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Tag: Conor McGregor

  • Former UFC Champion Explains Path To McGregor vs. Chandler Fight Despite Oliveira Booking

    Former UFC Champion Explains Path To McGregor vs. Chandler Fight Despite Oliveira Booking

    Michael Bisping recently laid out a possible route for Michael Chandler to secure his long-awaited bout with Conor McGregor, despite the American’s upcoming clash with his old rival, Charles Oliveira, looming on the horizon.

    “Iron” finds himself simmering with mounting bitterness, having been mired on the sidelines for an extended period while awaiting a fight with McGregor. Now, with that elusive matchup still out of reach, Chandler is set to face Oliveira in a five-round co-main event at UFC 309 on November 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

    Chandler and Oliveira’s upcoming bout will serve as a rematch of their vacant lightweight title clash at UFC 262 in May 2021, where “Do Bronx” secured a second-round TKO victory to claim the championship.

    Chandler has been biding his time, eagerly awaiting his showdown with “The Notorious” ever since they faced off as rival coaches on The Ultimate Fighter season 31 last year. Throughout this period, Chandler has stayed focused on his training while turning down opportunities to face other contenders.

    However, after encountering numerous setbacks in booking their bout, the two were eventually set to headline UFC 303 this past June, only for the bout to be scrapped at the eleventh hour when McGregor withdrew just two weeks before the event.

    The UFC 309 fight doesn’t entirely close the door on Chandler’s ambitious plans to face the former two-division UFC champion. In fact, Chandler remains optimistic, expressing confidence that his highly anticipated clash with McGregor could still come to fruition sometime in 2025.

    Bisping Discusses How Chandler Might Still Land McGregor Fight

    In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Bisping shared his thoughts on the current landscape of the UFC lightweight division, particularly as Chandler is set to fight Oliveira in a high-stakes rematch.

    The UFC Hall of Famer acknowledged that while this bout doesn’t carry the same blockbuster allure as a fight with McGregor, it holds equal significance for “Iron.” A victory over “Do Bronx” could propel Chandler back into the heart of a second title contention conversation.

    “He’s stepping in against Charles Oliveira,” Bisping said. “We know this is a rematch. Of course, Chandler had some success in the first fight—he did hurt Oliveira, but he also got hurt himself. He got dropped, so this is a very relevant fight for Michael Chandler. It’s not the Conor McGregor matchup, but it is a fight that is relevant in the title picture. If Chandler can go out there, if he can beat Charles Oliveira, if he can get his hands on Islam Makhachev next, which is what he says he wants, and become the champion of the world, then he can get a fight with Conor McGregor down the line.”

    “The Count” went on to suggest that if Chandler manages to capture the 155-pound title, it could pave the way for a future showdown with McGregor. Although McGregor’s prolonged absence from the Octagon would undoubtedly raise questions and draw heavy scrutiny, his undeniable star power could still secure him the fight.

    “Even though Conor McGregor shouldn’t get a title fight and you’ll all say I’m crazy, the man is super popular, and numbers talk, right? Money talks, bullsh*t runs the marathon. If Chandler is the champ, and Chandler said that McGregor’s road back to the Octagon only goes through him, we could see Chandler vs. McGregor for the lightweight strap. But there’s a lot of ifs and buts.”

    Chandler has been absent from the Octagon for nearly two years now. His last appearance came against Dustin Poirier at UFC 281 in November 2022, where “Iron” suffered a third-round submission loss despite a valiant showing. Meanwhile, McGregor has remained on the sidelines ever since suffering a devastating leg break during his trilogy bout against Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.

  • Michael Chandler Moves On From Conor McGregor, Rematches Charles Oliveira At UFC 309

    Michael Chandler Moves On From Conor McGregor, Rematches Charles Oliveira At UFC 309

    It seems that Michael Chandler finally got sick of waiting.

    For the past year-and-a-half, Chandler has been penciled in as the return opponent for Conor McGregor. The former two-division UFC champion had his comeback announced toward the start of 2023, with the Irishman scheduled to coach opposite “Iron” on The Ultimate Fighter before sharing the cage with him.

    But after 2023 passed by without that matchup reaching the Octagon, talk of a UFC 300 headliner dissipated, and an official fight date in the form of UFC 303 fell through, another calendar year looks set to come and go with the absence of “The Notorious” star.

    With that, McGregor’s fans will seemingly be waiting until 2025 for his next fight. One man who won’t be waiting that long, however, is Chandler.

    Plenty have been urging the former Bellator champ to move on and take another fight. Despite frequently dismissing those calls, it seems that Chandler has now listened. After speaking with UFC CEO Dana White, Barstool Sports’ Robbie Fox reported in a social media video that Chandler will indeed take a fight amid the uncertainty surrounding McGregor’s return.

    That bout? A five-round rematch with former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira in the co-main event of UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden on November 16.

    Chandler vs. Oliveira 2 Set Three Years On From Title Fight

    The major news means Chandler (23-8) and Oliveira (34-10, 1 NC) will run back their May 2021 showdown, which came just two months before the most recent Octagon appearance for McGregor.

    That bout marked the second UFC outing for Chandler, who debuted earlier in the year with an emphatic first-round knockout of Dan Hooker in Abu Dhabi. While the decision to grant him a shot caused debate, “Iron” came within inches of a title crowning in the opening round of the UFC 262 main event.

    But after “Do Bronx” survived, he quickly landed a fight-changing left hook to drop Chandler seconds into round two, setting up a memorable TKO finish and securing championship glory for the Brazilian.

    Oliveira has since fallen from the throne and failed to regain his place on it opposite Islam Makhachev. Most recently, the ex-champ was unsuccessful in his bid for number one contender status in narrow fashion against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300 this past April.

    Chandler, meanwhile, has had his hand raised just once, brutally knoking out Tony Ferguson in 2022. Aside from that, the 38-year-old has suffered defeats to Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier, with his submission setback to the latter in November 2022 marking his last walk to the cage.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 309 are as follows:

    • Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler (lightweight co-main event)
    • Nikita Krylov vs. Azamat Murzakanov (light heavyweight)
    • Chris Weidman vs. Eryk Anders (middleweight)
    • Viviane Araújo vs. Karine Silva (women’s flyweight)
    • Jonathan Martinez vs. Marcus McGhee (bantamweight)
    • Karine Silva vs. Viviane Araújo (women’s flyweight)
    • Veronica Hardy vs. Eduarda Moura (women’s flyweight)
    Charles Oliveira
    Image: UFC/YouTube
  • Conor McGregor’s Coach Omits Jon Jones From His MMA Mount Rushmore

    Conor McGregor’s Coach Omits Jon Jones From His MMA Mount Rushmore

    Conor McGregor’s coach, John Kavanagh, recently shared his picks for an MMA Mount Rushmore. Intriguingly, Jon Jones was conspicuously absent from his list.

    The reigning UFC heavyweight champion’s name is a natural inclusion in any conversation about the greatest MMA fighter of all time (GOAT), and his achievements would appear to certainly validate that status. “Bones” boasts a career marked by extraordinary accomplishments and historic milestones.

    At just 23, Jones made history by defeating then-light heavyweight champion Mauricio Rua in the third round at UFC 128 in March 2011, securing his place as the youngest UFC champion ever. From that moment, he never looked back, embarking on a remarkable journey that culminated in an unprecedented 13 successful title defenses.

    In recent times, no one has been more vocally supportive of Jones’ status as the GOAT and the top pound-for-pound fighter than UFC CEO Dana White. White has been notably immersed in extensive discussions, staunchly defending the 37-year-old New Yorker’s legacy.

    However, Kavanagh’s all-time MMA elite list boasts an array of unexpected names, and it overlooks Jones despite his legendary career…

    Kavanagh Reveals Five Picks for MMA Mount Rushmore With No Jones

    During a recent discussion with Lucky Block, Kavanagh was prompted to name the greatest MMA fighters of all time. The renowned coach listed five names, deviating from the traditional four-person Mount Rushmore.

    Naturally, Kavanagh included “The Notorious” as his first pick, highlighting the remarkable achievements of his student and the profound impact he’s had on the sport.

    “Unsurprisingly, I’m going to name Conor first because he became the first simultaneous two-weight world champion. That’s no small feat, but also what he did for the game in general, his general introduction of MMA to a whole world who would have never seen it, really. He’s the first and maybe the only one to truly cross over into, let’s say, normal life, and obviously, now he’s in movies as well. A lot of people to be thankful that if you’re involved in the MMA industry, you probably had a few guys walk into your gym because of Conor’s influence.”

    Kavanagh then listed Russian MMA icon Fedor Emelianenko among his favorites, followed by UFC Hall of Famer BJ Penn, recognizing his McGregor-esque achievements.

    For his fourth pick, he named another legend, former longtime UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.

    “Number two, I’ll say Fedor Emelianenko. He’s one of my favorite fighters of all time. Incredible Russian fighter. I’m going to say, BJ Penn, another two-weight world champion. Incredible skill set. At four, I have to go for Anderson Silva. I think some record number of title defenses and just so skillful, you watch him back in the day when he was fighting someone who’s a kind of a friend of mine, Forrest Griffin. Forrest is so tough, so durable, so good, and Anderson made the poor guy look like he’d never trained. He has amazing skills.”

    The SBG Ireland founder placed the first women’s UFC bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey, as his fifth pick, celebrating her as a trailblazer who revolutionized women’s MMA.

    “At five I will say Ronda Rousey and not just for her amazing victories in the UFC, but the fact that she really introduced women’s MMA to the world. Dana was pretty headstrong all those years, saying he would never have women in MMA. And I think he took one look at her and said, let’s get women in MMA. So, there we go. That’s my five.”

    Kavanagh’s omission of “Bones” from his MMA Mount Rushmore is indeed surprising, but he’s not alone in leaving out the former light heavyweight champion.

    Recently, UFC middleweight veteran Sam Alvey has also excluded Jones from his list of top fighters, further stirring curiosity about Jones’ place in the pantheon of MMA greatness.

  • ‘Is It A Requirement For His Sparring Partners To Never Throw Anything Back?’ – MMA Fans React To Latest Conor McGregor Training Video

    ‘Is It A Requirement For His Sparring Partners To Never Throw Anything Back?’ – MMA Fans React To Latest Conor McGregor Training Video

    Having withdrawn from his scheduled return at UFC 303 in June, it appears that Conor McGregor is back working towards his new date.

    Nothing has been confirmed as yet for when “The Notorious” will step back inside the Octagon to face Michael Chandler.

    Given the amount of time since he last competed and the videos that are often posted on social media, one of which came out recently, fans have had their doubts about whether the fight will ever happen.

    McGregor posted a video of his return to sparring on social media, showing him working quite extensively on his clinch game, defending some takedowns and of course, landing his legendary left hand.

    Though this would seem to be an encouraging sign that the wheels are once again beginning to turn, we have been here several times in recent history.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmCOhw5ssx0

    MMA Fans React To Conor McGregor’s Return To Sparring In New Footage

    Suffice to say that the fans who commented below the footage posted on The Mac Life’s YouTube channel weren’t overly impressed by what they were seeing.

    There has been a lot of clips of McGregor sparring in recent months and that has seemingly led to two conclusions.

    One being that this doesn’t necessarily mean his return is drawing closer and two, that the videos are all fairly similar to one another.

    “All of these Conor sparring videos seem like a never ending bad fever dream at this point.”

    “2days off the coke looking good”

    “I love Conor but I’m so sick of this footage already. I see zero progression, it’s like he lives in an echo chamber of yes men. How has no one told him how stiff he’s gotten? How has no one showed him how much his stance has changed and affected his fighting? Like this footage is useless.”

    “Is it a requirement for his sparring partners to never throw anything back?? Can’t improve when all u do is beat up low level guys.”

    “Year 2033: Conor has released a new sparring footage and calls out out the champions of every weight class.”

    “Sparring champion that’s about it coz that’s all he does”

    “His sparring partners are told to not push him to boost his confidence, but thats the problem, he never have a ‘normal’ sparrings that actually make him uncomfortable as a result he gets knocked the fak out.”

    Read also: Sean O’Malley On What Will Set Him Apart From Conor McGregor: ‘No One Thinks Conor Is The GOAT’

  • Sean O’Malley On What Will Set Him Apart From Conor McGregor: ‘No One Thinks Conor Is The GOAT’

    Sean O’Malley On What Will Set Him Apart From Conor McGregor: ‘No One Thinks Conor Is The GOAT’

    When all is said and done in his career, UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley wants to be part of a conversation that Conor McGregor is not.

    Comparisons have long been made between the surging O’Malley and McGregor, the sport’s unrivaled biggest superstar who became the first two-division champion during his prime years in the cage.

    While “Sugar” remains in pursuit of the Irishman’s stardom and legacy, he expects to close the gap in a big way and perhaps even replace him as the UFC’s top-drawing name with an emphatic title defense this weekend.

    After recording his first successful retention at the expense of Marlon Vera this past March, O’Malley is next tasked with stalling the championship ambitions of Merab Dvalishvili in the main event of Noche UFC 306 at the Sphere.

    O’Malley has long suggested he has what it takes to replicate the feats of McGregor, his longtime idol. But when his career is concluded, “Sugar” wants to go above and beyond the Dubliner by securing a place in a coveted discussion.

    O’Malley Targets GOAT Status, Something McGregor Isn’t In The Running For

    During an interview with ESPN, O’Malley looked ahead to his second assignment of the year to date, which sees him top the lineup for the promotion’s second annual celebration of Mexican Independence Day.

    As always, an O’Malley fight week has brought up McGregor as a topic, given the parallels many have drawn between their careers and social media presence.

    The bantamweight champ, though, insists there’s a major difference in what he’s attempting to achieve in the sport of MMA as compared to the legacy left behind by the inactive Irishman.

    “Who brought the most excitement to fights? Conor McGregor, 100 percent,” O’Malley said. “He’s a dork, but it’s the truth. But no one thinks Conor is the greatest of all time. Greatest fighter of all time is Jon Jones, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev is up there. I’m trying to be both. I’m three fights away from being considered one of the greatest of all time and one of the most exciting of all time. There’s a difference in what I’m trying to do.”

    O’Malley will plan on taking a big step closer to joining the likes of Jones and Georges St-Pierre in GOAT talk when he takes to the cage inside the Sphere on Saturday, Sept. 14.

    And beyond this weekend’s clash, “Sugar” has long teased a venture up to featherweight in pursuit of ‘champ-champ’ status. Such an accomplishment would no doubt increase his chances of reaching his lofty ambitions on the sport’s biggest stage.

  • ‘A Khabib Rematch’ – MMA Analyst Imagines Conor McGregor’s UFC Career If He Never Fought Floyd Mayweather

    ‘A Khabib Rematch’ – MMA Analyst Imagines Conor McGregor’s UFC Career If He Never Fought Floyd Mayweather

    Conor McGregor’s iconic UFC run between 2013-16 helped skyrocket the popularity of mixed martial arts. He won the UFC featherweight title by knocking out long-time champ José Aldo in just 13 seconds and became the first double champ in the promotion’s history by defeating Eddie Alvarez.

    Instead of defending either of his belts, though, McGregor boxed Floyd Mayweather in one of the most popular boxing bouts in history. He definitely made a fortune from it, but fans often complain about missing a lot of Irishman’s prime in MMA because of it.

    Prominent combat sports analyst Luke Thomas recently pondered how McGregor’s UFC career would’ve been if the Mayweather fight never happened…

    Luke Thomas Predicts Conor McGregor Would’ve ‘Petered Out’ Of MMA For Money-Making Opportunities Regardless Of Floyd Mayweather Bout

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNvyEC-Kh04

    Thomas was recently asked how different McGregor’s UFC career could’ve been had he never fought Mayweather. He right away admitted that stepping into boxing was the dividing line of the Dubliner’s career.

    Before fighting Mayweather, “The Notorious” was one of the most consistent fighters on the UFC roster. He fought three times in 2015 and 2016. Interestingly, he even fought Nate Diaz with no title on the line when Rafael Dos Anjos pulled out of UFC 196. After a huge upset, McGregor avenged the Diaz loss after four months.

    In contrast, fans have been desperately waiting to see a consistent McGregor in the Octagon since the Mayweather fight. He came back to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov for the UFC lightweight title in 2018. After a submission loss, he returned in 2020 against Donald Cerrone.

    After his two consecutive losses to Dustin Poirier in 2021, McGregor hasn’t fought in the UFC. He was scheduled to headline UFC 303 but pulled out of a fight for the first time in his career and to date, there’s no clarity on when he would take on Michael Chandler.

    According to Thomas, McGregor would’ve still explored businesses and not relied on MMA as his primary source of income. Looking at his record, the analyst anticipated that a rematch with Nurmagomedov would’ve been possible and the “Mystic Mac” would’ve had a few more consistent UFC fights instead of having the long layoffs he enjoys currently.

    “I still think he probably would’ve petered out in MMA and found something else to do, whether it was through whiskey or something. Maybe some other opportunity for crossover would’ve emerged and he would have taken it. I know the Floyd circumstance was unique. But I tend to think his career would’ve probably gone a little bit more, obviously more conventionally, you know. He would’ve had a few more fights in closer succession rather than that being the dividing line.”

    However, Thomas doesn’t believe that McGregor not fighting Mayweather would’ve changed things significantly. He predicts that the MMA star would’ve jumped on other crossover opportunities and fans wouldn’t have seen him fight three times a year for the next five years anyway.

    “I tend to think he would have stuck around more. Maybe, there would have been a Khabib rematch, right? Just something more of a conventional approach but I do think he would’ve petered out, like, I don’t think we would have gotten the second half of his prime. It would have been different but I don’t think it would have been radically different.”

  • Jake Paul Provides Excellent Explanation Why UFC Isn’t Offering Conor McGregor A Fight

    Jake Paul Provides Excellent Explanation Why UFC Isn’t Offering Conor McGregor A Fight

    Jake Paul recently shared his take on why the UFC seems to be holding back on offering Conor McGregor a fight.

    “The Notorious” has remained absent from the Octagon ever since suffering that severe leg break in his trilogy bout against longtime rival Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. For nearly two years, fans and analysts alike have been left in suspense, wondering when MMA’s biggest star will make his highly anticipated return.

    When McGregor stepped into the role of coach opposite Michael Chandler on The Ultimate Fighter 31 last year, it sparked widespread anticipation that the two would eventually square off in 2023. Despite the constant buzz surrounding the matchup, the fight never came to fruition. Finally, it was set to headline UFC 303 in June. However, just over two weeks before the event, the former two-division champion had to withdraw due to a toe injury.

    Since then, McGregor has been resolute in his claims that he’ll make his return to the cage before the end of 2024. However, UFC CEO Dana White has poured cold water on the idea of the Irishman fighting between September and November, as all pay-per-view slots for those months are already booked.

    “The Problem Child” believes the UFC is intentionally keeping McGregor on the sidelines, suggesting that the organization is doing so to protect its own financial interests…

    Paul Claims UFC Is Banking On McGregor’s Star Power For Lucrative Media Deal

    During a recent episode of BS w/ Jake Paul, the YouTuber-turned-boxer shared his theory on why the UFC is delaying McGregor’s return to the Octagon despite the Irishman still having two fights left on his current contract.

    Paul, a vocal critic of UFC’s fighter pay structure, suggested that the promotion is intentionally holding McGregor back to capitalize on his star power. He believes the UFC is leveraging McGregor’s brand to secure a massive broadcasting deal.

    “For the people at home who don’t understand it, basically they’re like, ‘Why is Conor not fighting?’” Paul said. “Conor has two fights left on his fight deal, but the UFC is trying to renew their rights deal because they license their content, which are the fights, to platforms. So they’re trying to renew their deal and are negotiating with multiple people, but let’s say it’s going to go with ESPN.”

    “They’re trying to renew the deal and get the most amount of money. A part of that negotiation is, ‘Hey, we have Conor McGregor for two more fights,’ but if he were to fight now, that wouldn’t be a part of the negotiation. The company would be like, ‘Oh yeah, well, you only have Conor for one fight,’ so that’s why Conor is not fighting right now.”

    The UFC’s existing broadcast agreement with ESPN is set to run through 2025, and they are currently in talks with multiple platforms for a new contract. Back in 2018, the UFC inked a five-year, $1.5 billion deal with ESPN for exclusive domestic broadcast rights, which took effect in 2019.

    Early in 2019, the partnership was extended by two years with the addition of pay-per-view streaming rights. Before transitioning to the ESPN era, the UFC had spent seven years on FOX networks.

  • Conor McGregor Sets Sights On Irish Presidency: ‘I Am The Only Logical Choice’

    Conor McGregor Sets Sights On Irish Presidency: ‘I Am The Only Logical Choice’

    Conor McGregor once again reignited his ambition to pursue the Irish presidency.

    McGregor’s potential dive into the political arena gained traction after he voiced his confidence in stepping into a position of power in Ireland. His remarks followed accusations against Irish authorities for unfairly using him as a “scapegoat” in the wake of last November’s riots in Dublin.

    The former two-division UFC champion claimed that the government sought to divert attention from a stabbing attack, which sparked anti-immigrant protests and widespread chaos in the nation’s capital last year.

    At the time, “The Notorious” unleashed a flurry of tweets, fiercely criticizing Ireland’s immigration policies and national security concerns. In one post, McGregor drew a sharp contrast between his youthful stance and that of other presidential hopefuls, remarking that figures like former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams and ex-prime ministers Bertie Ahern and Enda Kenny were bound by “unbreakable ties” to their party’s political agendas.

    The president of Ireland is a directly elected head of state with a seven-year term, wielding powers akin to those of the American president, particularly in matters of signing or vetoing new legislation. Meanwhile, the prime minister, known as the Taoiseach, leads the majority party in parliament and is responsible for proposing and shaping the nation’s laws.

    McGregor Shares His Agenda For Irish Presidency

    McGregor seems to be positioning himself as a contender for Ireland’s 2025 presidential race, boldly declaring that he’s the most qualified candidate to lead his fellow countrymen.

    On Thursday, “The Notorious” took to X with a lengthy statement outlining his political ambitions and detailing the actions he would take if entrusted with the office.

    “As President, I hold the power to summon the Dáil [Éireann] as well as dissolve it,” McGregor tweeted. “So, as I said before, I would have all the answers the people of Ireland seek from these thieves of the working man, these disrupters of the family unit, these destructors of small businesses, and on and on and on! These charlatans, in their positions of power, would be summoned to answer the people of Ireland, and I would have it done by the end of the day. Or I would be left with no choice but to dissolve the Dáil entirely.”

    “Stop the train until. The people of Ireland deserve the answers they seek. Point blank. This would be my power as President. I know very well. Ireland needs an active president wholly employed by the people of Ireland. It is me. I am the only logical choice. 2025 is upcoming…”

    McGregor’s last appearance in the Octagon dates back to UFC 264 in July 2021, where he suffered brutal fractures in his left leg during his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier. Since that setback, the former UFC lightweight champion has shifted his focus to various ventures, including his Hollywood debut in the remake of Roadhouse, starring alongside Jake Gyllenhaal.

    “The Notorious” was set for a much-anticipated return to the Octagon in a showdown against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 this past June. However, just two weeks before the scheduled bout, McGregor was forced to withdraw due to an injury. He has since vowed to make his comeback later this year, though the UFC has yet to make any official announcement.

  • Michael Bisping Argues For Conor McGregor’s Spot On MMA Mount Rushmore: A Name For The Ages

    Michael Bisping Argues For Conor McGregor’s Spot On MMA Mount Rushmore: A Name For The Ages

    One of the most common debates that MMA fans are sure to have with one another is who are the greatest and most significant fighters of all time.

    Mixed martial arts is still a very young sport but even with that in mind, picking just four names and faces to fill up a Mount Rushmore of MMA is no easy task.

    This is what former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping attempted to get to the bottom of, on a recent episode of his Believe You Me podcast.

    Of course, all the usual names were thrown into the mix like Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre and Royce Gracie but one big omission throws a major additional factor into the debate.

    Whilst he may not have the same strength of resume or longevity as some of the other names in consideration, MMA would not be what it is today without “The Notorious”.

    Michael Bisping Says Conor McGregor Will Have Long Lasting Legacy On His Side In Mount Rushmore Debate

    After he was left out of the bulk of the discussion, Bisping made the case for why Conor McGregor has to be spoken about as someone that has earned his spot on the sport’s four figureheads.

    The impact that the first-ever UFC champ-champ has had is simply unmatched when you look at the money and attention that he has brought in.

    Bisping made his case by posing the question of what the debate will look like in the distant future and when looking at the list of fighters from that angle, there’s no chance that McGregor isn’t a first-round draft pick.

    “What about this point of view, let’s remember the sport’s only thirty years old. Let’s look at this in a hundred years time from now. Who will be the name that’s really stood out? You cannot deny the impact that McGregor had on this sport and bringing it to the next level and you know, I’m the last person to sit here and fluff him up but you can’t deny that, you just can’t.”

    Read also: Kayla Harrison On How Julianna Peña Reached The Top In UFC: ‘Pretty, Tough As Nails, & Got A Big Mouth’

  • ‘Everybody Suffers’ – Frank Mir Explains How UFL Could Get Past The Conor McGregor Effect Seen In The UFC

    ‘Everybody Suffers’ – Frank Mir Explains How UFL Could Get Past The Conor McGregor Effect Seen In The UFC

    MMA teams led by former UFC champions Frank Mir and Henry Cejudo will go toe to toe at the United Fight League 5 on August 30, 2024, at The Gila River Wild Horse Pass Casino in Arizona. The sold-out event will be streamed on Kick and Rumble for free as well.

    Mir and Cejudo coach UFL’s Team Las Vegas and Team Phoenix, respectively. Although the fighting rules are the same, the state-inspired teams and the team-based scoring system in the promotion are like a breath of fresh air in MMA. It is also the first and only combat sports league to provide health insurance to fighters.

    Here’s how the UFL aims to set a new standard for combat sports promotions through its newly introduced scoring system…

    Frank Mir Explains How Relying On Stars Like Conor McGregor Produces Inconsistent Results For The UFC

    Mir appeared on the talkSPORT MMA YouTube channel to discuss UFL 5’s format and innovative scoring system. Including Las Vegas and Phoenix, UFL will have a total of eight teams with Rashad Evans and Quinton Jackson confirmed to lead Team Florida and Southern California, respectively.

    Here’s how teams will score points at UFL 5:

    • Finishing a fight in the first round grants 4 points in a standard bout and 6 points in the main event.
    • Finishing a fight in the second round grants 3 points in a standard bout and 5 points in the main event.
    • Finishing a fight in the third round grants 2 points in a standard bout and 4 points in the main event.
    • Finishing a main event fight in the fourth round grants 3 points.
    • Finishing a main event fight in the fifth round grants 2 points.
    • A decision win grants 1 point in a standard bout as well as the main event.

    In case there’s a tie after all the fights, the team with the least cage time will get the nod, bragging rights, and $50,000.

    As per Mir, this is how the UFL aims to tackle the problem of being overly dependent on a limited number of stars. He claimed that the UFC benefitted heavily from Conor McGregor but the promotion will always produce fewer numbers when he isn’t fighting.

    “It made sense to me because I was like, you know, it sucks because when fighters come and go. You know, he’s like, Conor is a phenomenal example. Conor moved the needle like no other fighter, but when he’s not on the card, or he’s not part of there, everybody suffers. He doesn’t know, not as many people are going to view the fights because he’s not fighting. And so, I was like, how can we get around that. And I always watch college wrestling and seen how, here in the States, you can have a guy from Iowa, you know, wrestling Penn State, Minnesota, and Ohio, and all these powerhouses of wrestling that have long traditions and they have, you know, a car stadium, it fills up 60,000 people.”

    The two-time UFC heavyweight champ also stated how this isn’t an issue in wrestling. For instance, team-based college wrestling events in the United States attract thousands of viewers constantly despite the absence of huge names. Mir believes that a team-based setting helps them build loyal fans who care more about a team’s progress instead of just wanting to see one fighter.

    It is too early to predict how commercially successful UFL’s new format will be in the long run. For now, fans can enjoy Team Phoenix vs. Team Las Vegas which features a bantamweight championship main event bout between Hunter Azure and Vince Morales.

    ALSO READ: Shavkat Rakhmonov Trusts UFC’s Meritocracy To Prevent Conor McGregor Title Shot Hijack, Reveals Belal Muhammad Turned Down UFC 307 Date

  • Shavkat Rakhmonov Trusts UFC’s Meritocracy To Prevent Conor McGregor Title Shot Hijack, Reveals Belal Muhammad Turned Down UFC 307 Date

    Shavkat Rakhmonov Trusts UFC’s Meritocracy To Prevent Conor McGregor Title Shot Hijack, Reveals Belal Muhammad Turned Down UFC 307 Date

    Shavkat Rakhmonov hasn’t put a foot wrong during his ascent up the welterweight ladder towards a title shot.

    With a undefeated record and all of his wins coming via finish, the 170-pound contender appears to be set up to challenge Belal Muhammad for the belt next time out. unless something unexpected occurs.

    The UFC has been known to temporarily swerve the rankings if it means putting something big together and when you’re talking big in MMA, there’s no one larger than Conor McGregor.

    Despite there being no rescheduled date for his welterweight return against Michael Chandler, “The Notorious” returning with a win could completely change the top of the weight class.

    Rakhmonov spoke in a recent interview with MMA Fighting about how he believes the promotion will do right by him even in the instance that “The Mac” is back in the mix.

    “He’s been getting ready to fight a long time but wasn’t able to do that yet so in my head, I don’t even think about him winning this one fight in three years is going to do something. I understand he’s a big star but in my head, I don’t see it being possible. I believe UFC is the best and the most fair organization so I believe they’re gonna do everything right.”

    Shavkat Rakhmonov Reveals That Belal Muhammad Turned Down UFC 307 Title Fight

    Though there has been some debate over whether Rakhmonov will definitely be the next title challenger for Muhammad, the contender answered this question all by himself.

    He revealed during the same interview that he has already been offered the title shot but it didn’t come to fruition due to the champion not being able to make a 70-day turnaround to fight at elevation in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    Alex Pereira will be headlining UFC 307 instead, which always seemed to be an optimistic target for Muhammad after he won the belt at the end of July.

    “Yeah, actually I had already been offered to fight Belal and I accepted the fight against Belal but unfortunately, he declined to fight me due to the timing issues, he wasn’t ready to defend his belt on that time. So, we’ll see what’s gonna happen and when he’s gonna be ready so I will be able to fight him. Before he became a champion and after he won the belt, he said he’s gonna be an active champion and he will defend his belt more often but at the moment, he isn’t backing up what he said so let’s see what’s going to happen, when he’s going to be ready to fight me.”

    Read also: Khalil Rountree Says He Would Fire His Coaches If They Insisted He Grapple Alex Pereira

  • Conor McGregor Appeals To Mick Maynard For Irish Fighter Who Didn’t Receive A Contract Despite Impressive Road To UFC Win

    Conor McGregor Appeals To Mick Maynard For Irish Fighter Who Didn’t Receive A Contract Despite Impressive Road To UFC Win

    Conor McGregor has always been a great advocate for his fellow Irish fighters when it comes to supporting them and giving them exposure, thanks to his huge following.

    “The Notorious” recently couldn’t help but show his appreciation for a UFC hopeful that somehow, despite ticking a lot of boxes, wasn’t offered a spot on the roster.

    Ireland’s Danni McCormack is the Invicta strawweight champion and was given the chance to step into a fight on the Road to UFC Series this past weekend.

    Whilst it was a tough encounter, McCormack rallied in the third round to show what she is made of before winning a unanimous decision, up at flyweight it’s worth adding.

    Her post-fight interview caught the eye of McGregor who gave his seal of approval, which means a lot coming from the man that delivered several of the most iconic moments on the mic in the sport’s history.

    “THIS IS A PROMO! In at the drop of a hat to beat and maul the much bigger girl. Finishing with a call out of the UFC’s current strawweight champion who is from the same region as her just beaten opponent. Magic! IRISH GOER WAR CRY! @danawhite announce her signing brother this is magic! @dannimccormack! FORGED ARMY!”

    Conor McGregor Continues To Push For Danni McCormack’s UFC Signing

    McCormack’s story has been closely linked with McGregor’s for her entire journey in mixed martial arts.

    She met McGregor’s coach, John Kavanagh, whilst being out in Las Vegas for UFC 189 where “The Mac” faced Chad Mendes for the interim featherweight title.

    After promising Kavanagh that she’d go on to be one of his fighters, she kept her word and trains out of SBG Dublin to this day.

    On the week after the fight, McCormack revealed that she had not been offered a contract by the UFC though she has been told to stay ready in case they come calling on short notice.

    McGregor once again stood in McCormack’s corner and pushed for her to get a contract regardless of needing to step in on short notice.

    “Mick Maynard my man what’s the craic, we have a story and a journey to witness here! Irish Warrior Woman! Tough as it gets! Let’s roll, @Mickmaynard2 @ufc“

    Read also: ‘Free From What? Rehab?’ – Fans React To Conor McGregor’s Cryptic ‘When I Get Free’ Message Amid UFC Return Uncertainty

  • ‘Free From What? Rehab?’ – Fans React To Conor McGregor’s Cryptic ‘When I Get Free’ Message Amid UFC Return Uncertainty

    The Conor McGregor roller coaster ride continues, and now there appears to be more doubt (once again) that McGregor may not face Michael Chandler this year.

    In new posts on social media, McGregor showed off training footage. However, it came with a curious new hashtag: #FreeTheMac.

    McGregor followed this post up with a simple, four-word message: “When I get free.”

    This has caused great speculation that McGregor may be asking to be released from his UFC contract. The Irishman, whose frequently delayed fight with Chandler was most recently expected to take place at UFC 310 in Las Vegas this December, reportedly has two fights remaining on his current deal with MMA’s leading promotion.

    This also comes days after Belal Muhammad stated that Shavkat Rakhmonov and Kamaru Usman are both being considered as title challengers for a welterweight title fight that could take place at the December pay-per-view.

    The booking of a title fight may cause great concern about McGregor vs. Chandler at the event, as a title fight has not been featured under a McGregor bout since UFC 196 in 2016.

    Conor McGregor Saying He Wants Out Of UFC Contract?

    https://twitter.com/TheSyedHaq/status/1827419547327922282

    A little less than two weeks ago, UFC CEO Dana White told the media that McGregor would not fight in 2024. This caused the former two-division champion, in a now-deleted tweet, to encourage fans to tell White they want McGregor vs. Chandler to take place in December.

    The pair were set to fight after both men coached The Ultimate Fighter season 31 last year, but the rest of 2023 went without any announcement of a fight.

    Official confirmation finally came from White following UFC 300, with the two set to battle at UFC 303 in June. But a Dublin press conference earlier in that month was suddenly canceled the day before, and it later emerged that McGregor had suffered a toe injury and chose to withdraw from a fight for the first time in his career.

  • Chael Sonnen: Story Of Conor McGregor’s UFC Return Is Being ‘Mistold’

    Chael Sonnen: Story Of Conor McGregor’s UFC Return Is Being ‘Mistold’

    The road to see Conor McGregor back inside the Octagon has been unlike anything else that the UFC has seen before.

    In recent years where his comeback has been regularly spoken about, there has been blame placed on both McGregor and the UFC’s side.

    Though his professionalism has been called into question during the time since he last fought, “The Notorious” has always been passionate about martial arts and competition despite everything that he has already achieved.

    His 2024 return is seemingly off the table following the recent comments from Dana White that seemed to shut down any chance of the Irishman’s headlining the final numbered event of the year in December.

    Chael Sonnen Says That He Believes Conor McGregor And Thinks He’s Pushing Hard For The Return

    From the outside looking in, it seems that McGregor has tried very hard over the past 12 or so months to book his return after repeatedly stating that he was ready to fight.

    Though the decision to withdraw from the UFC 303 main event against Michael Chandler was his to make, the former UFC champ-champ did seem set on rescheduling the fight for later on in the year.

    Chael Sonnen said that he believes McGregor when it comes to trying to make this fight happen, on a recent episode of Good Guy / Bad Guy on ESPN MMA.

    “The Bad Guy” said that he doesn’t think the impression of what is happening behind the scenes is a true reflection of reality, making the case for why he believes “The Mac” is doing what he can to make this fight a reality.

    “I’m hearing the organization would like him to fight in California in January, I can’t confirm that for you but I would like to say this one thing Daniel, as long winded as I’m being. I think the story of Conor is being a little bit mistold in this way. I believe him. I believe that he wants to fight. I believe that he is going behind the scenes, see he loves to feint power, he loves to let people know it’s all my decision.

    “I believe he has humbled himself to say, ‘I need the organization to sign off on this, I’m willing to go,’ and that’s not quite how the story is being told. The story is being told that Conor is dangling this, I don’t think so and if you remember all the efforts that he went through just to get on the docket on June 29, he’s doing the same things to get on the docket in December. At a minimum, I do believe he is sincere that he still wants to be one of the boys.”

    Read also: Francis Ngannou’s Coach On UFC Deleting His Legacy: ‘It Takes Somebody Of Izzy’s Stature…’

  • Dan Hooker Admits McGregor Callout Intended To ‘Snake’ Michael Chandler: ‘He Waits All That Time & Conor Fights Me Anyway…’

    Dan Hooker Admits McGregor Callout Intended To ‘Snake’ Michael Chandler: ‘He Waits All That Time & Conor Fights Me Anyway…’

    Dan Hooker delivered one of the stand out performances at UFC 305 to ascend up the lightweight division by beating Mateusz Gamrot.

    It’s been some time since “The Hangman” was in the mix at the top of the 155-pound weight class but that is certainly the case after he pulled off the underdog win over one of the top contenders.

    In his post-fight interview following the Fight of the Night clash, Hooker spoke about the number of exciting options that he now wants to chase down after this win.

    Part of his declaration to the matchmakers sitting cage side included Conor McGregor, which took some by surprise.

    “Look at me now! I want them all brother! I want the BMF, I want Conor McGregor, I want a title eliminator, I want everything brother! I want it all Sean, I want it all Hunter!”

    Dan Hooker Explains “Troll” Motivation Behind Conor McGregor Call Out

    In a post-fight interview with TheMacLife, Hooker explained why he chose to mention McGregor’s name inside the Octagon after getting his hand raised.

    Of course, McGregor is still the biggest fight out there across the entire sport, let alone the lightweight division, which means he often gets called out and has done for nearly a decade.

    Hooker’s call to namedrop “The Notorious” wasn’t necessarily financially motivated, though that is a huge incentive for trying to get this fight.

    He said that this decision was made more because he thinks it would be hilarious to get this fight instead of McGregor being welcomed back to the UFC by Michael Chandler, which fans have waited so long to see at this point.

    Hooker was defeated by Chandler back when “Iron” Mike made his UFC debut in 2021 so taking the biggest fight of his career away from him would be sweet revenge.

    “I didn’t necessarily call him out, I just said like, because I am absolute troll, so it’s like the biggest troll move you could do of all time is to snake that fight off Chandler. Like he waits all that time and then Conor just fights me anyway, like that would be gold. I would feel like the biggest snake troll of all time.”

    Read also: Darren Till Bemoans Negative Reaction To His UFC 305 Advice For Israel Adesanya: ‘You Just Have To Love The Internet’

  • Michael Chandler Offers Defense For Conor McGregor’s Antics: ‘Every Fighter Takes Their Hiatuses In Different Ways’

    Michael Chandler Offers Defense For Conor McGregor’s Antics: ‘Every Fighter Takes Their Hiatuses In Different Ways’

    Michael Chandler has spent more time speaking about Conor McGregor than any other UFC fighter during the long and drawn out process to get both of them inside the Octagon.

    When “Iron” Mike agreed to take this golden opportunity to welcome “The Notorious” back, he probably didn’t expect to be constantly speaking about whether or not the Irishman will ever face him.

    Though his UFC 303 withdrawal was due to an injury that McGregor made the call to not fight through after being gone for such a long time, his social media usage both before and after June 29 haven’t exactly painted the image of a professional who is working hard to make sure that he’s able to turn back the clock.

    Between his usual social media sprees of criticizing others or being seen having a great time at various events, the Irishman’s behaviour hasn’t altered from the outside looking in.

    Michael Chandler Says Conor McGregor’s Online Antics Aren’t A Major Concern

    During a recent interview with Lucky Block following the recent social media exchanges between the two men, Chandler commented on whether McGregor’s online persona had him questioning whether the fight will ever happen.

    He broke it down into the two main aspects of what you will usually see on McGregor’s platforms, explaining why both aren’t major concerns to him.

    Chandler believes that while his posting on X has and always will be the same brand of scattergun insults followed by deleted posts.

    Alongside that, he doesn’t see a huge issue with McGregor cutting lose and representing his various businesses when he doesn’t have a date secured for his eventual comeback.

    “Conor lives his life the way that he wants to live his life. Conor is promoting two different liquor brands, so that’s tough — he needs to be seen with them. Obviously, if you look at it just from a social media standpoint, people think, ‘Man, he is definitely not dedicated.’ But if you guys expect him to be in a training camp right now as we speak, when there is no fight booked, then it’s unrealistic because every single fighter takes their hiatuses in different ways, whether it be drinking, whether it be going out, whether it be eating food that they want to indulge in, whether it’s staying out late. But yeah, there’s some concerning things that people have looked at and then called into question whether he’s coming back. I completely get that. I have a hunch that he is… I think he needs it for his own mental state.

    “Also, deleted tweets have always been part of his brand. It’s always a part of his brand. He’s like, ‘I’m gonna tweet this. I’m gonna let it sit there for 20 minutes. I’m gonna let the entire world screenshot it, record it, have everybody retweet it and talk about it. And then I’m gonna delete it just because he’s an egomaniac.’”

  • ‘This Is Just A Bet Between Dana & Conor To See How Long Mikey Will Wait’ – Fans React To News That McGregor Will Not Fight In 2024

    ‘This Is Just A Bet Between Dana & Conor To See How Long Mikey Will Wait’ – Fans React To News That McGregor Will Not Fight In 2024

    With every passing week, it looks like the goal posts are being adjusted for when fans can expect to see Conor McGregor return to the Octagon.

    He made the decision to withdraw from his planned comeback fight against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June to a broken toe that he wished to recover from.

    Unfortunately, rescheduling a fight like that isn’t as easy as seeing when both men are ready to go, and that appears to have caused some complications.

    McGregor appears to be targeting December which is yet to have any fights announced but Dana White’s recent comments clarified where the UFC is at with this right now.

    During his post-fight press conference following the return of the Contender Series, he gave this update on his communications with “The Notorious”.

    “We talked yeah, we didn’t meet up but we talked and yeah, he wants to fight so we’ll figure it out.”

    When asked how soon that may be, White clarified that McGregor will not be fighting in 2024.

    “Not this year, he won’t fight this year.”

    McGregor responded to these comments via social media with his own post that once again pushed for the fight to take place in December, stating that he has already planned out his preparations for this time frame.

    MMA Fans React To Conor McGregor’s 2024 Return Being Ruled Out

    This update was obviously disappointing for a lot of fans on social media who appear to be coming to the realization that we might never see McGregor step back inside the Octagon after this long and drawn out process.

    It wasn’t ideal to have him withdraw from UFC 303 but the Irishman seemed to be committed to taking some time to heal, before diving right back into his training, postponing the fight rather than cancelling it altogether.

    Even Chandler, who has been put through the ringer in the past few months, seems to be ready to move on at this stage.

    Fans gave their take on the latest McGregor update from the UFC boss via social media.

    “How does he go from a toe injury to not fighting this year… Ridiculous”

    “It’s over, he’s never fighting again.”

    “Idk why y’all still allowing yourselves to be strung along. McGregor and Dana are playing games. If Conor was serious this would’ve already happened. If he’s not done yet, he’s definitely close to the end. Don’t know what he’s trying to prove but this is getting sad.”

    “Unreal. This has become comical at this point. I’d love to know what the excuse is this time.”

    “I wouldn’t be surprised if this is just a bet between Dana and Conor to see how long Mikey will wait.”

    “Michael Chandler putting the red panties away. Maybe next year.”

    “it’s been “not this year” for the passed three years. hang it up already.”

    Read also: Dana White Reaffirms Stance On Muhammad Mokaev’s UFC Exit: ‘A Guy That Did Everything Wrong…’

  • ‘Ain’t Gonna Help The Glass Chin But Sure’ – MMA Fans React As Johnny Walker Ditches Conor McGregor’s Gym To Train With Khabib Nurmagomedov

    ‘Ain’t Gonna Help The Glass Chin But Sure’ – MMA Fans React As Johnny Walker Ditches Conor McGregor’s Gym To Train With Khabib Nurmagomedov

    Having spent time earlier in his career training in both Scotland and England, Johnny Walker eventually found his way to SBG Dublin in Ireland.

    Joining the gym in 2020 after facing some adversity following his rapid climb up the light heavyweight rankings, the Brazilian has spent the majority of his UFC tenure with this team.

    Here Walker would develop a great relationship with head coach John Kavanagh, who is most well known for being the main man in the corner of Conor McGregor.

    However, following another patch of difficult results, it looks like the knockout artist is now looking to take himself out of his comfort zone once again.

    Recent photos that were posted by “iamthebay” on Instagram show a training session at the American Kickboxing Academy, or AKA, in California.

    Here, Walker can be seen getting some work in with the likes of Khabib and Usman Nurmagomedov, as well as the UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev.

    MMA Fans React To Johnny Walker Training Alongside Khabib Nurmagomedov After Years At SBG

    Walker has always been a fighter that generates talking points both in and out of the cage and this has now extended to his training.

    Though it’s far from uncommon to see fighters move between top gyms during their careers, you won’t see many that switch from McGregor’s home base to that of his arch rival’s.

    In Walker’s case, working with some of the top grapplers in the sport could help to round out his skill set, making this invaluable training for him.

    MMA fans reacted on social media to the images of Walker and Nurmagomedov sharing a mat together.

    “If Johnny comes into his next fight with a chin I’m heading to dagestan”

    “Ain’t gonna help the Glass chin but sure”

    “Good idea to change his fighting style”

    “Johnny Walker will become Dessert Eagle”

    “If he leaves John Kavanagh for Khabib and AKA, he can maybe turn his career around”

    “I know Conor is big mad seeing this. Walker was training at SBG, which is Conor’s gym now hes training at AKA, which is Khabib’s gym…”

    “The best move, as proven with all the fighters that go train with them”

    https://twitter.com/RuflonMMA/status/1823679784762609708

    “Khabib swap your chin with him he needs it more than you”

    Read also: Belal Muhammad On Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Ability 4 Years On From Retirement: ‘Could Come Back & Be A Champion In Any Division’

  • Michael Chandler Names Most Realistic Conor McGregor Alternative For Next Fight: ‘A Great Fight To Get The Fans Pumped…’

    Should his long wait to fight Conor McGregor not bear fruit, UFC lightweight Michael Chandler does have another idea in mind…

    It’s been almost two years since the former three-time Bellator champion was in action. While the first few months of that period were spent recovering from the damage he sustained in defeat to Dustin Poirier, the majority has followed a trend of patience and commitment when it comes to who Chandler wants to face next.

    “Iron” was announced as the comeback opponent for McGregor toward the start of 2023, with the pair first coaching opposite one another on The Ultimate Fighter. But that series has been and gone, as have multiple rumored events for their fight and, most recently, one official date.

    And after the Irishman withdrew from the UFC 303 pay-per-view main event this past June on late notice, many have reiterated their belief that Chandler is waiting around for a matchup that simply won’t reach the cage.

    During a recent interview with Lucky Block, the #6-ranked lightweight acknowledged that he’s an “optimist” but did admit that readjusting his sights to another opponent is on the cards.

    “I am an optimist by default, so I do believe the Conor fight will happen. Right now, we are in a period where things are being talked about. What date? Is it Conor? Is it pivoting to a different fight? Is it making the best decision for me and my family? I love the idea that Conor and I did The Ultimate Fighter, we had a training camp, we signed on the dotted line. But as much as I respect Conor, my legacy is not hinged upon this fight. I am running my own race, and I’m continuing to move forward.

    “I am at the point now where we are looking at all of the options and not just fighting Conor. Things move fast, and the phone could ring at any time. I don’t want to make it sound like I’m not focused on fighting Conor, but right now when no contract is signed, I’m excited to fight. I’m training every day, and I’m in the best shape that I have been in a very long time, and I’m ready to go out there, whether it’s Conor or someone else. There’s always going to be life after Conor if this fight never comes to fruition.”

    Should delays to the McGregor showdown continue, Chandler has pointed to a “realistic” alternative…

    Chandler Eyes Oliveira Rematch Should McGregor Fight Fall Away

    During the same interview, Chandler was asked to identify his options should the uncertainty surrounding McGregor’s layoff continue.

    After highlighting Max Holloway as the “most exciting” opponent, the ex-Bellator star pivoted to a rematch as a more likely battle, and one that could see him jump straight back into title contention at 155 pounds.

     “The most realistic option for me if you look at the landscape and you consider everything is Charles Oliveira. I love the rematch with Charles. I think it’s a great fight to get the fans pumped up. I almost had him finished in the first round, and then I made a glaring mistake in the second round that I would never, ever make again. It was almost a self-fulfilling prophecy that I was working on in camp that turned out to be my demise.

    “Me and Charles for the number one contender spot. I beat Charles, knock him out in the first round, then all of a sudden I’m sitting at the number one contender spot, and I get to choose whether I fight Islam, or do I fight Conor next? And why not both?”

    Chandler shared the Octagon with Oliveira in just his second UFC fight, riding a successful debut opposite Dan Hooker into an immediate shot at the then-vacant lightweight title in May 2021.

    “Iron” was on the ascendancy in round one and appeared seconds away from finding a finish. But after “Do Bronx” survived, he came out in the second frame and caught Chandler with a clean left hook, finding the knockout finish soon after.

    The 38-year-old has frequently expressed a desire to get that loss back before his UFC career comes to a close. And should his continued push to welcome McGregor back to action fail, perhaps Chandler will put his focus back on UFC gold and redemption against Oliveira.

  • Sean O’Malley On Umar Nurmagomedov Being ‘Ashamed’ He Is Champion: ‘One Way I Can Become Bigger Than Conor…’

    Sean O’Malley On Umar Nurmagomedov Being ‘Ashamed’ He Is Champion: ‘One Way I Can Become Bigger Than Conor…’

    Sean O’Malley recently fired back at Umar Nurmagomedov, who expressed being “ashamed” of O’Malley as the UFC bantamweight champion.

    Nurmagomedov earned an impressive unanimous decision win over Cory Sandhagen in the main event of UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi last weekend, catapulting himself near the top of the division and potentially solidifying his status as the #1 contender.

    The undefeated Dagestani’s victory potentially positions him as the ideal challenger for “Sugar,” but this matchup hinges on whether O’Malley successfully defends his title against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 on September 14.

    Nurmagomedov is aiming to challenge O’Malley for the belt, hoping the American remains the champion by then. However, he hasn’t held back his criticism, previously labeling O’Malley as a negative influence on the younger generation.

    O’Malley is intrigued by Nurmagomedov as a potential challenge, but there might be an even stronger incentive for him to defeat the rising prospect…

    O’Malley Aims To Beat Nurmagomedov To ‘Sting’ Conor McGregor

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, O’Malley discussed the potential of fighting Nurmagomedov in the future. His coach, Tim Welch, asked “Sugar” if he could knock out the Dagestani. O’Malley admitted that Nurmagomedov would be a challenging opponent but expressed confidence in his ability to succeed, pointing to his knockout of Aljamain Sterling.

    “I could chin anybody in the division,” O’Malley said. “Umar is a tough fight. I thought Aljo [Sterling] was the toughest fight in the division for me at the time, and I knocked him out. I think Umar is probably one of the toughest challenges in the division.”

    “Sugar” further remarked that a potential bout against Nurmagomedov could become one of the biggest fights in UFC history, and such a high-profile clash would surely drive Conor McGregor wild.

    “I think it makes it an interesting match, but O’Malley vs. Nurmagomedov could be one way I become, you know, bigger than Conor, like I’ve claimed I’ve wanted to be. If I do what he couldn’t do—beat a Nurmagomedov, take away the ‘O’—that would really sting him. He’s already mad at me, jealous, but this would really sting him.”

    “The Notorious” has a storied history with the Nurmagomedov family, highlighted by his intense rivalry with Khabib Nurmagomedov. This feud culminated in a dramatic showdown at UFC 229 in 2018, where McGregor suffered a fourth-round submission loss.

    O’Malley has recently set his sights on McGregor as a potential opponent, a surprising turn given their previous admiration for each other, which has now devolved into animosity. This shift followed a series of fiery exchanges on social media.

    Defeating a member of the Nurmagomedov family—an achievement that eluded McGregor—could be O’Malley’s way of getting the last laugh at his former idol.

  • Conor McGregor Sturgis Clip Decoded: Why Did The UFC Star Attend A Motorcycle Rally?

    Conor McGregor Sturgis Clip Decoded: Why Did The UFC Star Attend A Motorcycle Rally?

    Conor McGregor hasn’t fought in the UFC for over three years but he still makes the headlines easily. Most recently, the former UFC double champ visited Sturgis with several of his fan interactions going viral.

    McGregor is expected to return to the Octagon before the end of 2024. He seems to have recovered well from his toe injury, relieving many fans eagerly waiting for the Michael Chandler fight.

    “The Notorious” took the internet by storm attending a motorcycle rally in Sturgis and here’s everything to know about the incident…

    Where Is The Viral Conor McGregor Sturgis Clip From?

    McGregor was in Sturgis for the BKFC 63 event and his viral party clip is from the famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally which began on August 2 and ends on August 11. He was seen clicking pictures and talking to other riders.

    In the viral clip, “The Mystic Mac” seemingly ignored a fan dancing in front of him.

    The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally boasts a massive footfall and many believe holding the BKFC event alongside it to be a wise move. The card was headlined by Britain Hart vs. Taylor Starling for the promotion’s strawweight championship. “The Notorious” hyped up the crowd with his entrance and was ringside for Sam Shewmaker vs. Josh Burns as well.

    Another memorable moment was when the Irishman chugged a beer while exiting the BKFC stage, compelling fans to speculate whether he’s taking his UFC return seriously.

    Interestingly, UFC President Dana White has attended the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally too. Back in 2017, he, Matt Serra, and Din Thomas searched South Dakota’s local fight promotion for talent and ended up signing Jared Gordon. The lightweight debuted that year and recently gained prominence for giving Paddy Pimblett his toughest fight in the UFC.

    While at Sturgis, McGregor didn’t talk about his next UFC fight. Regardless, his Stone Cold Steve Austin-esque outfit and energy kept were enough to make him the talk of the town.

  • When Did Conor McGregor Start Fighting?

    When Did Conor McGregor Start Fighting?

    Conor McGregor can be credited with making countless people MMA fans with his iconic UFC run between 2013-16. His popularity skyrocketed further among casual MMA fans after boxing Floyd Mayweather in August 2017.

    Although McGregor hasn’t fought consistently lately, he became an MMA star for his courage to fight anytime, anywhere, and anyone. The most unforgettable moments of his career might have come in the UFC, but not a lot of people are aware of his long journey to success.

    So, here’s when McGregor started fighting and a brief rundown of his early pro and amateur career…

    When Did Conor McGregor Start Training?

    McGregor started training at the age of 12 at the Crumlin Boxing Club under Phil Sutcliffe. While talking to Irish Boxing, he credited the club for helping him sharpen his striking fundamentals. Sutcliffe has also revealed that “Mystic Mac” was one of his most focused students.

    After winning a couple of novice boxing tournaments, McGregor aimed to learn other MMA disciplines and eventually started training at Straight Blast Gym under John Kavanagh.

    When Was Conor McGregor’s First Fight?

    McGregor made his amateur debut on February 17, 2007, against Kieran Campbell. He won via first-round TKO and immediately turned pro. He was first signed by Irish promotion Cage of Truth but went on to fight for Chaos Fighting Championship and Cage Warriors too.

    Before joining the UFC, “The Notorious” lost twice via submission to Artemij Sitenkov and Joe Duffy. However, he bounced back by winning his next eight pro fights consecutively.

    Holding the featherweight and lightweight titles at Cage Warriors simultaneously in April 2012 was the Dubliner’s big breakthrough. He first fought for the UFC in April 2013 against Marcus Brimage, and the rest is history…

  • Conor McGregor Brands Donald Trump’s Pick For His Favorite UFC Fighter A ‘Campaign-Ending Decision’

    Conor McGregor Brands Donald Trump’s Pick For His Favorite UFC Fighter A ‘Campaign-Ending Decision’

    Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor was not pleased to see the name Donald Trump produced when asked for his favorite fighter.

    The former United States president recently appeared for an interview with Internet personality Adin Ross, during which he named legendary former UFC lightweight kingpin Khabib Nurmagomedov as top of his fighter list.

    Among those snubbed were Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal, both of whom have pledged heavy public support for Trump across recent years.

    Also not getting a mention was McGregor, who unsurprisingly had something to say after hearing the name of his biggest rival on the ex-president’s lips…

    McGregor Has Expected Response After Trump Picks Khabib

    McGregor and Khabib had one of the most heated UFC feuds of all time, with public altercations and controversial remarks from the Irishman fueling an immense amount of bad blood in the lead-up to their UFC 229 main event in 2018.

    And that boiled over following the Russian’s submission win, with Nurmagomedov vaulting the Octagon fence and attacking McGregor’s corner, sparking a brawl inside T-Mobile Arena.

    In the years since, McGregor has kept his sights on “The Eagle,” frequently targeting him, his teammates, his religion, his late father, and his country on social media.

    That trend continued in response to Khabib’s selection as Trump’s favorite fighter, with the Irishman jokingly branding it a “campaign-ending decision” from the Republican presidential nominee.

    Conor McGregor

    “Campaign ending decision, McGregor wrote. “A smelly fat mountain monkey from the inbred mountains of Dagestan is your favorite UFC (AMERICAN COMPANY) fighter? Wow. Abysmal.”

    McGregor previously expressed support for Trump after he was the target of an assassination attempt while speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania last month.

    Evidently, the Irishman’s hatred for Khabib is enough to put anyone in the firing line should they express admiration or appreciation for the Russian’s career.

  • Sean O’Malley’s Coach Talks Souring Of Relationship With Conor McGregor: ‘Before Going To The Arena, We’d Put On Conor Highlights…’

    Sean O’Malley’s Coach Talks Souring Of Relationship With Conor McGregor: ‘Before Going To The Arena, We’d Put On Conor Highlights…’

    Sean O’Malley’s coach, Tim Welch, recently affirmed that despite their fallout, they still hold Conor McGregor in high regard.

    For years, McGregor and O’Malley have shared a good rappot with one another. However, recent months have seen this camaraderie deteriorate as the two UFC stars find themselves entangled in a growing feud on social media.

    It all began in May, when “The Notorious” erupted on social media, launching a tirade against boxer Ryan Garcia after he tested positive for the banned substance ostarine following his victory over Devin Haney.

    In the midst of his outburst, McGregor took a swipe at O’Malley, lumping him together with Garcia due to the reigning UFC bantamweight champion’s own positive test for ostarine back in 2019.

    There was a time when “Suga” revered and emulated McGregor, even seemingly adopting his flashy persona from the iconic Irishman. However, after “The Notorious” took jabs at him, that admiration seems to have faded. Last month, O’Malley unleashed a scathing critique of his former idol’s fighting skills in a series of blistering social media posts.

    However, Welch maintains that regardless of the current discord, he and O’Malley still deeply respect McGregor, recognizing the significant legacy he has left in the realm of MMA…

    Welch Finds Friction With McGregor ‘A Little Weird’

    During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Welch shared his perspective on the ongoing social media rift between O’Malley and McGregor. The MMA coach revealed that “Suga” used to be McGregor’s biggest admirer, and now witnessing their camaraderie diminish feels surreal to him.

    “I mean, we still respect him. Literally, Sean was his number one fan,” Welch said. “Before going to the arena, we’d put on Conor highlights because he’s been in so many high-pressure moments. He’s good at staying calm, he’s good at staying present, and he’s a good finisher. So yeah, we have respect for him, but it’s definitely a little weird.”

    Welch further commented on the hypothetical matchup with “The Notorious” that O’Malley had previously mentioned, stating that it would be a formidable challenge for his protégé.

    “The only way it’d be possible is if they fought at 155 pounds, and I mean, that’s a scary fight. Conor is huge, he’s explosive, he’s quick, and he’s got good reaction time. But right now, Sean is in his prime. His confidence is so high, he switches stances, and his fight IQ is so high. So to say there’s no way we’d win that fight is stupid. There are definitely ways we could win it, but obviously, it’s a dangerous fight. He’s huge for Sean.”

  • MMA News Today: Conor McGregor Causes A Stir At BKFC Event, UFC Fighter Targeted In Drive-By Shooting, & More

    MMA News Today: Conor McGregor Causes A Stir At BKFC Event, UFC Fighter Targeted In Drive-By Shooting, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For August 5, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • McGregor is back doing McGregor things
    • Taveras details his final straw
    • Ferguson thinks he still has what it takes on the feet

    Conor McGregor Stays Busy At BKFC Event

    Conor McGregor was in attendance at another Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event this past weekend, with BKFC 63 taking place in South Dakota.

    Despite appearing to have returned to training just one week ago, some fans were concerned to see “The Notorious” look like he’s in no rush to start a camp anytime soon for his long awaited return.

    Multiple clips circulated on social media of “The Notorious” showing up to the event, watching ringside, and having a good time both during and after.

    McGregor appears to have had a busy schedule since his comeback at UFC 303 was postponed, and this weekend was certainly no different.

    UFC Bantamweight Ramon Taveras Details Drive-By Shooting Attempt

    UFC bantamweight Ramon Taveras was seemingly the target of a drive-by shooting at his home in Jacksonville, Florida, one week ago.

    Taveras posted a video and long caption on his Instagram to explain exactly what happened and how he was left uninjured after defending himself with his own firearm.

    He ended the post by saying that after losing his brother to gun violence five years ago and this recent attack, he’s leaving Duval County due to the risk and the failures of the Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office.

    Taveras was set to make his second Octagon appearance at UFC 304 last month until an injury led to him withdrawing from his fight with Caolan Loughran.

    Tony Ferguson Still Backs Himself In The Striking Range

    Tony Ferguson may have laid one glove down in the Octagon this past weekend but it doesn’t look like he’s quite ready to leave them there for good.

    “El Cucuy” now holds the longest losing streak in UFC history after he was submitted by Michael Chiesa in the opening round.

    Ferguson is still clearly passionate about what he does and has confidence in his skills.

    He spoke after the fight about the changes he made for this camp that included a return to sparring, which helped with his striking skills for this fight.

    Despite being taken down and finished, the former interim champion believes that he’s still got it while the fight stays standing.

    “There’s a lot of things I need to work on,” Ferguson said. “We did a lot of sparring. You could see that out there; I felt pretty good on my feet. … I felt normal in there for a second. … There’s a lot of things that I can and can’t do. … This whole entire camp, I had just got back into sparring. … We just started throwing pads again.

    “When I went out there and I hit Chiesa, he didn’t want to stand and bang. Not a lot of people want to stand and bang with me,” Ferguson added.

    Read more on the story here.

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