Full Coverage – UFC 236: Holloway vs. Poirier 2 Post-Fight Press Conference
Welcome to Fightful’s full coverage of the UFC 236 post-fight press conference. We heard from the top winners and Dana White on the night.
Latest updates appear at the bottom.
Dana White opens the UFC 236 post-fight press conference.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Dana calls Gastelum/Adesanya “one of the greatest fights I’ve ever seen.” Says Holloway/Poirier was incredible. Looks forward to Holloway going back to 145. Max went to the hospital as well.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Dana says Khabib vs. Poirier is next, “probably in September.” Says Izzy vs. Whittaker will be in Australia. Doesn’t know when.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Dana says they continue to look towards the future. Has plans for a new PI in Mexico.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Dana says any problems people had ordering the PPV tonight will be fixed before the next one.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Dana isn’t too concerned about Zelim Imadaev threatening Max Griffin before the fight. “These things are going to happen. Now that they happen more often, we’re on top of it.”
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Dana says the bus attack happened at the right time and that it could have been worse if his team didn’t handle it the way they did.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Dana calls Khabib/Conor “independent contractors” and says he can’t control grown men. But at least it’s stopped.
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Dana defending interim belts. “Can you imagine if Izzy/Gastelum was 3 rounds?” Says the interim titles mean something to the fighters. Says Izzy became a star tonight.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Dana compares Izzy to Conor and the path he took. Praises Izzy for not turning down fights as well.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Dana gave the fight to Poirier. Says he couldn’t really score it because Izzy/Gastelum took so much out of him.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Dana unsure if Tony Ferguson is ready to fight. “We haven’t had anyone evaluate him.” Says tonight was supposed to be Tony/Max but Tony turned it down. And Poirier will fight Khabib next, not Tony.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Dana has never seen Game of Thrones.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Dana says if Izzy beats Whittaker, then they can talk about Jones vs. Izzy. Also says there are other middleweights are waiting. “If Jacare keeps winning and doesn’t get a title fight, he’s going to kill me.” Says Izzy/Jones will always be out there.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Dana has no update on Cormier/Lesnar. Doesn’t know when it’ll happen. “Brock lets me know when he’s ready.”
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Dana is done. Izzy up now.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Izzy is disappointed he didn’t get the finish in the 5th. “I don’t like to fight like that often. But it’s nice to know I can go to that place.”
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Izzy says being rocked early hurt his footwork. “I had some shit for him.” Didn’t like getting jabbed up so much.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Izzy isn’t sold that the fight will be in Australia. Doesn’t know when the fight will be. Just wants to shower and close his mouth properly.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Izzy shuts down any questions about Jon Jones. “Tonight is about me and what me and Kelvin did. I’ll address that at another time.”
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Izzy compares his performance tonight with Anderson’s first fight against Chael, specifically overcoming adversity and winning in the f5th.
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“I know I’m the best in the world.” – Israel Adesanya.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Izzy says his fight with Whittaker can be the biggest sporting event in Australian history. Is worried Whittaker is injury prone before saying he was nursing a knee injury coming into this fight.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Izzy expects to fight Gastelum again at some point. “These are legendary moments.”
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Izzy doesn’t sound too worried about the knee injury. No surgery required. Just needs to rehab. Wants to actually take time off after this fight. “He forced me to take time off.”
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Izzy credits his team for getting him ready. Says people should watch out for his grappling in the future.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Izzy says the Gastelum fight was physically the toughest of his career. But the Anderson fight was mentally the toughest.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Izzy has never seen Game of Thrones.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Poirier is here to close the press conference.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Poirier says he brawled more than he wanted to. Knew the workload was going to be a lot.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Poirier says he got warned for accidentally spitting blood on Holloway. Says he has no injuries, just bumps and bruises.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
“Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy. Self belief” – Poirier on what he offers against Khabib.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Poirier says he was surprised by Max’s durability. Says this is only the second fight where his hands have hurt this much. The Gaethje fight was the other.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Poirier says he hasn’t thought about the Khabib fight. Was focused on Max and will think about Khabib tomorrow.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Poirier thought he was going to put Max away a few times. Kept thinking “this fight is insane.” Has nothing bad to say about Max. “He’s still the champ.”
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Poirier wants to get healthy, get better, and unify the belt. Believes he is entering his prime.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
“I love Max. I’ll fight him 5 more times.” Calls Max “tricky” with his speed and cadence. Says he had to make a mental adjustment to not brawl when Max kept moving forward.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Poirier says one adjustment he made was biting down and just throwing. “Probably not the best adjustment.”
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Poirier says he did feel a little winded in the 3rd or 4th. “Nothing too crazy. I have good cardio.”
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Poirier says the d’arce was deep in the 4th but says he allowed it because it was in the final seconds. “I knew I was safe.”
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
Poirier says he couldn’t get into Game of Thrones.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
That’s a wrap for Poirier and the press conference.
— Fightful MMA & Boxing (@FightfulMMA) April 14, 2019
If you missed anything from UFC UFC 236, check out Fightful’s full report. And tune in for the post-show podcast for a review of all the action.
