UFC 189 Embedded Ep. 1: 'Conor is like a Chihuahua'
The always fantastic UFC Embedded crew is back and the first of 10 (yes, 10!) UFC 189 embedded episodes has been released. In this first edition, get inside Conor McGregor's entourage the day he found out he'd be fighting Chad Mendes instead of Jose Aldo, July 11.
Also, visit Sacramento and get behind the scenes with Team Alpha Male as "Money" Mendes kicks training into high gear to prepare for his short-notice interim featherweight title against McGregor. A stoic McGregor says it does not matter who he faces, and Mendes anticipates a lot of personal trash talk from the "Notorious" challenger, in the coming weeks.
"Conor is like a Chihuahua," Mendes said.
"He's all bark. Conor is a master at selling fights and talking sh--, so Conor can say what he wants. Nothing is going to get in my head. This is what I was born to do."
Team Alpha Male founder and leader Urijah Faber chimed in to talk up his teammate as well. "He's at his all-time best. He's in his prime as a competitor and as an athlete, and he has a great style matchup with McGregor," he said, before being joined in a puffed-chest McGregor impersonation by Mendes and TAM coach Martin Kampmann.
For Mendes, his third chance at UFC gold is the source of inspiration and the culmination of a lifetime of work. He is intent on not letting McGregor's mental warfare distract him from his goal.
"I started wrestling when I was five years old. I haven't taken a year off, since," he explained.
"I've had guys talk sh-- during competition [and] I beat 'em every time. Conor is going to say a bunch of stupid sh--...and I'm going to be there whooping his ass."
