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Stream UFC 319 on ESPN+ https://plus.espn.com/ufc/ppv
Check out the best moments from the UFC 319 pre-fight press conference in Chicago featuring Dricus Du Plessis, Khamzat Chimaev, Aaron Pico, Lerone Murphy, Dana White and more.
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Video Transcript
What's up, Chicago? How are you?
Thanks for coming out today. We
appreciate it. It's good to be back
here. Who's got the first question?
I'd like to start with the champion,
Drius. Drius, you are putting together
quite a run at middleweight, but what do
you think contributes to your success
more? Is it your ability in the cage or
your mentality in wanting to fight the
best opponent at all times?
I think it's both of those things. is I
think it's the fact that I go out there
and I want to fight the best.
Did you answer the question?
I don't think so. Oh, that was one of
the best booths I've heard. Well done,
James. Well done.
You'll run out of steam quickly. Don't
worry. You'll run out of steam. I've
seen this before. I've seen this before.
And I've seen this before, too, where it
starts like this. Remember when you're
cheering Saturday night?
Freakers, you said you were prepared to
kill someone in that octagon. Of all the
opponents you faced, does Hamzach match
that energy the most?
Sorry, repeat that.
You have said you're prepared to kill
your opponent in there. Do you think
Hamzach Shamay is prepared to do the
same?
To kill me? I certainly hope so because
if he's not, he's in for the worst night
of his life.
Question for Hamzach Chamay.
Hamzat Drius says he's coming in there
to meet your wrestling with his own. Is
his wrestling as good as yours?
You know already guys who is the best
guys. It's my time. I take over as UFC
man.
Go ahead. Who's next?
All the way in the back. Quest for Aaron
Pico. You know it's been almost a decade
since we've wanted you.
Let's go, guys.
Go ahead. Ask your question. For
Aaron, we've been waiting almost a
decade to see you in an environment like
this. There might be some fight fans
that have never seen you fight before
and Saturday is going to be their
introduction for you. So, what can they
expect? And what do you expect make of
Leo Theron Murphy on Saturday?
This is crazy. I've never seen anything
like it. So, it's an honor to be here
with all these crazy UFC fans.
But I think what the fans should expect
is a is a knockout from me. Go back and
look at all my fights. I don't try to
play it. I don't try to play it safe. I
want to go get a a knockout. And uh
that's what I expect to do Saturday
night.
Similar question for Lauren Murphy all
the way in the back. You know, all the
questions to Aaron are what do you make
of Vulcanoski? people, you asking about
Vulcanowski. The crowd here seems to
love you all the way in the back of the
road. Straight ahead.
Just wondering, you know, do the the
pundits are asking Aaron about
Vulcganowski. They're we're asking
Vulcanowski about Aaron, but you win.
You could very well be the undefeated
number one contender. Do you think a win
over Aaron Pico gets you the title?
Yeah, 100%. It puts me in that spot and
that's why I took this fight. Um, it's a
massive fight and I'm going to go out
there and make a statement straight up.
Question for Hamza Chamay. Uh,
Hamza, at media day yesterday, Drius
said he's very interested to see how you
react to your first loss. And you are
never going to get the belt in this
division while he is here. What is your
reaction to that? And how do you think
he is going to react if you win this
fight
over there? This guy in the wheelchair
and then it'll be you. Okay.
Oh, J's gonna go and [ __ ] him up, bro.
That's it.
And for Trickus, Trickus, you said this
week once again, you don't do this for
the money. You don't do this for the
fame. It is for the greatness. How
fulfilling towards your greatness will
beating this undefeated challenger be on
Saturday night?
Absolutely everything. I mean, oh, here
we go. Let's see how long you can go
this time. Almost. You've already lost
half your troops, guys. You've already
lost half the tubes.
Oh, they Oh, no. That's disappointing.
Come on, America. Come on. Let's hear
the boo. Here we go. Yeah. There we go.
Oh, no. Shortlived. Shortlived. I
thought so. I thought so.
This will mean to me exactly what it
meant to beat every other guy before
this. It's not about the opponent. It's
not about who I face. It's about
defending that bout every time somebody
steps up to try and take it from me.
That's all that matters to me.
And one for Dana White. Uh Dana, I know
we have Sus Kaive down there that won on
Contender Series. You said how high on
him you were. How did this come together
where he goes from fighting on Tuesday
to competing again on Saturday and how
much do you like this mentality?
Yeah, I love it from both guys. From
both guys to step up and take this fight
uh on short notice. And uh I mean that's
what the Contender Series is all about.
Two fights fell out. these guys both
step up and uh yeah I'm looking forward
to the fight on Saturday and thank you
both.
Next question for DDP
Kamza has said he doesn't care about the
belt. He just wants to fight and make
his money. What do you think about his
mindset and what does the belt mean to
you?
Well, I mean we all have our different
motivations. We all have our
motivations. So
let's see, guys. Let's see.
dying down pretty quickly.
Okay, now I'll give you another shot. Go
for it.
Yes.
Okay. Now, now you're getting Now you're
getting sad, guys. Come on. Come on.
Come on. Everybody has their
motivations. Everybody never going to
see the belt again. Sorry, guys.
Don't lie. Nobody heard what he just
said. Not a single person here heard
what this man just said. There's no way.
The motivations differ. The outcome will
be the same. I'm walking out there
champion. He's getting his money whether
he wins or loses for him. So, it's a
good day at the office for him. I'll
only be satisfied when I walk out there
with my belt.
Another question for Hamza. Hamza, you
haven't been in America for a long time.
Did you expect the crowd here in Chicago
to be cheering for you like this?
Of course, bro. I have a lot of fans in
the US, bro. I like to be here. It's
great country. I always happy to be here
and fight to prove who I am. You know,
guys going to show you a great fight.
And last one for Drius.
Every opponent Hamzard's faced, he's
taken them down in under one minute. Do
you want to be the first person to break
this streak?
It's a question that I don't want to get
taken down the first minute. But I mean,
I'm going to try and stop every single
takedown attempt. I can promise you
that. If I get taken down the first
minute, I don't care. I'll get back up.
Palms out. We're I think the fans are in
for one of the most anticipated moments
of the year this Saturday when the two
of you guys are standing across the
octagon from each other and the fighter
and the the referee says, "Fighter, are
you ready? Fighter, are you ready?"
Drius has said it's one of the scariest
moments in his life when he's staring
across from his opponent. What's going
through your mind when you're staring at
Drius across the cage from you on
Saturday night?
A long question, brother. So I forget
how
I think he's ready. I'm ready, bro. Just
going in. Fair works, bro. I going to go
all
I come to take over, man. Take his head
and go.
And one more for Jus. Jrius, you said
there's no way Hamzad is going to be the
champion as long as you have the belt.
Come Sunday morning, what do the
headlines read?
Question for Aaron Pico. Aaron,
how important isn't it?
I know guys, the troops abandoned you.
Let it go. Let it go. Let it go. Sunday
morning, another title defense, another
finish. Let's have some beers.
Question for Aaron. Aaron, how important
is it that you get a finish this weekend
to set up a match with Alex Falconski?
It's very important. I think uh the most
important thing is to win. But if I do
it in a knockout, the next person that I
fight is Alexander Vulcanowski, and
that's who I want. But I know the task
at hand is Lauron Murphy. But uh we go
get we take care of the job on Saturday.
Vulcanowski is next.
And question for Drius. You're always
the underdog. You're the underdog this
weekend. Has the crowd today provided
more motivation for you to get the job
done on Saturday?
That's a tricky one for you guys. Now
you don't know what should you do.
Absolutely not. I mean, I've walked into
every fight, especially as a main in the
main event and heard this exact crowd.
But guess what?
Every single time, bro.
Everyone is under before fight me. All
the fight is under me, bro.
Go ahead, sir. This question is for you,
Donna. You think this is the fight of
the year?
Asking me, is this the fight of the
year?
Yeah, this is a big fight.
A big fight.
Who's next?
All right.
I have a question for the Canoner. You
have fought at heavyweight and light
heavyweight and now you are at
middleweight. Which division has given
you the hardest fight?
I spent most of my career at
middleweight. I have I fought for the
title of middleweight. I've been in the
top five at middleweight. I've been in
the top 10 for
shoot over five years now. So I would
It's unanimous. It's the middleweight
division.
MVP.
What should fans expect from you
Saturday night?
Chicago,
you already know what you're going to
expect from me. Expect some flashy [ __ ]
some crazy [ __ ] and someone to just
fall over and go to sleep. That guy
Kevin Hart over there.
Let's go.
Glad you guys. Thank you. Okay. Thanks
so much.
Stay forward real quick.
Thank you, boys.
Thanks.
Thank you guys.
Thank you.
Go
on.
Appreciate it.
Hey,
forward real quick.
Thank you. Thank you.
Hallelujah.
I love white B. I love white B. I love
white B.