Former UFC two-division champion Conor McGregor just found a way to turn his submission loss to rival Khabib Nurmagomedov into a win.
“The Notorious” is one of the greatest talkers in MMA history, whose words take on a life of their own. Groan all you want about how much attention MMA’s biggest star gets, but there’s no one who shapes his world the same way. A cottage industry of T-shirt makers rest on his most famous quotes.
After the most recent headlines, we got to thinking about all the times his words – and words alone – captivated the MMA world’s attention.
Here are 11 memorable quotes:
“We’re not here to take part, we’re here to take over.”
When he said it: UFC Fight Night 46 octagon interview, after defeating Diego Brandao in a Dublin headliner.
“I said I’d knock him out in the first round, and I knocked him out in the first round. You can call me ‘Mystic Mac,’ because I predict these things.”
“If one of us goes to war, we all go to war.”
When he said it: UFC 178 octagon interview, after defeating Dustin Poirier.
“I own this town. I own Rio de Janeiro. So for him to say that he is the king and I am the joker, if this was a different time, I would invade his favela on horseback and would kill anyone who wasn’t fit to work. But we’re in a new time, so I’ll whoop his ass instead.”
When he said it: UFC 189 media day, before a scheduled fight vs. Jose Aldo (that eventually was scrapped).
“When you sign to fight me, it’s a celebration. You ring back home, you ring your wife. ‘Baby, we’ve done it. We’re rich, baby. Conor McGregor made us rich. Break out the red panties.'”
When he said it: UFC “Go Big” news conference in 2015.
“It’s a tough pill to swallow, but we can either run from adversity, or we can face our adversity head on and conquer it. And that’s what I plan to do.”
When he said it: UFC 196 post-fight news conference after losing to Nate Diaz by submission.
“Winners focus on winning. Losers focus on winners.”
When he said it: UFC 198 news conference.
“Shut your (expletive) mouth! You’ll do (expletive) nothing! Not one of you’s will do nothing! Get the (expletive) out of here.”
When he said it: UFC 202 news conference, talking trash to Nate Diaz and his team before throwing water bottles at them.
“Who the fook is that guy?”
When he said it: UFC 205 news conference, in response to Jeremy Stephens’ on-the-spot callout.
I run this whole thing. I run New York. I run this whole ship. Without me, none of this happens. I run this whole s—. Everyone in this game does what they’re (expletive) told except for me and rightly (expletive) so.
When he said it: UFC 205 press conference.
“And I’d just like to say from the bottom of my heart, I’d like to take this chance to apologize – to absolutely nobody! The double champ does what the (expletive) he wants!”
When he said it: UFC 205 octagon interview, after defeating Eddie Alvarez to become the first simultaneous UFC two-division champion.
