Cruz On Mcgregor’s Victory: “This Is A Game Of Inches And Conor Made The Adjustments, But Diaz Didn’t.”
Los Angeles – The following quotes and videos are from tonight’s FS1 UFC 202 POSTFIGHT SHOW hosted by Jay Glazer, with Dominick Cruz, Brian Stann and Rashad Evans providing analysis. Megan Olivi conducted interviews.
FOX UFC analyst Brian Stann on how Conor McGregor beat Nate Diaz: “We wondered what game plan McGregor would have and thought he would use the kicks, attacking the lead leg and being patient. And he did that. He knocked Diaz down twice, but stayed patient. I think round two is the controversial round and it was hard to tell who won that. Round three was all Diaz and he looked like he was taking over. But in round four Conor put Nate against the fence and really dug deep.”
FOX UFC analyst Dominick Cruz on McGregor vs. Diaz: “This fight is going to a trilogy. This made McGergor a better champion and he’ll grow from it. It’ll make both better in the long run. The next matchup will even be better. Both went to the body early and often. One of the differences was the adjustments Conor made from the first fight. We haven’t seen Diaz make the adjustments from the first matchup with the leg kicks and the counters. This is a game of inches and Conor made the adjustments, but Diaz didn’t.”
FOX UFC analyst Rashad Evans: “What an amazing fight. It was unfortunate that someone had to lose. McGregor showed people what he could do. Conor was composed. When you have a fight like this, it’s easy to let emotions get away from you, but Conor was calm and composed. That was the biggest key to his victory tonight.”
Stann on what McGregor should do next: “I want to see him fight for the featherweight title. If this is going to be a trilogy at 155 next, he should vacate the featherweight belt and let Max Holloway, who’s on a nine fight win streak, fight Jose Aldo for the real belt.”
VIDEO: Highlights: Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
VIDEO: Interview: Conor McGregor asks: How could you not respect Nate Diaz?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
VIDEO: Interview: Nate Diaz: I thought I won the fight…it’s all good I got paid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Evans on Johnson defeating Teixeira: “Teixeira looked like he was moving good right at the start of the fight, but he missed one thing, the Johnson uppercut. Johnson’s coach Henri Hooft worked on that with him.”
Anthony Johnson on how he knocked Teixeira out so quickly: “I told my coach if I knock him out it’d be by uppercut. A lot of people think fighters aren’t that smart. I had the speed and the power and thought he’d make a mistake.”
Johnson on his knockout technique: “Backing up and throwing an uppercut is just what we do.”
Johnson on what he was expecting from Teixeira: He’s a pressure fighter, comes forward, and leaves something open. It was just my night. He was a hell of an athlete. We both like to fight and we live by the sword and die by the sword.”
Johnson on his comments about respect: “I’m not really trying to be a role model, but I’m just trying to be a good person.”
Johnson on his turnaround: “Champions always come back and I’m trying to be a champion.”
Daniel Cormier to Johnson: “I’m keeping this championship. I’m your buddy until that door closes, than it is DC’s time in the Octagon.”
Johnson on fighting Cormier again: “I will do everything differently. I will die to get that belt. I want that gold. I want that strap. It was his fight last time, it’ll be my fight next time.”
VIDEO: Interview: Johnson KO’s Glover Teixeira, wants Daniel Cormier next
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
VIDEO: Interview: Daniel Cormier is confident he’d beat Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson again
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
VIDEO: Highlights: Anthony Johnson vs. Glover Teixeira
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
UFC president Dana White on Diaz vs. McGregor: “It was a great fight. It was everything that I thought, but I didn’t think it would go five rounds. Those guys are warriors. I had it 3-2 for Conor. It looked like Conor was gassed, then he came back. I though Diaz was out, but he came back.”
White on a trilogy fight between McGregor and Diaz at 155: “We’re not doing this a third time, right now. Conor’s going to defend his title or give it up. I have no idea what’s next for Nate.”
White on Johnson’s win: “I expected it to end quickly. Not in 13 seconds, but I thought whoever clipped the other would win.”
White on Cowboy Cerrone moving back to 155: “I don’t like 155. I like 170. Nobody does that to Story. I’d like him to stay at 170.”
VIDEO: Interview: Dana White
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
VIDEO: Highlights: Rick Story vs. Donald Cerrone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
VIDEO: Cruz: I thought Garbrandt was CM Punk, I didn’t know who he was
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
VIDEO: Highlights: Cody Garbrandt’s first-round KO of Takeya Mizugaki
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