UFC 215 Edmonton Press Conference

Live and Exclusive on SONY ESPN and SONY ESPN HD at 10th September 7:30 AM.

Demetrious Johnson won't be breaking Anderson Silva's UFC title defense record this weekend after all. Nunes puts her belt on the line against Shevchenko. The fight is a rematch of their bout from last year, which Nunes won. They were supposed to have fought at UFC 213, but Nunes had to withdraw due to health issues on the day of the fight. A look at the fight card and bout order for UFC 215, which takes place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on September 9th and features flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson vs. Ray Borg in the main event.

While the UFC has hosted many events across Canada, the event will be the first held in Edmonton (second in Alberta, after UFC 149 in 2012).

Matt Radmanovich: Thank you very much and thanks everyone for joining the UFC 215 conference call. I apologize to anyone that was on the Conor McGregor call last week where my name was butchered. So, this is a big step up for me so thank you. But UFC 215, Johnson versus Borg, takes place, Saturday, September 9 live from the Roger’s Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. This marks the first-time UFC octagon is landed in Edmonton.

Joining us today is the UFC Flyweight Champ and pound for pound great Demetrious “Mighty Mouse" Johnson, who is looking to set the UFC record for most title defenses with a victory next week. Also, joining us as his opponent, surging No. 3 contender, Ray Borg.

Also, joining us on today's call will be Women's Bantamweight Champion Amanda Nunes versus No.1 contender Valentina Shevchenko. The matchup that has been destined to happen for what seems forever, but will finally take place on September 9, live from Edmonton. With that I'll turn it over to you for your questions.

Jack Encarnacao: Thanks a lot. First question is for Demetrious. Demetrious, to what to what degree does this fight feel special and what to what degree does it like any other fight?

Demetrious Johnson: Yes, for me it's obviously as an athlete and as a competitive who has been doing this for long time, as just another fight. Obviously if I’m successful, defending my belt for that length of time is going to be the all grand mother of them all. Training is going good, feeling good, enjoying my day out watching the kids. And we’ll go out there and do what I do best, putting people away.

Jack Encarnacao: You said that you think based on your résumé and ring game that you’re better than Anderson, better than George St. Pierre, so who would you consider Number 2 of all time and why?

Demetrious Johnson: I would consider probably – ooh, that's very tough. I was gonna say probably Anderson Silva, but I like GSP, too. But I think Anderson Silva did a good job putting people away when he has the chance to. GSP went out there and did what he had to, used a lot of his wresting. He would didn't focus on – he would take people down and he didn't focus on pass and guard, posturing and looking to submit people.

Jack Encarnacao: Do you think Jones is out of the discussion now?

Demetrious Johnson: Oh, you didn't ask about Jones though, you asked about GSP and Anderson, you didn't put Jones in that topic. If Jones is in that topic, I would say Jones is definitely Number 2 because Jones can do it all. He can strike, he can wrestle, he can submit. And I think Jones will be second. But if it wasn't Jones, I would think probably Anderson then GSP. My personal opinion though.

Jack Encarnacao: Sure. When it comes to breaking the record, is your thought that you want to just keep raising that record so it's harder for anyone else to come along and match, or do we mix it up and do something different at another weight?

Demetrious Johnson: We'll see. Obviously going up and to a different weight class obviously, it needs to be worth my time. It's not like I've been there before. You look at the landscape of the bantamweight division, yes, there's some new cats there, but Dominick Cruz is still Number 2. When I fight at bantamweight, he was the champion and why not set the bar as high as I can, you know? Right now, I'm gonna get there and set it 11. If I could set it 15, I mean, why not?

Jack Encarnacao: And last one for you, Demetrious, what did Dana say to you at the UFC 214 meeting that you guys had that had you feeling better about some of your concerns?

Demetrious Johnson: Yes, like I said, the conversation that me and Dana White had at USC 214 was just two grown a** men discussing what happened in our downfall. We’re on good terms now and we’re ready to go out there and put on an exciting fight in the UFC 215. I think it's going to overlook. You got a lot of champions, previous champions – well, you have two champions with a lot of previous experience with RDA, you also have – we had Junior dos Santos, but unfortunately, he got pulled off by the USADA. So, I’m looking forward to UFC 215.

Jack Encarnacao: Okay, next question is for Ray. Ray, and there's obviously more tape on Demetrious than just about any fighter that's active right now to look at. Can you talk about what, if any, advantage you think that gives you now that he's had so many title defenses?

Ray Borg: Yes, I think what really works to my advantage is that he has a lot of time at the game. He's got so much film to study but in all realness, it's also dangerous for him because every fight I’ve been different, every fight I’ve changed. I'm finally starting to come in my own and it's going to be a big surprise. There is not much out there on me as far as how I've molded to this day. So, it's been definitely helpful that I have every insight from every title fight, every style, combining each style, the way he fought them. So, it's been pretty helpful.

Jack Encarnacao: Do you plan to or have you watched all of his fights ahead of this camp, or is that not how you approach things?

Ray Borg: That's usually not the way I approach things. I mean, to be truly honest I was never a film study kind of guy. I always used to just let my coaches do the film studying and let me know what they think that I need to work on. Being at Jackson Wink now, working with Greg Jackson and all those great minds. We sit down every day as needed to study film and when we think we need to study. If I’m doing something wrong in training, or if I'm doing something right, we look back to a specific fight and study that fight. But I haven't really – that's a lot of fight footage. That’s a lot of minutes to just sit there and watch fights. So, I kind of just take out the fights as needed.

Jack Encarnacao: Very good. Next question is for Amanda. Amanda, what, if any, steps have you been able to take to prevent another illness or a flare up of your condition on the eve of this fight? How can you be sure it won't happen again?

Amanda Nunes: When I came back home I went to the specialist and I’ve been good since then – in fact, best I felt for a long time. But this last fight I will be able to control. And then when I came back from home, I went to a specialist and the specialist did a really good job taking care of this and right now I have all the medication that I need and I'm 100% ready for this fight.

Jack Encarnacao: That's great. Amanda, did you need to get, like, approval from USADA to use any particular medication that close to the fight? Is that something you had to do?

Amanda Nunes: Yes, for sure. I've been in contact with USADA. Everything my doctor gives me. I called Jeff because I really need to be in touch with him all the time because I always have to take a new medicine to get at least 100%. And everything is fine and ready to go. Everything is allowed that I've been taking. Everything is allowed for USADA. And yes, I'm doing very good. Actually, I’m 100%.

Jack Encarnacao: Great, and finally for Valentina. Valentina, what did you have to do to stay warm and ready for this delay? I imagine you've obviously picked your training for that first date on – in early July. What has it been like to stay ready in this month and a half period here?

Valentina Shevchenko: I keep my training at the same. I take some rest for one week, maybe just a little bit more. And just to go into this training. But, like, my lifestyle, it's never stopped to train. I train every day, all the time. That's why for me it's in my natural. But of course, it’s different than you are preparing for the fight. It's different type of training. But I'm feeling totally good with this because I think more it's like emotional and more it's like where you're putting your head – something like I'm over training or something like that, it's like worse for the sportsman. But when you take it easy and you will do all the best to go to the date, exactly the date of the fight to be in like the best shape you are and have great team around me. They’re helping me and they are my coach, always like checking my physical condition. So, this is for me, everything good and I think double training is just – was a favor for me for the fight.

Jack Encarnacao: Thanks, everybody.

Jeffrey Harris: Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for joining us today. For Demetrious, is there any concern at all because Ray Borg has missed weight two of his last four fights. If he doesn't make weight for this fight, it will no longer be a title fight to break the record.

Demetrious Johnson: Yes, you know, honestly, I'm not even worried about that. I'm sure he'll do his job and make weight, he's got good nutrition, good athlete, so my job is to go out there and fight. I'm not even worried about that. I'm sure he's going to make it.

Jeffrey Harris: Well, Ray, I mean, you have missed weight two of your last four fights. Are you 100% positive that won't be an issue for this fight considering it is for the title?

Ray Borg: Yes, this is a question that I get a lot, which is expected because I have missed weight twice, but really, I just turned 24. I never came from a superstar camp. So, a few of my weight cuts were more of improper weight cutting. Also, just lack of knowledge on how to properly go about weight cutting, staying low on the off-season. So, I've corrected my mistakes, I’ve done what I had to do to get to that 125-pound limit. So, I have no doubt in my mind that I'm going to make weight easily.

Jeffrey Harris: Next question for Amanda. Do you feel any backlash you received for missing this matchup the first time? Do you think it was unfair? And you think it's unfair because of that this fight is not the main event instead it’s the co-main event?

Amanda Nunes: I feel they punish me for sure because I was not able to compete, but at the end of the day I want to fight. I think the main event for this fight is great. I think I'm a big fan of Demetrious and I think they made that right decision to put it them as the main event. And I love to be the co-main event, the only thing that I want is step in that cage and getting my hand raised you know.

Jeffrey Harris: For Valentina, do you think this delay will benefit you more possibly benefit Amanda more? Or do you think it even matters?

Valentina Shevchenko: I think the delay is totally fine for me because now I feel in much better form than I was for June 8th and I feel like double strong and there's no one like preoccupation in my mind. So, I just wait until the date, September 9 and do the fight. It’s going to be a great fight and I plan to take a lot from this fight and hope to make it a very good show.

Jeffrey Harris: And for Amanda, has this delay, has this made you hungrier and more eager to fight Valentina and maybe prove to her that mean, I you are the champion, and you beat Miesha Tate, you beat Ronda Rousey. Do you think people are maybe starting to forget how much of an elite fighter you are and champion you are?

Amanda Nunes: I don't really worry about what people are thinking, you know? I'm a fighter, I train my whole life for this. I'm a fighter and I will keep training. Whatever happens, I will keep to do the same thing that I do right now: train and fight, no matter people opinions. It is about me.

And the thing is, I like this delay because I was able to really recover. And also, I was able to find out really what is going on in myself, all these things that I always have through my travels, Honestly, I used to always worry about a lot of things, something's wrong with me. And I'd be able to get back home and then go to the specialist and then they would be able to help me. They get me to top form to be stepping in the cages at 100%. I think every fighter training wants that 100% and not like 50%. I think I make the right decisions. I’m going get everything ready for the next stepping in. Now is not the time to waste, you know? I’m going to step in September 9th, 100%. I will get the job done.

Jeffrey Harris: Thank you all and good luck at UFC 215.

Dave Deibert: Hey guys. Thanks for the time. First one for Demetrious. Again, it sure seems like you are very relaxed. You've been through this, you know, a dozen times at this point. Could you compare just what Fight Week and what fight camps feel like now for you? You know, not necessarily the fight prep itself but all the stuff that comes with it, the media, any nerves, anxiety, stuff like that and how it compares to maybe your first title fight or your first title defense.

Demetrious Johnson: Oh it's definitely night and day. I remember my first title defense and I won the belt taking on John Dodson in Chicago in 2013. So, now it's just a repeating process. I have done this 11 times already and I've been through - well I've only lost one title fight actually, Dominick Cruz, but now I've got it down to a science where if I start relaxing and just saving all the energy for the big upcoming fight.

And now, I spend the time with my family out here just watching the kids. Today's my day off and I get Sunday off. I don't have to train you know, three more times to end the week up. So now it’s about just resting and just making sure the body's sharp because I'm not going to get any better, I’m at peak shape as of right now. Now it's just making sure I go into the fight at 100%.

Dave Deibert: So you talk about that first title defense, could you give some examples of how maybe you look back and you wonder why you did that or dealing with all your out of the cage commitments, you know, calls like this, all your other pressers and just everything else in life. What do you look back on and what kinds of things you shake your head at and the rookie handling business back then?

Demetrious Johnson: Well I would say the rookie handling business back then did a good job because I was very successful at defending the title. That's what a lot of people don't realize because a lot of people they get the belt, they become a champion and know it's very hard to rack up three or four or even ten consecutive title defenses and make them wait some time and making sure you don't miss your flight, you do all your interviews. So, when I look back on that fight when I got John Dodson. He was the hardest hitting flyweight in the division. He was all - in my opinion probably one of the most athletic men I've ever fought in my life and going out there and having a war against him, I mean, I think it did the best ratings on FOX, about 6.5 or 5.5 million viewers. So, I look at that one and I just smile and it was the great title defense, the whole lead up to it. And back in 2013 the UFC wasn't really focused on a media-heavy press conference. I don't even believe we had a press conference before the fight.

Dave Deibert: All right. Thanks Demetrious. Valentina, where were you during Fight Week in July? You know, sort of that exact time when you found out that the title fight was off? Where were you and who told you? How did you find out?

Valentina Shevchenko: At that moment I was in my room in the hotel and she came to make my hair for the fight and it was I think around noon. First my manager called to my coach and he said that something was going on. But like from the first notice I was like okay something happened but it's not my deal because sometime before the fight there’s always something happens. So, I needed to be concentrated on the fight. But when he called again the second time he said the fight won't happen and I was like almost prepared for the fight. It was like I couldn't believe for maybe like an hour that the fight was really off. But of course, you cannot do anything when you receive this notice. I just like to think what I will do for the next step.

Dave Deibert: How long did it take you to get past that, you know, just - I imagine combination of, you know, shock and disappointment? Was it a few days? You know, was it longer than that before, you know, you really were able to wrap your head around the fact that the fight wasn't happening then?

Valentina Shevchenko: No, I cannot say that it took so long because I am a fighter and every time I have different and difficult situation on my fight, I have to make the decisions. That's why I’m this kind of person that if I have any problem in front of me I try to resolve it. That's why I'm not suffering or something like that because I am a fighter. I knew that in the future I will have the date, I will have the fight, I will have this. I didn't know how much it could take to get another date but I knew that date will come.

That's why I thought like okay it's not the time right now so I have to continue. I took some rest for the time being because I knew I didn't have to start my training camp again and of course when they receive the date and we come and I start to train again but of course it's not how to start from the zero. I already was in good shape and then I start to train and do whatever I have to do for this fight September 9th.

Dave Deibert: Okay. All right. Thank you guys very much.

Akhilesh Gannavarapu: Hey guys. Greetings from India. My first couple of questions go to DJ. First off Demetrious this will be a special occasion for you regarding the number of title defenses. The importance seems to have taken a backseat after all the Mayweather/McGregor saga. Is there a part of you that feels maybe this fight could've been promoted better as it will be a historic fight and night for you?

Demetrious Johnson: You have to ask that one more time. I apologize. My son was talking over you.

Akhilesh Gannavarapu: No worries. So, this will be a special occasion for you regarding the most title defenses. The importance of this fight seems to have taken a backseat over the past couple of weeks after all the Mayweather/McGregor saga. Is there any part of you that feels maybe this fight could've been promoted better as it will be a historic night for you?

Demetrious Johnson: Well, at the end of the day it's still going to be a historic night for me whether I win or lose. I plan on winning so with that being said I'm not going to let McGregor or Mayweather, their 6.5 million viewers, water down my thing or the UFC advertising the UFC 216 instead of UFC 215 during the main match Pay-Per-View. That just shows you where their mind is at right now when it comes to promoting, so that's a question you ask Dana White. But for me I'm focused to go out there and do what I do best.

Akhilesh Gannavarapu: DJ, Ray Borg recently said he would retire you from the sport at the UFC 215. What do you make of his statement and him saying that you're at the end of your career?

Demetrious Johnson: Oh, hey he ain't retiring s***. I'm just getting started. I'm 31 years old, I'm feeling better than ever, training is going easy, and I fought the hardest hitting, the most athletic guys in this division. He’s a tough competitor and we'll see where his mouth is, you know, after the fight night.

Akhilesh Gannavarapu: Fair enough. Next couple of questions for Ray. You're still very young and recently spoke about surprising yourself with regards to where you are at such a young age. Now you also emphasize on DJ being a different fighter now because of his age. Do you see the youth and exuberance giving you the upper hand in the fight?

Ray Borg: Of course it's going to be in my hands. I've never been in any crazy wars, I'm rarely hit in my fights and there's a reason for that. People ask me why I never struck in my earlier fights, how come I never boxed. How come I never showed my striking skills and it was really what for? If I'm going to go in there at 20 and 21 years old and go in there and start getting into wars and beating my body up, how good am I going to be later on down the line?

I've accomplished more at this age than the majority of guys have at their age. So, I'm still young, and I have all my fast twitch still. Nothing's really died down as I've gone through these fights. So, I'm going to be a lot younger, I'm going to be a lot healthier, and I plan to use that to my advantage.

Akhilesh Gannavarapu: Absolutely. Also, DJ has defeated a lot of elite fighters. Was there anything different that you did for this time?

Ray Borg: I did just a little bit, just little things different, just to make sure I can go five rounds easy, I can naturally go three rounds like nothing just a regular old fight camp but we stepped it up just to make sure that that five rounds is just going to be as easy as three rounds is. I'm not Cejudo, I'm not Wilson, and I'm not just a jiu-jitsu player, Wilson is just a jiu-jitsu player, Cejudo is just a wrestler, I've been training strictly MMA my whole life so I can combine the wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and the boxing. I've just pretty much done everything the same obviously some tweaks in fight camp just to make sure that we're prepared but none of those guys were me.

Akhilesh Gannavarapu: All right, I'd like to throw this next question for both of the women, considering the new UFC season just started and is bringing in mostly new talent, what do you make of the exposure and its importance especially now that there is no Ronda Rousey, if I may, Amanda, could you please go first?

Amanda Nunes: I think it's growing a lot especially now after Ronda Rousey retired, UFC has moved up to all of those girls in the division and the UFC knows they have a lot of talent and all of us girls put on a show every time they step in the cage. I think that there is a reason that women's MMA has been growing so fast and I'm a part of that, you know? I'm a new champion and I've been putting on a show for the fans and every time UFC looks for all of those girls in the division, especially for the champion and women's MMA is going to keep growing.

Damon Martin: Hi everybody. My first question is for DJ. DJ you've talked about this record for a long time, getting to this point and I know everyone always wants to ask you about moving on to new divisions and doing different things but I mean, in your mind, do you feel like this is a record that you want to set to a place where no one could ever touch it again? I guess you could never say never but do you feel like that's kind of your goal now?

Demetrious Johnson: Absolutely, a friend of mine once said, ten that's attainable, 11 that's attainable, he goes 15 is f****** legendary. He goes, why don’t you just go to 15? I said, you know what? Why not, I mean I'm 31 years old and I feel good and you've got a lot of new young up and coming guys coming into the division so why not just keep on doing it because I can.

I mean, it's not like 135 is going anywhere. When I get 35 or 36 or 37 years old, when I'm tired of dieting and not having Oreo's the week before my fight, then you know, I'll go to 135 but right now I'm focused on setting records as high as I can. And then the money is right, go up to 135 and let's make it happen. Let's be honest, if Conor McGregor would have got, you know, $2 million to fight Mayweather he probably wouldn’t have done it.

Damon Martin: Yes, with that being said, before this fight happened, before the fight with Ray Borg came together, there was talk about the TJ Dillashaw fight, Cody Garbrandt has said, he would like to fight TJ and maybe come down and challenge you for the title. Do you like the idea that you have kind of become a target, that people are excited and try to find a way to beat you, to beat Demetrious Johnson?

Demetrious Johnson: It cracks me up because everybody always keeps throwing my name out of their mouth and for me I'm just focused on doing what I do best which is just clean house in my division and everybody in the UFC, everybody in the world says, he's the most boring fighter, he doesn’t sell any Pay-Per-View but everyone wants to fight me. So, I don’t understand why they keep saying that but, yes, that makes me happy that my name keeps coming out of their mouth and obviously if that fight were to happen we'll all sit down like grown men, businessmen, and negotiate whether it would be 25 or 35. This would be his first title defense so I can be like it's all about negotiating.

Damon Martin: Yes. You've always said that it's not your job to place where you stand in history DJ but considering where you're at right now, do you feel like you have kind of defined yourself as the number one guy? We don’t know the whole thing with Jon Jones, I don’t want to convict the guy but when you have that kind of thing happen a second time, and obviously, George has been out of the sport for a few years, we've got to see how he comes back. In your own head, do you feel like you really have defined yourself as the number one guy or the number one pound for pound fighter in your sport?

Demetrious Johnson: That opinion is always going to be whether Jon Jones is innocent or guilty, whether GSP comes back and blows the bricks off of Michael Bisping. So, for me I don’t care what the public thinks because like I said, it will always keep changing their opinion, and their perception of the sport and what I've done. But for me in my heart I know what I've done. I've gone out there as a champion, finished multiple title fights, I'm always out there looking for the finish whether the opponent is dangerous. I've gone five rounds with people and I don’t even have to submit to them, I can just go to the scorecards but I'm still looking for the finish and getting the one second arm bar. So, for me I'm just going to have to do what I do best and it's up to the world to publically open their eyes and recognize talent or instead of just recognizing the bullshit and the drama talking.

Damon Martin: Last question for me. DJ, you obviously have been studying Ray Borg for a while, are there things about him that are impressive to you that you like about Ray Borg and do you feel ultimately this fight will play out much differently than the others? Even though you have been so dominant, do you feel like he is the guy to challenge you? Is he Alexander Gustafsson to your Jon Jones? Do you feel like he's that guy?

Demetrious Johnson: Yes, there's a lot of things that I like about Ray Borg, he's a young guy and talented. Yes, Ray Borg brings a lot of things to the table. He's young, he's competitive, he's very persistent about what he says about me. So, with that being said, I'm looking to go out there. I train too hard in the gym. My body went through too much stuff to go to the scorecard so I'm looking to go out there and finish.

Damon Martin: Awesome, thanks DJ.

Rick Wright: Hi, this is for Ray. Ray, currently nobody knows Demetrious in the octagon better than John Dodson your teammate. Just in terms of quality work in the gym and anything able to share about DJ, how helpful has John been in your preparation?

Ray Borg: John Dodson has been very helpful. He's the only person to be in there with him for pretty much an hour. So, if anybody knows him better, it's going to be John and John's been nothing but great help for this fight camp, he's been there throughout the whole thing. He's given me his input and done what he has to do to help me get prepared. So, it's been great having John in the gym along with Greg who has also prepared to fight DJ before. So, the things that they didn’t do with John, I'm going to plan on going in there and doing them.

Rick Wright: And for DJ, is that a concern of yours at all that John knows you so well and is able to share some things with Ray even though their styles are not necessarily the same?

Demetrious Johnson: Not at all, honestly, anybody can go out there and watch 50 minutes of me and John Dodson. Obviously, John Dodson and I shared the Octagon and they do have different skillsets. I would say I've grown from my last John Dodson fight and you can see from the first John Dodson fight to the second John Dodson fight, even though they knew what I was going to bring to the table, I was able to shut his whole entire game down and like I said, even though I fought the hardest hitting guy in the fight with the division.

So, I'm not worried about it at all. I'm looking forward to it and see what Greg Jackson has this time and see if I can stop what Greg Jackson is trying to do.

Rick Wright: All right, thanks guys.

Yvette Sanchez: Hi guys, so this one is for DJ, obviously, we know if you win you're going to be the longest reigning UFC champion. What have you done differently or have you done anything differently to ensure that you keep that title?

Demetrious Johnson: Well, the biggest thing is always training and keep on getting better. I've been working on a lot more of, I would say a little bit of everything but I've been focusing more on boxing just because the era that we're in now in mixed martial arts how you're starting to see athletes like Conor McGregor and Cody Garbrandt talk about going over and boxing.

So, I've kind of studied boxing a little bit more about how they control distance and footwork and what not, but overall, obviously keep on working on my overall skillset. We have Fernandez in town working on my jiu-jitsu, we had Victor Solier which is a five-time world kickboxing champion in town, he's helped me out. He's from the old-school days when kickboxing championships were 12 rounds, not five rounds.

So, just working altogether, sticking with the same team, Matt Hughes and Brad Kertson are always working on getting better and just improve myself that way, UFC 215 and I will go out there and retain my legacy as the longest-reigning defending champion in UFC history.

Yvette Sanchez: Okay, and piggybacking off of that, do you feel you would have been in this position still defending your title if you would have fought Dillashaw before this fight?

Demetrious Johnson: Absolutely, 100%.

Yvette Sanchez: And do you agree when Mr. White said that it was insanity that you did not want to fight him or did you do that for a specific reason?

Demetrious Johnson: I did it for specific reasons.

Yvette Sanchez: And what were those specific reasons?

Demetrious Johnson: None of your business!

Yvette Sanchez: Oh, come on.

Demetrious Johnson: Sorry. Obviously at the end of the day we're all businessmen and as an athlete you have to capitalize on your marketability and your leverage. Obviously, we're on the right page now and it's great, so that's how it should be. I see a lot of guys. You have GSP coming back and taking on Michael Bisping, I don’t agree with that, however Dana White does. I think Michael Bisping could be fighting obviously, Robert Whittaker but he's injured. But beginning of all of that stuff I thought Michael Bisping should have been fighting Yoel Romero. You know Dana White and I don’t see eye-to-eye on that so that's how business goes.

Yvette Sanchez: All righty, well understandable. Okay, and then this one is for Ray. So, what makes you the hardest contender, do you think? What do you think is going to shake him up in the octagon?

Ray Borg: I'm sorry, I missed that question. Was that question for me?

Yvette Sanchez: It's for Ray, yes.

Ray Borg: Oh, my bad.

Yvette Sanchez: - No it's fine. What do you think makes you his hardest competitor? What do you consider that's going to shake him up in the octagon?

Ray Borg: Without trying to emphasize so much on youth and age, it goes a lot of different ways other than my body being in tip top shape for only being 24 and still getting better. But the reason why I say my age is because I'm 24. There's nothing to lose going into this fight. In all honesty, I'm a real person. I'm not going over here yelling out stupid s***, like I'm going to f*** DJ up or anything like that. In all honesty, I'm going to go in there and fight my heart out win or lose, I'm going to keep coming. I'm going to keep coming and there's nothing that's going to stop me.

So, being so young, I think it makes a dangerous fight for him because I'm going to go in there like a Wildman with absolutely nothing to lose. Obviously, my technicality, and I'm going to make the most of it. And he doesn't really know what I'm going to bring into this fight. I'm coming into my own. I've changed every single fight I've been in. I'm starting to adapt even more as the fights go on. So, there's no telling what I'm going to bring into that octagon on September 9th.

Yvette Sanchez: Exactly. So, obviously, he's looking to make history. If you win, what are you looking to do with this title?

Ray Borg: If I win, I'm going to fight DJ again. He's one of the greatest for a reason. He's defended his belt ten times. There would be no reason why if I beat him, I wouldn't fight him again. I imagine a great champion like himself will get an automatic rematch. So, I'll go home. I'll fulfill the promise that I made to my niece, which is take her to Disneyland, and then I'll go right back home and go right back to the board, and learn how to beat DJ in an even more impressive fashion.

Yvette Sanchez: All righty, well thank you. And then this one is for Amanda. Since Dana White said that he wouldn't give you another main slot event, and I know you said you felt that you were punished. Does that only make you want to perform that much better so he could change his mind in an upcoming UFC possibly?

Amanda Nunes: If it’s the main event or the first fight of the night I fight the same. I'm going to keep my belt, walk away, go home, drink some beer, and then enjoy celebrate with all my friends, my girlfriend, and my son.

Yvette Sanchez: Right, and then I know you said that you did not regret your decision about not fighting. Is it just because you knew that you could not perform to your best ability?

Amanda Nunes: It's not easy to fight not 100%, you know. I never pull out of the fight ever in my career. Never happened before. But never happened and unfortunately, first time it happened. But we scheduled the fight already and everything is going to be fine. I'm 100% right now and we'll see what happens.

Yvette Sanchez: All righty. Well, good luck. And then my last question is for Valentina. So, when you heard that you weren't going to be fighting Nunes in 213, were you upset or did you lose respect for her as a champion fighter when she pulled out last minute?

Valentina Shevchenko: At this moment, when I received the notice, of course I was upset. But I knew that the day will come. It will be the same fight, the same opponent, and it will be the same preparation. That's why I put my focus on my mind on the future. I was not upset for a long time because I knew I couldn’t be emotional for stuff like this. That's why I just rest a little bit. I put my mind together and I continued my training and preparation. And when I received the notice to have the fight on September 9th in Canada, it was like, okay, now I go, now I have the new target and I'm ready to go. I will do my training camp as hard as I did, maybe more harder and here we are again like just few days before the fight and I hope it will happen. I’m 100% and it will be good fight, good show. And I will put all my heart, all my spirit, all my fighter character to show the great fight and do whatever I have to do to win this fight.

Amanda Nunes: I want to say something. This is the fight I want. There’s noboody else I want to fight and I have to beat Valentina. You have to reschedule this fight. I want to fight Valentina. I don't want to reschedule it nobody else in the division. Valentina is the one I deserve in this match, you know, this match up. Valentina is the number one contender in this division and this is a fight that I want. Please reschedule this fight and then let's make this happen. And he listened to me and then gave the next date and this is the same. I don't know people thinking like I was scared or something like that. No, I'm the one who wanted this fight. I'm the one asking for it. Sean Shelby reschedule the fight right away, you know. Because I don't want to fight Valentina 50%. I want to fight her 100% and on that day, I was not at 100%. People still question that. I never was going to run away. I'm a champion. I have to defend this belt. Whatever step the cage gives me, I will fight because I have the belt. I'm number one on the planet and I want to stay here. I have to keep proving it, I have to prove that against somebody.

Yvette Sanchez: Right.

Amanda Nunes: And Valentina, you’re the only one that I want to fight next. Nobody else in this division.

Yvette Sanchez: Yes, I think as an athlete, you can tell that you know yourself best and you know when you will reach your full potential. So, then this question is going to be for both of you ladies. Considering the last time, you two met in the octagon, it was considered quite a close call, that Amanda dominated in the first half and Valentina dominated in the second half. Was there anything that you ladies did differently to make sure that either one of you dominates either the whole round, or there's a submission, or anything like that?

Amanda Nunes: For me, I beat Valentina by unanimous decision. I beat Valentina two rounds clear. If you watch the fight, if you go right now, watch all the fight again, Valentina comes back in the third round. Okay, she beat me in the third round. I gave it to her the third round, but I beat her two rounds in that fight. And I beat her by unanimous decision and then I went back home, fixed my mistakes from that fight. I watched that fight again of course. I went over and over my mistakes the good things that I did, now I feel ready for a next step.

Yvette Sanchez: All righty. And Valentina?

Matt Radmanovich: We only have time for one last question.

Valentina Shevchenko: For me, I don't worry about this last fight. I don't worry at all because this fight, it will be totally different fight and of course, it will be totally different situation. All this like what happened in the last fight, it never will happen again and I know for sure that I will go to the fight and I will fight from the first round, from the very first second to the very last second. I will not waste anything. I will look to finish the fight as soon as I can. I know what my strength are. I'm very sure in my power. That's why I'm just days from my final preparation. I will keep my best sharp form and I will show that in the great fight. This is why I’m 100%.

Yvette Sanchez: All right well good luck, ladies and gentlemen on UFC 215. Thank you, guys.

Matt Radmanovich: Thank you everyone and thank you for the athletes, Demetrious Johnson, Ray Borg, Valentina Shevchenko, and Amanda Nunes for joining us today. We need to get some of that Oscar music where they play you off the stage to end these a little more on time. So, thank you everyone for sticking with us and we'll see you in Edmonton next Saturday, September 9th. Thank you everyone. Have a good day.

Valentina Shevchenko: Thank you, bye.