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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 am like I am.
06:38Question for Wei Li. Straight ahead. Wei Li. 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?
06:59I think Madison Square Garden is my lucky place. So I think this time I'm new.
07:14Many 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?
07:30Yeah, I think so.
07:33Same question for Valentine. Wei Li seems to think that this fight could determine the greatest female
07:39fighter in UFC history. Do you agree with her?
07:44I 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. Wei Li seems to
08:22think though, Valentin is on board. What about you? Yeah, yeah. When you talk about a true super fight,
08:27you have two champions of two different weight classes. Number one versus number two, pound for
08:32pound. It doesn't get any better than that. Question for Michael Morales, straight ahead.
08:41We got here early and there was a huge number of Ecuadorian fans here with flags waiting to see you.
08:47What do you think of the turnout here in New York?
08:48Look, we arrived a little earlier here and there was a huge amount of Ecuadorians here. How do you feel
08:55to be with all the people who have been here? Very happy to all the Ecuadorians. Thank you for being here.
09:10Let's show how feisty we are and thank you for being here for all the support and love.
09:14And finally for Sean Brady, you know, on media day, you seem pretty excited that there are 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. Yeah, they got a big soccer game or something.
09:29There's a bunch of people here, but I'm from Philly. I'm an hour and 50 minutes of the road. So all the real
09:35ones will be here Saturday night showing out for the East Coast boy. Philly, East Coast, let's go.
09:40Question for Leon Edwards. Leon, coming into this fight, Carlos Pratias has questioned your heart,
09:48your determination. Do you feel you're going to have to show that in this fight and prove him wrong?
09:53Or are you expecting a dominant performance? I'm going to dominate. I feel like Carlos
09:57has put no one yet on my caliber and Saturday night you'll see that. And for Carlos, you predicted a
10:03knockout in this fight. Leon Edwards has never been knocked out. Why are you going to be the first to do it?
10:10I'm really good about to knock the people for the first round, for the first time on the UFC. You know,
10:21when I fought Lee Jingliang, he never lost by knockout. And I come there and I knock him out.
10:27With Jeff Neal, the same. And Saturday night, I'm going to knock him out and get my title shot.
10:32For Benoit and Benil, this fight got moved to the main card opener, I think for a reason,
10:40from the prelims. What kind of fight should we expect out of you two to kick off this pay-per-view?
10:44I can't expect fireworks. I think we both don't give a shit about being on the main card or anything
10:55else. We just want to fight and to prove who is the best of us two. And I cannot wait to be inside
11:01the octagon. It's going to be a good fight, man. I don't know what else to tell you guys. It's going to be a great fight.
11:08And for Jack Della Maddalena, Jack, in breaking down this fight, Michael Bisping told me he believes
11:15you have probably the best boxing in the UFC. Would 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, you think,
11:28going into this fight? Oh, guys, what do you think? I don't know, you know. All fighters have a good
11:37striker. Yeah, Jack one of the best and I'm also a good striker. Let's see who is better. And another one
11:44for you, Islam. I know you have the belt in front of you now, but you are technically the challenger
11:49coming into this fight. How is your mindset different challenging for a belt as opposed to defending it?
11:54Yeah, yeah, yeah. I feel I am still champion, man. I don't lose my belt to anyone and I just coming to get second one.
12:12Carlos, Carlos, you said all week that basically if you get a win and a good win, you deserve the title shot.
12:38Since there are so many contenders here and the champion, why are you the interesting guy that
12:42deserves the title shot if you get a win on Saturday?
12:44Well, my total respect for these guys that are here, but this is entertainment. People pay their
12:50ingress. They pay tickets, pay-per-view to see blood, to see knockout, the type of entertainment that I bring.
12:55I come to the Octogono and I don't try to catch someone for 25 minutes. I fight, I do the show,
13:00so I think that because of this, I'm going to be the next one. I bring the entertainment that people like.
13:05So, basically, listen guys, this is a show, this is entertainment. When I come here, I don't
13:12care to grab anybody, to press anybody against the cage. I come here to knock people out. People
13:17want to see blood, they want to see hits, and that's what I bring to the table and that's why I get a win
13:21on Saturday. I deserve a title shot. Carlos, one more thing. Wincing and conquering the title shot
13:28that you want so much in the world would be Islam or Jack Dalla Maddalena, and why?
13:34And winning on Saturday with that knockout, getting that title shot that you so want and
13:38deserve. If, who do you prefer? JDM or Islam, and why?
13:43Ah, I'm ready for any one of the two, but I think Islam would be different, because he would be a
13:50double champion. His legacy is bigger, and with a doubt, winning a double champion would be much more gratifying.
13:56Dude, I'm ready for both of them, but I'll tell you something. Facing Islam would be
14:00amazing, because they're talking about a guy that would be a double champion. The legacy is bigger,
14:04and I'll be very grateful to be able to beat Islam.
14:10Go ahead.
14:10Hello, Dana. I will ask you in Spanish first,
14:12for the most recent people. You brought all the people from Ecuador. It's full of Ecuadorians.
14:17I'm the proud of them. But you adopted Mexico, you improved, and now you have the support of
14:22a whole continent. You love all Latin America. Do you feel that love?
14:25Uh, for all the, for the feisty Ecuadorian here with all the people. Listen, the Equatorians are
14:30behind you. But also, you got the support of Mexico. You have all of Latin America behind you. Do you
14:35feel the love of an entire continent?
14:37Si, por mucho. Yo siento que hemos demostrado
14:40los ecuatorianos el potencial que tenemos. El presidente se dio cuenta en el contender series
14:45con el último ecuatoriano que entró UFC. Demostró todo el corazón. Lo estamos haciendo muy bien.
14:49Vienen más ecuatorianos atrás, así que que esperar que nos den más oportunidades nada más.
14:54And listen, I feel very proud of all the support and all what the Catorians are showing. Dana saw
15:00himself in the last contender series to bring you another. We're four of them. And, uh, believe me,
15:05there's much more coming behind us. And to Valentina, it's the same thing. She has the support of the
15:10whole continent, especially from Peru. You already were the main event in Uruguay. UFC already went to Uruguay,
15:18to Brazil, to Argentina, to Chile. Would you like to, in the future, to be the main event in Peru?
15:24Sí, claro que sí. Me encantaría si evento va a pasar en Perú porque, uh, yo he vivido ocho años en
15:30Latinoamérica. Viajé, uh, tanto por toda Latinoamérica visitando, uh, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina,
15:38Colombia, uh, Brasil. Y me encanta estar allá, compartir la cultura de Latinoamérica porque, uh, la gente
15:46son muy cálidas, muy buenas. La cultura me encanta y siempre estoy llevando en mi corazón, uh, una
15:53parte de Perú y de toda Latinoamérica. Por eso yo sí siempre quiero regresar y ojalá en futuro voy a
16:00tener una oportunidad de pelear en Latinoamérica en cualquier país. You're very proud of representing
16:06Peru because, you know, I lived there for like eight years and also I visited the entire continent,
16:10Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Colombia, everywhere. And I feel the people. I feel the warmth.
16:16I feel the love and I feel very proud of representing. It would be a great chance if I ever had the
16:21chance to represent it by fighting there and having a fight in Latin America. Dan, any plans to go to
16:26Peru or Ecuador? We're going everywhere. Yes, I like it. Thank you. Go ahead. Hello,
16:33I'm Li Jinyang, today I'm honored to be a Mìcouan
16:48Meigu也专门发起了加油中国力量
16:51你有没有什么话想跟这些支持你的粉丝们说的
16:55Hold on, Wei Li, let her, yeah, go ahead
16:58Hey, my name is Lin Jinlian
17:00and I'm happy today here to represent Meigu
17:03which is UFC's broadcasting partner in China
17:06I have a question for Wei Li
17:08Wei Li, this is the most important fight in your career
17:10You also said earlier this week that
17:13this fight is going to bring you from champion to a legend
17:15So what kind of words you have for the fans in China
17:20that are being really supportive of you
17:22and also what's your prediction of this fight
17:25and how confident are you to bring this belt back to China?
17:28Thank you all the fans for supporting here today
17:46Me and my opponent Valentina Shevchenko
17:49we're going to bring a spectacular fight for you guys
17:51Thank you
17:52Go ahead, Luis
17:54Yeah, go ahead
17:55This question is for Valentina Shevchenko
18:09Wei Li said she's not going to let this fight to be boring
18:13She's for sure going to press forward
18:14be very aggressive in this fight
18:16What's your response to that?
18:17I hope so
18:19and I want the best of Wei Li in this fight
18:22because this is the champion's mentality
18:24to fight with the best
18:26and I think like
18:27we're going to give everything to this fight
18:30and I know for sure that I will
18:32all my heart inside of the octagon
18:34to have and still
18:36Go ahead
18:40Michael, this week
18:56Sean Brady mentioned
18:57that you were basically
18:58the last resort
18:59and the last option
19:00left to fight him
19:01so basically
19:02he just took the fight
19:03that's how you feel
19:04as just a last resort
19:06basically take the fight
19:07Listen, fighters fight
19:31fighters are paid to get fights
19:33and fighters need to accept fights
19:34I also see him as an option
19:36it's like
19:37hey, 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, I've been preparing
19:43for him for quite some time
19:44but he only accepted his fight
19:46four weeks ago
19:47so basically
19:48I was ready for him
19:49and we're going to put on a show
19:50and put on a fight
19:51And you have right beside you
20:01somebody that wants to take away
20:03your shot at a title
20:05what would you say
20:06to Carlos Prates
20:07Listen, here
20:22we'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
20:31and the one that's got more balls
20:32is going to come out with that shot
20:33Go ahead
20:36Pregunta en español
20:37para Michael Morales
20:38Estás en una cartelera
20:40con seis de los top welter
20:42¿Qué hace que tú seas el mejor
20:44o que seas diferente
20:45para poder ser ese contendiente?
20:47So Michael, you were in a card
20:49full of talent
20:50and basically six
20:52of the strongest ones
20:54in the division
20:54What makes you
20:56the most interesting choice
20:57to fight for a title?
20:58Soy Latino
20:59Soy de Ecuador
20:59Soy representante de América en general
21:02Yo creo que
21:03el ecuatoriano
21:04es el más arrecho
21:04la gente lo está viendo
21:06la gente lo está gozando
21:07y pues yo lo demostraba
21:08en la jaula
21:09No me echo para atrás
21:10en una pelea
21:10y yo creo que es eso
21:11La rechera que tengo
21:12es muy diferente
21:13de la de los demás
21:14Listen
21:15I'm a Latino
21:16I'm a Latino
21:16I'm from Latin America
21:17I'm from Ecuador
21:17I got the heart
21:18You see it
21:19I don't come in
21:19for boring fights
21:20I come in
21:21and you show
21:21I show the heart
21:22that I put inside the octagon
21:24I'm from Ecuador
21:24we're feisty
21:25we're tough
21:26and you can feel right here
21:27question in English
21:29for Carlos Pratchett
21:30What excites you the most for this fight
21:33to test your striking levels with another high striking level or make another big statement
21:39as the one that you had against Giof Neal on the last fight
21:42¿Qué que deja você más empolgado con esta luta?
21:46¿Cair en la porrada y mostrar la trocación
21:49o de repente mostrar otras cosas que se tiene en tu arsenal?
21:51Claro que la parte más emocionante de mi juego es el striking
21:55¿sabes?
21:55No puedo entrenar a la octagon en el octagon del 15 de novembro
21:58para mostrar a todos un buen knockout
22:00pero estoy entrenando duro
22:01soy BJJ Black Belt
22:02estoy entrenando duro
22:03estoy entrenando en el wrestling
22:04así que estoy listo para todo
22:05estoy listo para el wrestling
22:06estoy listo para el BJJ
22:08estoy listo para el striking
22:09estoy listo para todo
22:10go ahead
22:13Michael, you mentioned that you had four weeks
22:27that you knew that this fight was happening
22:29so basically a four week camp
22:31if this fight goes the distance
22:33are you ready?
22:33sí, sí, totalmente listo
22:35esta es una pelea que he venido buscando
22:37lo que quiero es el título
22:38o sea, me preparo siempre para cada rival
22:41no ha hecho
22:41nada diferente en mis campamentos
22:44simplemente meterle más intensidad
22:45más corazón a todo
22:46pero sí, estoy listo para cualquier tipo de round
22:50cualquier tipo de tiempo que me pongan
22:51lo único que quiero es finalizar el primer round
22:53sí, estoy listo para el partido
22:55escucho, estoy listo para todo
22:56siempre estoy listo para el entrenamiento
22:57siempre está listo para el entrenamiento
22:58siempre está listo para el distance
23:00y siempre está listo para eso
23:01no cambié mi entrenamiento
23:03lo que hice fue poner más intensidad
23:04porque quiero que el título
23:05cuando necesitamos de hacerlo
23:06wherever esta pelea
23:08yo estoy listo para esta pelea
23:10esta pelea es para Dayna
23:11Dayna, el ganador entre Brady y Michael
23:14¿dece que el título se va a la pelea?
23:15¿sí?
23:16¡sí!
23:17¡sí!
23:18¡sí!
23:19¡sí!
23:20hola chicos, mi pregunta es para Islám Mahachev
23:23y ahora en ruso, Islám, hola
23:25y finalmente si badó
23:42esta primera vez en Estados Unidos
23:43que concede presión
23:45pero siendoalle
23:46primero
23:48tenés que leatin Ladrón
23:51y al segundo
23:52¿ustedes pensáis porque
23:53finalmente entenderak
23:54how great you are they know your greatness thank you thank you all thank you everybody who
24:02coming today and really happy to fight in biggest arena in the world and when the
24:09all crowd support is the biggest day in my life thank you
24:24Así like more chankö lationg por he like chanko call him chanko
24:38i think he's almost here and breathes and breathes so a proud fighter who helps me on all operations
24:49and also workout the best
24:52Right before you got in, right before the press conference started, when Chanko walked in, this place absolutely lost its mind.
24:59Do you think that he's finally ready to take the place of a king of a lightweight division?
25:03And the answer is, absolutely, he's a great fighter, he's a great guy.
25:06Please call him Chanko, not Jampork, he doesn't like Jampork.
25:10He is the guy who's helped me with all my camps recently, so he's going to be a great lightweight.
25:15Question for Islam, with a win this weekend, you tie the longest UFC win streak and become double champ.
25:26After this fight, should you be considered the greatest of all time?
25:31Oh, I don't know, man.
25:34I'm not thinking about this right now, I'm thinking about the belt and I know, I spent all my life for just be champion, you know.
25:43And now it's, I'm close to the dream right now.
25:48Question for Jack.
25:50Jack, Islam has laughed off the role of Volk and Craig Jones in your camp.
25:57How important was having Volk and Craig in the team and is he underestimating your wrestling?
26:02Yeah, it's good to have two Australians.
26:03I'm going to bring this belt back home to Australia, no doubt.
26:07And yeah, two legends of martial arts in Australia.
26:11We'll see how it goes.
26:12And just last one for Islam.
26:14This is the third time in your career that you're facing an Australian.
26:18What's your final message to Australian fans back home?
26:24Australia.
26:25It's a good place.
26:26I was there, I like it.
26:29And now it's a 3-0.
26:31I will make four.
26:36Go ahead, sir.
26:38Question for Liam to your left down here.
26:40Carlos has been very vocal in believing that your best days are behind you.
26:45He says that you're a quitter.
26:46Do you think that he's underestimating you and thinking that you're over the hill?
26:50Yeah, 100%.
26:51I feel like Saturday night, I'll remind me who I am and I'll put him away.
26:54And a question for Jack down here to your left.
26:59The build-up to this fight, a lot of people have been talking about what a win will do for Islam's legacy.
27:05What will a win over Islam do for your legacy, especially so early into your arena as a well-weight champ?
27:09Yeah, obviously Islam's a legend.
27:12Big win over him will be a big name on the resume and it'll definitely put me up there on the pound-for-pound list.
27:19Nico Pajarillo from Fox Sports in Australia.
27:22This one for Jack Della Maddalena.
27:23Jack, tell me a little bit about the strength of Perth MMA currently.
27:27You've got yourself the current champion.
27:29You've got Cody Haddon on this card.
27:31Quill and Sal killed coming through and, of course, across Australia more broadly.
27:34Alexander Volkanovski is champion once again.
27:36What do you attribute that to and how proud are you to represent that?
27:40Yeah, I'm very proud to be Australian.
27:41I'm proud to raise the Australian flag.
27:45I think Australia's very competitive, you know.
27:48It has a fighting culture and that's why we're doing so well.
27:51We have two champions and after this weekend we'll still have two champions.
27:55Thanks, Jack.
27:58Question for Islam.
27:59Islam, over here.
28:01There's been a lot of speculation about you fighting Topuria next.
28:04You've said time and time again that you have to come through this fight first
28:08but you're now sitting with a lot of contenders so I want to ask you
28:12who would you like to defend the title first if you were to win on Saturday?
28:18Man, my job is just to beat the people.
28:21Who is going to be next?
28:22We can ask Dana.
28:23Yes, ma'am.
28:29Leon Edwards, I'm sure you heard what Carlos Pratt has had to say about you yesterday
28:34calling you a quitter.
28:35Do you think he actually earned his spot, earned his matchup with you fighting tough opponents
28:41or is it just about his hype?
28:43Just about his hype.
28:44He hasn't done nothing at all in the sport.
28:46Like I said, Saturday night, I get to prove my case.
28:49Yes, Benel Darius, you have been here to the top for many years already.
28:57Is this fight your ticket back to a title run?
29:04The goal has always been the title so of course my goal is to get back to the title shot and win the belt.
29:10Go ahead, sir.
29:15Jack, we saw against Bilal you were able to block the majority of his takedowns.
29:19Are you going to be able to do the same against Islam?
29:22Yep, absolutely.
29:24All night?
29:26Full 25 minutes.
29:29And Islam, if you have both belts at the end of the night,
29:33what are you doing to celebrate first order of business?
29:37What if I have two belts?
29:38If there will be two belts at the end of the night, what are you doing to celebrate this?
29:44Maybe all of you guys can come to Dagestan and we celebrate together.
29:53For two, three years.
29:57Go ahead, sir.
29:58Dana, this one's for you.
30:00I was just at the Prince Street Pizza and had your pizza.
30:04After everybody finishes their fight this Saturday,
30:07will you be giving out pizzas to all the fight card up here?
30:11Sure.
30:12Why not?
30:15Hey, New York, you're always fun.
30:17We're going to rip this stuff out of here and do some face-offs.
30:20And we'll see you at the Williams.
30:22Thanks.
30:37Bye-bye.
30:39Bye-bye.
32:20Face forward, boys.
33:39Thank you, ladies.
33:55Thank you, ladies.
34:09Thank you, ladies.
34:12Thank you, ladies.
34:34Thank you, ladies.
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