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Tag: Conor McGregor

  • Joe Rogan Describes McGregor’s Bulked Physique As “Deceptive”

    Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor recently made waves by showing what appeared to be an incredibly bulked-up physique, but Joe Rogan doesn’t think all is as it originally seemed.

    For the first time since 2016, McGregor entered the Octagon twice in the same calendar year in 2021. But while he avenged a loss to Nate Diaz and became the first-ever simultaneous UFC double champ five years ago, his fortunes have been less favorable across the last 12 months.

    Having re-visited his rivalry with Dustin Poirier, whom he defeated back in 2014, McGregor saw his score with “The Diamond” fall from 1-0 to 1-2 in the space of six months. On Fight Island in January, the Irishman was knocked out for the first time. Fast-forward to July and a trash-talking iteration of McGregor left the cage on a stretcher after breaking his leg.

    Since his injury at UFC 264, McGregor has continually updated fans on his healing process and teased a return; in-between his antics outside the cage, of course. Earlier this month, the 33-year-old posted an image that appeared to suggest he’d packed on a significant amount of muscle. The upload even led many to believe he could be gearing up for a return to the welterweight division next year.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXh9PErtm5F/

    Discussing the image of McGregor and the Irishman’s current physical state during an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience, renowned UFC color commentator Rogan suggested the picture was slightly “deceptive.”

    According to the 54-year-old, who has been a consistent figure at the commentary desk since 2002, McGregor may have been lifting weights at the time, something which would have accentuated his physique when the photo was taken.

    “That’s him now, he’s super jacked. USADA’s gonna take a visit to him very soon. It’s a weird picture, honestly. I mean, he’s definitely jacked, but it looks to me like he’s in the middle of lifting. If you see a guy’s body in the middle of lifting, it’s a little deceptive… He’s still jacked. He still looks great. But when you lift weights, as you do it, like those bodybuilders go on stage before those big Mr. Olympia things, they all get pumped… He looks good though.”

    McGregor Targets A Return To The Octagon In 2022

    McGregor’s increased training and noticeable muscular gain appears to be in preparation for a return to the Octagon in 2022. With his fast-healing leg getting closer to full recovery, the Irishman appears as eager as ever to make the walk again, something he’s consistently expressed on social media.

    While an opponent is far from being decided, McGregor has ambitiously set his sights on the gold. Prior to UFC 269, he suggested he’d make his comeback against whoever is holding the lightweight title at the time. That’s despite his #9 spot in the rankings.

    After Charles Oliveira successfully defended his gold against McGregor’s rival Poirier, “The Notorious” megastar posted a series of tweets signaling his intent for a title clash with “Do Bronx” and another edition of Ireland vs. Brazil.

    But if his so called “special treatment” doesn’t land him an immediate return to championship fights, McGregor has a number of other options.

    As well as a potential trilogy clash with Nate Diaz, the likes of Michael Chandler and Max Holloway have also made their desire to face MMA’s biggest superstar well known.

    Who would you like to see Conor McGregor face in his return fight?

  • Flashback: Silva Promises To Slap McGregor After Jesus Comments

    Wanderlei Silva was not having any part of Conor McGregor’s comments about Jesus Christ six years ago, which the Brazilian considered to be blasphemous.

    The always-on-a-mission “Axe Murderer” took to social media two weeks after McGregor defeated Silva’s compatriot José Aldo at UFC 194 to release a video taking aim at the Irishman. Wanderlei Silva had plenty to say about McGregor’s comments about fighting Jesus, as well as the possibility of Aldo not getting an immediate rematch.

    Prior to Silva’s video, McGregor had made the following comments about a fight with Jesus Christ inside the Octagon.

    “Me versus Jesus in the Octagon? I tell you what, there’s not a man alive that can beat me,” McGregor told TMZ before UFC 194. “But Jesus ain’t alive so I don’t f—ing know. Maybe he can come back from the dead, I don’t know. I’d still whoop his ass.”

    Silva responded with the following comments in the new video released on his official Facebook page.

    “And this promotion, if they don’t give (Aldo) the immediate rematch, we will criticize them,” Silva said. “How? Everybody saw it was an accident, this a–hole was lucky. And when I meet this guy, for everything he said about Jesus, I will slap this motherf–ker in the face. You can’t do that. You can’t play with our God. When I meet you, raise your hand because you’re getting slapped in the face, you punk.”

    The rest of Silva’s comments in the video reads as follows:

    “I’m here to support one of the greatest champions, our greatest champion, Jose Aldo,” he said. “You continue to be our great champion. Wanderlei Silva continues to be your fan. I like you, I know what you can do, and I know you know that too. That has happened to be too, I’ve been through a moment like this you’re going through now.

    “I’ll tell you this: it hurts. It hurts. A warrior feels this pain with the loss. I know you will walk through this and show you still are the best fighter in the world. Don’t listen to the critics. I want to ask Brazilians to support our champion. Hold back the jokes. If you have any garbage inside your heart, don’t throw it outside. Keep it to yourself. Don’t criticize our champion. Our champion needs support.

    “He represents us for a long time. A guy that lived in a gym, had nothing, and became the best fighter in the world, deserves out respect to say the least. Aldo, I’m with you. You’re our champion, and that won’t change anything.”

    Of course, as we know, the rematch with McGregor and Aldo never took place. And as far as the public knows, Silva never had the opportunity to slap McGregor on sight.

    In 2021, McGregor and Aldo seem to be on good, or at least cordial terms, though, which wasn’t necessarily visible prior to UFC 194 or even immediately after the fight from Aldo’s side.

    You can check out Silva’s full video below.

  • Dana White Responds To The “McGregor Special Treatment” Narrative

    UFC President Dana White has argued against the perception that former two-division champion Conor McGregor wrongly receives special treatment from the promotion.

    While he’s certainly had a fall from grace in recent years, both inside and outside the Octagon, McGregor is undeniably MMA’s biggest superstar and one of the best to have ever fought on the sport’s grandest stage. On his way to becoming the promotion’s first-ever simultaneous double champ, the Irishman defeated the likes of Max Holloway, Dustin Poirier, Chad Mendes, José Aldo, and Eddie Alvarez.

    But since his 2016 lightweight triumph, McGregor’s performances have dipped. In just four fights in the five years since, “The Notorious” star has gone 1-3, with a single welterweight victory over Donald Cerrone surrounded by 155-pound failings against former foe Poirier and Khabib Nurmagomedov.

    Having broken his leg in his second loss of the year to “The Diamond,” McGregor will hope to return to his form of old when he makes his comeback in 2022.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CWJyRdsBvlB/

    Despite his setbacks and his brutal injury at UFC 264 in July, McGregor’s motivation and drive to keep fighting doesn’t appear to have dwindled. The Dublin native has consistently maintained his desire to keep making the walk, has provided updates on his recovery and increased training, and suggested he’ll return to full MMA sparring by April next year.

    McGregor even recently claimed he’ll make his comeback against whoever is holding the lightweight gold upon his return. That, understandably, has brought up concern amongst fans, pundits, and fighters about the possibility of McGregor jumping to the top of the queue despite his recent form and place in the rankings.

    Beneil Dariush, the current #3 contender who is set for a likely title eliminator against Islam Makhachev, even admitted the idea of McGregor being granted a special pass to the title worries him. With questions of privilege and special treatment being brought up yet again, Dana White has responded.

    White: McGregor Has Been “That Guy” Since Day One

    During an interview with Daniel Cormier on the DC Check-In, the UFC President explained why McGregor has been treated as a “special” individual by the promotion.

    “When we started this thing and this guy was on his rise—and believe me, I’ve dealt with a fuckin’ thousands fighters. ‘Oh, this isn’t the fight for me at this time’ and ‘This isn’t that, this isn’t this,’ this fuckin’ kid, we’ve been in a house that he was renting. I think it was when [José Aldo pulled out of 2015 bout]. This is what he said us: ‘I don’t give a fuck who you get. I’m going to work out. When you figure it out, call me and let me know.’

    “And then the Nate Diaz fight, another fight fell out for him, he said, ‘Well, let’s fight Diaz.’ ‘Well, do you want to do—’ ‘No, I don’t want it at catchweight. If I don’t fight him at this weight, it doesn’t matter. It’s bullshit if I don’t fight him at his weight.”

    White went on to suggest McGregor’s toughness and willingness to fight anyone has been a characteristic in his repertoire since day one. For that reason, he’s earned special treatment, according to the UFC kingpin.

    “Conor McGregor has been that guy since the day that he walked into this fuckin’ company. So for anybody to point the finger and say, ‘Oh, this guy’s getting special treatment…’ (Because) This guy’s special. This guy’s fuckin’ special. You know how many fighters I’ve fuckin’ dealt with that’ll talk to me about, ‘This isn’t good for my brand.’ ‘I’m not fighting my friends…’”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CW-lAT3JoWC/

    Even with the so-called “special treatment,” it’s hard to see McGregor walking straight back to the belt. If Poirier had beaten Charles Oliveira, that seemingly would have been a strong possibility. Instead, we could see the Irishman complete a tetralogy with “The Diamond” without the gold on the line.

    Alternatively, a trilogy with Nate Diaz, who is on the final fight of his UFC contract, seems inevitable sooner of later, whilst both Max Holloway and Michael Chandler have staked their own claims for a money fight with “The Notorious” megastar.

    Do you believe Conor McGregor wrongly receives special treatment from the UFC?

  • Paul: I Make More Than Every UFC Fighter Combined, Including McGregor

    Jake Paul isn’t afraid to boast about the leaps he’s made in and out of the boxing ring, including when it comes to the amount of money he’s made.

    This week, Paul claimed that he makes more than everyone on the UFC roster, including the promotion’s biggest star in Conor McGregor.

    Paul is fresh off of his sixth-round knockout over Tyron Woodley, which was the fourth overall in his young boxing career. After the fight, he called for fights with some of the UFC’s biggest stars, including Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal.

    During a recent episode of the IMPAULSIVE podcast, Paul went as far as to say that he makes more than all UFC fighters, which gives him leverage in any future negotiations with them.

    “I make more than every UFC fighter f****** combined, including Conor,” Paul said. (h/t The Mirror)

    Paul went on to explain his reasoning behind the claim that he out-sells the UFC roster.

    “Y’all work for f***ing Dana, y’all work for WME, Endeavor, that’s who you work for. I make more than all of you silly mother*******. Why would I go into the UFC? Sign a contract and give away my f***ing rights and s***. I own my content, I own my platform, I own everything.

    “They don’t own s***, they are literally employees. I’m a f****** CEO and every UFC fighter is an employee. Get that straight. I’m not coming over there and doing s*** with y’all. Suck my nuts.”

    Coincidentally, McGregor made a similar claim to Paul’s just months ago when he topped the Forbes highest-paid athletes list and opted to boast about his wealth.

    Paul & Masvidal Are Negotiating On Social Media For A Fight

    Paul has turned his attention to a potential fight with Masvidal, as tensions between the two sides escalate. Paul and Masvidal recently went back-and-forth on social media regarding a potential opportunity to box each other.

    Masvidal also invited Paul to fight on a one-fight deal in the UFC if the promotion doesn’t let him out of his contract.

    It’s unclear if the Paul vs. Masvidal deal will ever get done, either in the Octagon or in the ring. In any event, Paul seems hell-bent on another matchup with a UFC star in the ring as he continues to change the landscape of boxing.

    What are your thoughts on Jake Paul’s comments?

  • Masvidal Calls on Paul, McGregor, Covington or Edwards to “Sign The Contract”

    Jorge Masvidal is no longer holding back and is calling out some potential opponents.

    Jorge Masvidal is gearing up for a fight. Although he doesn’t have one name in mind, he is now calling for a bunch of fighters to answer his call.

    Masvidal has taken to his Instagram to make a few call-outs while filming a video of himself skiing. In the post, he expresses his feeling about a few of the most popular fighters today and asks for them to sign a contract.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXzQiVqII-J/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=6eed3bde-7f5e-4880-b089-9c23b7fbe793

    “I’m off the injury list and these little b—hes don’t want to sign the contract. The contracts have been handed,” Masvidal said (via Sportskeeda.) “It’s in their f—ing face, they know I’m off the injury list. I’m trying to get some paychecks, but in the meantime, since I can’t rip these b—hes up, I’m going to rip these mountains up.”

    Masvidal did have a fight lined up with Leon Edwards for Dec. 11; however, Masvidal was forced out of that fight after suffering from an injury. He claims he is healed up now and could entertain rescheduling with Edwards.

    Masvidal is one of the most wanted fighters on the UFC roster at this time. He seems to have his choice of multiple opponents. He named a few top prospects while on top of the mountain.

    “You little pu–ies got to blurt my name out, then actually sign the contract. From that little actress that works at Disney Channel [Jake Paul], forgot his name, he just fought. To the little b—h that sells cheap-a-s whiskey [Conor McGregor] to the fragile motherf—-er that’s always getting his face broken [Colby Covington] – all you little b—-hes can get it, man,” Masvidal said. “The one who’s in England that was talking s–t [Leon Edwards], you too, man. Come on, one of you sign the dotted line. Let’s go. Yes, I’m going to embarrass you and knock you the f–k out.”

    The most likely options from this bunch seem to be Covington and Edwards. As mentioned, Edwards had agreed to face Masvidal earlier this year and could very well agree to do so again, especially with champion Kamaru Usman asking for time off.

    Another possible scenario is Masvidal and Covington being paired together, perhaps even coaching opposite each other on a season of The Ultimate Fighter. This is something that they both have expressed interest in.

    Whichever option should come to light, fans will be happy to see Masvidal healed up and ready to get back to work.

    Who from this list would you like to see Jorge Masvidal face next?

  • Charles Oliveira Doubles Down On McGregor Interest, Targets May Bout

    UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira is set on facing Conor McGregor and has issued a date to the former two-division champ.

    In many people’s eyes, the lightweight division is the deepest and most stacked in the UFC. Oliveira has proven that he is the best and has beaten some of the best already.

    However, for his next bout, he wants to take on a man who hasn’t won at 155 pounds since 2016. Oliveira and McGregor have been going back and forth about fighting each other. Oliveira has set out a timeframe for this targeted match with McGregor as told to Sherdog.

    “May would be a wonderful date,” Oliveira said. “Conor challenged me asking a date, and tweeted Ireland vs. Brazil 2. Not only him, but also myself and all the world wants to see that fight.

    “So let’s make it happen. I’m waiting for him in May. It may be in welterweight, lightweight, or middleweight, with my title on the line or not. Just choose and I´ll be ready.”

    Conor McGregor began asking for a fight with Oliveira right after he became champion. He once again began his hounding when Oliveira beat Poirier. Oliveira accepted McGregor’s challenge, but there might be one man standing in the way.

    Justin Gaethje
    Justin Gaethje, Image Credit: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

    The UFC and Dana White have already expressed that Justin Gaethje would be the next man in line for the title shot. If that is the case, Oliveira says he will agree.

    “Gaethje was knocked out by Poirier, who I just submitted. He was almost knocked out by Chandler, who I beat via TKO, but I’m a UFC employee,” Oliveira said. “If they choose that I should fight Gaethje next, I’ll be ready too.”

    It seems unlikely that McGregor will receive a title shot after two losses in a row and returning from a leg break. However, he is the most popular fighter on the roster and his fights do sell the most tickets and pay-per-views, and the UFC has given McGregor other opportunities that the rest of the roster doesn’t get.

    McGregor’s timeline for return is unclear, so he may very well have to wait for his shot at Oliveira and the belt until after Gaethje has his shot.

    Do you think the UFC would give Conor McGregor an immediate title shot against Charles Oliveira upon return?

  • John Kavanagh Responds To Firing Calls After McGregor’s Losses

    SBG Ireland headman John Kavanagh isn’t losing sleep over calls for him to be terminated following UFC star Conor McGregor’s recent struggles.

    Kavanagh has most recently been the target of UFC commentator and former fighter Michael Bisping, who called for Kavanagh to be let go by McGregor’s inner circle.

    It all started when Kavanagh seemed more jovial than many believed he should’ve been after McGregor suffered a TKO loss via doctor’s stoppage to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. Bisping went as far as to say that Kavanagh should be “fired immediately” after his reaction.

    During a recent interview with The Mirror, Kavanagh responded to Bisping’s comments along with overall calls for him to step aside as McGregor’s coach.

    “I wouldn’t say I was hurt, I wasn’t going, ‘Oh, no, Bisping said something’, that’s his opinion and everybody is welcome to their opinion,” Kavanagh said. “I’m always self-critical but if I’m being 100 percent honest, it’ll be the people closest to me saying something – I have a lot of very honest people around me – that’ll be what makes me really stand up and think.

    “So look, things are looking up and to Bisping I’d say ‘thanks very much for the constructive criticism’, keep it coming and we’ll keep trying to improve.”

    Kavanagh also feels that Bisping’s remarks are an example of a larger pattern of SBG Ireland being held to a different standard because of McGregor’s fame.

    “So we’re judged under a different set of rules to everybody else, and that’s fine because we also get a lot of benefits from the 2,000lb gorilla that is Conor,” Kavanagh said.

    “We get a lot of attention here, lots of great opportunities, my fight team gets to be involved with big shows.

    Conor McGregor, John Kavanagh Have Worked Together For Years

    McGregor has been at SBG Ireland with Kavanagh since before he became one of the UFC’s biggest superstars. His time with the gym stems from his title wins in Cage Warriors before ultimately making the move to the UFC.

    McGregor hasn’t won in the Octagon since his first-round finish over Donald Cerrone at UFC 246. He has lost three of his last four fights overall, with defeats to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Poirier(2).

    As of now, it seems like McGregor doesn’t have any plans to move away from his roots with Kavanagh and SBG Ireland. As he gets ready to make his UFC return in 2022, he’ll look to get back in the win column with Kavanagh in his corner.

    What are your thoughts on John Kavanagh’s response to Michael Bisping?

  • Gaethje Questions If McGregor Paychecks Affected Poirier At UFC 269

    UFC lightweight contender Justin Gaethje has questioned whether Dustin Poirier’s lucrative fights with Conor McGregor earlier this year may have hampered his performance against Charles Oliveira at UFC 269.

    At the final pay-per-view of 2021, many expected Poirier to secure his place in contention for Fighter of the Year through a title crowning. In January, “The Diamond” got his 2014 loss to McGregor back by becoming the first man to knock the former two-division champion out. Six months later, the pair headlined their second event of the year. Poirier secured the trilogy victory after the Irishman broke his leg in the opening round.

    Following two lucrative money fights, Poirier turned his attention back to the belt. He became the first man to challenge the reign of fellow promotional veteran Charles Oliveira at UFC 269.

    Despite entering the fight as the favorite, the Louisianan had a dose of déjà vu from his previous title attempt in 2019. Like against Khabib Nurmagomedov, Poirier was submitted with a rear-naked choke in the third round by “Do Bronx.”

    UFC 269: Dustin Poirier suffers more title heartache as Charles Oliveira chokes him out to retain lightweight title
    Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier, UFC 269

    The result has seemingly set the stage for new #1-ranked contender Gaethje to have his second crack at the undisputed gold in 2022. Following the main event fight that likely determined which individual he’ll be looking to dethrone next year, “The Highlight” discussed the action that unfolded in an interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto.

    Gaethje suggested that Poirier’s previous outings in 2021 may have had a negative impact on his drive to succeed at UFC 269. Having earned millions with two triumphs over MMA’s biggest superstar, the Arizona native believes Poirier may have had less hunger than before this year.

    “Luckily for me, I’ve just lost a fight two fights ago. You know, I’m back here in this position, but when you get to the top and you lose, you’re not sure if you’re gonna get back. And I’m not coming off two (fights) where I just made $10 million-plus, at the end of the day. (I have) the same goals I had from day one, which are to represent my family, my country, my town, to inspire the world, and to gain economic comfortability for me and my family through this sport.

    “I don’t have that yet, so of course I’m still as hungry as ever. I can’t say that’s why Poirier wasn’t or was; I don’t think he wasn’t hungry, I just, I don’t know. I can’t imagine… I hope one day I know how hard it is to get ready for a fight coming off those two big paychecks.”

    Gaethje Suggests Oliveira Had “More Hunger” At UFC 269

    Whether the McGregor fights had a significant part to play or not, Gaethje, who was in attendance for Oliveira’s first title defense, believes the Brazilian had “more hunger” on the night. Nevertheless, “The Highlight” acknowledged there was more to the result than just that, also suggesting “Do Bronx” is simply better at this moment in time.

    “You know, I think he’s (Oliveira) better right now (than Poirier), more hungry, per se, more specifically. That’s such a huge factor, and then the confidence, the fact the belt is around his waist, he’s representing Brazil on that level, it just makes this man that much harder to beat. I think that was a big piece of it.”

    Having previously doubted the toughness and resolve of Oliveira, Gaethje will now look to prove himself right and do what Poirier failed to do when he gets his own shot at the Brazilian’s gold next year.

    Do you agree with Justin Gaethje? Did Charles Oliveira have more hunger than Dustin Poirier at UFC 269?

  • Archives: Jorge Masvidal Thinks He’d Embarrass Kamaru Usman (2019)

    In 2021, UFC fans are well aware that Kamaru Usman is 2-0 against Jorge Masvidal, which includes one of the front-runners for knockouts of the year at UFC 261. On this day two years ago, however, not only had Usman and Masvidal not yet fought, but they were not even booked to fight.

    In fact, Usman was only days removed from his first successful title defense against Colby Covington. Nevertheless, Masvidal shared his prediction for how a fight against Usman would go. With the benefit of hindsight, fans can weigh the forthcoming comments against the tide of reality.

    The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of the MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Two Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED DECEMBER 19, 2019, 6:26 PM]

    Headline: Jorge Masvidal Thinks He’d Embarrass Kamaru Usman, Targets Conor McGregor First

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    Jorge Masvidal believes only casual fans feel Kamaru Usman has a chance against him.

    Masvidal’s stock has never been higher and he has some options. “Gamebred” is riding a three-fight winning streak and is coming off a third-round TKO victory over Nate Diaz at UFC 244. Masvidal’s popularity has skyrocketed and potential bouts with Nick Diaz, Conor McGregor, and UFC welterweight champion Usman are all possibilities.

    Masvidal Says He’d Embarrass Usman, Sets Sights On McGregor

    Usman scored a fifth-round TKO victory over Colby Covington this past Saturday night (Dec. 14) to retain his UFC gold for the first time. In a series of video clips posted by Hans Molenkamp through Instagram Stories, Masvidal said he doesn’t believe Usman would stand a chance against him.

    “Before I could even challenge for this belt, this is what a lot of people don’t know. A lot of people say that I’m an overnight success story and this and that. I say f*ck you. I say I’ve been here 16 years. You can do the math on how many nights of staying up, no sleep at the gym to finally get here. And now they’re saying that this one dude, this old dude from Africa is the best guy at my weight. I beg to differ man. I think I’d embarrass him to the point that people, they’d think that I went full heel on him from just the embarrassment I’d give him on TV because our skillsets are nowhere near the same. And if you’re hearing this right now and you’re thinking Kamaru has a chance, you’re the f*cking casual because my lineage runs 16 years back of being in this f*cking game.”

    Masvidal made it clear that he is targeting Conor McGregor before anyone.

    “The first guy to get his ass f*cking kicked and his teeth f*cking punched in is Conor. That’s the first guy that gonna get the floor wiped with. And then after that we’ll sit back and decide who’s next, you know?”

    McGregor is scheduled to return to action on Jan. 18. He’ll take on Donald Cerrone in the main event of UFC 246 in Las Vegas. The bout will be contested in the welterweight division.

  • Flashback To Nate Diaz Planting The Seeds For Iconic McGregor Callout

    Two days before Nate Diaz’s callout of Conor McGregor at UFC on FOX 17 in 2015, he had already planted the seeds for that iconic moment.

    One week prior to Nate Diaz’s 2015 bout against Michael Johnson, Conor McGregor had effectively hijacked the entire sport of MMA in 13 seconds. His star was past the moon, and fighters across the UFC roster had taken notice. Among this list was none other than Nate Diaz.

    It’s hard to imagine MMA history without the McGregor/Diaz sequel. Yet, there was a very high chance that we would have never seen that bout. When McGregor captured the featherweight championship from José Aldo at UFC 194, Nate Diaz was not at all in the lightweight title picture. And McGregor had already set his sights on champ-champ status with the full support of the promotion, which went on to book McGregor vs. then-lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos for UFC 196.

    Some may only remember Diaz’s viral callout after defeating Johnson, but that was not the first time he challenged The Notorious One. Two days prior to the Diaz/Johnson bout, he was already looking ahead to a potential money fight against McGregor. Check out this clip below.

    “He don’t want that fight,” Diaz told MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani of McGregor on this week six years ago. “You’re going to fight those guys who you punked at the press conference? You guys lost. I don’t know if people think about it like that. When I saw that, I was a fight fan. I’m not a fan anymore. I signed up for fighting to let you know I’m the motherf*cking … you know? What did you sign up for? I’m a fighter. You’re going to sit there and steal the show at my press conference? Then I’m going to step the f*ck up. Conor did a great job. He did a great job. That’s what you’re supposed to do. If he wants to come up and get the money fight, get the good fight … you know where that’s at.”

    The press conference Diaz is referring to is the GO BIG press conference of 2015, which saw McGregor steal the show with his trash-talking of multiple fighters, including Rafael dos Anjos, Chad Mendes, and Donald Cerrone. It was also the birth of McGregor’s famous “red panty night” line. 

    Here, Diaz voiced his desire to fight Conor McGregor in a money fight and stand up to the Irishman, something which he clearly felt his peers at the GO BIG press conference did not do.

    Then, after Diaz defeated Michael Johnson at UFC on FOX 17 two days later, we got this piece of MMA history:

    “Fuck that! Conor McGregor, you’re taking everything I worked for, motherfucker. I’m gonna fight your fucking ass. You know what’s the real fight, what’s the real money fight: It’s me! Not these clowns that you already punked at the press conference. Don’t nobody want to see that. You know you beat them already. That’s the easy fight. You want that real shit. Right here.”

    Fortunately for Diaz, Rafael dos Anjos would later pull out of his UFC 196 bout against McGregor, which allowed Diaz to step in on short notice and get what he wanted. And Diaz, McGregor, the UFC, and MMA history would never be the same again.

  • Archives: White Reveals His Biggest Problem With Conor McGregor (2018)

    On this day three years ago, we ran a story where Dana White confessed that there is one thing that does bug him about the biggest cash cow in the history of his promotion.

    The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of the MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Three Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED DECEMBER 19, 2018, 5:05 PM]

    Headline: Dana White Reveals His ‘Biggest Problem’ with Conor McGregor But Adds ‘He’s Worth It’

    Author: Damon Martin

    Conor McGregor is the biggest superstar in UFC history and because of that he’s been given more latitude than the average athlete on the roster.

    UFC president Dana White has fully admitted as much when talking about the former two-division champion and his status with the company he’s helped earn million upon millions of dollars since first arriving.

    Even when McGregor assaulted a bus filled with fighters back in April, he faced no retribution from the UFC, although he did spend a night in jail and could potentially pay out millions in lawsuits over the incident.

    Still, White says McGregor is worth any headache he causes but largely he’s been a model citizen for most of his UFC career.

    That said, White will point out one issue he has with McGregor that he wishes would change if for no other reason than problems he causes with their television partners.

    “Is Conor hard to deal with here and there? Yeah but he’s worth it,” White said when speaking to the Barstool Sports podcast. “If people ask me what’s the biggest problem you have with Conor? It’s not showing up on time.

    “Other than that, Conor’s incredible. Conor’s a fun guy to be around, he’s hilarious, he’s a great fighter, he’s fun to watch. If the guy showed up on time, he’d literally be perfect. He’d be perfect.”

    White said that McGregor’s constant absenteeism at the start of press conference have caused more problems than anything else because many of those events are broadcast on television.

    Unfortunately, McGregor has a tendency to live on his own time schedule and that has resulted in his late arrival to numerous events.

    In fact, McGregor was so late for his final press conference showdown for the fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov back in October that the reigning lightweight champion just got up and left rather than wait for him any longer.

    McGregor always offers an apology for his lateness but White still wishes he could find a way to be on time more often.

  • Nate Diaz Lays Down Two Conditions For McGregor Trilogy Fight

    Nate Diaz has laid out two conditions under which he will share the Octagon with Conor McGregor again.

    The last time Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor faced one another was five years ago at UFC 202. Since that bonafide classic, the two have never let up on continuing fighting on social media. It seems only a matter of time until the never-ending Twitter spats between these rivals culminate in a trilogy fight. Or is it?

    Conor McGregor has stated that a trilogy fight with Diaz is sure to happen at some point. Diaz, however, isn’t so sure. In fact, he has shared two specific terms that must be met before he would ever agree to compete with the Irishman again.

    “I’m not fighting Conor until his leg grows back and he beats some people so we know he can even fight still till then Can I get on January card @ufc Thanks.”

    Diaz is facetiously referencing the leg injury McGregor suffered in his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 that brought an end to the bout. McGregor would immediately undergo surgery after the event and is expected to return next year after a relatively speedy recovery.

    McGregor and Diaz are still deadlocked at 1-1, with Diaz surprising the world but not himself with his submission victory over McGregor at UFC 196 and then McGregor edging out a decision over Diaz at UFC 202.

    Nate Diaz has one fight remaining on his contract. There were rumblings this week that the UFC would like for that one fight to be against Conor McGregor, but if Diaz’s terms are to be taken seriously, then the UFC should start making other plans. One option that has just emerged is none other than Dustin Poirier, who has exchanged mutual interest with Diaz in making that elusive fight a reality.

    How do you believe Conor McGregor will perform when he returns to the Octagon?

  • Charles Oliveira Approves Conor McGregor’s Request For LW Title Shot

    UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira has given the green light for his red-panty night.

    Conor McGregor has let it be known that when he makes his return to the Octagon, he expects to be greeted with a world title shot. Being that McGregor is currently ranked down at #9 and has not won a fight since January 2020, not everyone is taking his expectation seriously. However, one of the only people whose opinion matters, Charles Oliveira himself, is very much on board with the idea.

    “If I had the chance [in the past] to fight for the belt or fight Conor, everybody knows I’d fight for the belt,” Oliveira told MMA Fighting through translation. “That already happened, I’m the champion now. The champion has a name and his name is Charles Oliveira, Charles ‘do Bronx.’ If I had the chance to fight Conor for money today, I would. The belt is mine and continues being mine. We’ll continue building our legacy and making history.”

    With Oliveira being the undisputed UFC lightweight champion, he certainly has a say in what is next for him. UFC President Dana White has already confirmed that the current plan is for Oliveira to defend his title against Justin Gaethje next. But if the choice were Oliveira’s, the champion insists that he’s no dummy and would opt for the cash grab.

    “If I had the opportunity to fight Conor, I would definitely fight Conor. The belt is mine regardless. The division has to get by and wait a little bit. There’s nothing else to do. We have to think about our families, our children, think about what we can do down the line.”

    Oliveira would have little sympathy for his lightweight peers if McGregor jumped the line because they weren’t willing to give him an opportunity before he became champion. That being said, Oliveira doesn’t intend on lobbying for the McGregor fight and will continue to be a company man and fight whomever the promotion wants him to, including #1 contender Justin Gaethje.

    “That happened to me,” Oliveira said. “I was the No. 7 in the rankings and wanted to fight [top contenders] and they didn’t want to. The champion has a name now, we’re part of the same organization, and I’ll fight whoever the UFC puts against me. If they say it’s Conor, I’ll fight him. If they say it’s Justin, I’ll fight him. I just want to go home now and get some rest with my daughter and go back to the cage as soon as possible.”

    What would be your reaction if Conor McGregor skipped the line to a title shot against Charles Oliveira?

  • McGregor Again Mocks Dagestan In Response To Makhachev

    UFC lightweight contenders Conor McGregor and Islam Makhachev are it again on Twitter, this time regarding McGregor’s planned title shot.

    McGregor and Makhachev, to the surprise of no one, are not exactly the best of friends. McGregor has had arguably one of the most intense beefs in UFC history with Makhachev’s teammate, Khabib Nurmagomedov.

    But things turned up a notch in light of McGregor’s recent claims that he’s going to get an immediate title shot upon his Octagon return. He’s still recovering from a leg injury he suffered against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 and is planning a return bout for some time in 2022.

    McGregor has called out lightweight champion Charles Oliveira in recent days, with the champion responding that he could be ready to go as soon as this weekend. Makhachev, who is arguably just one win away from a title shot in his own right, blasted McGregor for attempting to cut the line.

    “Your fight is on February 30th,” Makhachev said.

    In a since-deleted tweet, McGregor turned it up to 11 by once again accusing Makhachev’s home nation of Dagestan of promoting a culture of inbreeding.

    @TheNotoriousMMA on Twitter (Screenshot)

    Conor McGregor, Islam Makhachev Could Be On Collision Course in 2022

    McGregor remains adamant that he’s in the thick of things in the UFC lightweight title picture, despite losing back-to-back fights to Poirier. He is currently listed as the No. 9 UFC lightweight in the latest rankings.

    Makhachev, at No. 4, is slated to face Beneil Dariush in a lightweight showcase in February. He has won nine fights in a row and is coming off of arguably the best performance of his career against Dan Hooker at UFC 267.

    A UFC pay-per-view featuring McGregor and Makhachev could potentially happen sooner rather than later, and will certainly stoke the flames of McGregor’s hostility towards Dagestanis. Depending on who the promotion opts to match McGregor up with in his return, he could face Makhachev shortly.

    Who do you want to see Conor McGregor fight next in his return?

  • Chandler Questions Why McGregor Would Fight ‘Quitter’ Poirier Over Him

    Michael Chandler doesn’t see why Conor McGregor would fight Dustin Poirier again after UFC 269.

    After Chandler suffered a hard-fought decision loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 268, he called out Conor McGregor. It certainly would be a very entertaining fight and a scrap that does make some sense. Yet, the Irishman made it clear he wanted a title shot when he returned, but after Poirier lost to Charles Oliveira at UFC 269 for the belt, many thought McGregor-Poirier 4 might happen next.

    However, for Chandler, he doesn’t think McGregor would fight a quitter in Poirier next time out.

    “I would never ever quit… I went out on my shield after being separated from consciousness congrats to Oliveira,” Chandler wrote.

    “The way I see it…the whole world wants to see me rematch 2 out of the 3 fights I’ve had in the @ufc … that’s how you come in and make a statement. I’d never QUIT. Congrats to Oliveira… punch your ticket with Gaethje this summer and I’ll see you at the end of 2022.”

    “I make ill-advised decisions at times,” Chandler wrote. “But I’m there to put y’all on the edge of your seat so you miss me when I’m gone. I promise you will. Most of these guys are here to “play MMA.”

    Although Michael Chandler knows he isn’t getting a title shot, he still is campaigning for the fight against Conor McGregor. He went on to explain why he deserves the crack at the Irishman more than Poirier does.

    “Why would the biggest name in the sport come back and fight a guy who QUIT over a guy who is the second most electrifying guy in the division?,” Chandler added.

    There is no question Chandler wants the McGregor fight, but so does the rest of the lightweight division. It most likely will come down to who the Irishman wants to fight, but a McGregor-Chandler fight would be massive if it happened.

    Would you like to see Michael Chandler vs. Conor McGregor?

  • Conor McGregor Sets Sights On Charles Oliveira Fight Upon UFC Return

    Conor McGregor has doubled down on his expectations of receiving a title shot upon his UFC return by getting an early start on hyping a fight against Charles Oliveira.

    At UFC 269, Charles Oliveira logged his first successful lightweight title defense when he submitted Dustin Poirier in the main event. UFC President Dana White has confirmed that Justin Gaethje will be next up for Oliveira, and Gaethje is already salivating at the future showdown.

    However, according to Conor McGregor, there is an X-factor in the 2022 lightweight title equation.

    Conor McGregor Sets His Sights On Charles Oliveira

    Last month, Conor McGregor caught many by surprise when the #9-ranked contender said he would be challenging for the lightweight title when he returns to action in 2022. Now that the UFC 269 dust has settled, McGregor again inserted himself into the lightweight title picture.

    “So what date am I fighting Oliveira?” McGregor asked Monday morning. He would then begin promoting the fight as a future international incident in the tweet below.

    McGregor would also share an image of himself in the gym with a UFC world title around his waist and a poster of himself hoisting up two UFC titles at UFC 205 in the background.

    It seems McGregor may be expecting to skip Justin Gaethje in the lightweight title queue since he singled out Oliveira instead of generalizing a title shot being next for him.

    Many would expect a fourth fight between McGregor and Dustin Poirier after the Irishman’s adamance at receiving a rematch following his doctor’s stoppage loss at UFC 264. With Poirier not capturing lightweight gold, there is nothing standing in the way of immediately booking that fight again, an idea that Dana White has expressed interest in.

    Dustin Poirier, Conor McGregor
    Image Courtesy of MMA Junkie

    McGregor has not won a fight since January 2020 and is 1-3 in his last four outings. Thus, a world title shot upon his return would seem to be a tough sell on principle, even if not at the box office.

    McGregor has also mentioned other bouts awaiting him in his near future. And with the noticeable weight gains he’s made during his post-surgery layoff, a welterweight run doesn’t seem at all out of the question, either, something else the Irishman has teased in the past.

    As of Monday, however, McGregor only has one name and one name only on his mind: undisputed UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira.

    Do you think we’ll be seeing Charles Oliveira vs. Conor McGregor in 2022?

  • Flashback To Conor McGregor’s 13-Second KO Of José Aldo At UFC 194

    Six years ago today, Conor McGregor made the giant leap from rising star to megastar, and it only took him 13 seconds.

    UFC 194 was headlined by the featherweight unification title bout between undisputed champion José Aldo and Conor McGregor. The build-up remains, to this day, one of the most contentious of all time due to the relentless provocation of Aldo by The Notorious One.

    Here is an extended look at the build-up of what was arguably the most anticipated fight in the history of the featherweight division and of 2015.

    The Play-By-Play

    Below is a look at the live play-by-play provided by MMA News during the UFC 194 event (h/t Matt Boone):

    Round 1: The first two “holy sh*t I can’t believe this is happening” fights delivered lots of action, drama, and storytelling. Now, it’s time for the real deal. The main event. The one everyone has been waiting for. To UFC’s credit, they did not stall or do much hype bullsh*t at all. They went from Rockhold and Weidman interviews to Conor McGregor’s entrance in just a few minutes.

    “Notorious B.I.G.” by The Notorious B.I.G. plays as “The Notorious” Conor McGregor wraps up in the Irish flag and makes his walk to the Octagon. Can he really get it done against the best in the world, or is he just really good? We’re about to find out!

    McGregor settles in the cage as the camera pans and “Run This Town” by Jay-Z, Kanye West & Rihanna plays as the only UFC 145-pound champion in history, José Aldo, begins his walk to the cage. The dude looks ready as hell, folks. Bruce Buffer does his thing. Seconds, people. SECONDS away. McGregor is introduced and takes to the center of the cage like a boss. Aldo is introduced and swings side-to-side with his head down the entire time like a killer.

    Staredown time. Aldo walks up with his head down and continues what he was just doing. McGregor just stares at him. Here we go!

    Holy shit, it’s over. McGregor face-planted Aldo with his first shot. One follow-up. Aldo was out stiff, face-first. Ladies and gentlemen, “The Notorious” Conor McGregor is the real deal. He did what he said he was going to do again.

    Conor McGregor def. Jose Aldo via knockout (punch) at 0:13 of Round 1 to become the new undisputed UFC Featherweight Champion.

    Note: 13 seconds folks. Prior to Bruce Buffer’s official decision, we saw José Aldo with a towel covering his face crying. Poor guy. McGregor meanwhile is doing the “make it rain” hand gesture sitting on top of the cage. McGregor says he feels sad for Aldo but precision beats power. We see replays of the knockout again.

    The Live Reaction

    Check out this video the UFC put together of the live reaction to this historic KO:

    The Aftermath

    After this ascent to megastardom, Conor McGregor would take it up even another level when he became the first-ever simultaneous multi-division champion when he defeated Eddie Alvarez for the UFC lightweight championship at UFC 205.

    Today, McGregor is ranked #9 in the UFC’s lightweight division and continues to set records and accumulate wealth inside and outside of the Octagon. Meanwhile, José Aldo has been unable to reclaim UFC championship gold but is currently experiencing a career resurgence that has him ranked #3 in the bantamweight division.

    As for that contentious build-up, these two former enemies have been exchanging mutual respect recently, with McGregor even coming to Aldo’s defense after Khabib Nurmagomedov questioned his current skill level.

    What was your reaction to Conor McGregor’s historic 13-second knockout of José Aldo at UFC 194?

  • Diaz and McGregor Take Shots At Dustin Poirier Over “Embarrassing” Loss

    Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor both had something to say about Dustin Poirier’s loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 269.

    In last night’s UFC 269 main event, Dustin Poirier and champion Charles Oliveira went to war to solidify who was the best lightweight in the world. It was Oliveira who had his hand raised in the end to log his first successful title defense. Poirier was gracious and classy in defeat, but grace was not something extended to the Louisianian by two familiar faces to him, Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor.

    First, Diaz took an indirect shot at nemesis Conor McGregor in his reaction to the outcome of the UFC 269 main event.

    “How Conor let Dp fuck him up hella times he sucks”

    It’s up for interpretation if the “he” is in reference to McGregor or Poirier, but judging by the overall context, it would seem the insult could apply equally to either gentleman.

    Poirier had more pressing issues to deal with at the moment than what Nate Diaz had to say about him, but McGregor continues to have plenty of time to fire back at his rival while also launching an indirect shot at Poirier in this instance.

    “you lanky string of piss he got lumped around and got lucky twice. That’s it. Is what it is. Embarrassing night for him alright. That closed guard game. Wtf was that. Wow! Shocking. All good happy Sat night horse yupya it’s proper twelve day tomorrow 12/12. New Paddy’s Day!,” McGregor said in response to Diaz.

    Nate Diaz and Dustin Poirier have been linked together in the past. The two were supposed to fight at UFC 230 in 2018, but that fight fell apart, with both fighters pointing the finger at the other as far as who was to blame for the collapse.

    Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier have fought three times, with Poirier getting the better of McGregor twice, as Diaz alluded to in his tweet. The last time Poirier and McGregor competed against one another was at UFC 264. At the close of this trilogy bout, McGregor suffered a gruesome leg injury that resulted in a Poirier TKO victory via doctor’s stoppage.

    What do you make of these remarks from Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor about Dustin Poirier’s UFC 269 loss?

  • Archives: McGregor’s Tweet Elicits Strong Response From Oliveira (2021)

    The following is an article from earlier this year, featuring one-half of tonight’s UFC 269 headliners and current lightweight champion Charles Oliveira. The article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of the MMA News Archives.

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MAY 16, 2021, 7:01 AM]

    Headline: Conor McGregor’s Tweet Elicits A Strong Response From Charles Oliveira

    For the second straight pay-per-view, Conor McGregor let the winner of the main event know that he was coming for his championship belt.

    When Conor McGregor put Kamaru Usman on notice that he was coming for his welterweight title after UFC 261, Usman accused him of “clout chasing,” stating that McGregor knew full well he didn’t really want to fight him. Others have also accused McGregor of this in the past whenever he would react to a big performance from another fighter soon after an event had concluded.

    In this case, McGregor’s post-UFC 262 tweet is fairly safe from this suspicion due to the relevancy the main event had to his own short-term future.

    “Congrats to Olivera on becoming the 11th UFC lightweight champion. Wonder who Twelve is…” McGregor wrote.

    The usually even-keeled Charles Oliveira issued the following response to McGregor after soaking in his newly won UFC lightweight championship over Michael Chandler.

    “Conor, worry about Dustin,” Oliveira advised through an interpreter at the UFC 262 post-fight press conference. “Conor, since you’re so tough: First of all, you beat Dustin, and then you come over to Brazil and I’m going to put you on your ass. First he’s got to get past Dustin. He’s one of these guys that just talks a lot. He’s got to beat Dustin first.”

    Charles Oliveira’s come-from-behind victory over Chandler matched the Brazilian’s path to the title shot in the first place: It was hard-earned and full of adversity. The fact that the UFC all-time submission holder got it done with his hands is a testament to how far he’s come as a mixed martial artist since debuting in the UFC at only 20 years old more than a decade ago.

    Oliveira was willing to fight whoever was put in front of him along the way, so he is not committed to the idea of fighting Conor McGregor despite his fired-up response. Instead, he’s decided to stick to his job of showing up and winning.

    “I battled hard to get here,” Oliveira said. “Everyone’s talking about who it’s going to be next – Poirier or Conor. I’ll leave that my manager, and I’m going to go home and rest.”

    How do you think a fight would go between new UFC undisputed lightweight champion Charles Oliveira and Conor McGregor?

  • Sonnen Questions McGregor’s Physique Change: ‘You’re Not Training’

    Chael Sonnen is not convinced that the recent physique transformation of Conor McGregor is a good thing.

    McGregor has been on the sidelines since breaking his leg in the trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier, working to recover from this devastating injury. However, he recently showed that he has made some big gains in this downtime, showing off a massive frame for the former featherweight and lightweight champion.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CW-lAT3JoWC/

    While some people looked at this as a sign that McGregor is jacked and potentially looking to permanently move to welterweight, Sonnen is not so convinced. Speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, the American Gangster said that this could actually be a bad thing and could potentially be a sign of the Irishman not training as much as he is trying to make people think.

    “Conor is chiseled, man. There’s clothing people that pay Conor to wear their stuff. He’s got this fantastic build. That picture of him at 190 [lbs], I can’t give those same compliments. He looked like he was extremely bloated,” Sonnen said (h/t MiddleEasy). And when somebody weighs 190 – that’s used to weighing 155, 175; what you have to wonder is how. How did you get this big? Why? The answer to me seems redundantly obvious.

    “You’re not training. You cannot train the way you need to prepare in MMA, which we’re well aware. We are well aware that Conor is not. He’s got the hurt leg and he’s not doing what he is used to. He’s not jumping rope. He’s not running. He’s not pulling the sled. He’s not sparring. We get it. He’s having to do other exercises. But that’s always important to know because that’s what Sean’s talking about.

    “If you’re not doing our sport, who gives a damn what you weigh? If your calorie deficit to intake got so far out of control, that you’re bigger than you’ve ever been, that’s not a good thing,” Sonnen added.

    The only way to know if Chael Sonnen is right is to wait and see how Conor McGregor looks when it comes time to get ready for a fight. That said, it certainly appears that the former champ-champ is actively training the best he can, at least according to his social media.

    Watch the full video with Chael Sonnen below:

  • Dustin Poirier: Conor McGregor Chapter Will Never Be Closed

    UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier has admitted that the chapter of his career with former two-division champion Conor McGregor will never “be closed.”

    Poirier and McGregor have shared the Octagon three times. Their first clash came way back in September 2014 when the two highly-regarded prospects met at UFC 178. In one of the best examples of the Irishman’s trash talk working to great effect, Poirier was finished in the opening round.

    Fast forward over six years and the pair reignited their rivalry at UFC 257 in January this year. After a largely respectful pre-fight build, “The Diamond” became the first man to knock McGregor out in the Abu-Dhabi-held main event. Despite seemingly securing a title shot with the victory, Poirier chose to pursue a trilogy money fight with MMA’s biggest superstar.

    In a second 2021 bout fueled by trash talk and personal attacks from McGregor’s side, Poirier put his top contender status on the line. When the former double champ broke his leg towards the end of the first round, during which he’d been dominated, Poirier’s gamble had paid off.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CRO2YpNLBQN/

    Poirier: If Anybody Can Get Back To The Top, It’s McGregor

    Since their third fight at UFC 264 in July, both men have been on drastically different paths. While Poirier has been preparing for his championship fight with reigning titleholder Charles Oliveira, which is set to go down this weekend at UFC 269, McGregor has been recovering on the sidelines, while simultaneously causing controversy in just about every way possible.

    From attacking his UFC peers on social media, to throwing a punch at multi-platinum recording artists Machine Gun Kelly, to allegedly assaulting and breaking the nose of an Italian DJ in a Rome nightclub, McGregor has found himself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

    Nevertheless, Poirier believes the Irishman is capable of getting back to his best inside the Octagon. During an interview with Morning Kombat’s Brian Campbell, “The Diamond” said McGregor has what it takes to make his way back to the top.

    “I’m not really looking at him. I’m looking at the next challenge, the lightweight title. But, you know, if anybody can pull it back together and get back on top, he’s definitely one of those guys that could. It’s up to him. He’s in control of his destiny, of whatever he’s gonna do.”

    When asked whether he believes his own journey with McGregor has come to an end, Poirier suggested that chapter of his career will likely never be over.

    “I don’t think so. I don’t think the chapter will ever be closed.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CWoEEA5rAV4/

    Before potentially turning his attention back to McGregor, who’s made his desire to face Poirier again and challenge for the lightweight title upon his return clear, Poirier’s focus will entirely be on Oliveira for the time being.

    Having previously failed to reach the 155-pound mountaintop against Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2019, “The Diamond” will hope to finally secure his place on the throne by de-seating “Do Bronx” in this weekend’s main event. If he does so, perhaps a fourth fight for gold with McGregor will be waiting in the wings for 2022.

    Would you like to see Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor fight for a fourth time next year?

  • Sean O’Malley: McGregor Is The Only Person I’ve Ever Looked Up To

    Rising UFC bantamweight Sean O’Malley has described former two-division champion Conor McGregor as the only person he’s ever “looked up to.”

    While not doing so as quickly and emphatically as McGregor did over five years ago, O’Malley has fast-grown into one of the most recognizable names in the UFC. That’s despite having never fought a ranked opponent.

    Since returning from a USADA suspension in 2020, O’Malley has impressed. Two quick victories, including a highlight-reel Knockout of the Year contender against Eddie Wineland at UFC 250, saw him re-establish himself as one of the division’s hottest prospects.

    Although a case of drop foot led to “Sugar” being beaten for the first time in MMA by Marlon Vera last August, two memorable victories since have got him back on track. First was a brutal knockout against Thomas Almeida, before a record-breaking striking performance against debutant Kris Moutinho at UFC 264 saw the 27-year-old collect his fifth bonus in six fights.

    He’ll hope to continue that lucrative trend when he returns to the Octagon for the third time in 2021 this weekend. In the UFC 269 main card opener, O’Malley will face the once-ranked Raulian Paiva.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CWj_5arlRwC/

    O’Malley Recalls First Meeting With “The Notorious” McGregor

    Ahead of his upcoming fight, O’Malley has spoken about the inspiration he drew from MMA’s biggest superstar while his grind to get into the UFC was ongoing. During an interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto, “Sugar” spoke about meeting McGregor earlier this year, and claimed the Irishman is the only person he’s ever looked up to.

    McGregor has consistently caused controversy outside of the Octagon. From punching an old man in a Dublin bar to appearing to throw a strike at Machine Gun Kelly to allegedly breaking the nose of an Italian DJ, it’s hard to see the Dublin native as an ideal role model. Nevertheless, O’Malley suggested he’s learned a lot from McGregor, both inside and outside of the cage.

    “We were at the Cowboys game and we just happened to be in the same suite. I finally got to meet him. It’s been a long time (coming). I’ve seen him on fight week; that’s not the time to talk to Conor, especially not right off the scale. It was cool, you know. I’ve watched his whole career play out. I’ve learned a lot from him. Outside (the Octagon), what not to do, what to do; inside, certain techniques, mindset, mental warfare. I’ve learned a lot from Conor. He’s probably the only person I could say I’ve ever kind of, looked up to. Like, ‘Damn, I wanna be that big.’ I wanna change the sport like Conor did.”

    For those reasons, O’Malley’s encounter with McGregor at the AT&T Stadium was likely a moment to remember for the 27-year-old. Despite admitting the interaction was relatively short, the surging bantamweight star revealed the former double champ congratulated him on his performance against Moutinho, which opened the July pay-per-view headlined by McGregor’s trilogy with Dustin Poirier.

    “We had a short conversation. It was very loud… He just walked in and we saw each other. He obviously knows who the Sugar Show is, I’m the second biggest draw in the UFC. He knows who I am, he watches the fights. He said, you know, ‘Great performance in your last fight.’ It wasn’t a long conversation.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CUBsMh0s1o7/

    Despite having a long way to go before he comes close to replicating the success McGregor has achieved in MMA, O’Malley can jump one step closer to doing so with a third win in 2021 this Saturday.

    An impressive victory over Paiva could well see him enter the 135-pound rankings. From there, the climb towards title contention will begin.

    Do you think Sean O’Malley can emulate Conor McGregor’s success in the UFC?

  • Kavanagh Says Potential McGregor/Diaz Trilogy Gives Him ‘Nightmares’

    John Kavanagh and Conor McGregor are planning a comeback but against who?

    Conor McGregor is currently sidelined with a leg injury. Although his timeline for return is not yet specified, he is still talking about his plan of attack. McGregor has stated that he would like to fight for the belt when he is ready to get back in the cage.

    However, his head coach John Kavanagh might have some more realistic ideas. Kavanagh sat down with Ariel Helwani of The MMA Hour to discuss options (h/t MMA Fighting).

    “I’ll be honest, the Nate Diaz trilogy is very, very tempting,” Kavanagh said. “It’s a fight that gives me nightmares. The man doesn’t stop coming forward, whether it’s three rounds or five rounds, but it’s an intriguing fight. So that one is definitely very interesting. But also the Tony Ferguson one — it never happened. It was talked about a lot. And Tony still has, I believe, a lot to offer the game. He’s a very unorthodox striker, grappler. I think the buildup would be fun for the fans. So any of those kind of legacy guys.”

    McGregor is the most wanted fighter on the UFc roster. He is constantly being called out by fighters, both in his division and out. He will most likely have his choice of who he wants to fight when he is ready. The only exception could be whoever is holding the belt when that time comes.

    Champion Charles Oliveira and Duston Poirier will be battling it out to see who is the king at 155 pounds on Dec. 11. Whoever wins would probably like to face McGregor next, but now McGregor has lost two in a row and the next shot was already promised to Justin Gaethje. That hasn’t stopped McGregor from dreaming about redemption.

    “We’re still chatting about fighting techniques, all day, every day. He’s still talking about getting that belt again, all day, every day. What can you conclude from this? He loves fighting. He loves mixed martial arts. He loves competition. So let’s get back healthy, let’s get back training, and let’s go on a run in ‘22, and I’m sure there’s some people there with steam coming out of their ears that he’s coming back for that belt, but I’m sorry to upset you — he’s coming back there for that belt, so give me your best shot on Twitter.”

    Who do you want to see Conor McGregor face in his return fight?

  • Bisping Names 2 Options For McGregor’s Return Other Than Poirier

    Former UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping believes there are two leading options for Conor McGregor’s return to the Octagon, neither of which is a fourth fight with Dustin Poirier.

    McGregor, a former two-division UFC champion, has been on a significant downfall since his second title crowning in 2016. In the four years that have followed, the Irishman has gone 1-3. His sole victory came at welterweight against veteran Donald Cerrone last January. That success marked a rebound from his crushing loss to arch-rival Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018.

    After re-entering the win column, McGregor would have hoped to return to lightweight title contention in 2021. Instead, the 33-year-old was knocked out for the first time, saw his 1-0 record against Dustin Poirier collapse to 1-2, and suffered a gruesome broken leg. Since sustaining the injury at UFC 264, McGregor has been on the sidelines, tangling with celebrities in public and fellow fighters on social media.

    Bisping Advises McGregor Against 4th Poirier Fight

    In recent weeks, talk of a McGregor return has certainly picked up. Having consistently provided updates on his recovery through training footage, it’s clear the former double champ is deep into the healing process. With that in mind, McGregor recently revealed his hope to begin full MMA sparring again in April 2022, with his return to the cage imminent after that.

    The options for McGregor’s comeback seem plentiful. As well as potential clashes with Michael Chandler and Max Holloway, both of whom have expressed interest in welcoming MMA’s biggest superstar back to the Octagon, a potential fourth collision with Poirier remains a possibility. If “The Diamond” dethrones Charles Oliveira at UFC 269 this weekend, that could see McGregor fighting for gold upon his return, something he guaranteed would be the case in a recent Twitter post.

    Despite those choices, UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping has given McGregor some different advice. Suggesting against the Poirier tetralogy during a recent Q&A on his YouTube channel, “The Count” said McGregor should either complete his trilogy with Nate Diaz or face former interim champ Tony Ferguson.

    “For McGregor, when he comes back, he needs to think carefully about who he fights next. If Dustin Poirier beats Charles Oliveira next week and Dustin becomes the champion, of course Justin Gaethje’s going to step in and he gets the next shot. But then there’s Islam Makhachev and the whole list of people at lightweight that want to fight for the belt. But McGregor, being who he is, McGregor being the biggest star the sport has ever seen, he may get that privilege to where he can fight Dustin Poirier for the belt because they have unfinished business. They are two and one in Dustin’s favor, but the way the last fight ended with McGregor breaking his leg does give a reason, does give explanation to the subject that perhaps they should do a fourth fight.

    “McGregor brings in eyeballs like nobody else so there is a possibility. My advice would be don’t do that. I think he should try and get his mojo back, get comfortable with the octagon again, because it’s a long layoff. Nate Diaz may be the perfect person or even Tony Ferguson.” (h/t Sportskeeda)

    Conor McGregor Nate Diaz
    Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz

    With Nate Diaz having just one fight remaining on his contract, and with heavy talk of a departure from the promotion, it appears that if the UFC wishes to book a third fight between the Stockton native and McGregor, it’ll have to be the highest priority for when the Irishman is ready to return.

    On the other hand, McGregor vs. Ferguson is a matchup that would have been mouth-watering a number of years ago. Having lost three consecutive fights against Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, and Beneil Dariush, the idea of Ferguson facing McGregor has perhaps lost its appeal slightly. Nevertheless, it would certainly make sense given the rankings, and would give one man a path back towards the lightweight top five.

    Who do you think Conor McGregor should face when he returns to the Octagon?

  • McGregor Debates Filmmaker About Khabib’s Retirement & Legacy

    In this week’s installment of The Twitter Adventures of Conor McGregor, The Notorious One takes on an award-winning filmmaker in a debate about Khabib Nurmagomedov’s legacy.

    On October 24, 2020, Khabib Nurmagomedov called it a career after advancing his flawless record to 29-0 with a submission victory over Justin Gaethje. Instantly, debates began on where “The Eagle” perched among the greatest fighters to ever do it.

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Crying
    Khabib Nurmagomedov Moments After Winning Final Fight

    Sunday, award-winning filmmaker Will Harris recalled a moment when Khabib’s cousin, Umar Nurmagomedov, praised the former lightweight champion as the “greatest” during filming of the Anatomy of a Fighter series. According to Harris, Khabib requested that Umar’s remark be omitted from the film. This, says Harris, just goes to show how humble Khabib is at heart.

    However, going back to that October night, one of the millions of people to hear Khabib’s retirement announcement was his old nemesis, Conor McGregor.

    McGregor was quick to point out what he believed to be a contradiction to Harris’ implication of Khabib’s humility. Because Khabib did not want such recognition, McGregor argued, then why did he request to be ranked #1 on the pound-for-pound list?

    You can view the opening exchanges of the debate in the screenshot below.

    At the end of that exchange, McGregor didn’t stop at questioning Khabib’s humility but also questioned his legacy altogether. He would then brand the Dagestani a “fool” by alluding back to comments made earlier this year about Aldo no longer being in his prime or able to fight against elite competition.

    Below, the debate continues with McGregor listing his supporting points for why Khabib is merely a “good,” not great fighter. Harris then attempts to hold a mirror to McGregor about his own perceived struggles with weight after the Irishman criticized Khabib’s past scale struggles.

    In this third and final round, McGregor disputes Harris’ claim that he struggled on the scales himself by pointing out that he never missed weight. He also argued that his transition up a weight class went flawlessly.

    Overall, the debate was cordial, especially by Twitter standards, and the two fine gentlemen agreed to disagree on Khabib’s legacy.

    Check out the final exchange below:

    Conor McGregor is expected to return to competition in early 2022 after suffering a leg injury at UFC 264. His bout against Khabib took place at UFC 229 three years ago, in a contest that saw the Dagestani advance to 27-0 with a submission victory.

    Who do you side with in the above debate? Will Harris or Conor McGregor?