Rafael dos Anjos: I can beat Conor McGregor anywhere

The UFC held a press conference in January to promote their upcoming super fight between featherweight champion Conor McGregor and lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 196 on March 5.

McGregor showed up 30 minutes late to the presser and went into his promotional shtick, unleashing a venomous succession of insults directed at his Brazilian opponent throughout the duration of the hour-long fiasco.

He called dos Anjos a traitor to his country. He insulted his team at King’s MMA. He called dos Anjos ugly and referred to him as a ‘free TV fighter’ unworthy of his upcoming pay-per-view billing.

The brash featherweight even went as far as to bring dos Anjos’ family into the mix, saying: “I wanna send you back to our Brazilian media partners at Globo and have you answer to the Brazilian people why we have to book you a hotel in your own home country, why your kids’ names are Bob and Donald – why are you raising American children? Why don’t you trust in your own people?”

Dos Anjos remained stone-faced, showing little to no emotion. When he finally did try and manage to get a word in, McGregor instantly cut him off and continued his onslaught.

So, it must have been difficult to keep from jumping across the stage and putting his hands on McGregor, right?

“It wasn’t difficult, man,” said dos Anjos on Monday’s edition of the MMA Hour. “My parents, when I was kid, they [were] always telling me, you never argue with crazy people. You let them talk. So, that’s what I did.

“I’m a calm-headed fighter. I do my job. I know the time will come March 5. I’ll finally put my hands on the guy. [He’s] gonna pay for everything. Everything he say outside the Octagon. He say bad things about my God, he say bad things about my wife and my kids. Of course, for sure, he’s crossing the line. But in the Octagon is the place where everyone will pay for their sins. And he’s gonna pay. He’s gonna pay on March 5.”

Paying is something McGregor enjoys very much – or, perhaps, spending is what he enjoys.

Ever since becoming one of the UFC’s top draws, McGregor has been on a shopping spree of epic proportions, collecting new watches, belts, houses and cars.

Dos Anjos, on the other hand, thinks he’s the polar opposite.

“This guy thinks because he dresses in nice clothes, and he drives a nice car, that he has class,” dos Anjos said. “But he’s classless. He has no class. He’s a low life. I can’t wait to go in there. I’m not taking it personal; he’s an actor. He’s acting. Once I go in there, I’m a straight guy: I don’t talk, I do. I’m going to go in there and send this guy back to his home.”

When asked if he would be getting a pay increase for this fight, he said no; dos Anjos will be fighting for the same check earned in his last fight against Donald Cerrone on Fox.

Since UFC 196 will be on pay-per-view, however, dos Anjos is sure to receive nice incentives – especially considering how large of a draw McGregor has become. But the fame and money is just an afterthought for dos Anjos.

“Everybody likes money,” he said. “I like money. I need money to survive. But I don’t love money. Money is not my god. I don’t worship the money like him. Everybody needs money, but I’m a fighter. For what I make, I’m happy with what I make. The money is not everything; it’s about honor. I’m going to show him why I’m champion.”

And for those thinking dos Anjos’ best chance to beat McGregor is on the ground, well, the champ doesn’t agree. “I don’t agree,” dos Anjos said. “I think I can beat this guy anywhere. If I fight a jiu-jitsu match with him, I’ll beat him. If I fight a karate match with him, I’ll beat him. If I fight a K-1 rules with him, I’ll beat him. I think I can beat him anywhere.”

If dos Anjos was willfully silent at the press conference, he seems to be finding his verbal sweet spot as fight week inches closer.

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Ryan McKinnell is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports Cagewriter blog. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!