The following events in this thread occur on March 25th, 2021 so no references or statements should be made on social media regarding this event until March 25th, 2021.
On Gaia Galanos becoming the number one contender
''We're already talking dates and already got a few venues in mind. Honestly at this point it's just trying to work things out with Misty DeMeans and her team. Gaia wants this fight. We want this fight. Deep down and Gaia has been saying it all along, Misty wants this fight. Man... she doesn't make it easy on us, that's for sure. Fact is, we have been here before and we will get a deal done. We also have Alexia Amauri as a potential replacement - she is something special right now but I think the fans really want us to make this fight between Gaia and Misty happen right now, I have to put aside the pettiness of the back and forth and get this deal done. Alexia? Alexia is going to still be there, I feel like she's always in the mix.''
On Japanese talent heading to GCC
''Yeah, I literally just got the phone call this afternoon shortly before this zoom call. Some new talent out of a Japanese gym Dojo of The Damned have signed with the GCC. This is a gym that our international scouts have been looking at for a few months now. I am confident that this talent coming out of Japan is going to be worth seeing to the GCC global audience. We've seen some of these gyms pop up and fade out quick like Splatterhouse and Wolfpack MMA but time will tell if these fighters have a long term future in the GCC over the next few months.''
On cross promotional fights
''Yeah, Rob Jones call out during the last press conference made the following week a bit awkward but now that most of that silly hype has died down, I can confirm that the GCC has no intention on having any cross promotional fights at this time. While I am not turned off by the idea itself, I feel that out some point with the right promotion, with the right talent and with the right timing a huge cross promotional bout can become a reality in the GCC but right now I don't feel the right sort of criteria has been met and not something most fight fans want to see. I think it's important to remind media that the American fan base currently makes up a very small if not insignificant portion of our total global audience.''
On Hicks vs. Dream
''I have been asked this question all week... what's next for Daniel Dream? For us, it really comes down to this match up and how this fight turns out. If Daniel Dream can beat Clive Hicks he is the unquestioned number one contender in the Middleweight division and will go on to fight the winner of Tim McCarthy and Paul Rossi next. Clive on the other hand, I am sure he will enjoy playing the spoiler. After being dominated by Tim McCarthy and losing the Middleweight Championship recently a win here won't solidify a title shot just yet but would certainly be enough to put his name back onto the shortlist. This fight is a big deal in the Middleweight division.''
On the Main Event
''With the recent hot streak of Daniel Dream, I've had to field a lot of questions recently about our decision to book Paul Rossi in a title fight after moving up from lightweight but that win over the unbeaten Ken Felder was enough for us to pull the trigger here. The fans want to see this guy fight and putting him in there with Tim McCarthy was best for business at the time. Plus, I don't want to fail to mention that Tim is an absolute beast and didn't want to wait a few more months before a top contender would shake out and wanted this fight as much as Paul Rossi and his camp did. Due to these circumstances, I really think Paul Rossi is being overlooked here. He's had his up and downs in the octagon but his style matches up with Tim McCarthy really well and win lose or draw, I think Tim McCarthy is going to be in for the toughest fight of his career. Smart money is on Tim McCarthy tomorrow night but we've seen way bigger upsets in the GCC recently. Nothing really surprises me anymore.''
Kathy Santos <MMA analyst> Hi, Tim! First off, I would like to take the time to congratulate you on your huge GCC Middleweight Championship title win at GCC 15. How does it feel to be a champion?
<Tim McCarthy> Ah, thank you! I must admit Kathy, I am still just a kid from Canada at heart - not a whole lot has changed. Maybe it's a little easier to find a date these days (haha) but outside of that, I am still in the gym everday putting in the work that got me here in the first place. I know there is a roster full of 185'ers chomping at the bit to get in the cage with me to prove to themselves and the rest of the world that they have what it takes so I try not to lose sight of that and make sure that I keep the right perspective.
Kathy Santos <MMA analyst> You're welcome. Tim, your opponent Paul Rossi has recently moved up into the division from lightweight and boasts a high profile win over top middleweight contender Ken Felder - do you feel that he's earned this title shot against you and how do you perceive his move up to this weight class will effect the overall direction of the fight?
<Tim McCarthy> I think Paul Rossi has absolutely earned his title shot against me but I understand that the fans may not feel the same way. At the end of the day, I don't pick and choose who I fight and I respect whatever decisions the GCC feels is best for business so I don't have any complaints. If anything, this will probably put an even bigger chip on Paul Rossi's shoulder which doesn't exactly help me when the cage door closes. Paul Rossi is an amazing striker with very quick hands, I think his speed will translate even better in this division. I've watched his fight with Ken Felder back a dozen times and he can hit you from some crazy angles, I'm sure I'll take a few lumps throughout the course of the fight but I feel confident that my chin can hold up much like Ken Felder's did. We do believe that Paul Rossi lacks the power to put the best fighters in the Middleweight division out with his shots but that doesn't mean he can't shut my lights out. I'll need to be careful and use my size to my advantage.
Jack Braxton <Radio Host> Tim, did you feel insulted by Paul Rossi during this press conference with his drinking of the beer and what he had to say?
<Tim McCarthy> As I believe the old saying goes... no need to cry over some spilled beer. Paul Rossi is one of those guys, I'm not horribly bothered by any of it - if anything, I'll probably get some bonus cash on the sponsorship since I got my opponent Paul Rossi to promote Budweiser himself free of charge. At the end of the day, I know Paul Rossi has no choice but to respect me. He understands that this time he is in a cage with someone who isn't his friend, we don't train together and we certainly wouldn't sit down to drink a beer together which makes this fight dynamic entirely different than his first time out. His win over Ken Felder was impressive but we also saw him get mauled by Jack Nation for five rounds before he went on to win that fight and deep down in the back of Paul Rossi's head, he knows he has to compensate for that mental breakdown he had during that fight. I am going to do my best to take him back to that special place - a place where he will begin to doubt himself all over again.
John Bergandy <Sports Writer> Paul Rossi holds a victory over your training partner, Awut Somaskul whom also recently lost to Rob Jones. Do you feel that there is any sense of revenge here?
<Tim McCarthy> No, not at all. Any satisfaction Awut is going to get from this fight will solely be from me winning and successfully defending the GCC Middleweight championship. Awut is a fighters fighter and would only be satisfied by beating Paul Rossi down himself, he isn't petty and doesn't get caught up in all of this back and forth and trash talk. Me on the other hand? Yeah, I might get an extra knee or two in on him for a little bit of revenge but the goal out there is the same as always, win. Sure along the way, it's fun to have some fun but sometimes you take some good licks until you start to feel like you wished you chose another career... I intend to do exactly that to Paul Rossi tomorrow night.
Brett Bethel <Throwdown MMA> With a successful victory over Paul Rossi, what do you see is next for your in the Middleweight division?
<Tim McCarthy> Well, I try not to look too far ahead. I know there has been a lot of talk about Daniel Dream lately but Clive Hicks is a tough son of a gun so I wouldn't count him out. Ken Felder, Manuel Gamboa and even Ivaan Reddy are all potential names I can see rising to the occasion and filling that number one contenders spot. Whatever happens, I'll be ready to defend my GCC Middleweight championship as soon as I get that phone call. My main focus has been exclusively on Paul Rossi though and making sure I make it clear to him that he chose to make his title run in the wrong division.
Brett Bethel <Throwdown MMA> Any predictions for tomorrow night?
<Tim McCarthy> We both show up to fight.
Q: Mark, your last fight went a lot better than your first, how do you feel about your progression between those fights?
Mark Addison
Well the loss to Ivan Reddy was all about mental mistakes. I was doing well on the feet, but when we went to the ground, I decided to play in his guard instead of just getting back to the feet, and he caught me in an armbar. In the Farmer fight, I just stuck to the game plan, fighting on the feet, and knocking him out with a clinch elbow, no complicating things mentally.
Q: With the victory last time out, your getting a step up in competition this time out with Sigurd Bjarnason, what's the gameplan?
Mark Addison
Obviously, I can't tell you that...who knows who's watching this, but a shout-out to all the crew at HILITE Fight Club for helping me train for this fight, and putting together a gameplan that we think will be the best thing.
Q: Bjarnason is a grappler, much like your first opponent Ivan Reddy, how have you prepared differently than in the first fight for this one?
Mark Addison
Well, I've been working on takedown defence alot, and any way that I can keep the fight standing, so that I can work in my area of the fight.
Q: Any last words for your opponent?
Mark Addison
I've got a lot of respect for you Sigurd, but once that cage door closes that doesn't mean anything, your still in my way, and I'm still going to knock you into next week. Seeya folks.
Hi, Clive. This is your first fight back after losing your Middleweight Championship in a one sided contest against Tim McCarthy. How do you feel heading into your fight tomorrow night?
Clive Hicks: Yur boy Clive went to bed last night a true American and woke up this morning still a true American patriot so you can be goddamned sure as hell that Clive is feeling great and better than ever! Clive ain’t feeling any type of way about losing a fight because history shows he picks himself up by his bootstraps and comes back even stronger the next time! Clive is either going to get his ass whooped or he is going to whoop some ass on any given fight night because that’s what any true American does! When Clive is done with dreamy daniels, he’s coming for Tim McCarthy and every single strip of his canadian bacon with the type of hunger you can only find in a third world shithole. Research Reggie Martin if you got any questions! Next!
Clive, what do you think of Daniel Dream as an opponnet? As you have heard many people are suggesting that he is long due for a title shot.
Clive Hicks: Boy, that sure doesn’t sound like a Clive problem does it!? The one thing yur boy knows about the Khan’s is that they love spending their money so if it made sense for Daniel Dream to be fighting Timmy boy you wouldn’t be here asking Clive the question. Ignore the fake news! Daniel Dream is fighting yur boy for all the right reasons! If he feels that he is owed anything then Clive is the man Dan needs to see to make his case for a title shot. He needs to prove to the rest of the world that he should be elected as the number one contender by beating Clive which every warm blooded American who’s got some sense knows that aint ever going to happen!
Daniel Dreams has expressed that he is feeling confident about his chances heading into this fight on his social media, do you think he is underestimating you?
Clive Hicks: He sounds like he is underestimating Clive but Clive ain’t underestimating him! That’s what we did to the chicoms over 40 years ago and now they threaten the world as a super power. Clive knows better. We are both Americans but that is where our similarities end. Clive is an all american national wrestler, Daniel Dream is play actor sports entertainer who ain’t even that entertaining. When Clive wants to tune in for some wrestle matches he wants to see guys like James Raven or women like Atara Themis not this goofball going through a midlife crisis after finally realizing the most successful time in his pathetic life has come at his physical peak. You had a great run on a shitty gas tank Daniel but the Dream is over, Clive Hicks is your new nightmare!
With the title on the line tomorrow on the night, I am sure you will be watching the fight closely. Who do you think will walk out as the GCC Middleweight champion?
Clive Hicks: Yur boy is definitely pulling for Timmy McCarthy because he believes in hard work and not taking short cuts! Paul Rossi is an easy win for Clive Hicks, he wants to be truly challenged and put in a position where he is forced to overcome adversity that TW combat products simply cannot provide. Clive heard what Mr. Khan had to say but he will have no choice but to be swayed after Daniel wakes up from his dream like he got splashed on by some very cold water. Don’t be fooled by the fake news, the Khans know that his biggest win is over Tyler Stevenson who is an average fighter in this division and that is why he has been tasked to beat Clive for a title shot and not the other way around!
Any last words for Daniel Dream?
Clive Hicks: Dreamy, you have decided to pick up MMA a decade or two too late old man. Done are the days where you feign your gee golly look at meeeeee ignorance everytime your thrown into a co main event slot on a GCC card, done are the days where you flaunt your perfect MMA record along with all your other lame pro wrestling acomplishments and done are the days that Daniel Dream is looked at as legitimate MMA prospect. Tyler is a humble boy who looks up to Clive everytime he shoots one of his sloppy double legs and everyone still saw what he was able to do to you before you got that lucky knockout. so just imagine what yur boy Clive is going to do to you the second he dips those thick hips of yours to the mat! Clive is going to remind you that there are levels to this game pretty boy and that he is the REAL wrestler here!
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Karla Alvarez Press Conference
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On the current landscape of the featherweight division
Gaia Galanos worked very hard to earn a second fight with Misty DeMeans. Their last fight was, what maybe, a year ago?
They're both different fighters since then, and I can't wait to see that fight. After all the Misty says about our gym I don't like her very much, but I do respect her, however I hope Gaia Galanos regains the featherweight championship.
On the rumors that she's going into the Nika Kosov fight without a camp
I'm very disappointed in myself. Only a few people knew outside of the gym that I had contracted covid-19 and I have been unable to train, except for the last couple of weeks.
Nika Kosov is coming back from injury, and she deserves a lot more respect that I've shown her leading up to this fight, but whether win lose or draw I will not have any excuses, and I hope that someday we could run it back when we both had full camps.
Her take of Paul Rossi and Eoin O'Rourke upcoming fights.
Those two are both really, really hungry. Eoin's last when made him even more driven, and when Paul lost to Jack Nation, he got a chip on his shoulder just like he did when Indigo Greene beat him.
They are both focused and I think you're going to see great things from not only Eion O'Rourke, but Paul Rossi.
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Paul Rossi Press Conference
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As Karla Alvarez gets up from the dais, we see middleweight title challenger Paul Rossi appear on the stage. The two share a brief conversation, ending with a laugh from Alvarez
Paul Rossi sits down in the lone chair, picking up the Budweiser from the table. A GCC official quickly rushes to Rossi, telling him the beer is a prop for sponsorship purposes, but Rossi gives him a nasty look and insists on drinking it.
So as he pops the top, he looks around at the crowd of reporters awaiting their questions.
Q): Paul first off, how's the beer?
Paul: it's fuckin' warm. Where's Fazan Khan at? Tell him I need some ice.
The reporters laugh at Rossi's joke, then one reporter raises his hand.
Q): Paul, you have been with GCC since January of 2020, and you have only lost two fights. Do you feel that it's a fair statement from Khan that you've had your ups and downs?
Paul: It's true I lost, but I was piecing up Indigo Greene, and I decided to play in his guard, yeah that wasn't a good idea, but I came back and I smacked him around again. As for Jack Nation, you put that old man in the cage with me again, there's going to be a different story... guaranteed.
Rossi takes another sip of the beer, looking around at the media.
Q): Paul, a lot of people thought Daniel Dream would receive the next title shot. What are your thoughts on that?
Paul: What are my thoughts on that? Fuck that guy. The fact is GCC gave me the title shot, because they know I deserved it. You people are always going to question anything that happens with me, and that's okay, but I always deliver in that cage. You never walk away feeling disappointed.
Q): how do you feel about this fight with Tim McCarthy? How have you trained and what is your game plan?
Paul: Hey Tim McCarthy is a good fighter. He gets you in that clinch he can really fuck you up, but I'm not going to let him get me in the clinch. I'm going to do what I do best. I'm going to stand up, and I'm going to give him the old five piece. You people know he can't stand up with me. Just like his dumbass friend Somaskul.
Rossi chuckles and takes another drink of his beer
Q); Ken Felder, your teammate, has talked recently over twitter about you and him having a rematch if you win the title. What are your feelings on that?
Paul: Hey, Kenny's a cool dude. He's a competitive guy. I'll give him a rematch anytime, fuck I'll even help him train, but ultimately the dude knows whether he wins or loses next time, he'll be laying in the hospital bed feeling like he lost.
With no more questions, Paul Downs the remainder of the beer, nods to the media, and leaves.
…
A few minutes later, the same official who argued with Rossi puts another Budweiser on the table.
The scene opens up to #3 ranked women's bantamweight Anastasia Ivanovich, and her translator Svetlana Oblonski,. The pair sit side by side in front of a GCC backdrop containing sponsors and advertisements for GCC 18.
Both women have smiles plastered across their faces as they await the reporters questions.
Reporter: "Anastasia you have been on a tear lately. Do you attribute your success to your camp at the House of Khan?"
Svetlana: Kosov Kourt has a great training facility, but we do feel that Anastasia's move to Abu Dhabi helped her, and she will continue to grow as a competitor.
Reporter: I am a little off the topic here, but in November and in January Anastasia competed in the submission Madness grappling tournaments. Will she continue to compete in grappling competitions plus her MMA career?
Svetlana: No. Anastasia will now be focusing solely on MMA. The intergender tournament was something new to her, and a competitor like Anastasia couldn't resist the temptations, but after the tournament on New Year's Eve she has decided to focus solely on her MMA career, and we're excited to see where she goes in GCC.
Reporter: After her initial victory over Dame Raven Williams, a challenge was made to former champion Sammie Ward. Obviously that fell through, how does your camp feel about that?
Svetlana: (laughs) I guess it is what it is. Sammie Ward is set to challenge Osira Themis for the bantamweight championship next month, so maybe if we can beat Leah Wilkins then we may be in line for a fight against the winner of Sammie and Osira.
Reporter: Anastasia has had trouble with strikers in the past. I'm talking about her fight with Kijara. Leah Wilkins is one of the best in the world, what if anything has she done to defend herself on the feet.
Svetlana: When she changed camps from Russia to Abu Dhabi, one of the head coaches sat down with her, and worked on game plans pertaining to her skills. She has also worked on avoiding striking scenarios, but because of her extensive grappling credentials she will always get her opponent to the mat. Anastasia has grown leaps and bounds in a short period of time, and I think you will see a big difference in her.
The pair wait for further questions, but after a few moments
Anastasia; Thank you.
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