Welcome to Fightful's live coverage of the UFC 223 post-fight press conference. We should hear from new UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov along with reigning women's strawweight champion Rose Namajunas. Dana White may grace as well. If you missed any of action, check out Fightful's live coverage of the event.
Joanna up first. She says she feels good, not like at the Garden. Thought she won the fight when scores were being read.
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Joanna says "numbers don't lie" and points out she outlanded Rose. Says she should not have left it in the judges hands, but is not complaining.
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Joanna says this loss is easier to deal with. "I'm proud of myself." Says the weight cut was an issue last fight.
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"Let's see how she's going to walk tomorrow" – Joanna
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Joanna can't recall what rounds she thought she won. Again says "the numbers don't lie. Significant strikes tell the truth."
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"You see the other female strawweights fight. You can not compare them to me. Bow down. I am the queen" – Joanna
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That's it for Joanna. Still not lacking in confidence despite the tough loss.
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Dana White at the podium. This should be fun.
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Dana calls Khabib's performance "amazing" in light of everything he went through this week. Calls Al "tough"
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Dana confirms that Khabib's belt is the only belt.
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Dana thanks the fans for sticking with them. Praises the NYSAC for hanging in there.
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Dana now attacking Espinoza, calling him a "slimy rat." Comments were unprovoked. Question was about Felder's status.
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Dana says he talked with Conor. Called it "a good talk." Won't commit to any action against Conor, but definitely sounds like he'll be sticking around.
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"He didn't come to New York to meet me. He came to New York for the Khabib thing. I didn't know anything about him coming here." – Dana
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Dana wanted Conor to fight in September. Then shoots down any more Conor questions because he doesn't know right now.
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Dana says they're "definitely coming to Russia" but Khabib likely won't be on the first show. Laughs at Conor/Khabib in Russia.
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Dana says the company is in "way better shape" after this week.
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"There's a lot worse that goes on in all other sports. I'll take a dolly through a window any day." – Dana
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Dana had Rose/Joanna 2-2 going into the fifth. Didn't say who he had winning.
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Dana says he's not co-promoting with Showtime/CBS. "We'll do it on HBO."
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Dana says he respects Al. Was never upset with him. "He was more upset at us than we were with him. I don't know what he was upset about"
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Dana says he hasn't talked to GSP recently.
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Dana says Brock is still under UFC contract, but doesn't seem to know the details. Says he'll be at WrestleMania tomorrow for Ronda. "I didn't know Brock was in it."
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Dana will announce a TV contract when it's done. Thinks it's close. Won't say with who.
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Dana thinks everyone looked great tonight. That wraps it up for him.
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Rose at the podium. Starts by saying Joanna improved in general and saying she respects her.
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Rose did think about not fighting after Conor's bus attack.
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"I just kept saying I'm the best" – Rose after the third round
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"I believe she stepped up her respect for me" – Rose. Also says Joanna improved overall and doesn't think it was just the weight cut.
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Rose says there were a lot of things to overcome. Didn't believe she had the same "snap" in her body.
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Rose says the chair was aimed at her window, but the bus driver was backing up, so it hit Chiesa's window. Didn't know what to think or what was happening. Wasn't sure if anyone had a knife or gun
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Rose wants to "right that wrong" against Karolina.
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Rose is done. Not sure if Iaquinta will show up. But Khabib should come at some point.
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KHABIB IS HERE! One hour later.
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Khabib says he was ready and focused despite the opponent changes.
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Khabib says his team was not happy with his 3rd and 4th round. Says he wants to stay fighting five rounds to "feel the distance"
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Khabib called out GSP in the cage, but doesn't seem keen on fighting him at 170. Calls GSP the greatest athlete to ever compete in UFC.
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"For money, it's Conor. For legacy, it's GSP." – Khabib on which opponent is better for him
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Khabib says Tony's injury is "his fault." Thinks Tony needs to comeback and fight someone else first. "He's great fighter but a little bit stupid. Come back and deserve this"
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"You never know what's going to happen tomorrow. You have to stay loyal all the time." – Khabib. Says he wants to defend the title this year after Ramadan.
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"I want to be same Khabib. Before belt, after belt." Says his dad talked with him about his jab. "Striking was not gameplan tonight."
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Khabib basically says that he stood with Al to get some ring time in. "It's better than 10 weeks of training."
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Khabib still open to fighting Conor. Wants to settle the "beef or chicken or whatever" and make him humble.
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Khabib says he'll fight Conor anywhere, anytime.
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"Who is number one contender? Let's go." – Khabib
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Khabib calls Iaquinta a tough guy. "He ate a lot of jabs. This week, I watched too much Ali/Frazier fights. I tried to move like Ali. Jab, jab, move, jab, jab, hard punch."
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Khabib says he was talking to Iaquinta and Serra in the cage. "If you can speak with opponent, play with his mind, if it works, why not? With Iaquinta, it wasn't working. He's real Brooklyn gangster. not Burger King."
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"Like Diaz say: Where you at boy?" – Khabib on GSP. Follows that up by saying that he doesn't think GSP need this. "He's already greatest athlete."
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"They're already promoting this fight" – Khabib on Conor bout. "He wants to become lightweight champion? He has to fight me. No more fake champions."
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Khabib says he confronted Artem for talking shit. "You want to say something? Say it to me. It had to happen." Once again says he'll fight Conor anywhere.
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Khabib is told he broke GSPs for most consecutive rounds. Won't call himself most dominant fighter and believes it's media driven.
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And that does it for Khabib and should do it for the press conference. Unless we have to wait another hour for Iaquinta.
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