UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum has defended comments he made on Instagram in which he suggested Conor McGregor is a prostitute. He also claims the Notorious is hated by his fellow UFC fighters and has "sold his soul."
Speaking to MMA Fighting's Guilherme Cruz ahead of his bout with Stipe Miocic at UFC 198 on May 14, the Brazilian said McGregor has gone too far with his antics outside of the Octagon and that he was glad to see McGregor lose against Nate Diaz at UFC 196:
Conor McGregor started well with his marketing, he talks a lot and is a great fighter, we can't deny that, but I think he crossed the line. It's too much now. He said he will fight anyone, but that's not how things work in our world. Fighters have a code, a law, and you have to respect everybody. He lost this respect, talked about me at the MMA Awards, and he talked s--t at the wrong person. I won't stay quiet and just listen.
Fighters don't like Conor McGregor. Everybody likes watching him fight because he does a good marketing, but I won't change who I am because of money. Everybody likes money, but there’s a limit. Money isn't everything. He sold his soul - and I'm saying soul so I don't say other things [laughs]. I don't think that's cool. He sold his soul. It was about time someone would shut him up.
McGregor made headlines when he called out Werdum for pulling out of an earlier bout with Miocic due to an injury, and the Notorious chose an odd stage to do so?during his MMA Awards acceptance speech, per Cruz.
Werdum responded with this Instagram post:
Cruz asked Werdum whether the post may have been too much, but he didn't think so:
Not a bit. I would do it again. If he talks something about me, I will do it again. If he says something in a press conference and I'm there, I would get (UFC president) Dana (White) out of the way [laughs]. You can't let him be that cocky. You have to be crazier than him sometimes so he stops. I posted a photo putting my hand in his a-- to show that he's a prostitute. He does anything for money.
McGregor's rise up the UFC pecking order has been meteoric, to say the least. His wins over Chad Mendes and Jose Aldo last year and his capturing of the featherweight belt turned the Irishman into one of the organisation's biggest stars in no time.
Such an explosive march to stardom was bound to create resentment among other fighters, who have been forced to watch the UFC continue to push McGregor as its marquee star. The Notorious lost to Diaz in March, yet he might get a rematch as early as UFC 200 in July, per MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani.
The bout would headline UFC 200, the biggest event in the organisation's history, despite the fact there wouldn't even be a belt on the line. Lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos doesn't understand why the two should meet again so soon:
@UFCONFOX Mcgregor vs Diaz 2 make no sense, I would beat theses 2 guys on the same night
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) March 18, 2016
The likes of Aldo and Frankie Edgar are patiently waiting for a chance to battle McGregor for the featherweight title, but the UFC is apparently in no hurry to make such a fight happen. The organisation can't be blamed for chasing fights likely to generate most interest and revenue, but the perceived preferential treatment will never sit well with other fighters.
Werdum's jab at McGregor for doing "anything for money" is a little odd, however. It's hard to deny the Notorious loves his money; he explained why when he appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! ahead of his bout with Diaz:
But MMA fighters tend to have short careers, and every time they step into the Octagon can be their last.
It's hard to blame a guy who didn't make his UFC debut until 2013 for making the most out of his sudden fame and popularity, even if his current status within the organisation might be the envy of most.
