The year in quotes: MMA's 2024 summed up in the words of the people who lived it

One thing you can count on in the wild and occasionally wonderful world of MMA: People will say almost anything. Some of these things will be weird or dumb. A few will be insightful and maybe even surprisingly poetic.

In some ways, maybe you can tell what kind of year it was by the quotes you end up with at the end of it. And even if not, maybe it will at least be entertaining to try.

“I'd like to announce the return date for myself, 'The Notorious' Conor McGregor. The greatest comeback of all time will take place in Las Vegas for International Fight Week on June 29. The opponent, Michael Chandler — and the weight, Mr. Chandler, 185 pounds.” – Conor McGregor, Jan. 1, 2024, 12:27 a.m. ET, ringing in the New Year with promises of grandeur.

“So, McGregor will be back this year, possibly him and Chandler. We’ll see how this whole thing plays out.” – Dana White, Jan. 19, 2024, taking all things McGregor one day at a time.

“I absolutely love having God‘s favor over my life, no matter who or what rises up against me, I just feel like I continue to rise. I know for a fact, my existence makes the devil mad. Being a Jon Jones hater must be great business. JESUS IS KING, glad to be loved by him.” – Jon Jones, shortly after being accused of acting super weird with a drug-test collector.

“A lot of people watch sports for the beauty of it and then a lot of people watch for the drama of it. It’s easier to understand drama than it is to understand beauty.” – Cory Sandhagen, politely calling a portion of the MMA fan base a bunch of mouth-breathing casuals.

"For those who don’t know what the eagle does is the eagle lives for 70 years. At the 40-year mark, the eagle loses the sharpness of its beak, the feathers aren’t as good, and its talons are weak. So it has a choice: The choice is to die, keep doing what you’re doing and living the way you are, or isolate yourself way up in the mountains, smash your beak against a rock until it breaks, wait until it grows back, then pluck your talons out, and then pluck your feathers out, and then stay in isolation until everything grows back. Then when that process is done, the eagle can live the next 30 years of its life.” – Brian Ortega, proving that inspiration comes from many sources and doesn’t necessarily have to be even remotely true.

“We had a lapse in concentration and engaged in a training session without wearing the full protective gear and I hit the toe off the elbow and broke the toe clean It needs a few weeks that’s it. I couldn’t justify to my team, or fans, that I make the walk hindered again. That walk has been seen. This next walk has got to be, and it will be, 100% Conor McGregor. The fans deserve it and we are getting close.” – Conor McGregor, June 21, 2024, explaining why he won’t be fighting Chandler on International Fight Week after all.

“Don’t you dare disrespect me by feeling sorry for me. Don’t you dare disrespect me by having any kind of sympathy. Be emboldened by my situation. Be emboldened by my steadfastness and my immovability, of hitching my dreams to a shooting star and continuing to move forward. If you’ve been on this journey with me for a long time, you know how I operate. You know where my mindset is, where my mental is. And it is nowhere near down in the dumps. I am emboldened by this test, and this test ain’t done yet. And this test shall turn into part of my testimony. So we keep moving forward in the face of adversity, with complete disregard to previous failures, previous setbacks, previous things outside of our control, and future opposition.” – Michael Chandler, in the midst of a long and confusing year.

“I know why I’m bothered by Masvidal, but I don’t know why he’s bothered with me. It’s a very hard thing to imagine. Could you imagine not liking Chael? I’m a charming guy. Charismatic guy. Loyalty and honor and respect. You could apply all of those things to me and Masvidal finds that the Chael charm is not quite as powerful as some. Therefore, I sit before you in a secluded room with my own pool and hot tub.” – Chael Sonnen, proving that not even threats of grievous bodily harm can make him lose his sense of humor.

“The problem is [PFL] want to be the No. 2 company, but they don’t act like it. I told them at least say what you want to do with me so I can move on with life. Whatever I want to do with my career, so I can move on. They don’t even let me speak to them. That’s the problem. They don’t let you know, ‘We’re going to do this, we’re going to do that.’ We email them, they don’t respond. I talk to Mike Kogan because that’s the only guy I know that moved from Bellator to PFL, he said he’s going to get back to me. He doesn’t get back to me. At this point, there’s nothing else to do but reach out through the media and say I’m not retired, I’m here, but they neglect their obligations.” – Gegard Mousasi, right before he drops a lawsuit on you.

“My management team had a call with [PFL CEO Peter Murray] tonight and despite making clear my desire to leave and some of my reasons, even noticing my contract is up in May, PFL won't let me go and intends to hold me against my will.” – Patricio “Pitbull” Freire, feeling a lot of the same feelings as Gegard Mousasi.

“[Vitor Belfort] knocked somebody out for me one time. Dude was talking crazy and Vitor just came out of nowhere, BING BING. I’m looking at the dude on the floor and I’m like, ‘Vitor, go.’ ‘No man! Duh duh duh.’ ‘Motherf*cker, get out of here! Go. I got it.’ Then the cops come [shrugs]. Yeah.” – Shaquille O’Neal, describing what it was like to pal around with “The Phenom” back in the day.

“Everything that could be said that was negative was said, and I feel really vilified by MMA media at this point and not really welcome back, which is why I haven’t gone to a UFC fight since [I left]. I’m pretty sure if I walked into the arena, I’d be booed. That’s how it feels.” – Ronda Rousey, who would probably feel a lot more welcome than she thinks if she actually showed up.

“Overconfident would be if I didn’t work hard, if I just take it for granted that I’m talented and I’ll win all my fights just on this. But if you saw me training, you would go and bet all your money against [Alexander] Volkanovski. You would say this is the most secure bet you ever made in your life, and you would double your money.” – Ilia Topuria, offering what would turn out to be very sound financial advice.

“I couldn’t tell you how many guys I talked to where I was the first person to tell them about (the antitrust lawsuit). I mean, this has been going on for 10 years. Even if there was no money to come out of it, I would think you’d follow something like this because it could have a direct impact on your business. It blows my mind how many fighters didn’t even know there was litigation in this direction that had gotten this far.” – Tom Lawlor, on working against his own financial interests to make sure other current and former UFC fighters know they’re owed some money in this class-action lawsuit settlement.

“I went to the bathroom and I threw up blood. The next thing I know I'm on the floor. I was defecating tar.’’ – Mike Tyson, reminding us that he’s a man who must be taken seriously though not always literally.

“We could’ve done without that butt shot.” – Rosie Perez, speaking for all of us after Tyson’s locker room interview prior to his Netflix boxing match with Jake Paul.

“My comeback is scheduled for the end of the year. Sometime the end of this year, closing out the show. So, I was close to returning. We had an incident and a postponement had to happen, and you know, it is what it is. We take it on the chin, we rock on. The fight is rescheduled for the end of this calendar year. So, I’m excited about that and eager to get back.” – Conor McGregor, July 19, 2024, referring to a fight that was in fact not scheduled at all.

“Whoop my ass and see what happens.” – Nate Landwehr, warning opponents that when they see his blood it only means he’s got them right where he wants them.

“You step in there with me, ain’t nothing to talk about. Ain’t nothing to say. It’s all right here, and I’m on your ass.” – Jamahal Hill, giving Alex Pereira something to think about before UFC 300.

“I’ll make him remember this moment when I’m in my walkout, about to go to the Octagon, and my music is playing. I’ll make him remember this moment.” – Alex Pereira, who didn’t need to think very long before deciding this was a mistake.

– Alex Pereira, subsequently becoming a meme.

“Everybody knows he is working with some shamans from his like hometown. He believes in some spiritual help from them. I believe too. But I believe in the best performance, the human performance, right here, right now, with no magic. And let’s see if Alex will still work like that. Because I believe it’s working. But I believe in a clear way, and I will do that. I want to win by that way.” – Jiri Prochazka, offering up an understandable gentlemen’s agreement for Pereira to refrain from using the dark arts.

“We talked about Conor today, too. We’ve got Conor news coming up.” – Dana White, who must have been getting tired of this by now; Aug. 28, 2024.

“Ireland needs an active President employed wholly by the people of Ireland. It is me. I am the only logical choice.” – Conor McGregor, Sept. 5, 2024, making his case to the electorate.

“He showed me ‘f*ck you’ and he wanted to punch me and I wanted to punch him back. That’s it. So guys, no one show me ‘f*ck you.’ It doesn’t matter who you are, I’m going to punch you in the face. You can show me ‘f*ck you’ from like 200 meters, I’m not going to punch you. But when you’re close to me, it’s like automatically. I’m from Russia. Don’t do that, please. Or I’m going to go to prison in U.S.” – Arman Tsarukyan, calmly explaining that any taunting of a professional fighter should be done at a safe distance.

“I'm a man first. If you come to my face and if you disrespect me, you're going to get slapped. Don't try that because I'm a man and I will never forgive you, even if I have to go to jail. I don't care, man. I have so much to lose. I don't care [about] this belt, I don't care [about] this money, I don't care this legacy. I'm a man, I live in a respectful way, and that's all I believe. Especially now I'm a U S. citizen, I can f*cking fight, beat the s*** out of these motherf***ers and I have no problem to pay the bill, ticket, or go to jail. Because I don't care. Don't disrespect me.” – Merab Dvalishvili, echoing the merits of U.S. citizenship.

“Because up until this point, in terms of the energy that we’re used to (from Adesanya) and what we’re seeing right now, he doesn’t look like a man who’s ready to kill to get that belt. And I’m ready to kill to keep it.” – Dricus du Plessis, who surprised just about everyone but himself in 2024.

“For me, [Max Holloway] is really bad. All you have to do is look at his nose. That’s how bad he is. He takes every punch.” – Ilia Topuria, who maybe didn’t have to put it like that.

“It was pretty hard. It was hard at any moment from the beginning to the end, but I think it’s one of those things, you ask yourself is it ever going to be over? You think it might never be over. You just might as well learn how to roll with it, to live with it. Because in certain cases, I would have taken time to grieve, but how long would that take? I don’t think there’s enough time for me to do that. I don’t think a lifetime would be enough to grieve. Is it just about keeping going? It’s a new way of living that I have to learn.” – Francis Ngannou, reflecting on a victorious return to the cage amid a tumultuous year.

“I want to show (my daughter) Freya and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself. If something happens to you, no matter who the person is and justice will be served. To all the victims of sexual assault. I hope my story is a reminder that no matter how afraid you might be, speak up. You have a voice and keep on fighting for justice.” – Nikita Hand, Nov. 22, 2024, outside the courthouse where a civil jury found Conor McGregor liable for sexually assaulting her.

“What do you mean what’s my reaction? If I had a comment I would’ve put it out already. … [McGregor] hasn’t been fighting here in I don’t know how long. If he does fight, it’ll be sometime next year.” – Dana White, Dec. 7, 2024, suddenly a lot less interested in talking about the biggest star in UFC history.

“I grabbed my toe to see how bad it was, and my entire toe just came off my foot. It was like a door hinge. I freaked out, I pushed it back and I looked around and I was like ‘I have to go somewhere right now.’ Immediately at that point I’m like, I’m not fighting. My fight’s done. I have to fight in three weeks. … I go and I get it X-rayed, and it wasn’t broke It was dislocated, and I put it back in place. They stitched it up and they told me right then and there, ‘I don’t see why you wouldn’t be able [to fight].’ With the stitches, it’s going to be uncomfortable for a week or two and I was like, I fight in three weeks. I guess if I can walk on it and move on it, I guess I’m going to make that walk. And I certainly did.” – Dustin Jacoby, giving us all fuel for our nightmares.

“For me, this is far from an undisputed title fight. This is the most disputed title you can possibly get. Because there’s two champions, and one of the champions, Jon Jones, is avoiding the other champion: me. And he’s chosen to fight 42-year-old Stipe, who’s had a fantastic career. Both guys have had a fantastic career, great legacy. But let’s be honest: These are two old farts fighting each other for a title and occupying it, which is a bit weird. Nobody that I can see gives a sh*t about this fight.” – Tom Aspinall, reminding us that he still has a UFC interim heavyweight title somewhere at home.

“As far as my future in the Octagon, I decided that maybe I will not retire and that I have some conversations that I have to have with Dana and Hunter and we have some negotiating to do. And if everything goes right, maybe we’ll give you guys what you want to see.” – Jon Jones, suggesting he might grant Big Tom’s wish after all.

“Excuse my language, but she elbowed my anus. To me, that’s disrespectful. I’d never do that to another athlete. She’s a woman fighting there, you know? I’m there because she’s there, we’re chasing the same dream. So it’s only fair to respect your opponent. I think that was really disrespectful on her part.” – Luana Pinheiro, reminding us that just because it’s not technically illegal that doesn’t make it right.

“I know y’all didn’t think ‘The Butcher’ was going to lose in a fist fight to a French dude. That ain’t never going to happen.” - Bryan Battle, making sure the crowd in Paris remembers him.

“With an ending like that, it makes it even harder to say yeah, maybe I’ll do another one because that made me happy. I feel less of an urge to jump right back in there because that’s the other thing, people don’t understand how stressful fighting is. I stress about waking up the next day and how I feel. Everyone texted me, my close friends and family are texting me the next day, ‘How are you feeling?’ I said ‘41.’ I feel it the next day. I’m very happy how things played out and we’ll see what happens.” – Cub Swanson, who knows how to reply to a text succinctly and honestly.

“I think for me, in my position, when I retired, I was like, 'I don't miss it, I'm not having fun anymore.’ A lot of people don't realize [Alexandre] Pantoja wasn't the only person who called me out this weekend. Reece McLaren, he called me out [after beating Jarred Brooks at ONE Fight Night 26]. He probably doesn't remember this, but when I was about to fight Adriano [Moraes in 2023] for the third time in Denver, he was like, 'Mate, I know you've kind of hinted around you retiring from mixed martial arts, but man, maybe you could stay around one more time to fight me.' I looked him in the face and I was like, 'Dog, this is my last fight. I am done. My Black ass is tired of working hard.’ There's no amount of money that could bring me back out of retirement.” – Demetrious Johnson, daring someone to prove him wrong.