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Watch the VeChain UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs Makhachev Pre-Fight Press Conference live on Thursday at 5pm ET / 2pm PT!

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00:00To join the elite club of UFC two-weight world champions, we kick things off in the lightweight
00:06division. Up first, a French warrior who took out one of the hottest names in the sport his last
00:13time out. Now he looks to get back on championship trajectory with another win in New York.
00:19Please welcome Benoit, God of War, Saint-Denis. And his opponent, a staple of the lightweight
00:31top ten over the last decade. He has taken on the biggest names in the division and is
00:37still on the hunt for the ultimate goal. Coming off a dominant win over Hanato Moikano in June,
00:44here is Benio Dariush.
00:49Up next in the welterweight division, one of the most lethal strikers on the roster today.
00:59In his short time in the UFC, he's already delivered some legendary highlight reel knockouts.
01:06Please welcome Carlos, the Nightmare Protes.
01:10His opponent, an accurate and powerful striker whose skills have already taken him to the
01:20pinnacle of the sport. Now he's on a mission to reclaim the belt he once held. Please welcome
01:27the former UFC welterweight champion, Leon Rocky Edwards.
01:36It's high stakes at welterweight next. Up first, a destructive force since punching his ticket
01:43to the big show on Dana White's Contender Series. He has a combination of size, power and speed
01:49that is rarely seen at 170 pounds. Please welcome the undefeated Michael Morales.
02:00And his opponent, a submission expert with a suffocating style of grappling.
02:05He has won 18 of his 19 career fights and sits on the doorstep of earning a chance at a UFC title.
02:13And now, our co-main event featuring two of the greatest women to ever step foot in the octagon.
02:30Up first, she was the first Chinese champion in UFC history. Since then, she has taken out the biggest
02:38names to ever compete at 115 pounds. Now she moves up to try and earn the elite status of UFC
02:47double champion. Please welcome, Mando, Char, Wei Li.
02:56And her opponent, one of the most dominant champions of her era. She is littered amongst the record books at
03:03125 pounds and now looks to turn away one of the toughest opponents she has ever faced. Ladies and
03:10gentlemen, put your hands together for Valentina Bullitt Shevchenko.
03:16And now, for the fight everyone has been waiting for. One of the greatest lightweights embarks on his
03:32welterweight path. To the stage first, he is one of the most dominant warriors to ever race the sport. A deadly
03:40submission artist who can stand toe to toe with anyone. Currently riding a 15-fight win streak.
03:47Here is the former UFC lightweight champion of the world, Islam Mahachev.
03:57His opponent, a combination of toughness and skill that has cultivated into a world champion.
04:04A technical striker who can turn on the power in a pitch. Riding an 18-fight win streak into the biggest
04:11test of his career. Please welcome the UFC welterweight champion of the world, Jack Della Maddalena.
04:23What's up, New York City? Thanks for coming out today.
04:29Go ahead, who's got the first question?
04:30Dan, all the way in the back, right here, straight ahead. I'll start with the champion, Jack Della Maddalena. Jack, right here.
04:40Being a defending champion, fighting in Madison Square Garden against arguably the pound-for-pound best is
04:45something that every fighter probably dreams for. So I guess, how does it feel that this is something that
04:50you are going to achieve, everything I just listed out? Yeah, this is what I got in this sport for. Big
04:54challenges, big moments. I'm excited for the challenge and I look forward to it. I'm excited
05:00for this on Saturday night. I was about to ask that. What do you make of the kind of frosty
05:04reception you have here in New York? Say that again? What do you think of the kind of frosty
05:09reception you have from the crowd? I love it, you know. I love this shit. This is the atmosphere I'm
05:15looking forward to. Saturday night. It's going to be a good night. Last week you did an interview and
05:22you said you felt it was your job to put Islam in his place and show that he would never be good at
05:27welterweight. So after being around him and facing off, does he look like an actual welterweight when
05:32you face off with him? Yeah, it's a big challenge. I'm looking forward to it and it's my time.
05:38Thank you guys. Thank you. I'll start with the crowd. You know, you've been asking to fight here
05:50at Madison Square Garden for a long time. You're looking to make history. You're obviously the fan
05:54favorite here. What do you make of your reception here at Madison Square Garden? Well, become every
05:59day close to the fight. Very excited, you know. When I was in Australia in Tours, the people,
06:06the crowd support my opponent. Now in the U.S. and people support me. Thank you guys. It's amazing.
06:14And have you allowed yourself to envision wrapping a second belt around your waist in Madison Square Garden?
06:21This is my dream and I am like very close to my dream all my professional career. When I was
06:31lightweight champion, my dream to become double champion, you know, and two more days.
06:36I was for Whaley. Straight ahead. Whaley. Right here. Right here. This is now the third time you're
06:44fighting at Madison Square Garden. So I guess, how does it feel to be back in a city, you know,
06:48you've lost and you've also won the belt here?
06:56Hello, New Year. How you doing?
07:03I think Madison Square Garden is my lucky place. So I think this time I'm new.
07:10Many fans and media think this fight is not only for the flyweight title, but for the label,
07:18the greatest female fighter of all time. Do you agree with that assessment?
07:22Yeah, I think so.
07:33Same question for Valentina. Whaley seems to think that this fight could determine the greatest female
07:39fighter in UFC history. Do you agree with her?
07:41I think it's going to be a great fight and definitely I'm going to put all everything that I have,
07:50the huge performance, all my experience, speed, and power, and I'm here to defend my belt
07:57and keep to be the champion of flyweight division.
08:03Similar question for Dana White, Dana straight ahead. A lot of fans seem to think this could
08:08determine the greatest female fighter ever. Do you agree? For Dana? Dana. Hey, what's that?
08:16A lot of fans think the co-main event could determine the greatest female fighter ever.
08:21Whaley seems to think though. Valentina's on board. What about you? Yeah, yeah. When you talk about a
08:26true super fight, you have two champions of two different weight classes. Number one versus
08:31number two pound for pound. It doesn't get any better than that.
08:34Question for Michael Morales, straight ahead. We got here early and there was a huge number of
08:44Ecuadorian fans here with flags waiting to see you. What do you think of the turnout here in New York?
08:48Mira, llegamos un poco más temprano acá y se veía una gran cantidad de ecuatorianos acá.
08:54¿Cómo te sientes de estar con toda la gente a tu lado portando?
08:56Muy feliz. Gracias a todos por venir. Ya saben, ecuatorianos a demostrar esa rechera el día sábado.
09:04Nos vemos el sábado darle con todo.
09:05Y pues nada, muy contentos que todos estén aquí.
09:07Very happy to all the ecuatorians. Thank you for being here. Let's show how feisty we are and thank you for being here for all the support and love.
09:15And finally for Sean Brady, you know on media day you seemed pretty excited that there were a lot of
09:19Ecuadorian fans that were going to be in attendance. So what do you think of his reception? Because you
09:24are essentially fighting in your backyard in New York.
09:27Yeah, they got a big soccer game or something. There's a bunch of people here, but I'm from Philly.
09:31I'm an hour and 50 minutes of the road. So all the real ones will be here Saturday night showing
09:37out for the East Coast boy. Philly, East Coast, let's go. Question for Leon Edwards.
09:44Leon, coming into this fight, Carlos Prachas has questioned your heart, your determination.
09:49Do you feel you're going to have to show that in this fight and prove him wrong or are you expecting a
09:53dominant performance? I'm going in to dominate. I feel like Carlos hasn't put no one yet on my caliber
09:59and Saturday night you'll see that. And for Carlos, you predicted a knockout in this fight. Leon
10:05Edwards has never been knocked out. Why are you going to be the first to do it?
10:16I'm really good about to knock the peoples for the first round. For the first time on the UFC,
10:21you know, when I fought Lee Jingliang, he never lost by knockout. And I come there and I knock
10:27him out. With Jeff Neal, the same. And Saturday night, I'm going to knock him out and get my title shot.
10:34For Benoit and Benil, this fight got moved to the main card opener, I think for a reason from the
10:40prelims. What kind of fight should we expect out of you two to kick off this pay-per-view?
10:44You can't expect fireworks. And I think we both don't give a shit about being on the main card or
10:55anything else. We just want to fight and to prove who is the best of us two. And I cannot wait to be
11:01inside the octagon. It's going to be a good fight, man. I don't know what else to tell you guys. It's going
11:07to be a great fight. And for Jack, tell him about Elena. Jack, in breaking down this fight,
11:13Michael Bisping told me he believes you have probably the best boxing in the UFC.
11:18Would you agree with that assessment? Yeah, I think so.
11:24Islam, what do you think? You fought some very good boxers. Is Jack the best,
11:28you think, going into this fight? Guys, what do you think? I don't know, you know. All fighters have
11:37good strikers. Yeah, Jack one of the best. And I'm also a good striker. Let's see who is better.
11:44And another one for you, Islam. I know you have the belt in front of you now, but you are technically
11:48the challenger coming into this fight. How is your mindset different, challenging for a belt as opposed
11:54to defending it? Of course, what? He says that you have a belt in front of you now, but you are in this
12:00fight as a protagonist. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I feel like I'm still champion, man. I don't lose my belt to anyone
12:09and I'm just coming to get second one. Carlos, Carlos, you said throughout the entire week that you think
12:20that, basically, if you get a win and a good win, you deserve the title shot. Since there are so many
12:25contenders here in the champion, why are you the interesting guy that deserves the title shot if you get a win on Saturday?
12:39Do you want to speak English or not? But, so, basically, listen guys, this is
12:44a game of the champion.
12:46If you're a champion, why you're the champion? Why are you the
12:48interesting guy that deserves the title shot if you get a win on Saturday?
12:50Why are you the interesting guy that deserves a title shot if you get a win on Saturday?
12:53Well, my total respect for these guys that are here, but this is entertainment.
12:57People pay their income. They pay their tickets, pay-per-view, pay-per-view, pay-per-view, pay-per-view,
13:01and, because of this, I think I'll be the next one. I bring the entertainment that people like.
13:05Do you want to speak English or not? But, so, basically, listen guys, this is a show, this is entertainment.
13:11When I come here, I don't care to grab anybody, to press anybody against the cage.
13:15I come here to knock people out. People want to see blood, they want to see hits, and that's what I bring to the table.
13:20And that's why I get a win on Saturday. I deserve a title shot.
13:23Carlos, another one.
13:25Winning and conquering the title shot that you want so much.
13:29In the ideal world, it would be Islam or Jack Dalla Maddalena, and why?
13:33And winning on Saturday, with that knockout, getting that title shot that you so want and deserve.
13:38Who would you prefer? JDM or Islam? And why?
13:42I'm ready for any one of the two, but I think Islam would be different,
13:48because he would be a double champion, and his legacy is bigger.
13:51And, with certainty, winning a double champion would be much more gratifying.
13:55Dude, I'm ready for both of them, but I'll tell you something,
13:58facing Islam would be amazing because they're talking about a guy
14:01that would be a double champion, the legacy is bigger,
14:04and I'd be very grateful to be able to beat Islam.
14:09Go on.
14:10Hello, Dana. I will ask in Spanish first,
14:12for the Masarecho.
14:13You brought all the people from Ecuador,
14:15it's full of Ecuadorians. I'm proud of them.
14:17I'm proud of them.
14:18But you adopted Mexico, you improved,
14:20and now you have the support of a whole continent.
14:22You love Latin America.
14:23Do you feel that love?
14:25For all the, for the feisty Equatorian here with all the people,
14:28listen, the Equatorians are behind you.
14:30But also, you got the support of Mexico.
14:33You have all of Latin America behind you.
14:35Do you feel the love of an entire continent?
14:37Yes, for a lot.
14:38I feel that we have demonstrated, the Equatorians,
14:41the potential that we have.
14:43The President has realized in the Contender Series
14:45with the last Equatorian that entered UFC,
14:46he demonstrated his heart.
14:48We are doing it very well.
14:49There are more Equatorians coming back,
14:51so you have to wait for us to give us more opportunities.
14:53Nothing more.
14:54Listen, I feel very proud of all the support
14:56and all what the Qatarians are showing.
14:59Dana saw himself in the last Contender Series
15:02to bring you another.
15:03There were four of them,
15:04and I believe there's much more coming behind us.
15:06And to Valentina, it's the same thing.
15:08She has the support of the whole continent,
15:11especially from Peru.
15:12You already were the main event in Uruguay.
15:15The UFC already went to Uruguay, to Brazil,
15:18to Argentina, to Chile.
15:20Would you like to, in the future,
15:22to be the main event in Peru?
15:24Yes, of course.
15:25I would love this event in Peru
15:27because I've lived eight years in Latin America.
15:31I've traveled all over Latin America,
15:35visiting Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina,
15:38Colombia, Brazil,
15:40and I love to be there and share the culture of Latin America
15:44because the people are very warm, very good.
15:48I love the culture.
15:49I love it.
15:50And I'm always carrying in my heart
15:52a part of Peru and all over Latin America.
15:55That's why I always want to come back
15:58and I hope in the future,
16:00I'll have an opportunity to fight in Latin America
16:03in any country.
16:04You're very proud of representing Peru
16:06because, you know, I lived there for like eight years
16:08and also I visited the entire continent,
16:10Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil,
16:12Colombia, everywhere,
16:13and I feel the people, I feel the warmth,
16:15I feel the love,
16:16and I feel very proud of representing you.
16:18It would be a great chance, Jack,
16:20if I ever had the chance to represent it
16:22by fighting there and having a fight in Latin America.
16:25Dana, any plans to go to Peru or Ecuador?
16:27We're going everywhere.
16:29Yes, I like it.
16:31Go ahead.
16:32Hello, I'm Li Jingliang.
16:33Today, I'm very happy to represent
16:35the U.F.C. in China
16:36in China.
16:38I have a question for Wili.
16:40Wili, this is your career
16:41the most important part of your career.
16:43You've said that,
16:44from the championship,
16:46it's a miracle,
16:47the U.F.C. in China.
16:48The U.F.C. in China.
16:50What kind of words do you have for the fans in China?
16:53What kind of words do you have for the fans in China?
16:55They've been really supportive of you?
16:56And also, what's your prediction of this fight?
16:58And how confident are you to bring this belt back to China?
17:03First of all, I want to thank you,
17:04the U.F.C. in China,
17:05the U.F.C. in China.
17:06I have a question for Wili.
17:07Wili, this is the most important fight in your career.
17:10You also said earlier this week that
17:12this fight is going to bring you from champion to a legend.
17:15So, what kind of words do you have for the fans in China
17:20that have been really supportive of you?
17:21And also, what's your prediction of this fight?
17:24And how confident are you to bring this belt back to China?
17:44Thank you all the fans for supporting here today.
17:46Me and my opponent, Valentina Shevchenko,
17:48we're going to bring a spectacular fight for you guys.
17:53Go ahead, Luis.
17:54Yeah, go ahead.
17:55Shevchenko, hello.
17:56Weili has said that she won't be in this fight.
17:59She won't be happy.
18:00She won't be happy.
18:01She won't be happy.
18:02She won't be happy.
18:03She won't be happy.
18:04What do you want to answer?
18:06This question is for Valentina Shevchenko.
18:09Weili said she's not going to let this fight to be boring.
18:12She's for sure is going to press forward,
18:14be very aggressive in this fight.
18:16What's your response to that?
18:18I hope so.
18:19And I want the best of Weili in this fight
18:21because this is the champion's mentality
18:23to fight with the best.
18:25And I think, like, we're going to give everything to this fight.
18:29And I know for sure that I will all my heart inside of the octagon
18:33to have and steal.
18:35Go ahead.
18:39Michael, que tal?
18:41Bueno, Sean Brady había mencionado que tu eras la única opción que le habían dado.
18:48Tu crees que después del sábado vas a seguir pensando que tu eras el último recurso?
18:54Michael, this week Sean Brady mentioned that you were basically the last resort
18:58and the last option left to fight him.
19:00So, basically, he just took the fight.
19:02That's how you feel?
19:03It's just the last resort, basically, take the fight?
19:06Well, he also said it.
19:07The fighters fight.
19:08I said the same thing.
19:09I said the same thing.
19:10So, I didn't have anyone else to fight.
19:13I also came to win against my rivals.
19:16So, he was also the only option.
19:19And, well, the only thing I told him was that he was ready.
19:21And I was ready.
19:22It was almost two months before this fight.
19:24He accepted it until the fourth week.
19:26I didn't care about it.
19:27I told him that he was ready.
19:28And, well, here we are.
19:29Listen, fighters fight.
19:30Fighters are paid to get fights.
19:32And fighters need to accept fights.
19:34I also see him as an option.
19:36It's like, hey, hey.
19:37He's the guy.
19:38No one wanted to fight me.
19:39He was meant to fight me.
19:40So, I took the option.
19:41Listen.
19:42I've been preparing for him for quite some time.
19:44But he only accepted his fight four weeks ago.
19:46So, basically, I was ready for him.
19:48And we're going to put on a show and put on a fight.
19:50And you have right beside you somebody that wants to take away your shot at a title.
20:04What would you say to Carlos Prates?
20:06Listen, here we're not friends.
20:23We're fighters.
20:24We're rivals.
20:25And we're foes.
20:26We all want the same thing.
20:27We want that belt.
20:28The one that wants it more.
20:29The ones that fight for it more.
20:30And the one that's got more balls is going to come out with that shot.
20:33Go ahead.
20:35Go ahead.
20:46So, Michael, you were in a card full of talent.
20:50And basically, six of the strongest ones in the division.
20:54What makes you the most interesting choice to fight for a title?
20:57I'm a Latino.
20:58I'm from Ecuador.
20:59I'm a Latino.
21:00I'm from Latin America.
21:01I'm from Ecuador.
21:02I got the heart.
21:04You see it.
21:05I don't come in for boring fights.
21:06I come in and show the heart that I put inside the octagon.
21:07I'm from Ecuador.
21:08We're feisty.
21:09We're tough.
21:10And you can feel it right here.
21:11Question in English for Carlos Pratchett.
21:12What excites you the most for this fight?
21:13To test your striking levels with another high striking level?
21:15Or make another big statement as the one that you had against G of Mil on the last fight?
21:46Is it going to fall into the fight and show the trocats?
21:48Or, of course, show the other things that you have in your arsenal?
21:51Of course, the most exciting part of my game is striking.
21:54You know, I can't wait to step on the octagon on 15 November.
21:57Show everybody a really good knockout.
21:59But I train hard.
22:00I'm BJJ Black Belt.
22:01I train hard.
22:02I train wrestling.
22:03So I'm ready for everything.
22:04I'm ready for wrestling.
22:05I'm ready to do BJJ.
22:06I'm ready for striking.
22:07I'm ready for everything.
22:09Go ahead.
22:12Michael, you mentioned that you had four weeks that you knew that this fight was happening.
22:28So, basically, a four-week camp.
22:30If this fight goes the distance, are you ready?
22:33Yes, I'm ready.
22:54Listen, I put a lot into this.
22:56I'm always ready.
22:57Training is always ready for it to go the distance, and we always train for that.
23:01I didn't change my training.
23:02What I did is put more intensity, because I won that title, and we need to do it.
23:06Wherever this fight goes, I'll be ready for this one.
23:09This one is for Dana.
23:11Dana, the winner between Brady and Michael does get the title.
23:14Shall fight?
23:15Sure.
23:20Hello, guys.
23:21My questions are for Islam Mahachev.
23:23And now, in Russian, Islam, hello.
23:25We're trying.
23:26We're trying.
23:30We're trying.
23:31We're trying.
23:32We're trying.
23:33We're trying.
23:34We're trying.
23:35We're trying.
23:36We're trying.
23:37We're trying.
23:38We're trying.
23:39We're trying.
23:40We're trying.
23:41This is the first time in the United States that you're actually not being booed,
23:44but instead, everybody's rooting for you.
23:46First of all, are you surprised with such a reception?
23:50And second of all, do you think it's because they finally understand how great you are?
23:55They know your greatness.
23:58Thank you, Olof.
24:00Thank you, everybody, who are coming today.
24:03And really happy to fight in the biggest arena in the world.
24:07And when the all crowd support you is the biggest day in my life.
24:16And we continue this theme of national love.
24:17And a long time ago, the press conference, when Chanko came to the hall, the arena came out and they said,
24:24Chanko, Chanko, Chanko, Chanko.
24:27Hey, Chanko, guys, he likes more Chanko.
24:30Not John Pork.
24:31He likes Chanko.
24:32Call him Chanko.
24:33Islam, how do you think this guy is ready to take your place in a position of light weight?
24:37I think he's almost at his right now.
24:39He's breathing.
24:40So, he's a very good fighter who helped me throughout the class in my career.
24:48And he's training with the best.
24:50Right before you get in, right before the press conference started when Chanko walked in,
24:55this place absolutely lost its mind.
24:58Do you think that he's finally ready to take the place of a king of a lightweight division
25:02division and the answer is absolutely he's a great fighter he's a great guy
25:06please call him Chonko not John Bork he doesn't like John Bork he is the guy
25:11who's helped me with all my camps recently so he's gonna be a great
25:14lightweight question for Islam with a win this weekend you tie the longest UFC
25:24win streak and become double champ after this fight should you be considered the
25:28greatest of all time oh I don't know man I'm not thinking about this right now I
25:36thinking about the belt and I know I spent all my life for just be champion you
25:43know and now it's I close to the dream right now question for Jack Jack Islam has
25:52laughed off the role of both and Craig Jones in your camp how important was
25:57having Vulcan Craig in the team and is he underestimating your wrestling yeah it's
26:02good to have two Australians I'm gonna bring this belt back home to Australia
26:06no doubt and yeah two legends about martial arts in Australia we'll see how
26:11it goes and just last one for Islam this is the third time in your career that
26:16you're facing an Australian what's your final message to Australian fans back
26:20home Australia it's a good place I was there I like it and now it's a 3-0 I will make four
26:32question for Liam to your left down here Carlos has been very vocal in believing that your best days are
26:44behind you he says that you're a quitter do you think that he's underestimating you and thinking that
26:49you're but over the hill yeah 100% I feel like Saturday night I'll remind me who I am and I'll
26:54put him away and a question for Jack down here to your left the build up to this fight a lot of
27:01people have been talking about what a win will do for Islam's legacy what the win over Islam do for
27:06your legacy especially so early into your reign as well wait champ obviously Islam's a legend big win over
27:13him will be a big name on the resume and it'll definitely put me up there on the pound for pound list
27:18thank you Nico Pajarulio from Fox Sports in Australia this one for Jack Della Maddalena Jack
27:24tell me a little bit about the strength of Perth MMA currently you've got yourself the current
27:28champion you've got Cody Haddon on this card Quillencelle killed coming through and of course across
27:33Australia more broadly Alexander Volkanovski is champion once again what do you attribute that to
27:38and how proud are you to represent that yeah I'm very proud to be Australian proud to raise the
27:42Australian flag it's uh I think Australia is very competitive you know it has a fighting culture
27:49and that's why we're doing so well we have two champions and after this weekend we'll still have
27:54two champions thanks Jack a question for Islam Islam over here there's been a lot of speculation about
28:02you fighting Topuria next you've said time and time again that you have to come through this fight
28:08first but you're now sitting with a lot of contenders so I want to ask you who would you like to defend
28:14the title first if you were to win on Saturday man my job is just beat the people who is gonna be next
28:22we can ask Dana
28:23Leon Edwards I'm sure you heard what Carlos Prates had to say about you yesterday calling you a quitter
28:35do you think he actually earned his spot earned this matchup with you fighting tough opponents
28:41or it's just about his hype just about about his hype yeah he ain't done nothing at all in the sport so
28:46like I said Saturday night I get to prove my case
28:49Benel Darius you have been here to the top for many years already
28:57is this fight your ticket back to a title run
29:00uh the goal has always been the title so of course my goal is to get back to the title shot
29:08and win the belt thank you
29:10go ahead sir uh Jack uh we saw against Bilal you were able to block or majority of his takedowns
29:19are you gonna be able to do the same against Islam
29:21yep absolutely all night full 25 minutes
29:28and Islam if you if you have both belts at the end of the night what are you doing to celebrate first
29:35order of business what if I have two belts
29:38well maybe all of you guys can come to Dagestan and we celebrate
29:48for two three years
29:54go ahead sir
29:58Dana this one's for you I was just at the Prince uh Prince Street pizza and had your pizza
30:03after everybody finishes their fight uh this Saturday will you be giving out pizzas to all the fight
30:10caught up here sure why not yeah um hey New York you're always fun we're gonna rip this stuff out
30:18here and do some uh face-offs and we'll see you at the waves thanks
30:22thank you
30:32so
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