The following events in this thread occur on June 18th, 2020 so no references or statements should be made on social media regarding this event until June 18th, 2020 . Due to COVID-19 the press conference will be held via ZOOM.
On Sammie Ward winning the GCC bantamweight championship.
''Huge. Sammie Ward winning in the manner in which she did at GCC 9 really solidified that she's going to be the one to beat in that division. We always knew Sammie Ward has what it takes what I was really surprised about was how she was received by fans around the world. Her name certainly has a buzz to it right about now and we're looking to capitalize on it. I honestly couldn't be more proud of the women's bantamweight division and how quickly a top division like this has taken shape. There's so many great fights to be had here, I can't wait to see who rises to the occasion.''
On the Global Ultimate Fighter Auditions
''The auditions went very well. We're just about done with casting for the show. The splat crew will spend a few weeks recording the show and then air dates will be announced. We have a pretty diverse and talented selection here with virtually every relevant fighting discipline represented so it'll be interesting to see how the cast interacts with each other and ultimately who goes onto to win the show.''
On the Middleweight and Lightweight Divisions
''Expansion, expansion, expansion. We want these divisions to be looked at the same way our women's divisions are and that's part of the reason we're highlighting these guys on our first season of the Global Ultimate Fighter. We know the talent is out there we just have to find it.''
On the new contract structure
''We needed to make some changes. We've grown so much as a company within the last year that we wanted to make sure that our fighters are being taken care of. While our previous fight agreement system had less paper work involved it did give leeway to situations that allowed us to be exploited. This new contract structure leaves everything out on the table, no surprises.''
On low ranked fighters losing money
''While I understand that for some fighters they may find that they are losing money but the reality is they were being over paid due to the win bonuses. Our new pay structure merely encourages an increase in productivity among all fighters on our roster.''
On additional pay increases
''They are coming. While we are paying our fighters more we are trying to do so in a bad global economy. We have held our last several shows without a live gate which has resulted in millions of dollars being lost alone. Overall, our new pay structure encourages hard work and rewards our fighters for it and is a leap in a positive direction. Once we get the fans back into our arenas, we will look to sweeten the deal with our top fighters and we'll begin to break down percentages that make sense.''
On the GFN 10 Main Event
''I think this is going to be a great fight between two of the best wrestlers in MMA. A lot of times when you have two great wrestlers in the cage they end up cancelling each-other out so I think we're going to see both men heavily rely on different aspects of their mixed martial arts game. Erik as a former GCC heavyweight champion has been in that spot before and we've seen him excel, Ross Hanson? Not so much. However since the Aleksandr Baranov fight Ross Hanson is a completely different athlete behind the scenes. You can't get this guy out of the gym, I've heard. He's motivated. He's changing the perceptions about him on a daily basis and he doesn't plan on stopping at GFN 10. I am also proud to announce that the winner of this fight will face off against the winner of Alejandro Rivera and Jay Aguero for the GCC heavyweight championship.''
Press Conference Soundbytes
"This is my first true test as a mixed martial artist and who better to face than one of the Petrovs? I might be a little nervous now but once the gloves are on that bell rings, there's a reason my trainers call me the Sicilian Savage and everyone's going to bare witness when I show them why I'm a future star in this sport. I have all the respect in the world for a warrior like Mila but first impressions are lasting ones, especially in the fighting world. At GFN 10, she goes 1 - 1 and I start building my own legacy by walking out with a big win."'
"Most think that I can only wrestle, that I'm one-sided, and that's why I lost the belt but there's a lot of power in these. I will show that I'm not as one-dimensional as people think I am".
''I'm looking to go in there and impress, I feel I didn't show off how good I am in my last fight and I need that to be different this time.
''Manuel's gonna get a lesson on what to be ready for when he steps in that octagon.''
''I kinda feel sorry for the kid to be honest. He doesn't know what he's walking in too. Did you guys not already see what Mantis did to homeboy's daddy? You know how it goes, like father like son.''
Trixie is speaking...
Trixie Redd | Drippy
''Who ta' fuck let that Atari Themis bitch play on ta' mic? What ta' fuck was that shit?''
Kevin Wilson | MMAWORLD.COM
''I am sorry, Trixie. I just wanted...''
Trixie Redd | Drippy
''Hold ta' fuck on. See that's exactly ta' type of shit me and ta' rest of Gunplay MMA have been talking about ta' past couple of months. None of these fighters respect us. That's about ta' change. Gunplay MMA? We have had our set backs for sure, yeah? This right here is our comeback SZN as JaySon said. It started for JaySon last time out. It started for Vishis the day he walked in ta' door. It starts for me and my boy Manny tomorrow night. Gunplay MMA will be running GCC by the end of year, not TW combat, not HILITE FC and NOT The House of Khan.''
Kevin Wilson | MMAWORLD.COM
''Anything you want to direct to Atara Themis herself?''
Trixie Redd | Drippy
''I thought Misty DeMeans was bad but while she may not show up at least she isn't showing up uninvited. Fuck Atara Themis. On Friday Night, I am going up against Da Eun Sin a challenge I welcome. This entire week all I have been hearing about is how she's a bad match up for me just like Juanita Sanchez was blah, blah, fucking blah. You right. I'll give you that, she's a bad fucking match up but I lost ta' decision to Juanita. If Da Eun Sin is a cheap knock off version of that then fuck it, let me get that one back before I get after ta' real thing. Tomorrow night gives me ta' opportunity to show everyone me and the homies at Gunplay MMA can adapt no matter what we're up against.''
Michelle Balmer | MMACORE.COM
''Trixie your teammate Vishis Vourture will be fighting Rob Jones for the GCC lightweight championship on July 3rd. How do you like his chances?''
Trixie Redd | Drippy
''Vishis Vourture will be ta' first one to bring a world championship to our ranks, I have not a doubt in my mind. Now that Rob Jones is done beating up women in ta' minor leagues he will meet someone who is capable of hurting him not just beating him or laying on top of him for five rounds on some bullshit, yeah?''
Nancy Holton | CageRage.com
''What do you think of Da Eun Sin as an opponent?''
Trixie Redd | Drippy
''Good fighter boring personality. I guess she doesn't speak much English since she has that laywer chick represent her. If we wanted to watch boring foreigners fight with zero personality or compelling backstory I am pretty sure there's a promotion in Japan she was probably better off signing with. Whatever.''
Nancy Holton | CageRage.com
''She's from South Korea.''
Trixie Redd | Drippy
''And I said whatever.''
Carlos Machado | Blogger
''Is there anyone you want to fight in particular win or lose on Friday Night?''
Trixie Redd | Drippy
''I am glad you entertained both ta' possibilities, I guess that's all part of your journalistic integrity schtick, yeah? After I beat Da Eun Sin in spectacular fashion, I want ta' biggest name in my next fight. Who that is? Fuck if I know. I'll leave it up to Khan and his goons to run ta' analytics on that one.''
Carlos Machado | Blogger
''Thanks, Trixie.''
Trixie Redd has exited the meeting...
No, she wasn't on the card, she wasn't scheduled to be apart of the conference, she wasn't even in the country for the show. Surprise surprise though, Atara Themis still managed to find herself inside one of the many Zoom boxes on screens the world over. If your not familiar with her, if she's there its to be seen and to be heard and she gives no effs whether people like it or not. Maybe some people, but the lot of you, no. Her impulsiveness combined with a little temper and topped with a Twitter spat kicking her in the feels led to her being here and all this is just to lead into the eventual outburst below.
A journalist was mid-sentence asking who something about what when her voice interjected. It lacked it's usual softness nor was it in her inviting "Hello Dove" tone.
"Yeah yeah, shut up no one cares. This is a filler show for GCC 10 anyways! Petrov, Young, and Greene get decisions. Trixie gets her arm ripped off and the two fat weights pass out in round two due to lack of oxygen. Boom, print it and listen up!"
"Mr. Khan? You listening in? Doesn't matter. Since your throwing money around ya better invest in the golden ticket some extra security or tell Jessica House to stay home with the kiddies. Fire me, suspend me, ****ing sue me if you have to. When I see Misty DeMeans she won't be making a main event!"
"And **** the rest of you, I don't need or want your respect. I am plenty good enough and if you don't think so get in the cage or catch me outside!"
MUTE
Left dumbfounded, our intrepid reporters finally come to realization once they log onto their social media accounts.
"Τι είδους επιχείρηση κάνουν εδώ?" whispered in Greek, more to herself than those assembled via this call, came the voice of Osira Themis.
"And that right there is why nobody cares about the men's divisions."
English lathered in a Mediterranean accent broke the tension and her joke managed a few giggles and chuckles from the press.
"Hello from the under-card Global Champ and friends. As promised, I'm here in pajamas trying to steal a little spotlight from whoever you guys are here to see or hear, or whatever."
Q: Wow, Osira, Themis Palaestra has been absent the past two conferences and we have noticed you haven't been as active or vocal about this fight as your last. Any particular reason? Did that loss for lack of better term, humble you?
Muttering inaudibly in Greek under her breath Osira wasn't happy with the term. "No, I wasnt humbled. I wasn't banned, in my short time here I've learned the product, us the fighter, forget that the marketing department are as about as functional at their job as the computer that just got broken. Everybody is quiet until fight week or press day, we've got a select few who hype their shit and sadly my opponent isn't one of them. I'm not wasting time talking to a wall and making some malaka hyped when they cant return the favor."
"I'm just going into the cage tomorrow and knocking her block off, hopefully make the main card so next time I'm here you guys aren't pretending to be interested in what I have to say."
Q: Speaking of Osira, you're one of the fighters the new payment structure is set to effect negatively. Are you upset, considering greener pastures? We know your older sister Desdemona is getting quite the treatment at Supreme. Your cousin Ambrus just recieved a new deal, Atara has been promised from what we can tell something lucrative but no word about you?
"I'm headed into only my second fight, my current deal has a few left on it and honestly, I am not my sisters or my cousins. I am here to put wins on the Themis wall and bitches in the hospital not money in my pocket. Wins mean money and right now I am broke and hungry. Khan wants to throw money at a lifeless mens rosters or get held hostage by DeMeans, thats his deal.'
Q: You tweeted somedays ago you were coming for the knockout record set by Ward. Does this mean we can expect you to comout swinging Friday Night?
"Yeah, I am not playing mind games either. Spruce can expect it from bell to bell even if I don't knockout her out for the record. Until I took that kick from Petrov, she was getting tagged. Rachel is going to tagged to. A lot."
Q: The marquee division is the Featherweight division, do you think yourself or any Bantamweight can carry your class past them in this regard?
"Yeah, Sammie is the bell of the ball right now. Gaia is yesterdays news, Jessica House can't bring in the subs like DeMeans. Knight might as well go join Kosov in her hidey hole. You give those too much credit. It's starting to flounder already. Once Ward gets another name infront of her, Feather who?"
Q: Even with your sister in the division?
"Look, I'm not talking about or for Atara."
Q: With all the talk about the GUF, no word has come from Themis Palaestra about who may coach your team. Can you let us in on it?
"The hell if I know, probably Atara, she's got a relationship with the Splat people. Just keep those ****ers out of the gym when I'm there.'
Q: About your fight....
"Hey, I said I'm not hyping her more than I have to. I have already said her name. Think my time is up anyways. Catch me tomorrow guys, thanks."
We open to a nondescript hotel room, with Ross Hanson seated at the desk in front of a laptop's webcam.
"Welcome to the Thunderdome. I'm your host, Ross Hanson."
Of course, Ross Hanson has a TundraMMA shirt on - but he also is wearing a black headband with "#BLM" in white text across the middle.
"Now, since we've been doing our pressers through video conferencing, I thought I would step it up a notch. I'm not just going to answer questions from reporters. Today, I'm going to answer some anonymous questions, sent in by YOU THE PEOPLE! Without further adieu, let's burn this motherfucker down. Now remember, these questions are totally anonymous. I don't have a clue who sent this stuff in. I do have like a couple hundred questions, so we're gonna close our eyes and click on one at random."
Ross makes a couple of clicks, with the question appearing via text on the screen.
"Starting first, Question #38."
"Despite your admitted lack of motivation, you’ve somehow found your way to a 4-1 record—and an overall pro record of 6-2 - has your training regimen and mentality changed since your own team captain Aleksandr Baranov lit a fire under your ass?"
The scene returns to Ross, who is doing his best to hide any emotion in his response.
"Well, number 38, I'm learning to finish what I start. I admit it; I got lazy, and I got cocky. I thought I could coast by on my family name and my natural abilities. I felt like I could just lay on people for three rounds. But Aleksandr Naranov made me realize that I was being too arrogant. He made me realize that all it would take is one shot, and everything would fall apart. Motivation is the one variable in a fight that cannot be controlled or neutralized. If someone wants to beat my ass bad enough, and I don't care to fight back, I'm gonna get creamed. So now I'm training to never let my guard down, no matter how much of a favorite I am to win. I will NEVER take a fight for granted again. And to you, #38, you should pay attention real closely-like to this fight. I think you're gonna be surprised."
The emotion still shines in his last two lines, along with a wink.
"Next question...this is from #109."
Again, the text appears on screen.
"Until your KO victory over Baranov, all of your fights have went the distance. Do you think you could defeat Erik Malkasian if the fight goes to the judges' scorecards?"
Back to Ross.
"I'll be honest with you, 109. I'm not trying to go the distance. I'm trying to finish this fight. I don't want to just hold him up against the fence for 15 minutes, or do the Down + Y Donkey Kong ground slap until I get pulled off him. We're two of the world's best wrestlers. For this fight to end in anything other than a submission would be a travesty. So if Erik can make it three rounds with me and not get tapped out, we'll see what happens from there. I just know I have no hate in my heart for the man, nothing but respect. I also know that I'm willing to die to win this fight, and I don't want the decision to be out of my hands."
Ross nods, a wave of confidence rushing over him.
"Okay, who do we have next....#17!"
Text appears.
"Your two gym mates are both striking experts - how have you trained so deep in submissions?"
Text goes away.
"My great uncle is Nathan Gust, AKA Raging Dead. He taught me everything he possibly could. My father is Madman Szalinski. If he had been in my life growing up, he'd have taught me everything he could too. Dad's finishing move in wrestling for ten years was a front guilllotine choke. He's came down to the gym and worked with me, Uncle Nathan is always willing to come in and stretch me around, and I've got access to other wrestlers. I can't say his name, but there's one guy who's been doing jiu-jitsu all his life and trained a lot of people you've probably heard of. He's worked with me as well. One of his students is about to sign with GCC, I believe. So yeah, I've got some of the world's best strikers beside me...but I also have some of the world's best wrestlers and submission specialists teaching me."
Ross smiles.
"All right...we've got #44..."
The text appears...
"Your dad said he would've taken this photo and sucked dick for a dime bag but did it for free. What makes you think you won't throw this fight for a twelve pack and a shot at Lindsay Graham's ass?”
A photo appears along with the text.
"...."
Instead of answering, Ross simply picks up the desk chair and smashes the laptop. The last audio coming from Ross' end is his scream of rage.
Q: At GCC 5 in February you lost via brutal submission to Indigo Greene. Ever since you've been on a tear defeating Arturo Montana and former lightweight champion Awut Somaskul. Do you feel that your confidence is back?
A: What are you talking about, my confidence is back? I never did lose my confidence. I fought three times in GCC, and I pieced every one of them up with my striking. Before you ask, yeah I'm talkin about Indigo Greene too. If you need a refresher go back and watch the fight.
Q: Will it be different for you stepping in the cage against Indigo, knowing what he did to you?
A: What he did to me? The dude didn't do shit. I was fucking him up on the feet, and I got tired. I clinched with him, and let him pull guard. I was knocking him around on the ground and got careless. I all but gift-wrapped that armbar for him.
Paul scoffs.
What he did to me? The guy wouldn't have been able to do shit if I was paying attention.
Q: How personal is this fight for you? You were on a four-fight win streak before entering GCC, and you were touted as a favorite to win, but got caught in that armbar. This has to be a little bit personal for you?
A: I can care less about the guy. He's good yeah I give him that, but he's not on my level, and I'm out to prove that Friday night.
Q: By the sounds of that last statement it seems you feel by losing that you have to prove to the world, that you could win?
A: I'm not out to prove anything to anybody else but myself. I'm the type of guy who if I lose I'm not just going to walk away. I'm going to come back for a rematch, that's the way I've always been, and that's the way I always will be.
Don't get me wrong. I ain't a sore loser. I'll take the loss, but if I know it was my fault that I lost, and they got lucky, I won't give them credit. I'll just come back and show you, you got lucky, then in my eyes it'll be over and done with. It's the way I am.
Q: Indigo Greene is ranked third in the lightweight division, and you're acting like he's already lost and you've already won. Are you that confident you will beat Indigo Greene in the rematch?
A: Yes I am that confident. There are levels to this game, and I am on another level then that guy, plain and simple.
With no more questions the operator thanks Paul for his time, and the T.W Combat Sports representative disconnects from the conference call.