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Tag: Conor McGregor

  • Conor McGregor Hints At Major BKFC Event For Riyadh Season

    Conor McGregor Hints At Major BKFC Event For Riyadh Season

    Conor McGregor recently revealed that he is working closely with Turki Alalshikh to organize a massive bare-knuckle fighting event associated with Riyadh Season.

    “The Notorious” took on a part-ownership role in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) this past April, and since then, the gloveless combat sports promotion has soared to new heights. With McGregor frequently making larger-than-life appearances at events, the organization has captured the attention of fans worldwide.

    McGregor is diving headfirst into his new role as a promoter, making a splash last weekend in Marbella, Spain, where BKFC held a tripleheader championship event. The fight card was a success, but it seems the Irishman has something even bigger brewing for the near future.

    McGregor Teases ‘GOATs Of The Game’ Joining BKFC

    During a recent interview with The Schmo, McGregor opened up about the future of BKFC, revealing that he’s collaborating with Alalshikh to shine a spotlight on the promotion.

    “The Notorious” hinted at plans for a monumental bare-knuckle fighting event, with several famed combat sports fighters set to make their BKFC debut on the Riyadh Season card.

    “Stay tuned for what’s next, baby; we’re coming with some big Riyadh Season,” McGregor said. “Myself and Sheikh Turki have some mega announcements coming, and boy, oh boy, we have stacked the card of superstars for you all in Riyadh Season, and it’s going to happen really, really soon, my man.”

    Although McGregor held back from dropping any names, he promised that the matchups he’s crafting will lead to an epic showdown.

    “GOATs of the game are making that bare-knuckle debut, so this is going to blow the socks off people… Some of these matches I have made are going to blow your f**king mind.”

    Chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, Alalshikh, has emerged as a significant catalyst for orchestrating some of the most notable boxing matches in recent years. Now, he has made his foray into the realm of MMA, having played a crucial role in the UFC’s inaugural event in Saudi Arabia and also sponsoring UFC 306, with Riyadh Season taking on that role.

  • Dan Hooker Reacts To Conor McGregor Naming Him As UFC Return Opponent

    Dan Hooker Reacts To Conor McGregor Naming Him As UFC Return Opponent

    Though Conor McGregor’s newest claims for his return matchup came out of the blue, Dan Hooker says he’s down for a fight.

    While in Spain for the latest BKFC event, Conor McGregor — the BKFC part-owner and former two-division UFC champion — revealed the latest update he has on his return to the Octagon. McGregor told Bloody Elbow that his plan is to return on February 1 in Saudi Arabia, with the opponent now being Dan Hooker, not Michael Chandler.

    Hooker was also present in Spain as one of the cornermen for The Mac Life’s Oscar Willis in his first-round TKO of Ben Davis in a battle of MMA media members. McGregor and Hooker were seen having a conversation in the ring following the fight.

    During an appearance on Submission Radio, Hooker was asked about the exchange and McGregor’s remarks that the two are going to fight next. The #5-ranked UFC lightweight claimed he’s in as long as the UFC gives the green light.

    “We had a few words inside the ring,” Hooker said. “But, yeah, February 1 works for me. We’ll get that thing straight away.

    “I’m on board, he’s on board. We just need to get the UFC on board and we’ll get this thing across the line.”

    Dan Hooker Interested In Conor McGregor’s Plan For Fight In Saudi Arabia Next February

    As far as their conversation in the middle of the ring, Hooker says the two had a casual talk and get along well.

    “We’re kindred spirits, as you can see,” Hooker said. “We get along quite well. I think we’re both very similar. There’s a lot of similarities there.”

    McGregor’s comeback was scheduled to take place at UFC 303 earlier this year before he withdrew due to a toe injury. He and Chandler had been slated to fight ever since the two were announced to be the coaches for The Ultimate Fighter season 31 in 2023

    Last month, it was announced that Chandler would instead face Charles Oliveira in a five-round rematch slated to co-headline UFC 309 on Nov. 16 at New York’s Madison Square Garden. “Iron” has been out of action since a loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 281 in November 2022.

    UFC CEO Dana White had assured that a fight between McGregor and Chandler could still happen down the line.

    McGregor has previously stated he wants to fight twice in 2025. The Irishman has two bouts remaining on his UFC deal, with some insiders attributing the delays of McGregor’s long-awaited return to the promotion wanting to prevent McGregor from hitting free agency.

    The former 145- and 155-pound champion has not fought since his loss to Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.

  • ‘If This Is True…’ – Fans React As Conor McGregor Names New Opponent, Date, Location For His UFC Comeback

    ‘If This Is True…’ – Fans React As Conor McGregor Names New Opponent, Date, Location For His UFC Comeback

    Surprise, surprise, The King…is making claims of another new date and place for a comeback. But if it happens, is there a change in plans for his opponent?

    In an interview with Bloody Elbow while in Marbella for Saturday’s BKFC event, Conor McGregor claimed that his long-awaited, long-delayed return to the Octagon will now come on February 1 when the UFC is scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia for its second event in the country.

    Though rumored, there is no confirmation that this event could serve as UFC 312 — just two weeks after the promotion holds UFC 311 in January as its first pay-per-view for 2025.

    What’s noteworthy about McGregor’s remarks, however, is that the opponent for such a fight would now be Dan Hooker, apparently…

    Michael Chandler had long been planned to be McGregor’s comeback opponent, stretching back to their time coaching season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2023. The two were scheduled to meet at UFC 303 earlier this year before McGregor withdrew.

    Chandler has since been booked to face Charles Oliveira in the co-main event of UFC 309 on Nov. 16 — a rematch of their lightweight title fight from UFC 262 in 2021.

    Conor McGregor Claims He Will Now Face Dan Hooker In Saudi Arabia

    https://twitter.com/Lizard69Talking/status/1845259127817130149

    UFC CEO Dana White had assured that McGregor vs. Chandler was still on the table even with the latter taking the fight with Oliveira. If McGregor’s comments are true, this would be a 180 from those plans.

    The Irishman has previously claimed he wants to fight twice in 2025, which would allow him to complete his UFC contract and enter free agency. He became part-owner of BKFC earlier this year.

    McGregor has not fought since his UFC 264 loss to Dustin Poirier in their July 2021 trilogy fight. Hooker, meanwhile, defeated Mateusz Gamrot in upset fashion at UFC 305 in August to return to the top five at 155 pounds.

  • Khalil Rountree Reveals Post-Fight Advice From Conor McGregor

    Khalil Rountree Reveals Post-Fight Advice From Conor McGregor

    Anyone who was watching along during UFC 307 this past weekend will have noticed one thing on social media.

    Conor McGregor is well known, or “Notorious” you could say, for being very vocal about his opinions on fights and people’s performances. This was the case during the PPV card in Salt Lake City where he weighed in on several fights that place on the main card, from Kevin Holland’s injury to Mario Bautista’s controversial win.

    Like every fight fan, McGregor came away from the event with two strong feelings following an entertaining main event. He was both impressed by the performance that Alex Pereira delivered and the toughness and will displayed by Khalil Rountree.

    McGregor’s Advice

    Having posted on social media via his own X account and in comment sections underneath Instagram posts, McGregor has already made his feelings on the main event clear.

    However, he did also personally reach out to Rountree as the title challenger recently revealed during an appearance on the Pound 4 Pound podcast.

    The #8-ranked contender was able to surprise a lot of people by starting the first few rounds with a decent amount of success but ultimately, wasn’t able to maintain this.

    He recapped his performance with Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo, stating what he could have done better to push Pereira even further.

    Rountree said that one key point regarding him not pressuring “Poatan” enough was made to him by McGregor in a serious of messages that he received once UFC 307 was behind him.

    “A couple days after the fight I got some messages from Conor and it was really cool to get some messages from him, but one thing he pointed out was that I could’ve put more pressure.

    Just like you were saying, when he was going up against the cage, yeah, he has that left hook, but if I would have just been a little bit more relentless with my pressure and not backed off so much and retook the centre of the cage, I think I would’ve been able to apply a little more damage to him”

    – Khalil Roundtree
  • Conor McGregor Eyes Multiple Options For 2025 UFC Return

    Conor McGregor Eyes Multiple Options For 2025 UFC Return

    Conor McGregor recently asserted that a handful of options are under consideration for his long-awaited return to the Octagon.

    “The Notorious” has been out of action for over three years, ever since he endured a devastating leg fracture during his trilogy clash with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.

    Although McGregor has occasionally teased a comeback after serving as a coach on season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter against his rival Michael Chandler, he had even lined up a fight with “Iron” for UFC 303 this past June.

    Unfortunately, just two weeks prior to the scheduled fight, the matchup was canceled after McGregor was forced to withdraw due to a leg injury. Since then, Chandler has redirected his ambitions and is now set to face Charles Oliveira in a rematch, which will serve as the co-main event of UFC 309 on November 16.

    McGregor Affirms Interest In Chandler Fight While Exploring Options

    During a recent interview with The Schmo, McGregor opened up about his potential return to the UFC. The former two-division champion expressed his desire to settle what started with Chandler upon his comeback but also mentioned that several other names are in the mix for a possible fight.

    Although “The Notorious” refrained from naming any particular opponents, he indicated that a trilogy bout with Nate Diaz and a quadrilogy with Poirier still hold considerable appeal for him.

    “We’re looking for the date. I’d like to square it away with Michael Chandler. You know, I’d like to get Chandler in. We’ve had our beef. It’s not settled. He has a match scheduled. I would like to fight before he’s recovered.

    There’s a few names in the line at the minute. There’s a few names being discussed.”

    – Conor McGregor

    While McGregor has repeatedly conveyed his enthusiasm for a return by the end of the year, UFC CEO Dana White has firmly stated that the Irishman won’t be stepping back into the Octagon until early 2025.

    “The Notorious” last tasted victory in January 2020 when he faced Donald Cerrone. With a notably sparse fighting schedule, McGregor has recorded a disappointing 3-4 in his last seven outings since 2016.

  • Conor McGregor Declares Alex Pereira UFC’s No. 1 P4P Fighter

    Conor McGregor Declares Alex Pereira UFC’s No. 1 P4P Fighter

    Fans worldwide witnessed the masterful performance of light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira in the main event of UFC 307, where he faced Khalil Rountree.

    Despite Rountree winning the first two rounds on the judges’ scorecards, Pereira found his rhythm and secured a fourth-round finish to claim victory. Following the fight, discussions about Pereira’s place among the all-time greats in the promotion began to intensify.

    In an interview with The Schmo, Conor McGregor weighed in on Pereira’s dominance, asserting that no one could deny his spot at the top after such a stellar year. McGregor went so far as to call Pereira the UFC’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter.

    Spot Well Earned

    “2024 has been Alex Pereira’s year, no one can deny that,” McGregor said. “If we go by that—forget belts or any of that—it’s about competition. Three fights this year, four knockouts. I’d put Alex Pereira at number one.”

    – Conor McGregor

    McGregor last fought in 2022, when he suffered a devastating leg injury in a fight with Dustin Poirier in a trilogy bout that resulted in Poirier’s victory.  UFC President Dana White has stated that he expects McGregor to return to the Octagon in early 2025.

  • Michael Chandler Would ‘Bet The Farm’ On Conor McGregor Fight Happening In 2025

    UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler is still not giving up hope of sharing the Octagon with Conor McGregor down the line.

    Chandler was initially announced as the former two-division UFC champion’s comeback opponent toward the start of 2023, with the pair first coaching opposite one another on The Ultimate Fighter.

    Since the show’s conclusion, multiple rumored dates have passed by, in addition to an officially booked one at International Fight Week this past June. That injury delay and the uncertainty that followed it finally did it for Chandler, whose sights are now set elsewhere.

    The 38-year-old is set to make his return at UFC 309 next month, over two years on from a defeat to Dustin Poirier last time out. Back at Madison Square Garden, Chandler will once again do battle with former UFC champ Charles Oliveira.

    But while “Iron” is expecting to secure a second title shot on MMA’s biggest stage with a victory in New York City, that doesn’t mean McGregor is off his mind for 2025…

    Chandler Confident McGregor Fight Happens Despite Failed Wait

    During a recent interview with ESPN’s Andreas Hale, Chandler reflected on his decision to finally move on from McGregor and accept a different assignment for the back end of 2024.

    Chandler, McGregor, and UFC CEO Dana White have noted that the long-awaited clash of last year’s TUF coaches is not completely off the table and could be rebooked.

    The former three-time Bellator champ, for one, is incredibly confident of that coming to fruition, in addition to a championship challenge following a victory at UFC 309 on Nov. 16.

    “There’s no doubt that Chandler versus McGregor happens at some point in 2025,” Chandler said. “And there’s no doubt that when I beat Charles, I’m next in line for the title. Both of those fights will happen. I will fight for the title, and I will fight Conor McGregor. And I will bet the farm on it.”

    For now, Chandler will have his full focus on achieving redemption opposite Oliveira at Madison Square Garden.

    Having had his first shot at reaching the lightweight mountaintop stalled by “Do Bronx” in 2021, “Iron” will hope to secure a second at the Brazilian’s expense next month.

  • Conor McGregor Weighs In On Alex Pereira Facing An ‘Untested’ Jon Jones At Heavyweight

    Conor McGregor Weighs In On Alex Pereira Facing An ‘Untested’ Jon Jones At Heavyweight

    Conor McGregor was scheduled to fight Michael Chandler at UFC 303, but a toe injury forced him to withdraw. The UFC already had most of its pay-per-view events in 2024 booked ahead of time, so “The Mystic Mac” could not return before the end of the year like he wanted to.

    Chandler, in the meantime, has finally moved on from McGregor and will be facing Charles Oliveira at UFC 309. Winning the matchup can help the former get a title shot in the UFC lightweight division or he could fight his original opponent again with even higher stakes.

    The real talk of the town, though, is Alex Pereira who’s defended his UFC light heavyweight belt thrice in 2024. Here’s what McGregor thinks of a superfight between “Poatan” and Jon Jones.

    Conor McGregor Calls Alex Pereira The Pound-For-Pound Best UFC Fighter And A Threatening Opponent For Jon Jones

    McGregor recently appeared on The Schmo YouTube channel for a quick interview. When asked who should be the best pound-for-pound UFC fighter in the world, he vouched for the Brazilian to get the title.

    Next up, “The Notorious” discussed why he thinks Pereira should move up to heavyweight. For starters, it’s a great opportunity to create history by becoming the first three-division UFC champ ever. He admitted to assuming that “Poatan” had a difficult weight cut for UFC 307 but then pointed out that it could be due to antibiotics and other health concerns.

    McGregor, like countless other fans, acknowledged that Magomed Ankalaev deserves to fight Pereira at light heavyweight. However, if the UFC light heavyweight champ moves up a weight class, he should fight Jones according to the Dubliner.

    McGregor reflected on Jones’ impressive but quick heavyweight debut against Ciryl Gane in March 2023. He believes that the former UFC light heavyweight champ is still untested at heavyweight and Pereira’s explosive yet patient style could be a tough puzzle to solve.

    The Irishman also claimed that Jones’ size at heavyweight shouldn’t be a problem for Pereira. Although he’s only faced middleweights and light heavyweights yet, he should be able to fit in with the heavyweights naturally.

    “I’d put Alex as number one [pound-for-pound]. I think he poses a lot of problems for Jon also. You know, that’s a dangerous style for Jon but it’s a decent one for him coz he’s not, you know, so big. Jon is new to the heavyweight division. Jon, he had a nice one against Ciryl Gane but he’s still untested at heavyweight. And I’m sure, in the back of his mind, he has that thought that you know, some of these guys are really big. Alex is a nice one and it’s still a dangerous one, though. Probably, even at the core of it, it’s probably even more dangerous.”

  • Matt Brown: Poirier ‘Took McGregor’s Soul’—Questions His Future in MMA

    Matt Brown has raised questions regarding Conor McGregor’s mindset and future in the sport after a planned fight with Michael Chandler fell through. There is speculation about what’s next for the former two-division champion. 

    McGregor last fought in 2022, when he suffered a devastating leg injury in a fight with Dustin Poirier in a trilogy bout that resulted in Poirier’s victory. While speaking about McGregor on The Fighter vs. The Writer, Brown pointed out that McGregor is not grinding like others in the sport and doubts fans will see the same McGregor ever again. 

    While looking back on the fight, Brown feels Poirier changed McGregor in more ways than people realize. 

    “When that [fight] happened, it looked to me that Dustin took his soul that day,” Brown said. “I think we all felt that. Maybe we didn’t know it would be as severe as it is. We thought Conor’s a warrior, he’ll be back soon. But when you back and you watch that fight, Dustin took his f*cking soul.”

    Brown added, “I thought Nate Diaz might have taken a little bit the first time, but Conor bounced back from it. Whatever Dustin did to him, I think Dustin actually took his soul, and he no longer had the desire to compete anymore.”

    UFC President Dana White has stated that he expects the megastar to return to the Octagon in early 2025.

  • Conor McGregor Lays Into Kevin Holland After Rib Injury Cuts UFC 307 Fight Short: ‘Didn’t Even F**king Try?’

    Conor McGregor Lays Into Kevin Holland After Rib Injury Cuts UFC 307 Fight Short: ‘Didn’t Even F**king Try?’

    Kevin Holland’s second fight since returning to the middleweight division ended in unfortunate circumstances at UFC 307.

    “Trailblazer” met Roman Dolidze, who was able to secure a takedown in the opening round after taking this fight as a replacement for Chris Curtis.

    During a scramble on the ground, Holland injured his rib and was in clear pain but was able to make it to the horn following some heavy ground-and-pound from the Georgian fighter.

    In-between rounds, “Big Mouth” spoke to his coach Bob Perez about the injury as his corner asked him whether he could continue.

    Referee Jason Herzog gave them some time to make the call and before the second stanza got underway, the Holland corner confirmed that he couldn’t continue.

    Conor McGregor Criticizes Kevin Holland For Mid-Fight Injury Stoppage

    In a quickly deleted post on X, Conor McGregor reacted to Holland’s injury and criticized the fan favorite for not attempting to continue.

    “The Notorious” is no stranger to having fights stopped due to an injury and, in his opinion, “Big Mouth” should have at least tried to resume the contest before withdrawing.

    The call wasn’t made by Holland, who undoubtedly would have tried to continue if the decision was up to him.

    “Didn’t even f*cking try? Nah that is ridiculous! Go out again and see how is. If folds up again then you end it with the towel. Nah that’s not it for me folks. Holland is a solid veteran he well should have went out and gave it shot to see how he was. Wrong move.”

  • Dan Hooker Makes Plans To Earn Conor McGregor Fight At BKFC Event In Spain

    Dan Hooker Makes Plans To Earn Conor McGregor Fight At BKFC Event In Spain

    After making his way back into the top rankings in the lightweight division, Dan Hooker is looking to pick the right fight this time around.

    “Hangman” admitted after this recent win over Mateusz Gamrot that the last time he was in this position, he made a mistake by agreeing to face Michael Chandler in less than ideal circumstances.

    Now he’s wanting to secure the fight that will put him into title contention, unless of course, something bigger comes around.

    Conor McGregor is without an opponent for his return now that Chandler will be facing Charles Oliveira at UFC 309, next month.

    Hooker, who would be more than happy to be the Irishman’s dance partner, just so happens to be in the same place as him next week.

    Dan Hooker Says He’s Hoping To See If Conor McGregor Wants The Fight When He’s In Spain

    McGregor is sure to be in attendance at the BKFC show in Marbella, Spain on October 12, after becoming a part owner of the promotion earlier this year.

    Hooker recently stated on an episode of Fox Sports’ mainevent that he will also be making the trip over.

    The City Kickboxing fighter had previously said that he would be cornering his friend Oscar Willis from The Mac Life in his bare-knuckle debut on that card.

    Considering that they’re likely to be in the same room, Hooker said that he may try to get a quick word in with the Irishman before heading back home.

    “I know that I’ve got a big fight coming up next but I am actually heading over to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships in Spain next week which Conor McGregor so happens to own. So yeah, by the end of next week, hopefully get a chance to either just have a word to him and see if he’s interested in the fight.”

    Read also: Israel Adesanya Opens Up On Viral Car Altercation: ‘Within An Hour I Found Out Where He Lived…’

  • Alexander Volkanovski Picks ‘Very Exciting’ Conor McGregor Fight Over Ilia Topuria Rematch

    Alexander Volkanovski Picks ‘Very Exciting’ Conor McGregor Fight Over Ilia Topuria Rematch

    Since losing his UFC featherweight title in February 2024, Alexander Volkanovski has been out of action and fans are happy to see him getting the well-deserved time off. However, the former champ is now back to training and is already talking about potential matchups.

    Volkanovski was the featherweight kingpin for five years, defending the belt as frequently as possible. He also fought the UFC lightweight champ Islam Makhachev twice and for all these memorable moments, no one’s complaining about his expectation to get an immediate title rematch.

    Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway is still a month away, though. In the meantime, Volkanovski would be happy to take a big money fight with Conor McGregor and then try to reclaim the UFC featherweight title…

    Alexander Volkanovski Thinks It’s Feasible To Fight Conor McGregor Before Rematching Ilia Topuria or Max Holloway For The Title

    From Topuria and Holloway to Diego Lopes and McGregor, Volkanovski discussed several potential opponents for his return on the Submission Radio YouTube channel recently.

    “The Great” is open to fighting McGregor before he gets the rematch with the winner of Topuria vs. Holloway. Both fighters have had dominant winning streaks in the featherweight division and have beaten big names like Holloway and José Aldo.

    With McGregor eager to book his UFC return as well, Volkanovski stated that he could fight “The Notorious” in late December or early 2025. He can focus on fighting the UFC featherweight champion later in 2025.

    “It’s like title fights, exciting fights, and maybe, short notice fights, that’s the things that excite me, you know what I mean? So, now, I’m, you know obviously doing good now, back in training. Training hard in that as well, but yeah just what excites me. It’s just doing a contender fight in featherweight division, that doesn’t really get me out of bed. It would have to be a build on the line to get me excited and obviously, the Conor Mcgregor fight is very exciting.”

    Volkanovski admitted to only wanting title fights, exciting fights, or short-notice fights for his return. Although he has no plans to be in a title eliminator against Lopes, the McGregor fight is definitely exciting for him and it wouldn’t impact his imminent rematch for the title as well.

    The former UFC P4P No. 1 fighter also explained why he would choose to fight McGregor over Ilia Topuria at the moment.

    “That’s a tricky one. I mean, obviously, I want that, I want that match back with Ilia, right, yeah? But I mean, right now, well, I don’t know exactly what’s happening in February. If Ilia wins, I don’t even know where he would want to fight. I don’t think, you know, I think they might be talking about maybe Sydney or something. I don’t think Ilia is going to want to fight there. So, who knows how long it is going to be. Is he gonna wait another six to seven months? So, I’ll say Conor McGregor right now, because then I could still do Ilia straight after that.”

  • Ilia Topuria On Why He Will Turn Down Conor McGregor Fight If Offered: ‘We Have Lost An Idol’

    Ilia Topuria On Why He Will Turn Down Conor McGregor Fight If Offered: ‘We Have Lost An Idol’

    Ilia Topuria recently said that the prospect of a fight with Conor McGregor no longer appeals to him.

    “El Matador” had consistently expressed his enthusiasm for stepping into the Octagon with the former two-division UFC champion, even suggesting he would move up to lightweight, if necessary, to make the dream fight a reality. With no clear indication of McGregor’s return, the reigning UFC featherweight champion’s ambitions have begun to wane.

    “The Notorious” has been absent from active competition since suffering a leg break in his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. Despite sporadically teasing a return, McGregor had even lined up a fight against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June. However, the bout was scrapped at the last minute, with the Irishman withdrawing due to injury.

    In numerous interviews and social media posts, McGregor has repeatedly claimed he’s determined to make his UFC comeback. However, his words often don’t align with his actions, as he’s frequently seen engaging in activities outside of MMA or promoting his liquor brand.

    This inconsistency is exactly why Topuria believes that “The Notorious” has lost his fire for the sport.

    Topuria On Dropping Super Fight Ambitions: ‘He’s Not The McGregor That Moved Masses’

    During a recent appearance on Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos’ YouTube channel, “El Matador” revealed that his eagerness to face McGregor has faded. The 27-year-old Spaniard remarked that the UFC icon’s career is on a downward trajectory, emphasizing that McGregor’s absence from the Octagon has diminished the allure that once enthralled the masses.

    “I wouldn’t like to fight McGregor,” Topuria said. “I mean, McGregor would be an option if I could fight him, but right now, even if they [the UFC] offered me a fight with him, I would say no because there are bigger fights than him. He is not the same; he’s not the McGregor that once moved the masses.”

    Topuria further shared that he once looked up to McGregor and aspired to follow in his footsteps. However, he now feels that the former UFC lightweight champion, who once dominated the sport, has spiraled into a life overshadowed by self-destructive behavior.

    “He’s now a McGregor who represents alcohol and drugs more than the sport. I was inspired by Conor. I admired him when I was younger. He lost it because he betrayed the values that had brought him to the top. We have lost an idol.”

    “El Matador” is gearing up to put his featherweight title on the line against Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 308, scheduled for October 26 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Topuria captured the 145-pound championship with a spectacular knockout of former titleholder Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 this past February.

  • ‘Bro Sent Himself An Email’ – Fans Unconvinced With Conor McGregor Showing Receipts Of ‘Negative’ PED Tests

    ‘Bro Sent Himself An Email’ – Fans Unconvinced With Conor McGregor Showing Receipts Of ‘Negative’ PED Tests

    A recent social media post from Conor McGregor on X was yet another example of him stating that he is ready to return to the Octagon.

    In a since-deleted image, “The Notorious” shared a screenshot from an email that was sent from Drug Free Sport International on September 23.

    Anyone who has seen a drug test result confirmation email from this organization before knows that this is usually what they look like.

    The email states, with a specific sample number, that McGregor’s recent test on September 13 has returned negative results when checking for performance enhancing drugs.

    “The Mac” shared this image with the following caption after it was recently announced that his long-awaited fight with Michael Chandler will not be happening next.

    “Most tested athlete on the @ufc roster x2. I deserve my fight date! #CleanAthlete”

    MMA Fans React To Conor McGregor’s Negative Test Results

    Though the post has since been deleted by McGregor, the fans still weighed in with their thoughts on social media via responding to the original post and several others.

    Many were sceptical about the Irishman’s email and the negative test results.

    “Bro sent himself an email”

    https://twitter.com/DexterVro/status/1838518525033373834

    “[email protected]”

    “For some reason it’s funny to think of Conor just opening up something in Gmail like the rest of us.”

    “Bro has whiskey and beer running through his veins.”

    “If he’s clean then I’m Jesus. With his money you buy from the best chemists.”

    “Calling for fights while constantly partying and traveling, after you pulled out of your scheduled fight because of a pinky toe. Dude is insufferable”

    “Ill watch him fight but idk if he should anymore, just ride off into the sunset already. You’ve won.”

    Read also: BKFC President ‘100 Percent’ Confident Of Bare-Knuckle Future For Conor McGregor: ‘Why Wouldn’t You?’ 

  • BKFC President Teases Riyadh Season Collaboration: ‘Conor Had A Great Meeting…’

    BKFC President Teases Riyadh Season Collaboration: ‘Conor Had A Great Meeting…’

    BKFC continues to be on the up, no doubt thanks to Conor McGregor, who became a part owner of the promotion earlier this year in April.

    The UFC superstar certainly brings a lot of eyes and attention to whatever he’s doing, which in turn gives the promotion a lot more bargaining power than they once had.

    With “The Notorious” now attached, they can look to expand into areas that wouldn’t have been possible without the profile that the Irishman brings to the table.

    In his latest public appearance that got fans talking online, McGregor was in attendance at Wembley Stadium this past weekend for the Riyadh Season-backed Joshua vs Dubois event.

    It appears that “The Mac” had some business to attend to after enjoying himself in London.

    David Feldman Says Conor McGregor Has Already Held Meetings About BKFC-Riyadh Season Collaboration

    In a recent interview on the Energized Show, BKFC founder David Feldman spoke about the promotion’s upcoming plans for the near future.

    Turki Alalshikh and the Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority have been able to make a huge impact on boxing by making events bigger and better than ever before.

    If BKFC was able to get in on the act in any way, it could be huge for the growth of the promotion and the sport of bare-knuckle boxing as a whole.

    When asked about whether a collaboration with Riyadh Season would be possible at some point down the line, Feldman said that there may be an update on that not too far away.

    Feldman said that McGregor has already been in talks to try and make this happen.

    “Yeah, news coming. Conor had a great meeting with them yesterday. Fantastic news coming.”

    Read also: ‘Selfish’ UFC Told To Financially Compensate Michael Chandler For Conor McGregor Wait

  • ‘Selfish’ UFC Told To Financially Compensate Michael Chandler For Conor McGregor Wait

    According to one longtime rival of Conor McGregor’s, Michael Chandler is owed a lot by the UFC for his lengthy stint on the sidelines.

    By the time Chandler enters the Octagon again, it will have been two years since his most recent outing. The former Bellator champion started life on MMA’s biggest stage in rapid fashion, but that trend has certainly dipped in recent times.

    That’s no doubt down to one man, “The Notorious” McGregor. His comeback was announced toward the start of 2023, with the Irishman confirmed to be coaching opposite Chandler on The Ultimate Fighter before their own clash inside the cage at the end of the season.

    But the finale came and went, as did multiple rumored fight dates and an official booking at UFC 303 this past June. Chandler remained steadfast in his desire to wait for McGregor, in spite of plenty urging him to move on.

    Finally, confirmation that the Dubliner won’t return until 2025 has seen Chandler accept a different assignment, running it back with former UFC lightweight kingpin Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 this November.

    With that five-round rematch inside Madison Square Garden, Chandler has the chance to reignite his title ambitions, which took a hit when he was submitted by Dustin Poirier last time out in late 2022.

    One man who has had his fair share of back and forth with McGregor, however, doesn’t think Chandler is getting enough for his troubles…

    McGregor Rival Calls For Chandler To Be Financially Rewarded For Patience

    During a recent interview with CanadaCasino.ca, former boxing champion Paulie Malignaggi gave his assessment of the situation between McGregor and Chandler.

    Malignaggi has long had strong feelings when it comes to the former, with the pair having animosity between them stemming back to the release of sparring footage that appeared to show McGregor knocking “Magic Man” down in 2017.

    The ex-boxer evidently has similar views on the UFC as he slammed the promotion for ‘underpaying’ its fighters. And because of that, he doesn’t expect Chandler to be getting the kind of compensation he believes “Iron” deserves.

    “I’d love for Chandler to be financially rewarded for waiting but I doubt it. Who’s going to reward him? The UFC is run by the most selfish people. They underpay the fighters who fight — imagine how they treat the fighters who don’t,” Malignaggi said. “He should be compensated, but I’m not sure how they’d handle that. I think he deserves it, but he’s been waiting on the sidelines for this fight, and it’s just not going to happen for him.

    “I feel for Chandler. Fighting is a tough way to make a living. It’s not easy. You get damaged, your best years pass by, and you can’t go back to reach the levels you want,” Malignaggi continued. “When you get to the point where your best years are behind you, you’d hope for a big payday to make the rest of your life more comfortable. This struggle is common in combat sports.”

    While it remains to be seen whether Chandler will be getting anything additional for the ultimately unsuccessful wait he endured, perhaps he’s more likely to be given his targeted title shot in 2025 should he avenge his past loss to Oliveira come fight night at MSG later this year.

  • Michael Chandler Responds To Fan Who Says Conor McGregor Ducked Him: ‘I Knew All Along…’

    Michael Chandler Responds To Fan Who Says Conor McGregor Ducked Him: ‘I Knew All Along…’

    Michael Chandler has spent a long time talking about Conor McGregor, his actions outside of the cage and whether their fight was going to happen or not.

    After the many months of trying to focus on himself, this ended up paying off once it was announced that the fight wouldn’t be next for “Iron” Mike.

    He will instead face Charles Oliveira in a rematch over five rounds at Madison Square Garden, for UFC 309.

    Given the number of times McGregor has teased an imminent UFC return, it would be understandable that his opponent would be left with a bad taste in his mouth.

    However, a recent post from Chandler on social media points to the idea that he isn’t frustrated after waiting all this time, only for the fight to not happen.

    It also appears that Chandler doesn’t hold any hard feelings towards McGregor for this period of his career where he has been left to his own devices.

    Michael Chandler Says That The Conor McGregor Fight Not Happening Is ‘Water Under The Bridge’

    A fan on X tagged Chandler and McGregor in a post, claiming that in the middle of this major news cycle, it has been left out that “The Notorious” ducked the fight.

    This isn’t the way that “Iron” Mike sees the outcome as is apparent in his response.

    Chandler suggests that the fight taking place was always something that he had reservations about, but that doesn’t mean he is letting it bother him.

    Instead, he hopes to take positives away from this time off, having spoken about changing his mindset by reflecting on his previous fights and looking at where he wants to be.

    “Water under the bridge. I knew all along it was a long shot…I took the time to calibrate and plan this Chandler 2.0 season.”

    Read also: Jon Anik Outlines ‘Silver Lining’ For The UFC After Sean O’Malley’s Title Loss

  • Conor McGregor’s UFC Comeback Saga Continues With Concerning Social Media Activity

    The Song That Never Ends could be the perfect theme song that goes along with the saga that is Conor McGregor’s return to the UFC. But, the question at this point is now if that comeback will actually ever happen.

    Questions about this comeback arose further last weekend when Michael Chandler — McGregor’s planned comeback opponent — was booked in a five-round battle against former foe Charles Oliveira in the co-main event of November’s UFC 309.

    While McGregor’s response in the immediate aftermath seemed to indicate he was uncertain of his Octagon status, UFC CEO Dana White claimed that a McGregor fight with Chandler was still possible after UFC 309.

    And in an interview with Ariel Helwani during the DAZN broadcast of Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois, McGregor seemed to indicate he still wants to fight Chandler and wants to compete twice in 2025 in order to complete his UFC contract.

    Now, though, new social media activity from McGregor may have already caused major concern if those plans are still in fruition…

    ‘Like’ From Conor McGregor Hints At Him Potentially Never Returning To UFC

    X account ACD MMA made a post on the social media platform involving video of McGregor entering Wembley Stadium with a cigar in his mouth. ACD MMA stated, “Bro Conor McGregor is never coming back to MMA. This man is just enjoying his life.”

    The poster followed up with an update some time later, showing a screenshot that showed McGregor’s official X account “liking” the post.

    A fight between McGregor and Chandler has long been anticipated since the two were announced in early 2023 to be the coaches for season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter.

    The two were scheduled to be the main event of UFC 303 until McGregor reportedly suffered an injury to his toe in training camp.

    The Dubliner has not been seen in the Octagon since his UFC 264 loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021. He has since acquired a part-ownership in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

    Meanwhile, Chandler’s fight with Oliveira will be his first since losing to Poirier at UFC 281 in November 2022. “Iron” and “Do Bronx” previously met for the UFC lightweight title at UFC 262, a fight that the latter won via second-round TKO.

  • ‘Did To AJ What AJ Did To Ngannou’ – Conor McGregor, Ryan Garcia & Others React As Daniel Dubois Dominates, KOs Anthony Joshua

    ‘Did To AJ What AJ Did To Ngannou’ – Conor McGregor, Ryan Garcia & Others React As Daniel Dubois Dominates, KOs Anthony Joshua

    In what has to go down as one of the most one-sided and jaw-dropping upsets in recent professional boxing history, Daniel Dubois retained the IBF heavyweight championship with a fifth-round knockout of Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium in London.

    Dubois became just the second man to knock out Joshua — and only the third to beat him — in his professional career. The defending champion put on a display that was flat-out dominant and one of the most brutal beatings Joshua received in the ring.

    “Dynamite” brought this pace right from the get-go, rocking the former two-time unified heavyweight champion in the first round and dropping him before the frame’s conclusion.

    The pace did not stop, and Dubois appeared three steps ahead of Joshua. In fact, he rocked “AJ” again in the closing seconds of the third round, knocking him down before the bell sounded.

    Dubois knocked Joshua down again in the fourth stanza, and he appeared to do so for a second time before it was ultimately ruled a slip.

    Things ultimately ended in the fifth, just as Joshua finally seemed to buckle Dubois with a right hand, putting him on the back foot. The fan favorite charged in an attempt to attack but was cracked and dropped by a counter right hook that landed on the button.

    Joshua was unable to answer the 10 count, giving Dubois the win and ensuring the championship wouldn’t change hands.

    Daniel Dubois Puts On Beating, Retains IBF Heavyweight Title With KO Of Anthony Joshua

    https://twitter.com/ChampRDS/status/1837602954385162592

    Dubois has now won three straight since his unsuccessful challenge of Oleksandr Usyk in August 2023. He became interim IBF heavyweight champion with a finish of Filip Hrgović in June and was promoted to full-time champion when Usyk — then-undisputed heavyweight champion — was stripped of the IBF title.

    Meanwhile, this loss snaps a four-fight win streak that Joshua was on since dropping back-to-back WBA/IBF/WBO heavyweight championship decisions to Usyk.

    Joshua had previously held the IBF title from his win over Charles Martin in April 2016 (and going on to pick up the WBA and WBO titles in the process) until his infamous June 1, 2019 loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. Joshua regained the titles in a rematch with Ruiz that December.

  • Conor McGregor Reveals Preferred Opponent For UFC Return After Chandler vs. Oliveira Booking

    Conor McGregor Reveals Preferred Opponent For UFC Return After Chandler vs. Oliveira Booking

    After last weekend’s announcement of Michael Chandler competing later this year in a fight that does not involve him, many are now left questioning what is next for Conor McGregor in the UFC.

    UFC CEO Dana White announced last weekend that Chandler will not be facing McGregor next. Instead, “Iron” will face former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira in a five-round co-main event at UFC 309 on Nov. 16.

    White added at the time that they were looking at some point in 2025 for McGregor’s next fight, reiterating comments he made a month earlier following the Dana White’s Contender Series season premiere that McGregor will not compete in 2024.

    In the immediate aftermath, McGregor expressed confusion about his placement in the UFC following the booking of Oliveira vs. Chandler 2. A week later, however, the former UFC two-division champion has seemed to have changed his tone.

    In an interview with Ariel Helwani during the DAZN broadcast of Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois on Saturday night, McGregor claimed he’s unbothered by waiting until 2025.

    Conor McGregor Still Wants Michael Chandler, Says It Is A ‘Must’ To Fight Out UFC Contract

    “It will be 2025,” McGregor said. “It is what it is. I just take it on board and just rock on. And my job is just to be in the gym, be in the gym, be in shape. One thing is for sure: whenever it is, and wherever it is, I will be 100 percent ready. That’s all I can focus on right now.”

    McGregor added that it is a “must” to compete twice in 2025. McGregor has two fights remaining on his current UFC contract but said he was unsure what happens when he becomes a free agent.

    White, last week, stated that McGregor vs. Chandler is not completely shut down and could still happen after Chandler fights Oliveira.

    When asked about who he wants across the cage from him in his return, McGregor, while uncertain, claimed plans are still unchanged in his mind. He wants to finish his business with Chandler.

    “Man, who knows now?” McGregor said. “It does not matter. I’d like it to be Chandler; I’d like that to be squared away. I wish him well against Oliveira, but let’s see how it goes.”

    McGregor has not been seen in the UFC since breaking his leg in a loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.

    Chandler and Oliveira, meanwhile, previously fought in the main event of UFC 262 in 2021, facing each other for the then-vacant UFC lightweight championship. “Do Bronx” scored the win via second-round TKO.

  • Charles Oliveira Open To Conor McGregor Fight Should He Beat Michael Chandler On One Condition

    Charles Oliveira Open To Conor McGregor Fight Should He Beat Michael Chandler On One Condition

    The fate of Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler is more uncertain than ever, but Charles Oliveira says he’s open to fighting McGregor as long as a certain stipulation is met.

    After even more time has passed without a set date for McGregor vs. Chandler, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed just prior to Noche UFC (UFC 3060 last weekend that Chandler has opted to take a fight with Oliveira.

    The clash between “Do Bronx” and “Iron” will serve as a five-round co-main event for UFC 309, which takes place on Nov. 16 at New York’s Madison Square Garden. It will be a rematch from their lightweight title bout at UFC 262 and Chandler’s first fight since losing to Dustin Poirier at the same venue two years earlier.

    There has been some supposed reassurance that Chandler’s planned fight with McGregor, which has been long awaited since the two were announced as the coaches for The Ultimate Fighter season 31 in early 2023, can still happen following the Oliveira bout. But given the Brazilian’s status as as former lightweight champion who is still high up in the UFC’s lightweight rankings, it brings about questions as to how Oliveira vs. Chandler 2’s outcome could impact plans for both the UFC lightweight title and McGregor.

    In an interview with MMA Fighting, Oliveira said he does not blame Chandler for waiting as long as he did. However, he himself would not have had the same patience.

    That said, Oliveira was also asked about choosing between another crack at the lightweight gold and McGregor.

    Charles Oliveira Says He’d Fight Conor McGregor As Long As He’d Get Title Shot In Next Fight: ‘Why Not?’

    Ultimately, Oliveira said if he was forced to pick between the two, he would lean toward the title fight. But, the ex-titleholder said he would be down to fight McGregor if it guaranteed him a title fight in the next outing.

    “Am I next in line if I beat McGregor? If that’s the plan, then I’m 100 percent in. But if you say, ‘No, you have to choose one of the two,’ I’m definitely going for the title,” Oliveira said. “If I have the opportunity to fight Conor and we make a lot of money, because he sells a lot and so do I — and we would definitely brow the roofs off with this pay-per-view —, not to mention the money off the purse, and I’m still next for the belt, I would definitely do it. Why not?

    “(My managers Diego Lima and Jorge Patino) know what my plan is. I want the fights that take me to the belt. I’ve been posting a lot these days, ‘Waiting for the boss to call,’ and the UFC definitely sees that. Diego and ‘Macaco’ came with the Chandler fight, and I’m definitely much closer to the title with a win over Chandler. I’ll just stay focused now. Chandler is super tough and deserves all the respect. He knows how much I respect and care for him, so it’s definitely going to be a great fight.”

    Oliveira will be looking to rebound from a split decision loss to Arman Tsarukyan in a title eliminator at UFC 300. “Do Bronx” defeated Chandler for the then-vacant lightweight title at UFC 262 and defended the title against Poirier at UFC 269. He controversially lost the title on the scale before UFC 274 and then lost a vacant title fight with current champ Islam Makhachev at UFC 280.

    The UFC lightweight title is next expected to be defended in early 2025 in a fight between Makhachev and Tsarukyan.

    Chandler is 2-3 in the UFC, with victories over Dan Hooker and Tony Ferguson in addition to his losses opposite Poirier, Oliveira, and Gaethje.

    McGregor, meanwhile, has not fought since breaking his leg in a trilogy bout with Poirier at UFC 264.

  • Dan Hooker Lays Down Beer-Related Stipulation To Fight Conor McGregor As Michael Chandler Matchup ‘Stopped Making Sense’

    Dan Hooker Lays Down Beer-Related Stipulation To Fight Conor McGregor As Michael Chandler Matchup ‘Stopped Making Sense’

    Michael Chandler finally moving past the Conor McGregor fight to take on Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 is bound to shake up the UFC lightweight division. Ahead of the return of the former title challenger, Dan Hooker has also emerged as a new contender with three straight wins.

    Hooker has returned to the top five lightweight rankings and claims to be more serious than ever about earning a title shot. He wouldn’t risk going into fights injured or without proper training. “The Hangman” is open to money fights with the likes of McGregor as well.

    Here’s why Hooker thinks it makes more sense for McGregor to fight him than Chandler but the Dubliner must fulfill a unique condition…

    Dan Hooker Expects Him And Conor McGregor To Drink Beers Every Day During Their Fight Camps

    Hooker opened up on the current state of the UFC lightweight division in an interview on the Submission Radio YouTube channel recently. He explained that after a nearly two-year-long layoff, the Chandler matchup wasn’t intriguing enough for McGregor.

    Beating Chandler wouldn’t have helped the Irishman claim a title shot or even enter the top five UFC lightweight rankings. So, Hooker suggests that fighting a top ranked and active lightweight like himself is a more sensible option for “The Notorious” at this point.

    “He’s without a fight. I know Conor’s hungry to fight, um, and fight someone that he can get something from and make a lot of sense. That’s why I feel like Chandler kind of sitting there and waiting, he, and not staying active, you kind of lose. Like what does he get out of Chandler. He doesn’t even get in the… he knocks out Michael Chandler in the first round, Conor McGregor doesn’t even get in the top five off of that performance. So, therefore, like, it doesn’t. It stopped making sense for Conor McGregor to fight Michael Chandler.”

    Hooker also admitted he’d be more than happy to fight McGregor. He remembered that there’s no bad blood between the two and stylistically, their bout would be quite entertaining for fans of striking and violence.

    “The Hangman” joked (or maybe not) about the stipulation he’ll lay down for fighting McGregor. Both fighters must prove that they’ve been drinking beers every day of fight camp or they show failed breathalyzer tests daily.

    “That’s a stipulation of the fight, we have to send each other drinking beers every single day of fight camp. We have to, we have to both agree to both agree. We maybe, we can get a breathalyzer, we can send each other a failed breathalyzer test every day of fight camp and we’ll get this thing squared away.”

  • Michael Chandler: Conor McGregor’s Spirit Loves MMA, Not His Body Or Mind

    Michael Chandler: Conor McGregor’s Spirit Loves MMA, Not His Body Or Mind

    Michael Chandler recently shared his belief that Conor McGregor’s deep passion for MMA will inevitably draw him back to the Octagon.

    Chandler’s name has been linked to the former two-division UFC champion ever since the two were cast as rival coaches on The Ultimate Fighter season 31 last year. The plan was to eventually clash in a highly anticipated showdown in the season finale.

    However, by the third quarter of 2024, “Iron” remained laser-focused on his training, passing up opportunities to compete against other fighters as he stayed committed to the long-promised bout with McGregor. Meanwhile, “The Notorious” was frequently seen enjoying his extravagant lifestyle, partying, and fully embracing his larger-than-life persona.

    With the slippery McGregor fight fading from the horizon, Chandler seems to have set those aspirations aside for now. Instead, he’s gearing up for a high-stakes rematch against Charles Oliveira in a five-round co-main event at UFC 309, set for November 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

    Chandler and Oliveira first squared off for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 262 in May 2021. In that bout, the Brazilian emerged victorious with a second-round TKO to claim UFC gold.

    The upcoming rematch doesn’t suggest that ‘Iron’ has abandoned his lofty goal of fighting McGregor. On the contrary, the former Bellator lightweight champion remains hopeful that the potential matchup could still materialize sometime next year.

    Chandler Says McGregor Is Too ‘Romantic’ About MMA to Stay Away

    During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, Chandler was asked if, after all the hurdles in booking his fight with McGregor, he still believes the Irishman will ever return to the UFC. The former lightweight title challenger acknowledged that while ‘The Notorious’ may currently be focused on ventures outside the UFC, he firmly believes McGregor’s deep-rooted passion for MMA will inevitably pull him back. And when that moment comes, Chandler assured that he’ll be ready to face him.

    “You just look at his history. Conor McGregor is a nothing, a nobody, without the sport of mixed martial arts, without the UFC platform, without the legacy that he’s created,” Chandler said. “I believe he’s romantic about it. I believe he loves the sport. I believe his spirit loves the sport, but sometimes his body and his brain want other things, right? And I’ve never walked a mile in that man’s shoes, neither have you, so who are we to critique him? But I do believe he comes back, and when he does, I’ll be waiting. I just might have the title by then, so it could be a very interesting set of circumstances.”

    “Iron” hasn’t fought for almost two years, following his third-round submission loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 281 in November 2022. Many have speculated that Chandler squandered his prime years by remaining inactive, waiting for a fight with McGregor.

    However, the 38-year-old American has no regrets about his time away from the cage. Instead, he believes the break was much-needed, allowing him to recharge and reset away from the relentless grind of competition.

    “When I step into the Octagon next time, it’s going to be two years since I fought. But I already had a bout agreement, already had a contract signed, already broke the biggest gate record, and was lined up against Conor. We had a fight, but the fight got pulled, so you can’t really have any regrets. All you can do is make the best decisions… I enjoyed myself; I needed some time away from the sport. When you’re fighting the best and toughest guys in the world, constantly in training camps, constantly dealing with the pressure and the rigors of what I go through—because I take it so seriously—the sport can chew you up and gobble you up.”

    Chandler and McGregor were ultimately slated to headline UFC 303 this past June, but the fight was abruptly scrapped at the eleventh hour when McGregor pulled out just two weeks before the event due to a leg injury.

    Since then, the UFC superstar has repeatedly vowed to make his return by the end of the year. However, UFC CEO Dana White has hinted that fans may have to wait longer, suggesting McGregor’s comeback might not happen until 2025.

  • Michael Chandler Explains Why He Won’t Call Failed Wait For Conor McGregor ‘Wasted Time’

    UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler insists that the patience he showed in a failed pursuit of fighting Conor McGregor only had positive effects on him as an individual and fighter.

    By the time Chandler next enters the Octagon, it will have been two years since his previous outing. After a submission loss to Dustin Poirier at Madison Square Garden in 2022, the former Bellator champion will return to New York City this coming November to run it back with Charles Oliveira.

    The pair’s five-round co-headliner at UFC 309 was announced this past weekend, bringing an end to Chandler’s lengthy wait to welcome the sport’s biggest superstar back to action.

    The 38-year-old was penciled in as McGregor’s return opponent way back at the start of 2023 when they were announced as opposition coaches on The Ultimate Fighter. After over a year of patient waiting for an official fight date, their UFC 303 headliner this past June didn’t come to fruition owing to an injury suffered by the Irishman.

    Many have long urged Chandler to move on from the “Notorious” star, and his decision to finally do so has been used as a ‘told you so’ moment by some in the mixed martial arts community.

    But while Chandler’s sights may now be off McGregor for the time being, he firmly disagrees with claims he ‘wasted’ the best part of two years in the latter part of his career by waiting for the Dublin native…

    Chandler On McGregor Wait: ‘It Wasn’t Wasted Time Because Of The Man I Became From It’

    During a recent appearance on the Ultimate Human Podcast with Gary Brecka, Chandler addressed his decision to stray from the uncertainty-filled McGregor path and put his crosshairs back on the UFC lightweight title.

    “Iron” admitted that his period on the sidelines was far from easy. But he seemingly has no regrets about the process, saying it moulded him into a better person.

    “Maybe this was the way it was supposed to be the entire time,” Chandler said. “I want to finish that chapter. We waited and there were so many ups and downs. I went through things with it. Being away from my family but then not actually getting to fight was very tough.

    “It wasn’t wasted time. I would never say it’s wasted time, right? Anybody listening, you’ve had times in your life and were like, ‘Man, that was a waste of time.’ But was it? It wasn’t really wasted time because of the man I became from it,” Chandler added.

    Chandler’s preparation will now switch to “Do Bronx,” a former champ he’ll be familiar with having shared the cage with him back in May 2021. The pair competed for the then-vacant lightweight belt, with “Iron’s” early success being rendered null when the Brazilian found the fight-ending shots in round two.

    The ex-Bellator standout will look to avenge that defeat and set up a showdown with the reigning kingpin in 2025 come fight night at MSG, where he and Oliveira will set the stage for Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic’s heavyweight clash.

  • Former Opponent Uses McGregor Fight To Highlight O’Malley’s Tactical Error Versus Dvalishvili

    Former Opponent Uses McGregor Fight To Highlight O’Malley’s Tactical Error Versus Dvalishvili

    Marlon Vera recently drew parallels to one of Conor McGregor’s fights to highlight the strategic missteps Sean O’Malley made in his bout against Merab Dvalishvili.

    “Suga’s” reign as champion came to a close last weekend in the main event of Noche UFC 306 at The Sphere in Las Vegas, where he endured a unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Dvalishvili.

    O’Malley struggled to find his rhythm throughout the fight as Dvalishvili stormed in, guns blazing, unleashing an unyielding assault of takedowns. The defending champion had no answers for the onslaught and ultimately fell short, losing the bout.

    O’Malley initially seemed reluctant to let his strikes fly during the fight, possibly due to “The Machine’s” dominance in chain wrestling and calculated approach, which suffocated the American’s ability to find his footing.

    Interestingly, “Chito,” who has shared the Octagon with O’Malley twice, echoed similar sentiments regarding the defending champion’s performance…

    Vera Believes O’Malley Missed Early Striking Opportunity To Counter Dvalishvili’s Gameplan

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Vera shared his thoughts on the title bout between O’Malley and Dvalishvili at Noche UFC 306. The former title challenger suggested that if “Suga” had landed some early shots on a fresh Dvalishvili, the outcome could have swung in his favor.

    Vera pointed out that Dvalishvili has been rocked before, referencing his previous knockdowns at the hands of Henry Cejudo and Marlon Moraes.

    “he main event, it was a guy that I just fought two fights ago against Merab,” Vera said. “That was a great fight. I mean, I really thought if Sean could have hit Merab early in the fight, things could change, based on him being dropped by Cejudo and Marlon Moraes, but he just couldn’t land. Merab has that kind of jerky move like it’s hard to hit him in a way you can snipe this guy. You almost have to fight him.”

    “Chito” went on to compare O’Malley’s tactical blunder to Conor McGregor’s second-round TKO victory over Chad Mendes at UFC 189 in July 2015. Vera highlighted that every time “The Notorious” broke free from Mendes’ takedowns, he immediately closed the distance and applied pressure. In contrast, O’Malley did the opposite against “The Machine”, allowing Dvalishvili to dictate the fight.

    “I would say the one thing, comparing the fight to Chad Mendes and Conor, is that every time Conor got up, he would crawl right away, like he would be in his face immediately. Every time Sean got up, there was a little separation, so that probably messed with his rhythm. And Merab, we all know, can just take you down over and over. So I think, in my opinion, you just have to sit down and fight him. He’s going to take you down regardless, so you might as well just go crazy on him. But overall, great fight. Congratulations to the new champion.”

    O’Malley captured the bantamweight title against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 in August 2023. He went on to defend his belt in impressive style against Vera at UFC 299 this past March, where he avenged the sole setback on his Octagon record.

    Following his recent defeat, the 29-year-old Montana native shared that he has no plans to step back into the Octagon anytime soon, hinting at a potential return around mid-2025.