, calling him an “American gringo” and he doubled down on that same insult when speaking to him on the dais on Wednesday.
"I swear to God, UFC (194), I fought Jose Aldo, I KO'd the country of Brazil's true champion and seeing how he handles himself, how his team handles themselves, they never learned the language of the oppressor. He never came to America. He trusted in his people unlike this guy standing across from me," McGregor said.
"That's why the people of Brazil love Jose Aldo. That's why when Jose Aldo steps off a plane, the country of Brazil greets him, regardless of result. When we're with Rafael on a four day media run throughout Brazil in a couple of weeks 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. He will never step off the plane and receive a hero's welcome in Brazil because he ran from the country of Brazil. He didn't trust his own. That's why Jose Aldo is the true champion in his country and this guy in Brazilian lingo is a gringo and that is the truth."
McGregor even blasted dos Anjos for not having his own home in Brazil, which forced the UFC to book him a hotel room during a four-day press tour that is apparently booked for the South American country in the next couple of weeks.
Obviously, McGregor leaves no stone unturned when he fires at an opponent and he certainly had both barrels aimed at dos Anjos during the press conference.
"I'm 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?" McGregor shouted.
"Why your kid's names are Bob and Donald. Why are you raising American children? Why don't you trust in your own people? You're going back to Brazil to answer that question."
In the end, McGregor called for another knockout and even said he's dedicating the fight to Brazil when the night is over.
"You can talk about your wins and losses, but at the end of the day, you've tasted that darkness of being KO'd stiff and you will taste it again on March 5," McGregor said.
"On March 5, I will behead Rafael dos Anjos. I will drag his head through the streets of Rio de Janeiro through a parade of people I would imagine. It will be a national holiday I would also imagine."
