Conor McGregor says UFC is still pulling him 'left and right' with media requests
Conor McGregor was removed from UFC 200 after he demanded the UFC move back a planned media tour to promote he and Nate Diaz's rematch about a month so he could focus on getting his training camp started . "I am facing a taller, longer and heavier man. I need to prepare correctly this time. I can not dance for you this time. It is time for the other monkeys to dance. I've danced us all the way here," he said, then.
McGregor took issue with not having enough control over the media events he had to do for the UFC, and that he doesn't get paid appearance fees to do them. "I am just trying to do my job and fight here" he said.
I am paid to fight. I am not yet paid to promote. I have become lost in the game of promotion and forgot about the art of fighting."
Now that McGregor and Diaz have had their rematch rescheduled for August at UFC 202, the hype machine is going once more, with McGregor leading the charge as he usually does. The Irishman has likely done more promotional work for his UFC fights than anyone in the promotion's history other than, perhaps, Ronda Rousey.
McGregor has flown cross-country on fight week to do interviews and had a brighter spotlight and heavier load of interviews than anyone he's fought. He's also fought short-notice opponents frequently, and fought up in weight for the UFC.
As he both prepares to compete at UFC 202 and promote it, McGregor says that he and his promoter are still butting heads from time to time regarding media engagements. "We're still back and forth with media obligations," he said.
"I think some people don't understand how taxing that is, especially coming after a loss like that where I really truly need to look out for me and get myself right and come out the way I need to feel," he continued.
McGregor believes that he didn't properly prepare to fight Diaz the first time around, and that contributed to his losing to the jiu-jitsu master by submission in the second round.
"I can't fatigue like [I did] and live with myself after that. Seeing the way the last fight happened, I can't live with it. I need to isolate myself and just get my work in and come back and get my revenge. And that's what I'm doing," he explained.
McGregor maintains that he continues to have to spar with the UFC while he tries to beat a man who recently handed him a tough loss. "It's going on right to this second," he claimed.
"It's never-ending. They want to pull you left and right."
