Top Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight contender Conor McGregor recently traveled to Brazil for the UFC 179 pay-per-view (PPV) event, and was greeted with death threats and fight challenges as the featured guest for the weigh-in Q&A.
But while the mixed martial arts (MMA) fans in Rio de Janeiro were calling for Irish blood, one former Brazilian titleholder is taking the opposite stance, insisting that the "Notorious" trash talker is deserving of respect and has the right to promote himself in any manner he deems appropriate.
Lyoto Machida talks to MMA Fighting:
"He can promote himself the way he wants. I don't see (McGregor) as a bad person. He's right, he's promoting himself this way, and we have to respect him. It's not my style to talk trash to my opponents. I have techniques to get (to a title fight) in a way that I think it's the right way. If you win fights convincingly, it makes it easier."
That said, "The Dragon" expects Jose Aldo to defeat McGregor if and when they ever hook 'em up.
As for Machida, he'll move on to face CB Dollaway at the upcoming UFC Fight Night 58: "Machida vs. Dollaway" event on Sat., Dec. 20, 2014 on FOX Sports 1 from inside Jose Correa Arena in Barueri, Sao Paulo, Brazil. And if "Notorious" deserves respect, then I guess "The Doberman" does, as well.
Anyone disagree?