Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For August 2, 2024, we’re taking a look at:
O’Malley reviews latest McGregor footage
Muhammad and Volkanovski trade words after UFC 304 comments
Former strawweight champion set to return at UFC 307
Sean O’Malley Critiques Conor McGregor’s Latest Pad Work Video On Social Media
After taking some time to recover from his injury that led to the cancellation of his return at UFC 303, Conor McGregor appears to be getting back to work.
“The Notorious” is hopeful of returning later this year but he appeared to have taken his foot off the gas once June 29 was ruled out.
His latest training footage came courtesy of his own social media accounts, with the Irishman seen working on his boxing and hitting pads.
“You guys were hating, all these guys wanted to come out. Volkanovski, ‘Man I think Belal’s a good match-up for me if I fight him.’ Shut up bro, I’ll smack the hell out of you. All these guys right, there’s nobody in the UFC that will beat me.”
Belal Muhammad responds to Alexander Volkanovski who said prior to #UFC304 that Belal Muhammad was a good matchup for him:
"Volkanovski [said] 'Man I think Belal's a good matchup for me if I fight him'.
Volkanovski responded on social media where he doubled down on his previous statement and told Muhammad to say that to him the next time they cross paths.
“@bullyb170 you have every reason to hate on what I said about you being a good stylistic match up for me but I truly believe that, even after your last fight, you didn’t show me anything different. You still mad because I accidentally missed your call…pathetic! Say ‘shut up, I’ll smack the shit out of you’ to my face and see what happens.”
“Remember The Name” had the final word on the matter in a follow-up post with a short and to the point message.
Carla Esparza Set To Return At UFC 307 In Utah Against Former Foe
Former UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza is expected to return for the first time since losing her title to Weili Zhang in November of 2022.
She took the majority of 2023 and 2024 off after giving birth to her son and is now targeted to compete in a rematch at UFC 307 on October 5.
Esparza and Tecia Pennington first met back on The Ultimate Fighter a decade ago with “Cookie Monster” getting the nod in that quarterfinal clash before going on to win the series.
MMA Junkie’s Nolan King reported the fight which will see both women look to return to the win column for the first time in several years.
Breaking: Carla Esparza vs. Tecia Pennington is in the works for #UFC307, multiple sources say.
Umar Nurmagomedov recently downplayed the comparisons between his prospective bout with Sean O’Malley and the infamous clash between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor at UFC 229.
The victor on August 3 is expected to earn the next title shot, facing off against the champion who emerges from the clash between O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili at Noche UFC in September.
While the reigning UFC bantamweight champion has undeniably ascended to the ranks of the promotion’s premier attractions, Umar believes that a potential bout with “Sugar” could never rival the intensity of the historic Nurmagomedov vs. McGregor showdown in October 2018…
Umar Believes O’Malley Won’t Cross Lines Compared To McGregor
During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Umar weighed in on the potential excitement surrounding a future bout with O’Malley. The 28-year-old Dagestani acknowledged that while their clash would certainly be intriguing, it wouldn’t match the fervor of his cousin’s UFC 229 matchup with “The Notorious”.
He highlighted that the genuine animosity between the former lightweight champions was unparalleled, making their rivalry iconic—an element that simply doesn’t exist in his case.
“It’s never gonna be close like Khabib and the Conor [fight],” Umar said. “Because they have personal hate. He [McGregor] talked bad about religion, family, and everything.”
Umar further remarked that while O’Malley is known for his trash-talking, he believes “Sugar” won’t stoop to the level McGregor did when he apparently insulted the UFC Hall of Famer’s family and religion.
“I see his personality, but I think he’s not too dirty of a person to talk bad about my family or my religion. But if we fight, it’s like, you know, the Irish vs. Dagestani again. It’s gonna be interesting, but I think it’s not going to be the same… I don’t have a lot of hate. I don’t worry about this man, and I just want to beat him. I just want to take his belt.”
Umar has exceeded expectations in his first five Octagon appearances, maintaining his undefeated streak with dominant victories despite setbacks due to injuries.
After a 13-month hiatus, he made a triumphant return this past March, securing a unanimous decision win over newcomer Bekzat Almakhan.
Javier Mendez recently remarked that a potential fight between Conor McGregor and Islam Makhachev would be anything but an easy task for the reigning UFC lightweight champion.
The sport's most combustable rivalry reached its boiling point two years ago today, when Khabib Nurmagomedov submitted Conor McGregor in the fourth round at UFC 229. pic.twitter.com/oJAiVyGRsT
After Nurmagomedov retired from the UFC in October 2020, his trusted ally and training partner Makhachev emerged to inherit his reign over the lightweight division. Concurrently, McGregor has continued to stoke the flames of their rivalry, relentlessly targeting Makhachev with a series of provocative comments on social media.
As one of the most iconic figures in UFC history, the former two-division champion captivates vast audiences with his every move. Mendez envisions a potential showdown between McGregor and Makhachev as an unparalleled spectacle…
Mendez Believes Makhachev vs. McGregor Could Be The Ultimate Potential Showdown
During a recent conversation with Instant Casino, Mendez likened a potential Makhachev vs. McGregor showdown to the grudge match between the Irishman and Nurmagomedov. The 53-year-old MMA coach suggested that this clash could generate a level of hype comparable to UFC 229.
“I love Islam vs. Conor McGregor; who wouldn’t want to be involved in a fight that would have an electrifying atmosphere?” Mendez said. “That is a great fight for us and for the fans. One of the greatest feelings I had in my whole entire life was when Khabib and Conor fought because of the real hatred between both sides.”
However, Mendez emphasized that “The Notorious” brings a wealth of experience and exceptional skills to the Octagon, cautioning that Makhachev should not anticipate a walk in the park.
“But Conor would not be an easy [night’s] work for Islam because you have to respect the man; he’s got a lot of experience, and the only way you make it an easy night is because you train hard — but it will never be an easy night with a guy like Conor. You better train your butt off because he’s a real fighter, and if he’s going (to) come in prepared, it’s never going to be easy.”
After nearly three years away from the Octagon, McGregor was primed for a highly anticipated comeback last month, set to clash with Michael Chandler in a welterweight bout headlining UFC 303.
The UFC superstar has not fought since July 2021 when he suffered a devastating leg fracture in the first round of his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.
Charles Oliveira lost a razor-close decision to Arman Tsarukyan last time out at UFC 300, and he’s now looking for a new opponent.
With 19 post-fight bonuses, the Brazilian’s easily one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC and there are several intriguing matchups for him.
Oliveira bagged the UFC lightweight championship by beating Michael Chandler in May 2021. He defended it against Dustin Poirier before being stripped after missing weight prior to his victory over Justin Gaethje.
Since failing to regain the title in his clash with Islam Makhachev, he’s defeated Beneil Dariush and is looking for another high-profile win to get a another shot at the gold.
From Makhachev to Colby Covington, here are all the fighters that Oliveira is open to facing in his UFC return…
Oliveira Eyes Rematch Against Makhachev, Also Open To Money Fights With McGregor, Covington, Poirier
Oliveira recently posted training footage on Instagram and asked his fans to choose his next opponent. He’s willing to fight the following names on the UFC roster:
Islam Makhachev
Arman Tsarukyan
Dustin Poirier
Conor McGregor
Max Holloway
Justin Gaethje
Alexander Volkanovski
Colby Covington
Alongside the list, Oliveira declared his intention to fight shortly.
“Who would you like to see me fight next? The Lion is ready!!”
“Do Bronx” has already fought Tsarukyan, Makhachev, Poirier, Gaethje, and Holloway. While Makhachev submitted him in the second, he fought through adversity to beat “The Diamond” and “The Highlight.” The fight with Holloway ended due to the Brazilian sustaining a shoulder injury, and fans could look forward to seeing the rematch more than ever now.
The other matchups on the list won’t necessarily move the needle in the UFC lightweight division. McGregor has lost three out of his last four fights and will most likely return to face Michael Chandler. Volkanovski, meanwhile, is 0-2 in the lightweight division and has yet to rematch Ilia Topuria for the UFC featherweight title.
Covington is another opponent that “Do Bronx” would fight to entertain the fans. The former interim UFC welterweight champion decisively lost to Leon Edwards in his last fight and appears unlikely to fight for the title again.
Regardless of the opponent, it is safe to assume that Oliveira will bring the fight to the Octagon and give fans another gritty performance.
Should his long wait for a Conor McGregor fight not be rewarded, former UFC lightweight title challenger Michael Chandler has been told to adjust his sights to Paddy Pimblett.
After decisions over Jared Gordon and Tony Ferguson, the former of which came in close and controversial fashion, “The Baddy” entered his first shot at cracking the 155-pound rankings as an underdog.
With that, the Liverpool native has entered the top 15 and has his sights set on a top 10 contender in Renato Moicano. But according to one former fighter, Pimblett could be in line for a bigger assignment should things play out in a certain way…
Sonnen Backs Pimblett To Replace McGregor If Comeback Delay Continues
During the latest episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show with Daniel Cormier on the ESPN MMA YouTube channel, Sonnen gave his take on Pimblett’s impressive display on home soil.
Assessing what could be next for “The Baddy” in his pursuit of UFC gold, “The American Gangster” ventured further up the lightweight rankings than expected, highlighting the Brit as the “perfect replacement” to fight Chandler should his long-awaited McGregor showdown remain in the fantasy realm.
“I used to believe that Paddy was a regional fighter,” Sonnen said. “What do I mean by that? Well, he can sell a lot of tickets at a specific venue, so keep bringing him to that geographical location. You can’t main event the guy, you can’t five-round him, you can’t move him up the rankings too fast, but bring in the right opponent, we’re gonna have some fun for three or four years. I don’t see Paddy that same way anymore.
“Paddy is two fights away, Daniel. They’ve gotta be the right two fights, but he is two fights away (from) fighting for a world championship,” Sonnen continued. “I love these rankings right here (10 to 15), but if they were to keep going, eventually they’re gonna come to a name called Michael Chandler. If Michael Chandler does not get the fight with Conor, this, to me, looks like the perfect replacement.”
Judging by his reactions on social media, Chandler was seemingly impressed by Pimblett’s efforts inside the cage at UFC 304. Nevertheless, he doesn’t appear to have his focus on “The Baddy” just yet.
As has been the case since the start of 2023, Chandler remains hell-bent on sharing the Octagon with McGregor. Following their UFC 303 cancellation, latest reports have placed their rearranged showdown at the Las Vegas pay-per-view in December.
— MVP – Most Valuable Promotions (@MostVpromotions) July 21, 2024
To compound Perry’s misfortune, BKFC part-owner “The Notorious” swiftly took to X to declare, “You’re fired,” seemingly ousting Perry from the bare-knuckle promotion. He didn’t stop there, going on to mock Perry’s newly launched hybrid boxing venture, Dirty Boxing Championship, with biting remarks.
Perry Insists McGregor’s Statements Are Just For Attention
During a recent appearance on BS w/ Jake Paul, “Platinum” addressed McGregor’s apparent attempt to fire him from BKFC. Perry dismissed the notion, suggesting that the Irishman is just stirring the pot for attention. He emphasized that the fans want to see him fight in BKFC.
“I think it’s just, you know, he does that. He tweets and he gets people to attach to something, whatever he says,” Perry said. “He knows that we had that moment that night in history and it was what people were talking about, so he’s like, let me say something about it and talk sh*t about it and be his normal witty self. He said something that got people to tune into it because he’s like, oh, now Mike’s released from bare-knuckle. But let’s be honest, everybody wants to see me fight bare-knuckle again.”
“The Problem Child” agreed with Perry’s assertions and vehemently criticized McGregor for swiftly turning his back on BKFC’s undefeated star.
“I saw everyone being like ‘Yeah, Mike Perry is the BKFC,’ which is true,” Paul said. “I think it’s f*ked up of him to be like dck riding you all week, like ‘Look what the BKFC has done for Mike and he’s our biggest star,’ and then all of a sudden he throws you under the bus like that.”
Perry has experienced tremendous success since departing from the UFC in April 2021 and has risen to become the biggest star in BKFC. He boasts an undefeated 5-0 record, with victories over high-profile fighters such as Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez, and Michael “Venom” Page.
Conor McGregor was on top of the MMA world by becoming the first UFC double champion in 2016. Instead of defending his titles, he boxed Floyd Mayweather in August 2017 and his returns to the Octagon since then haven’t been too pleasing for the fans.
“The Notorious” lost decisively to Khabib Nurmagomedov in October 2018. After a long break, he knocked out Donald Cerrone in 40 seconds to register KO wins in three UFC weight classes.
McGregor hasn’t entered the Octagon since losing to Dustin Poirier twice in 2021. With no confirmation regarding the rescheduling of the Michael Chandler fight, here’s whether McGregor has retired…
Has Conor McGregor Retired From The UFC?
No, McGregor hasn’t retired from the UFC. He’s repeatedly reacted positively to his return to the Octagon and reports suggest he’ll fight Chandler towards the end of 2024. The matchup will most likely be a part of UFC 310.
Having said that, “Mystic Mac” has a long history of shocking fans with retirement posts on his socials. Such announcements are believable because the Irishman has made a fortune over the years. Even Dana White claims that the former UFC double champ has no compulsion to risk his health fighting again.
For now, though, McGregor is adamant about fighting Chandler before the end of 2024.
Does Conor McGregor Still Have A UFC Contract?
Yes, McGregor still has a UFC contract. In a BKFC event held on July 18, 2024, he claimed to have two fights remaining on his contract.
The Dubliner’s current contract was signed ahead of his fight with Nurmagomedov with a five-year expiration date. Things have been rather complicated as he dropped out of the USADA testing pool temporarily during this period.
Regardless, fans can look forward to seeing him fight in the Octagon at least twice.
Conor McGregor Sheds Light On His Plans Post UFC Retirement
McGregor is now a part-owner of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, and he’s eager to fight for the promotion after completing the last two fights in his UFC contract.
“It’s money in the bank. So, you know, for me, I have a bit of business left with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, two fights left in my contract. But, for sure, we got three lightweights up here. And yeah, I have my eyes on all of this. I’m not up here just as an owner, I’ll play a manager, you know.”
Fans React To Conor McGregor Posting Screenshots Of DMs Sent To Khabib Nurmagomedov
McGregor’s latest jab that he fired at the former lightweight champion came in the form of a screenshot.
Surprisingly, at least on this social media platform, the post shows McGregor sending a direct message to Nurmagomedov for the first time on Instagram.
In reference to the former fighter’s current situation, “The Mac” sent him a message and jokingly offered to buy his house because he cannot afford it.
The women’s list, meanwhile, was topped by former two-division titleholder Amanda Nunes, who brought her career to an end following a successful defense of the bantamweight belt last June.
The “Lioness” pipped Cris Cyborg and Ronda Rousey to the post, with the pair of ex-champs coming in at second and third, respectively.
19 years 👋
Beginning, middle, and the end of all of these careers
The entries included a description of each woman’s accomplishments in the game. For Cyborg, that’s currently occupying the Bellator featherweight throne and formerly holding UFC, Strikeforce, and Invicta FC gold, making her the only fighter to win championships in four major MMA promotions.
McGregor, however, thinks ESPN missed out a key piece of information.
McGregor Sends Cyborg Reminder After Seeing ESPN List
The former featherweight and lightweight UFC champ was a point of discussion following the release of the men’s top 10, having missed out on a spot among the likes of Chuck Liddell and Kamaru Usman.
Perhaps agitated by his omission or simply keeping up with his habit of targeting fellow fighters on social media, McGregor looked to take away from Cyborg’s accomplishments and high placement on ESPN’s list with a reminder about her past drug failure.
Image: @TheNotoriousMMA on X
“Cyborg is a convicted steroid cheat let’s not forget,” McGregor wrote in a now-deleted post on X.
Cyborg tested positive for stanozolol, an anabolic steroid commonly used as a performance-enhancing drug, in December 2011. The California Athletic State Commission suspended Cyborg’s license for one year and fined her $2,500 for the indiscretion.
The Brazilian’s drug test failure remained a topic of conversation in the years that followed, with UFC CEO Dana White making reference to it prior to Cyborg’s bitter split from the promotion in 2019.
“We brought in her after she tested positive for steroids and we made her a clean athlete with the best drug testing policy in all of sports the entire time she was here,” White said during a media scrum. “When she talks about her legacy and her brand, her legacy and her brand, nothing’s better than knowing she’s a clean athlete after testing positive for steroids and all the negativity that surrounded her about being a dirty athlete. We bring her in here, we do all this stuff, and she was just never happy.”
Cyborg hasn’t tested positive for banned substances aside from the 2011 case.
When it comes to her legacy and spot in women’s MMA greatness, Cyborg appears far from done. While Nunes remains on the sidelines pondering a return from retirement, Cyborg has been pushing for her PFL debut since the promotion acquired Bellator.
By all accounts, the Bellator featherweight champ is being lined up to face her PFL counterpart, Larissa Pacheco, at a pay-per-view event in Saudi Arabia this fall.
However, in recent times, McGregor hasn’t needed much additional ammunition because of the news regarding Nurmagomedov’s on-going issues with the Federal Tax Service.
Mash.ru initially reported that the former UFC lightweight champion owed roughly $3.5 million in unpaid taxes to the Russian government.
The issues seem to stem from what was described as “uncovered irregularities in documents” regarding businesses that Nurmagomedov is invested in.
In the latest update as this case still unfolds, Mash.ru have now stated that he has had his car collection seized to a total of around $900,000, after his bank accounts were already frozen.
🚨 Enforcement proceedings have been initiated against Khabib Nurmagomedov for around $900K.
The case against Khabib was opened on July 5th and since that time he has been prohibited from leaving the Russian Federation. Bailiffs have launched a search procedure for his property… pic.twitter.com/4Ifh7Kpcf1
Conor McGregor Reposts Explains His Thoughts On Latest Khabib Nurmagomedov Update
McGregor has already commented on Nurmagomedov’s financial issues several times but he’s never going to miss an opportunity to take a free shot at his former foe.
Whilst he didn’t respond directly on this occasion, “The Mac” let his presence be known via reposting a video that was targeted at him.
Underneath the above post which details what vehicles have been seized, a fan responded with a video of McGregor driving his own boat to the soundtrack of “Still D.R.E”.
McGregor reposted the video without adding any additional context, not that it was necessary to get his point across successfully.
Chael Sonnen is stirring the pot once again, aiming his barbs at Conor McGregor and accusing the former two-division champion of fabricating his injury to dodge a fight at UFC 303.
“The Notorious” was set to make his eagerly awaited return to the Octagon against Michael Chandler in a welterweight bout, headlining UFC’s International Fight Week last month. However, just weeks before the fight, that anticipation was dashed when McGregor announced he had suffered a toe injury, rendering him unable to compete.
When the fight was canceled, Sonnen speculated that McGregor withdrew due to being in rehab for substance abuse. This theory provoked a heated rebuttal from the Irishman, who shared numerous photos of his bruised toe to refute the claim.
However, this didn’t deter the former UFC middleweight title challenger from questioning the authenticity of McGregor’s claims. Last month, he boldly asserted that the injury was a ruse, devised solely to avoid the bout with Chandler.
Sonnen Amplifies Scrutiny Over McGregor’s Toe Injury
During a recent video on his YouTube channel, “The Bad Guy” once again aired his doubts about McGregor’s alleged broken toe.
Sonnen scrutinized the timeline of events following his supposed injury and questioned why McGregor missed the Dublin press conference.
“I’m looking out for his version of a discolored pinky toe that may or may not be broken,” Sonnen said. “It wouldn’t explain the absence of a press conference, and that’s where you get jammed up. Where was it? Where could you have been that precluded you from coming to a press conference? You don’t have to drive yourself.”
Sonnen further speculated whether the photos of bruised toes McGregor shared on social media were genuinely his or possibly someone else’s.
“You start running out of options, and so when you go with a discolored pinky toe that may or may not belong to you and may or may not be broken, I’m just wondering, in hindsight, do you look back on that and think it was a little bit of a miss because we’re not owed an explanation?”
McGregor has been sidelined from active competition since fracturing his leg in the first round of his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.
Although his return has yet to be rescheduled, UFC CEO Dana White has hinted that McGregor won’t re-enter the Octagon before November. However, it remains uncertain whether he will face Chandler for his comeback.
Conor McGregor was furious at Mike Perry for losing to Jake Paul in boxing and surprisingly fired the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship’s “King of Violence”, following the fight.
Perry, in return, brought up his BKFC ownership and claimed to be immune from McGregor’s threats. However, the Irishman discarded “Platinum” coming from his position as part-owner of the BKFC and doubled down on firing him.
The sequence of events have naturally made fans curious about the state of the owners of the BKFC. Here’s whether McGregor owns the entire promotion and actually has the power to fire fighters like Perry…
Conor McGregor’s Part-Ownership Of The BKFC Explained
On April 28, 2024, McGregor announced on his social media accounts that he and McGregor Sports and Entertainment have become part-owners of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
The Irishman founded McGregor Sports and Entertainment in 2014, where his wife Dee Devlin works as the Director. The company was mentioned on banners during the promotions of Mayweather vs. McGregor as well.
However, Triller continues to be the majority shareholder of the BKFC even with McGregor and his company jumping in.
Who Owns The BKFC Apart From Conor McGregor?
As of July 2024, the BKFC is owned by the promotion’s president David Feldman, McGregor, and Triller.
Triller is an American platform for sharing videos and social networking. Perry claims to be a co-owner of the BKFC because he has shares in Triller but these claims were outright rejected by the “Mystic Mac”. In a now-deleted post on X, the former UFC champ said that Perry’s shares in Triller aren’t enough to make him a BKFC co-owner.
How Much Is The BKFC Worth?
In April 2024, Rolling Stone reported that the BKFC was valued at $411 million. This is a huge jump from making $500,000 in revenue in 2018, as the promotion has clearly acquired a host of new fans in the last few years.
For now, it is unknown how much of the BKFC is owned by Feldman, McGregor, and Triller.
By defeating the likes of Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez, and Michael ‘Venom’ Page, Perry has helped legitimize BKFC. Following his loss to Paul, is the former UFC contender really done for in the BKFC or will we see him returning to the promotion soon? Despite part-owner Conor McGregor’s social media outburst, the latter is almost a certainty.
Within just three years after making his UFC debut, Conor McGregor arguably become the most popular mixed martial artist in the world. He defeated notable featherweight contenders Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier and secured the division’s title by knocking out long-time champ José Aldo in just 13 seconds.
McGregor then moved up weight classes to deliver the iconic rivalry with Nate Diaz. After avenging his first UFC loss, the Irishman beat Eddie Alvarez to become the first double champ in UFC history.
“The Notorious” has lost three out of his last four UFC fights, though. With fans eager to see him back in the win column, here’s everything about when McGregor might fight again.
When will Conor McGregor return to the UFC?
While taking part in an event on July 18, 2024, McGregor responded positively to a reporter asking whether he’ll return to the UFC on December 14, 2024.
“That sounds good to me!”
For now, the official UFC schedule for 2024 is only updated up until UFC 308, which will take place in Abu Dhabi on October 26, 2024. However, there are speculations that December 14, 2024, is the scheduled date for UFC 310.
Ariel Helwani also suggested that the UFC might book McGregor vs. Chandler for UFC 310 in December. In an interview with ESPN MMA, the former UFC double champ himself admitted his return to be scheduled for the end of 2024.
So, for now, “Mystic Mac” is most likely to return to the UFC on December 14, 2024 at UFC 310.
Who is Conor McGregor’s next fight?
Michael Chandler is most likely to be McGregor’s next fight in the UFC. The lightweights coached the TUF Season 31 and were scheduled to fight at UFC 303.
Their fight was indefinitely postponed due to Conor McGregor and the UFC not being able to agree on a return date. While replacements were considered and offered to Chandler, he seems adamant about fighting “The Notorious”.
Why was McGregor vs. Chandler cancelled at UFC 303?
McGregor vs. Chandler was cancelled because the former had to pull out due to an injured toe. The injury wasn’t severe and McGregor even claimed to have fully recovered from it through a now-deleted X post.
The UFC appears to have a stacked schedule until UFC 308 in October 2024. This has stopped them from instantly re-booking the highly-anticipated matchup. As a result, fans should not expect “Mystic Mac” and “Iron” to battle it out anytime before the end of the year.
Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 23, 2024, we’re taking a look at:
Garcia sends a message to the Japanese fans
O’Malley fires back at McGregor and pulls no punches
Patchy Mix headlines Paris again on November 16
Ryan Garcia Announces His Attendance For SuperRIZIN 3 This Weekend Amidst Exhibition Rumors
Ryan Garcia has sent out a message via the RIZIN social media channels to announce that he will be in attendance at SuperRIZIN 3 this weekend.
The Japanese promotion returns to Saitama Super Arena on July 28 where boxing star Manny Pacquiao will be in action against Rukiya Anpo.
The video sees Garcia sending a message to the Japanese fans, when you can hear him over what appears to be construction work taking place in the background.
“Hello, Ryan Garcia here. My announcement is this. I’m heading to Japan. Heading to Japan because I’m going to be at the RIZIN event and I know they’re making noise but guess what? I go louder, I go harder and I cannot wait to meet all my fans in Japan. Arigato from my heart to your heart, I love you. I’mma learn how to say I love you in Japanese. I’mma tell every Japan I love them, konnichiwa.”
"To all my Japanese fans in Tokyo, I’M ON MY WAY! I‘m headed to Super Rizin 3. Stay tuned @rizin_pr"
Sean O’Malley Unloads On Conor McGregor In Recent Social Media Exchange
After they seemingly settled the beef not long ago, Conor McGregor couldn’t resist taking another slight dig at UFC bantamweight Sean O’Malley.
He quoted a post on X with a laughing face emoji that spoke about O’Malley pointing to a recent finding regarding how Ostarine can be transferred through sweat to explain his previous positive drug test results.
“Sugar” didn’t take long to reply and when he did, he appeared to sever any chance of rebuilding this bridge with “The Notorious”.
A pair of back-to-back posts made reference to McGregor’s current form inside the Octagon, UFC 303 withdrawal and referred to him a “drug addict” who “needs rehab”.
Suffice to say that the former UFC champ champ is not going to take these comments lightly.
Miss the old Conor :( you fell off bud. Still a fan tho. I actually don’t care you are 1-4 in your last 5 I’m stills excited to watch. Hope the toe is feeling better. https://t.co/ENSkQw1RmB
Conor isn’t in anyone GOAT talk. Entertainment yes but skills, no. Has a really good left hand. Shit Cardio. Weak Jits. Decently athletic. Mentally weak. Drug addict, needs rehab. 1-4 last 5 fights. Still fan tho. Hope toe heals up
Bellator Champions Series Announces Patchy Mix & ‘Baki’ For Paris Event On November 16
The Bellator Champions Series is heading back to Paris on November 16 and so is the bantamweight champion Patchy Mix.
He was last in action this past May where he closed the show at the French capital by defending his title via a controversial split decision win over Magomed Magomedov.
Mix is now set to return for the second time this year when he faces Brazil’s Leandro Higo who is coming off of back-to-back wins.
The co-main has also been announced with former Cédric Doumbé opponent Baissangour “Baki” Chamsoudinov finally making his return as he looks to stay undefeated against Sweden’s Oliver Enkamp.
𝙋𝘼𝙍𝙄𝙎… 𝙒𝙀'𝙍𝙀 𝘽𝘼𝘾𝙆! 🇫🇷
👑🇺🇸 Patchy Mix 🆚 Leandro Higo 🇧🇷
🇫🇷 Baissangour Chamsoudinov 🆚 Oliver Enkamp 🇸🇪
Patchy Mix returns to Paris on Saturday November 16, looking to defend his Bellator Bantamweight crown once more against Brazilian number one contender… pic.twitter.com/Eo6yOqDIPn
Conor McGregor may be among those who took Perry’s knockout loss to Jake Paul the roughest, publicly trashing both men before and claiming that “Platinum” will be released by the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
McGregor, who became a part-owner of BKFC a couple of months ago, fired off the posts on X (formerly Twitter) moments following Perry being stopped by Paul in their headlining boxing match at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, on Saturday night.
Perry was dropped twice in the opening two rounds, and while he tried to walk through Paul’s punches and walk the ex-Disney star down, Paul’s power and technical skills were just too much.
After getting dropped in the sixth round, Perry made it back to his feet but stumbled, forcing the referee to wave off the fight.
Perry Hits Back AT BKFC Part-Owner McGregor: ‘He Can’t Fire Me!’
Perry was asked about McGregor’s actions during his post-fight press conference. He claimed the Irishman has no power to release him. Perry even offered to settle the differences in the BKFC ring.
"Me and him are both owners of BKFC, so he can't fire me."
Mike Perry responds to Conor McGregor and says McGregor fighting Jake Paul would be "worse than Conor McGregor vs. [Floyd] Mayweather" 👀 #PaulPerrypic.twitter.com/fGo8klU0qY
“Me and him are both co-owners of BKFC,” Perry said. “So he can’t fire me. We can fight in Bare Knuckle. Look at me, I lost to Jake Paul. Why don’t you go fight Jake Paul in boxing with gloves on? I think it would be worse than Conor McGregor vs. [Floyd] Mayweather.”
McGregor’s post made reference to Perry announcing the formation of Dirty Boxing Championship, a promotion that will mix in boxing and ground-and-pound mechanics.
Perry is BKFC’s “King of Violence” and has amassed a 5-0 record in the organization since coming over from the UFC in 2021.
McGregor’s return to the UFC is still to be determined, meanwhile, after a planned comeback against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 was scrapped. The current rumor is the bout will be rebooked for UFC 310 in December.
Conor McGregor has been back in the headlines this week as he hosted his first press conference as part-owner of BKFC ahead of the company’s scheduled event in Marbella, Spain later this year.
The former UFC two-weight world champion was scheduled to fight in the Octagon for the first time in three years at UFC 303 recently, but a foot injury put paid to those plans. Speaking at the BKFC press conference, the Irishman revealed that he only has two fights left on his current contract with the UFC and said that he has ambitions to test the waters inside the bareknuckle ring once those commitments are fulfilled.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at five intriguing options we would love to see “The Notorious” face in BKFC.
Nate Diaz
The rivalry between McGregor and Diaz has simply refused to go away ever since the pair first met inside the Octagon at UFC 196 back in 2016. Diaz took the fight on short notice as a replacement for McGregor’s original opponent Rafael Dos Anjos and shocked the world by handing the then-featherweight champion his first defeat in the UFC.
https://youtu.be/G3ZsRG5gcNY?si=vAOP6EX4-yil60Ug
McGregor won an immediate rematch via majority decision just five months later and it seemed it would only be a matter of time before the pair would square off again. The rubber match never came, however, and Diaz fought out his UFC contract, finishing up with a submission victory over Tony Ferguson in September of 2022.
Although he failed to enter the title picture during his career inside the Octagon, Perry is now regarded as one of the biggest draws in combat sports outside the UFC.
Jorge Masvidal
“Gamebred” was a mainstay in the UFC’s lightweight and welterweight divisions between 2013-2023. He twice fought for the 170lb title against Kamaru Usman but was unsuccessful both times. After leaving the UFC (and temporarily retiring) in 2023 he recently made his first foray into the world of boxing when he faced Nate Diaz.
McGregor invited the former IBF and WBA welterweight boxing champion into his camp as a sparring partner in the lead up to his infamous boxing match against Floyd “Money” Mayweather back in 2017. After sharing multiple clips of McGregor knocking down Malignaggi during the workouts all over social media, tensions between the pair spiralled and rumors circulated that they would meet in a boxing match further down the line.
Malignaggi has carved out a career as a boxing commentator and analyst and has worked on BKFC events since his retirement from fighting. At 42-years-old, could we see him tempted into one more fight with his old rival?
After Nurmagomedov conclusively beat “The Notorious” at UFC 229 back in 2018 to claim the UFC lightweight championship, the Irishman campaigned tirelessly for a rematch. His disappointment at Khabib announcing his retirement just two years later was captured on camera during the filming of his documentary McGregor Forever, and the Dubliner has never missed an opportunity to berate Nurmagomedov when given the chance in the years that have passed.
During Conor McGregor’s first press conference as a part owner of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, he spoke about how he first got interested in the promotion.
For many, BKFC will come with a big barrier to entry because of the raw and brutal nature of the sport once the gloves are off.
Others will see this as a draw because by taking away the gloves, you’re one step closer to it being a true fight between two athletes rather than a sporting contest.
It was very much love at first sight for McGregor, who has always been passionate about boxing and supporting his fellow fighters.
His route into the sport and BKFC specifically came though a former member of the UFC roster.
Conor McGregor Says Former UFC Fighter Bec Rawlings Was His Introduction To BKFC
The success of BKFC owes a lot to former UFC fighters making the jump over and bringing some added attention and eyeballs with them.
Australia’s Bec Rawlings competed seven times in the Octagon before she was released by the promotion, which led to her finding her way to BKFC as one of the first fighters to make this switch.
“Rowdy” competed at the promotion’s very first event back in June of 2018 where she became the inaugural women’s featherweight champion.
After a brief stint in Bellator, she returned to BKFC in 2022 and last fought under their banner in December of last year.
McGregor spoke at a press conference for BKFC’s upcoming event in Spain about his initial experience with watching the promotion and how Rawlings was the first domino that set this path in motion.
“Just watch one fight and you’ll be hooked, like me. Now I started this, I watched a lady I know through the UFC named ‘Rowdy’ Bec Rawlings and she was a female world champion in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. I was just taken back by what the sport was, what it was about.
“Any real fighter, any real true fighter, inside of them knows that to have a bare knuckle fighting world championship is a real feather in the cap and then once I came down live to see an event, I was blown away by it.”
Conor McGregor was drawn to bare knuckle because of how intense and raw the sport is by taking away the gloves.
His decision to become a part owner in BKFC obviously comes from a business stand point where he knows he can add major value to this promotion on the rise.
At the same time, it’s clearly something that “The Notorious” is very passionate about because of the mindset of the fighters that step into such an unforgiving arena.
He believes that the sport of bare knuckle has one thing over any other combat sport and that’s the respect for the athletes.
Conor McGregor Says Competing In Bare Knuckle Comes With A Certain Amount Of Respect
Ask any boxer about whether they want to compete in MMA and you’re sure to get an answer along the lines of not wanting to spend time training their grappling skills.
However, ask most boxers or MMA fighters about competing in bare knuckle and the issue isn’t that it’s a new skillset for them to learn, it’s that it’s too damaging.
McGregor believes that this puts the athletes in BKFC on a pedestal in combat sports which makes them a small minority in an already very unique profession.
“The Notorious” spoke at his first press conference for the promotion where he used Mike Perry as a reference for how fighters can come and reinvent themselves in the promotion.
He believes that competing in this sport comes with a certain amount of respect in the combat sports world because frankly, most wouldn’t sign on the dotted line.
“Make a new name for yourself. Look at what has happened to Michael Perry, one of our big stars here, the ‘King of Violence’ he titles himself. He’s had such a rise in the sport, now he’s up against a little dweeb of a thing in a fight this weekend that we’re all rooting for him.
“This is the real deal. No one in this combat sports space can speak one bad word about a bare knuckle fighting world champion and that for me, is money in the bank.”
Conor McGregor’s first question that he faced at his very first press conference for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship was seemingly asked by himself.
“The Notorious” was in attendance at his debut media event since becoming a part owner of the promotion in April as they promoted BKFC heading to Spain on October 12.
The first question that came his way was delivered via an impression of “The Mac” himself as McGregor was asked whether he thinks his former UFC rival Khabib Nurmagomedov could ever make some quick money by competing in BKFC if needed.
“There is a well known rat, who owes his b******* off to the Russian government. You know, would you get that man to BKFC if that man needed a dollar or two, you know. He clearly needs the money to pay back the Russian government, the man is a fool of a thing. With bare knuckle, a man versus a man, let it all end there in the coliseum, the Conor-seum. Let’s make it happen, that little scurrying rat.”
McGregor, who laughed throughout, responded with one of his most iconic press conference lines.
“It sounds like I’m talking, who the f*** is that? Who the f*** is that guy?”
Conor McGregor Slams Khabib Nurmagomedov Over Financial Reports
After taking a moment to laugh about the impression, McGregor did answer the question to some degree about the former UFC lightweight champion who has recently been in the news over financial issues with the Russian government.
“The Notorious” spoke about how Nurmagomedov walked away from MMA, let alone stepping into bare knuckle which, as McGregor said himself, requires a certain type of person and mindset.
“The guy won’t even fight, come on. The one thing that really attracts me to this game is these are bad men and women here in this f****** company, for real, these are bad men and women. You’ve got to be, you’re all talking about cutting each other up. A jab splits the skin in this game so the stakes are on another level, the intensity is on another level and again, it’s what drew me to this.
“The Russian who, he’s not even a Russian, he doesn’t represent Russia. He owes his b*******, he’s gone running. I’d love to fight one of these m************ in bare knuckle but they won’t fight so.”
McGregor did say during the press conference that with two fights left on his UFC contract, competing in BKFC at a later date is something that he is interested in.
Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 18, 2024, we’re taking a look at:
McGregor teases BKFC future
Ankalaev was forced to shut Ngannou down
Curtis doubles down on Costa call-out
Conor McGregor Says Competing In BKFC Could Be An Option After UFC Run
Conor McGregor has completed his first press conference for BKFC since becoming a part-owner of the promotion in April.
He spoke ahead of BKFC 67 where “The Notorious” seemed to suggest that part of his investment in this company could see him take off the gloves and jump in the ring.
Referring to the fighters that are set to compete on October 12 in Marbella, he said that he’s not just here to talk about these athletes but potentially mix it up with them also.
“For me, I’ve a bit of business left with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, two fights left on my contract but for sure, we’ve got three lightweights up here on the deas and you know I have my eye on all of this. I’m not up here just as an owner, player-manager I’ll title myself on this one.”
Magomed Ankalaev Recalls Heated Sparring Session With Francis Ngannou
During a recent appearance on the Badaev Podcast, light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev told a story about an encounter that he had with Francis Ngannou.
Ankalaev claims that the two men sparred with one another some time ago until the former UFC heavyweight champion started to become overly aggressive towards him.
He was left with no option but to try and avoid any danger by grabbing hold of his sparring partner until the end of the round.
Ankalaev also states that he believes the reason Ngannou was going so hard at him in sparring was because he had knocked out one of his friends back in 2019.
“I saw that [Ngannou] wanted to drop me. He was generally aggressive. I quickly went to his feet, put him down and held him. I was waiting for the time to run out so I could say ‘don’t come near me again’. Then we found out the reason – it turns out he is a friend of [Dalcha] Lungiambula whom I had knocked out before.”
Chris Curtis Calls To Fight Paulo Costa And Says It Will Be Much More Entertaining Than Costa’s Fight With Sean Strickland
In a recent interview on MMA Junkie Radio, “Action Man” said that a match-up between himself and Costa would be a much more entertaining affair than Costa’s last outing against Curtis’s friend and teammate, Sean Strickland.
Curtis reflected how he studied “Borrachinha” extensively for that fight but the styles simply didn’t gel well in the co-main event of UFC 302.
He believes that he and Costa would make for a far better watch because unlike Strickland, he will be willing to stand in front of the Brazilian to trade strikes.
“I cornered Sean that fight. When he took that fight…I literally went back, watched all of the Costa fights, and I had like a freakin’ four-page bulletin report on what to do…everything that Costa does, when he does it, why I think he does it,” Curtis said. “I just think it’s a fight that I match up well with.
“Costa’s usually a really fun guy to watch but the Strickland fight was just weird for him because Sean’s a weird guy to fight,” Curtis continued. “I think me and Costa, I think we can just sit there and beat on each other until somebody falls, and I’m okay with that. Sean doesn’t want to fight that way. He’s not trying to get his head bust in. I will gladly stand in front of you and we will just swing at each other.”
“The Diamond” hinted pre-fight that it could mark his farewell win or lose, and his Octagon interview in the aftermath of being submitted in the fifth and final round suggested it was the end of a memorable career.
But in the weeks since, Poirier has had somewhat of a change of heart, revealing that he’s actually leaning toward another appearance in the cage in an attempt to exit the sport on a win.
And by the sounds of it, “The Diamond” has a small group of possible foes in mind…
Poirier’s Next Opponent ‘Definitely’ On Anik Shortlist
During a recent appearance on the Anik & FlorianPodcast, Poirier further addressed talk of his retirement and the potential for one final fight post-title defeat to Makhachev.
“After the Islam fight, when I got back home, I thought like, ‘Maybe this is it.’ And then a few weeks went by, injuries started hurting less and less post-fight, and I was like, ‘I gotta do this again.’ I’ve never lost two in a row. I can’t leave this sport on a loss,” Poirier said. “But at the same time, I wanna be 100 percent in it if I’m gonna do it again because I don’t want to disrespect the sport.”
And with close to confirmation that “The Diamond” will indeed feel the Octagon canvas beneath his feat at least one more time, Anik presented a list of potential opponents for the Louisianan.
Poirier was asked whether he expects his next rival to come from a shortlist of seven major names — Nate Diaz, Conor McGregor, Alexander Volkanovski, Justin Gaethje, Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira, and Colby Covington.
“100 percent,” Poirier said. “Yeah, for sure. If I do fight again, and when I do fight again, it’ll be definitely one of those guys you just said.”
Poirier has direct history with all but former featherweight kingpin Alexander Volkanovski, having already fought McGregor, Gaethje, Holloway, and Oliveira, trained with Covington before his bitter split from American Top Team, and had a previously booked showdown with Diaz fall through.
It remains to be seen which big name will get the call for what could be “The Diamond’s” farewell. But whoever it is, the matchup will no doubt be highly anticipated should it come from that seven-figure list.
More and more people won’t believe that Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler will occur until the two fighters are actually in the Octagon. Some, meanwhile, are believing that McGregor will just never fight again.
The Irishman, however, wants to assure Chandler and fight fans everywhere that the bout between the two will happen before 2024 ends.
In a tweet to “Iron,” McGregor stated that promise after apparently having a recent conversation with UFC CEO Dana White.
I talked to Dana today about our new date, all looking good! 24’ for sure 👍🙏
“I talked to Dana today about our new date, all looking good! 24′ for sure,” McGregor wrote.
Conor McGregor: Fight vs. Michael Chandler Will Happen Before End Of 2024
McGregor, in fact, posted a video on his social media showing him taking a run weeks removed from his toe injury, which led to the cancellation of his planned comeback at UFC 303 late last month.
Conor McGregor out on a run today via his Instagram 🏃
McGregor told @SevereMMA three weeks ago that he could barely put a shoe on after breaking his toe last month.
With McGregor back running and the toe seemingly healing well, could McGregor’s return be imminent? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/MQFN4k1xuR
McGregor and Chandler, after coaching season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter, were finally scheduled to face each other in the June 29 main event at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.
A June 3 press conference, however, was canceled at the last minute, with the fight officially being confirmed as postponed 10 days later.
Donald Trump, the 45th U.S. President and likely Republican nominee in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, is reportedly safe after being rushed off stage following an apparent assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The Associated Press reports that Trump said “Oh” and grabbed at his ear when the shots first rang out, with the presumptive Republican nominee crouching down as two more shots were heard.
Trump was tackled on stage by agents, who were covering to protect him from the gunfire, as screams were heard throughout the thousands gathered for the rally. When Trump got back to his feet, he appeared to have blood on his face but pumped his fist as he was escorted off stage and away from the scene.
Spokesman Steven Cheung subsequently released the following statement.
“President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act. He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow.”
Multiple reports, citing Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger, state that a suspected gunman and at least one member of the rally’s audience were killed.
UFC Fighters & Personalities React To Apparent Trump Shooting
Doesn’t matter what side of the political fence you’re on, this is major foul play! I heard they put the shooter down? Waiting for more updates. A fair fight for the office is better than someone trying to take the oppositions life. https://t.co/ncLId8w0xL
God loves this man! I’m happy that President Trump is ok. The left knows no bounds! They say they are the non violent ones. They will stop at nothing! Make sure you take screen shots of any leftist celebrating what happened today. pic.twitter.com/hL16Zuxzy2
THIS ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT WAS NOT ONLY AGAINST TRUMP!!! WAS AGAINST DEMOCRACY!!! NOW MORE THAN EVER ITS EASY TO SEE THERES BAD AND GOOD!!! CHOOSE YOUR SIDE!!!
Trump and UFC CEO Dana White have had a long-standing loyalty and friendship to one another dating back to the UFC’s early days. When Zuffa purchased the promotion at the start of 2001, the first two events (UFC 30 and UFC 31) were held at the then-Trump Taj Mahal (now the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino) in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
White was a big supporter of Trump during the 2016 and 2020 elections and appeared to continue to be such with Trump being the presumptive Republican Party nominee for the 2024 election.
The Pennsylvania rally was the last Trump was holding prior to the start of the Republican National Convention that begins on July 15.
Alex Pereira’s recent successful defense of his light heavyweight title at UFC 303 has added the Brazilian’s name to the ever-growing list of fighters who have successfully changed weight divisions within the UFC.
Today we take a look at some of the most notable examples (along with a few that didn’t fare quite as well).
CONOR McGREGOR
The original ‘champ-champ’. The first man to simultaneously hold championship belts in two different weight divisions. “The Notorious” signed with the UFC back in 2013 having won both the featherweight and lightweight titles in Cage Warriors and within two-and-a-half years he knocked out Jose Aldo to claim the 145-pound belt.
Image: Conor McGregor IG
Less than a year later, he put on perhaps the best display of his career when he beat Eddie Alvarez at the iconic Madison Square Garden to claim the 155-pound strap. He has also competed in the welterweight division, fighting Nate Diaz twice and Donald Cerrone. His recent (now postponed) comeback bout against Michael Chandler had been set to take place over five rounds at 170 pounds.
DANIEL CORMIER
“DC” enjoyed huge success fighting as a heavyweight prior to signing with the UFC in 2013. He beat Antonio “Big Foot” Silva and Josh Barnett to win the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix in 2012 and began his UFC career with wins over former heavyweight champion Frank Mir and Roy Nelson, before making the decision to move down to 205 pounds as his teammate Cain Velazquez was the heavyweight champion at the time.
https://youtu.be/4NCHPFS7VzQ?si=PPthrGer2lHnEjBH
Cormier submitted Anthony “Rumble” Johnson in 2015 to claim the vacant light heavyweight title, and three years later, he made the decision to move up and challenge then-champion Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight title. He shocked the world by knocking out Miocic in the first round, although the Cleveland-born firefighter gained his revenge by beating Cormier twice in 2019/2020, retiring him from the sport.
Image: Robert Whittaker Instagram
ROBERT WHITTAKER
“Bobby Knuckles” signed with the UFC back in 2012 off the back of some impressive performances on The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes and had mixed results during his time competing in the welterweight division. He won three of his first five fights, but losses to Court McGee and Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson convinced Whittaker to test the waters at 185 pounds.
What followed was an eight-fight winning streak, wins over the likes of Yoel Romero and “Jacare” Souza and the UFC middleweight title. Whittaker lost the belt to Israel Adesanya in 2022 but is still riding high in the division and finds himself in the title picture once again after his recent knockout victory over Ikram Aliskerov.
HENRY CEJUDO
The 2008 Olympic gold medalist won his first four fights inside the Octagon to earn a shot at then-UFC flyweight champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson back in 2016. Although Cejudo was knocked out in the first round, he soon worked his way back into title contention with some impressive victories over Wilson Reis and Sergio Pettis.
The rematch was a much closer affair, and “Triple C” ended Johnson’s record-breaking title reign and emerged victorious by way of a contentious split decision. A year later he moved up to 135lbs to challenge Marlon Moraes for the vacant UFC bantamweight title. He finished Moraes and then beat former champion Dominick Cruz in his first title defence in 2020, before relinquishing his belt and announcing his retirement, in what seemed like a power play due to contract issues with the UFC.
3 Fighters Who Moved Down A Weight Division…With Disastrous Results!
TJ DILLASHAW
TJ Dillashaw enjoyed two separate runs as UFC bantamweight champion. He shocked the MMA world when he destroyed Renan Barao at UFC 173 to capture the 135-pound belt. After losing the title to Dominck Cruz two years later, he regrouped and beat Raphael Assuncao and John Lineker to earn another shot at gold.
He knocked out former teammate Cody Garbrandt (who had won the belt from Cruz a year earlier), and after finishing “No Love” again in a rematch, made the decision to cut to 125 pounds to challenge Henry Cejudo for the flyweight title.
The decision proved disastrous. Dillashaw was knocked out after just 32 seconds, and a couple of months later it was announced he had been suspended for two years by USADA due to testing positive for EPO in the lead-up to the Cejudo fight.
He returned after his suspension ended and beat Cory Sandhagen to earn another shot at the 135-pound belt but went into the fight against Aljamain Sterling carrying a serious shoulder injury and was finished easily. He has since walked away from the sport.
CODY GARBRANDT
Cody Garbrandt came into that first bantamweight title fight with TJ Dillashaw unbeaten at 10-0 and riding high off the back of a career-best performance against Dominick Cruz. The two losses he suffered at the hands of Dillashaw seemed to affect him badly. He was also knocked out by Pedro Munhoz in his next fight, and although he would claim a highlight reel finish over Raphael Assuncao in 2020, a defeat to Rob Font soon afterwards convinced him a change was needed.
Image: Cody Garbrandt Instagram
With no discernible path back into the bantamweight picture, “No Love” decided to make the cut to 125 pounds for a fight against Australian flyweight contender Kai Kara-France at UFC 269. Another first-round knockout defeat followed, and Garbrandt stepped away from the spotlight for a much-needed break.
His return to the bantamweight division has been a little less calamitous. Wins over Trevin Jones and Brian Kelleher, followed by a submission loss to Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 300, have hinted that perhaps his future lies slightly outside of the title picture for now, but most definitely should be at 135 pounds.
DAN HOOKER
“The Hangman” picked up a string of impressive wins in the UFC’s lightweight division between 2017 and 2021, beating the likes of Paul Felder, Al Iaquinta, Gilbert Burns, and Jim Miller. His record at 155 pounds during that five-year spell sits at eight wins and four defeats, but losses against the biggest names in the division such as Michael Chandler, Dustin Poirier and Islam Makhachev convinced the Australian to think about a move down to featherweight.
Image: UFC.com
His featherweight debut against Arnold Allen in London, England ended disastrously. At six-feet tall, Hooker looked frail and weakened at 145 pounds and Allen destroyed him in little over two minutes. Hooker has since returned to the lightweight division and reeled off victories over Claudio Puelles and Jalin Turner.
One thing we know for certain: finding the right weight class is of paramount importance for a fighter. It can be the defining factor between a promising career and a championship legacy in the highly demanding world of the UFC.
Read More: Jon Anik Maintains Conor McGregor Has ‘An Itch That Can Only Be Scratched In The Octagon’ Amid UFC Return Uncertainty
Michael Chandler has not fought since his loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 281 in November of 2022.
He has spent the best part of a year and a half at this stage trying to answer questions of when he will be fighting Conor McGregor and whether this wait has been worth it.
Of course, fighting McGregor is an opportunity that simply doesn’t get any bigger in this sport but if the fight never happens, Chandler could have missed out on some incredibly significant time in his career now that he is 38 years old.
Chael Sonnen does not see it this way because of the goal that “Iron” Mike approached this fight with.
Chael Sonnen Argues That Michael Chandler Has Still Got What He Wanted Out Of Conor McGregor Without Fighting Him
Though some would consider this a big setback for the former Bellator fight because of how long he has waited, Sonnen believes that he has still gained massively from this period of his career.
“The Bad Guy” argues that by being spoken about in connection with the biggest fight that is possible means that he has been able to increase his own stock and name value without ever stepping inside the Octagon.
Sonnen argues that Chandler has been given the McGregor exposure without actually needing to fight him first.
“Michael Chandler, behind the scenes, his number one motivation to fight Conor McGregor, it was not some big huge lucrative payday like so many people think. Michael Chandler was playing a long game, he thought, ‘I match-up very well, Conor’s got the fans, I go in there, I beat him, I leave with all the fans’. Well, he’s kind of there. I mean, in all fairness, we’re all chomping at the bit to see Michael Chandler.
“What I’m trying to suggest for you is it doesn’t really matter. Michael Chandler, I believe, is a top five draw right now and I don’t believe after his last fight that he was. I think all this media, all this attention, the things that are dangling, you and I discussing him, I think he’s actually gone up. I think he got what he wanted without having to throw a punch.”
