Espinoza’s weasel response to McGregor
Stephen Espinoza: “Floyd certainly has his flaws like we all do, but there’s always been a sense of professionalism in everything he’s done. That isn’t always the case with some of his opponents.”
During stop #1 of the MayMac international media tour, Conor McGregor spoke at some length, and then Mayweather spoke, and in the middle, McGregor cut in with a comment. Then his mic was turned off.
Notorious tapped his phone to see if it was working. It wasn’t. UFC president Dana White handed McGregor his mic and that wasn’t working either. The mic never came back on for the duration of press conference, while Mayweather’s mic worked just fine.
McGregor was not impressed.
Fook Showtime,” explained McGregor during a post event media scrum. “Fook them all.”
Showtime Sports vice president Stephen Espinoza issued a statement denying responsibility.
At no point did Showtime or event productions cut any microphones intentionally during Tuesday’s kickoff event in Los Angeles,” he wrote. “The point of this world tour is to let these superstars interact with the fans and with each other. Cutting their mics would go against our goal of delivering these fighters to the masses and letting their charismatic and entertaining personalities take center stage.
McGregor was still not impressed, and let his feelings be known the next day in Toronto. First he led the crowd in a chant of “F*** the Mayweathers.” And then he walked up to Espinoza.
While we’re at it, fook Showtime too, said McGregor. You little weasel. Look at you, you little fooking weasel. I can see it in your eyes, you’re a fooking bitch. Cut my mic off? Cut the champ’s mic off? Hell no. You fooking weasel.
The little weasel responded to Marc Raimondi for MMA Fighting.
I’m not sure whether it’s part of the show, said Espinoza. I’m not sure how much is a put on. It seemed more than that. It certainly wasn’t a wink and a nod. And it wasn’t backstage saying, ‘Hey, I’m doing it for the good of the show.’ The reality is you see what some athletes — whether combat sports or otherwise — the need to invent enemies and invent opponents to motivate. He’s obviously got that in Floyd. If this is part of his process of imagining the world against him and motivating himself, then that’s his process.I’m a big boy. It’s certainly not somebody that has come after me as a network. It did take me a little bit by surprise, but it’s part of the entertainment value of the McGregor business.
I’m a big boy. It’s certainly not somebody that has come after me as a network. It did take me a little bit by surprise, but it’s part of the entertainment value of the McGregor business.
He’s a grown adult, I’m a grown adult. If that’s the way he wants to conduct himself, we as the network or me personally are not gonna change it. It’s one of the things that you appreciate Floyd for. Floyd certainly has his flaws like we all do, but there’s always been a sense of professionalism in everything he’s done. That isn’t always the case with some of his opponents.
Since we haven’t all done time for domestic violence, Mayweather doesn’t have the same flaws we all do. Espinoza was asked if he was saying McGregor was unprofessional. Astonishingly, he offered a weasel reply.
I’d like to sleep on it,” he said. “But it took me by surprise. At the end of the day, I’m a big boy and I still got two more opportunities to respond if I need to.