Full Coverage – UFC 232: Jones vs Gustafsson 2 Post-Fight Press Conference
Welcome to Fightful’s live coverage of the UFC 232 post-fight press conference. We’ll hear from the stars of UFC 232 and UFC President Dana White. Latest updates appear at the bottom. Refresh for the latest comments.
UFC 232 post-fight press conference highlights incoming. Chiesa opens things up.
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Chiesa says he felt good at 170. Says it took him a round to adjust. “The trend now is to go up a weight class.”
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Chiesa wants Neil Magny next because he wants to work his way up the ladder. Believes Magny is in the bottom part of the top 15 in the official rankings.
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Chiesa praises Condit. Says he has a ton of respect for him. But that made it easier to fight him.
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Chiesa says, mentally, he needed to beat a former world champion to prove to himself that he belongs.
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Chiesa congratulates Nunes. “That’s another fighter who went up in weight. It used to be about cutting the most weight. Now it’s about being the healthier fighter.”
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Chiesa says he likes the title picture at 170 better. “Lightweight is just a cluster.”
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Chiesa says he wishes he went up to 170 sooner. Is thankful that he did it before it was too late. Says he’s in his prime and hasn’t taken much damage in his career.
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“Nobody has had to the plate that I’ve had in 2018” – Chiesa. Talks about overcoming a rough year with the losses and bus incident to cap off the year with a win. Says he loves his mom and that’s a wrap on Mike.
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Dana White at the table now. He’s very happy that the event was a “total sell out.” Says, “I love sticking it to everybody” about the fight being moved and still being successful.
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Dana calls out Darren Rovell for his tweet about Nunes. “What the fuck does he know about fighting?”
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Dana guarantees that Nunes will be a star after tonight. Doesn’t know what is next for her.
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“It sounds to me like Cormier wants 2 or 3 more fights before hanging it up.” – Dana. Says it’s not time for him to retire and that Cormier will fight anyone.
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Dana says he hasn’t talked to BJ. Says he would like to see BJ retire. “He has nothing left to prove.”
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Dana says the new belts will debut in Brooklyn. Didn’t do it tonight due to the “shit show” this week. Says they are working on big things in 2019.
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Dana says Jones need to pass his drug test and stay out of trouble. He would love to keep Jones busy this year.
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Dana says Brock is not out of the picture. Believes Brock plays UFC and WWE against each other and gets more money out of Vince as a result, knowing UFC will also be here for him.
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Dana thinks Brock, Jones, and Stipe are the 3 best fights for DC. Then calls Nunes the best female fighter ever.
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“What the hell do I know?” – Dana on being skeptical about Nunes needing more time to put more weight on. Compares her to GSP, who famously talked about wanting to put the weight on “the right way” before moving to 185.
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Dana won’t commit to anything involving Conor until they go in front of the NSAC. Is hopeful that he can fight in the summer.
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Dana says Jones’ future depends on him passing drug tests. “I’m gonna kill myself” – Dana on what he’s going to do if Jones fails a drug test following tonight.
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Dana says they won’t do an immediate rematch between Nunes and Cyborg.
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It doesn’t sound like Diaz/Masvidal is happening anymore. “It doesn’t look like Nick is training for a fight.” – Dana.
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Dana says Aldo/Moicano is not the main event in February because Aldo didn’t want to fight 5 rounds. Assunção/Moraes is the main event instead.
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Dana says 2019 will be the most progressive year in UFC history.
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“This business is worse than a hair salon. There’s so much drama and crazy bullshit.” – Dana
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Dana isn’t worried about Nevada suspending Jones. Believes if Nevada had an issue with Jones, they would have prevented the fight from moving. “I would be blown away if they didn’t license him. It makes no sense.”
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Dana still doesn’t like Oscar De La Hoya. “If you wanna battle, I’m your guy. Wait til you see what happens with Oscar.” And that’s it for Dana.
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Gustafsson at the table now. He already sounds like he’s ready to be done. Says he’s disappointed and did his best.
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Gustafsson says he hurt his groin in the fight. Credits Jones for taking away his movement. Says there is mutual respect, but doesn’t regret anything leading up to the fight.
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Gustafsson isn’t sure what is next. Will stay at 205.
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Gustafsson says this fight meant everything to him and says it’s a big setback for him to lose.
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Gustafsson says he didn’t notice any difference in Jones from the first fight.
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That’s a wrap for Gustafsson, who gets up and walks away with a limp.
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Nunes, with both titles, at the podium now
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Nunes was confident in her striking because of who she trains with at ATT. “When she connected, I said, ‘Oh, I’m gonna walk forward now.'”
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Nunes says she knew that Cyborg would turn up the aggression when she got hit. Says she was prepared for it and wanted it.
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Nunes credits her distancing and her ability to be first as the keys to victory.
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Nunes says the loss to Zingano helped her a lot. Says she is now calmer, more confident, and trains smarter.
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Nunes says she texted Dana after Cyborg’s fight with Holly Holm and wanted the fight. Says she needed time to put the weight on, but was confident she would win. Says she felt better at 145 despite having a couple of injuries and getting sick.
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Nunes won’t commit to giving Cyborg a rematch.
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Nunes says tonight is not about Valentina. Says she had two tries to beat her.
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Nunes spent the last half of her interview speaking in Portuguese. UFC doesn’t have a translator at the event.
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Cris Cyborg here now. Says she did everything for this fight. It just wasn’t her day. “Not the first time I lost, not the last time.”
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Cyborg says this loss will make her train harder.
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Cyborg believes she should have been interviewed in the octagon after the loss. Wanted to talk to her fans to get them to stop crying.
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Cyborg doesn’t think Nunes is the greatest due to her number of losses. Still has her eyes set on boxing.
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Cyborg says she may have made a mistake by keep moving forward after she fell. Will have to watch the fight back with her team.
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Cyborg felt disrespected that she was kicked out of the cage after the loss. Reiterates that she wanted to talk to her fans.
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Cyborg will seek a rematch against Nunes. Says this loss makes her love fighting even more.
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Cyborg says her mom is going to kick her ass next. “She’s mad with me that I put my hands down.”
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Cyborg answers questions in Portuguese and then wishes everyone a happy new year.
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Jones said his Dad told him not to chase Gustafsson. So, he changed it up and made Gustafsson chase him.
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Jones says that Cormier is always quiet unless he’s talking about him. Believes it’s working against Cormier because it makes him sound bitter.
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Jones says that Cormier is always quiet unless he’s talking about him. Believes it’s working against Cormier because it makes him sound bitter.
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Jones doesn’t want to go to Heavyweight to fight DC because that would make it personal. And he doesn’t hate DC.
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Jones didn’t see any new tools from Gustafsson. Decided in the 3rd round that he was going to turn it on instead of letting Gustafsson into the fight.
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Jones says being suspended as been “educational.” Says he got to find Jonathan Dwight Jones and find out who the real ones on his side were.
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Jones found a greater appreciation for the sport during his time away.
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Jones believes that the layoff helped preserve his body and his mind. Says he’s got a lot more in him.
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“I’m only getting better and my team is only getting smarter and stronger. That’s going to be scary” – Jones
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Jones wants to fight to get the DC fight overturned back to a win. Says he’s excited to be tested so they can learn exactly what’s in his body.
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Jones expects to fight Gustafsson again down the line because they are both only 31. Believes Gustafsson is going to beat many people, but won’t beat him.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) December 30, 2018
Jones expects to fight Gustafsson again down the line because they are both only 31. Believes Gustafsson is going to beat many people, but won’t beat him.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) December 30, 2018
Jones continues to talk about the long term metabolite in his body. Believes it could have been in his body years ago he didn’t know, which is why he wants to get the DC fight overturned.
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“I have never cheated the sport. Why would I do that when it never gave me an advantage in the first place? It’s just common sense.” – Jones
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Jones says he’ll eventually go to heavyweight and entertaining superfights.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) December 30, 2018
Jones says he wasn’t tired. Just didn’t want to be in a rush. Says backing up is fine as long as you’re still scoring points. Wanted to practice pertinence and wait for the “boom.”
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) December 30, 2018
Jones is happy for Nunes and Brazil. But, as a Christian, is sad for Cyborg.
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Jones says he needs Gustafsson in order to stay sharp.
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“I don’t want to flatter anyone by calling them out. Tonight was a great night for me” – Jones
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Jones apologizes to the female reporter who he disrespected earlier this week at the press conference.
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Jones stops in the middle of answering a question. Says he has a cold and his friends and family are waiting. So he’s out.
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That’s a wrap on the UFC 232 press conference, which is up there for the longest one ever.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) December 30, 2018
If you missed anything from UFC 232, catch up with Fightful’s full coverage and tune into the post-fight podcast.
