UFC

UFC: Dana White fires back at Jon Jones after demanding release from contract

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UFC, Dana White

There’s nothing like a good old fashion Twitter war between UFC president Dana White and light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Jones demanded his release after stating that DeontayWwilder is paid vastly more than him, somewhere in the $25-30 million range, while Jones is making less than half of that.

“Don’t be a f—ing liar,” Jones expressed on Friday, via Twitter. “My reputation has already taking enough hits. I don’t need this bulls— Dana. I never asked for [Deontay Wilder] numbers. And how about since [Wilder] is making $30 million, we settle for half of that. Since you said I’m the [greatest of all time] and everything.”

Jones, who is one of the best fighters in the world, believes he deserves more pay and less BS from White, who continues to undervalue him and ignore his requests. Jones wants a heavyweight fight against Francis Ngannou, and while White has stated that Jones continues to ask for a specific amount of money, Jones has denied those claims.

“He can do whatever he wants,” White said Saturday, per ESPN. “He wants to sit out, fight, he can do whatever. He can say whatever he wants publicly. It’s his God-given right in America. He can say whatever he wants. When he’s ready to come back, he can.

“In one of his tweets, he said I tarnished his name. I tarnished you? You’ve done a very good job of tarnishing you.”

One of the significant issues that Jones faces regarding an increase in pay is his legal history and the questionable image he provides for the UFC as a whole. He has been arrested multiple times throughout his career, and at 32 years old, it doesn’t seem White is willing to give him what he wants.

Hypocritically, White continues to coin Jones has the best MMA fighter of all time but refuses to pay him more than some of the lesser-known athletes. White did indicate that being the best does not make you the most valuable in terms of selling, which ultimately plays a significant factor in the overall numbers.

UFC Vegas Recap: Gilbert Burns dominates former champion, Tyron Woodley

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UFC on ESPN 9 marked the UFC’s return to Las Vegas and the main event featured former Champion, Tyron Woodley (19-5-1), and rising contender Gilbert Burns (19-3). This is a fight that was interesting for a number of reasons. There were a lot of questions going into the fight about just how good Gilbert Burns was and how motivated Tyron Woodley was. Early on in the fight, we got our answer. Burns took the center of the octagon early, and Woodley immediately through a huge power shot and whiffed. Burns landed a massive right hand that rocked Woodley early. The fight went to the ground where Burns possesses a huge advantage. Burns was able to get full mount, but he wasn’t able to really get a ton of damage done from the mount position. Woodley was able to regain his composure while being on the bottom. Woodley was able to explode up from the mount position and get the fight back on the feet with about 90 seconds left in the first round. However, he wasn’t able to accomplish much on the feet. Gilbert Burns could not have gotten off to a better start in the main event.

In the second round, Woodley came out with a lot of urgency landing some really big shots early. The two welterweights exchanged a few times in the second before Burns was able to land a big takedown with about two and a half minutes left in the round. Woodley was able to work his way back up to his feet using the fence. After Woodley worked his way up, both men stayed in the clinch the rest of the round with nothing significant happening as Burns coasted to his second straight round. The third round didn’t feature a ton of major moments as the two men stood and traded shots throughout the round. Burns continued to pressure the former champion, and Woodley seemed to be headhunting for a one-punch knockout. Woodley landed a couple of good shots, but this was another round where Burns seemed to be in control of the fight. The fourth round started really slow for both guys. The two engaged in a clinch for the first few minutes with not a lot of action. Referee Herb Dean separated two fighters, and after they separated, Burns completely took control. Burns popped Woodley several times with a few stiff jobs and momentarily dropped Woodley with a huge right hand. Burns took down Woodley towards the end of the round and almost ended things with a guillotine choke. Woodley looked completely lost heading back to his corner after losing his ninth consecutive round dating back to his loss to Kamaru Usman.

Coming out for the fifth, Woodley through with everything he had in the first couple of exchanges, but Burns was able to neutralize him against the cage. There wasn’t a ton of action the rest of the round. Woodley continued to look for a miracle shot, but that shot would never come. Gilbert Burns looked incredible, and the judges agreed giving him all five rounds and the unanimous decision victory. Burns made me a believer with that performance. His striking looked crisp, he was very fast, and his ground skills are elite. “Durinho” has now won six consecutive fights and called out the champion Kamaru Usman after the fight was over. It would be hard to argue against his case for a title shot after that performance. The UFC has been struggling to book Usman and Jorge Masvidal for July, and Burns just gave them another option for that card. Burns comes out of this fight without a scratch and he said he could fight in July. It will be interesting to see what the UFC does, but Gilbert Burns is for real and he made a believer out of me.

Fall From Grace

Just two fights ago, Tyron Woodley looked unstoppable. He had incredible power and a great wrestling base to dictate where any fight would take place. Since his submission of Darren Till, Woodley has not just lost two consecutive fights, but he’s been shut out in both fights. Woodley has lost ten consecutive rounds looking like a shell of the guy who was the champion. I’m really not sure where Tyron Woodley will go from here. Going into this fight, I thought if he showed up motivated, he could stop Burns. Instead, Woodley looked lost and out of it again. Maybe it was mental or maybe it was the first big shot that Burns landed. At 38 years old, you have to wonder how much is left in the tank for Woodley.

Prelim Recap

UFC on ESPN 9 took place in the same location where Dana White’s Contender Series takes place, the UFC Apex, and the fighters on the prelims fought like they were on the Contender Series. Everyone was going for the finish which led to incredible fights throughout the undercard. One standout performers was undefeated prospect Jamahal Hill (8-0) who stopped Klidson Abreu (15-5) with a huge knee to the body early in the first round. Hill is now 2-0 in the UFC since getting signed after his TKO win in the contender series. Chris Gutierrez (15-3-1) also looked incredible stopping Vince Morales (9-5) with a flurry of leg kicks in the second round. Gutierrez’s striking looked crisp and he put a beating on the lead leg of Morales which looked horrifying after the fight. Casey Kenney (14-2-1) was also able to pull off a slick guillotine choke on Louis Smolka (16-7) in the first round. The best fight we saw in the prelims was between Tim Elliot (15-11-1) and Brandon Royval (11-4). The pace was incredible in this fight and it was back and forth throughout. Elliot looked really good in the first round but found himself on the losing end of an arm-triangle choke in the second round.

Chookagian Bounces Back in Dominant Fashion

Katlyn Chookagian (14-3) and Antonina Shevchenko (8-2) was the fight I was the most intrigued by on the prelims. I thought it was going to be interesting to see how Chookagian would bounce back from her last loss and how Shevchenko would handle the step up in competition. The first round was shocking to watch as Chookagian immediately took Shevchenko down and took her back. The majority of the first round, Chookagian looked like she was seconds away from finishing the fight. She had Shevchenko in a fully locked in rear-naked choke a couple of times and she mounted Shevchenko and landed some heavy shots. The second round was very similar to the first round in that Chookagian immediately clinched and took down Shevchenko. Once they were on the ground, Chookagian immediately got to the mount position. Chookagian spent the rest of the round landing some pretty good ground and pound on Shevchenko, but never seemed close to finishing the fight. The third round made me raise my eyebrows a little to start. Chookagian decided to not go for the takedown for the first three minutes of the round after dominating the entire fight on the ground. As a result, Shevchenko was starting to build a little momentum landing some pretty decent shots. Chookagian was landing shots as well, but the former Muay Thai champ was getting the better of the exchanges. With about two minutes left in the final round, Chookagian finally shot in for the takedown. While she didn’t get one on her first attempt, she was able to get Shevchenko down before the round ended. In the final 15 seconds, Chookagian started dropping bombs and almost finished the fight. This was a huge fight for Chookagian coming off the loss to the champ, and she bounced back in a very impressive way winning on all three scorecards 30-25. Now that she’s back on the winning track, I think you’ll see Chookagian get a top 5 fighter in her next outing.

Main Card Recap

Kicking off the main card was a really good fight between Mackenzie Dern (8-1) and Hannah Cifers (10-5). Dern came into the fight as the biggest favorite on the card, and she showed why with a first-round knee-bar. Cifers came out and looked strong in the opening minute, but shortly after Dern was able to take control of the fight. Dern’s hands look much improved and she was able to land some pretty clean shots. The two got in a scramble, and Cifers seemed okay with trying to ground and pound the Jiu-Jitsu world champion which was not a good idea. Dern quickly locked up one of Cifer’s legs and finished the fight. This was such a big win for Dern after suffering her first career loss back in October. Dern struggled with her weight in her last fight, but her cut was no problem this time around. She made 115 pounds with ease and looked fresh in this fight. I would like to see a pretty quick turnaround for Dern with a step up in competition with a top 15 opponent.

Next up we had a lightweight fight between highly touted prospect, Roosevelt Roberts (10-1), and the entertaining Brok Weaver (15-5). There was a lot of heat before this fight with Weaver and Roberts let Weaver know he wasn’t happy about Weaver missing weight. The first round was pretty back and forth with both guys landing some clean shots. Roberts was talking to Weaver throughout the first round and landed the cleaner shots on the feet. Roberts was really showing off his speed in this fight. In the second round, Roberts was able to get the fight to the ground and that is where is ground skills took over. Roberts landed some heavy shots on the ground and was able to transition to a rear-naked choke. A very impressive performance for Roberts who is now 4-1 in the UFC. Roberts called out Matt Frevola (8-1) for his next fight. These two were supposed to fight back in April, and if Frevola can win on June 20th, this seems like the fight to make.

The third fight of the main card was a catchweight fight between Spike Carlyle (9-2) and Billy Quarantillo (14-2). Carlyle ran across the octagon as soon as the fight started and got the fight to the ground after a flying kick and some vicious elbows. Carlyle was able to get to the mount position and land some heavy shots. After going for an armbar, Carlyle lost top position and Quarantillo started to take control. Quarantillo was able to get Carlyle’s back and almost secured a choke. Carlyle was able to reverse the position and get back to the top. After that, Carlyle was able to control the rest of the round from the top position. There was a weird moment at the end of the round where Carlyle stood up as if the round was over and Quarantillo landed a clean shot that dropped Carlyle. In the second round, Carlyle landed a huge elbow early that rocked Quarantillo. After a scramble, Carlyle was able to get top position and control Quarantillo for a good portion of the round. Later in the round, after the fight was back on the feet, both men were able to secure takedowns. Quarantillo almost finished the fight with a triangle choke late in the round, but Carlyle was able to power through the choke. Carlyle was completely gassed going into the third round and Quarantillo was able to get the better of the grappling exchanges in the third round. Quarantillo through up several submissions early in the round, but Carlyle was able to slip out of everything and regain top position a couple of times. Quarantillo dominated all aspects of the third round even landing some very heavy shots on the feet. The two men fought to the scorecards in an incredibly close fight. I had Carlyle winning two rounds, but the judges saw this one differently giving Quarantillo the fight 29-28 on all three scorecards.

The co-main event of the evening featured a heavyweight battle between Blagoy Ivanov (18-3) and Augusto Sakai (14-1). The two heavyweights came out pretty slow in this one showing respect for each other. There were not a ton of exchanges early, but Ivanov rushed Sakai a few times throughout the round and was able to land a couple of clean shots. Sakai through some kicks throughout the first round, but seemed to be a little out of range early. Towards the end of the first round, Sakai was able to land some pretty decent leg kicks, one of which buckled the leg of Ivanov. In the second round, Ivanov came out pretty aggressive and landed some good left shots early. Sakai continued to land good leg kicks and seemingly found his range in the second round landing a few shots up top. As the round went on, Ivanov seemed to stay more on the outside feeling the effects of some of Sakai’s kicks. Sakai controlled most of the round with his striking, but Ivanov was able to secure a takedown near the end of the round. The takedown made the round closer, but this was seemingly a 1-1 fight going into the third round. Augusto Sakai was the much fresher fighter entering the third round and it showed. Sakai was able to stay on the outside and pick his shots against the labored Ivanov early. Ivanov did land a few good shots, but Sakai continued landing good shots even throwing a flying knee at one point. There was a little controversy in the third round where Ivanov was close to landing a takedown, but Sakai grabbed the fence to stop the takedown. There was no point deduction despite the obvious foul from Sakai. Ivanov seemed to get a second wind after the takedown attempt and really pushed the pace late landing some really good shots. Going to the scorecards, I thought Sakai one the fight 29-28 which two of the judges agreed with. Sakai won the fight via split decision, but one judge saw the fight 30-27 for Ivanov which was frightening to see.

Final Takeaway

The UFC’s return to Vegas was a successful one and they might have a new star on their hands. Gilbert Burns didn’t just open the door tonight, he kicked it in. I will be very interested to see what the UFC does with him next whether he gets a title shot or maybe a shot at Colby Covington. The card delivered in all aspects tonight and we get to turn around for another fight next week when we see UFC 250 headlined by the Lioness, Amanda Nunes. UFC 250 is completely stacked and I personally can’t wait to sit back down next week for another great night of fights.

Could Mike Tyson fight Peter McNeeley and donate to charity in rumored comeback?

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Mike Tyson, UFC

With Mike Tyson posting incredible training videos at 53 years old, most would agree he looks prepared to return to the ring, but this time, to give back to the community during a difficult stage in the country due to coronavirus. With the economy turning downward and people in need of aid, Tyson might have a fantastic opportunity to give back and reward the world with a potential re-match with Peter McNeeley.

McNeeley finished his career with a 47-7 record, including 36 KO’s. Tyson, who finished at 50-6 with 44 KO’s could spark a high-priced fight for the ages. The last time Tyson faced off against the “Hurricane” was in 1995, where he punished McNeeley into forfeiting just 89 seconds into the fight. This time around, things could be different, as Boston Boxing Promotions has offered $1.1 million for a historic rematch between the two older fighters.

“Mike Tyson, do you want me to try to wrap you in a cocoon of horror again?” asked McNeeley when reached for comment.

While this bout is far from reality, Tyson also turned down a $20 million opportunity from Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship,  which presented a good opportunity to donate back to charity.

Tyson has stated that he’s feeling youthful during this reboot process and is willing to take on any challengers as long as the money is given back to a charitable cause. This could be the proof needed to justify a return, but until he steps into the ring, it’s all talk.

Jon Jones demands Dana White releases him from UFC contract: ‘I don’t need this Bulls–t’

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UFC, Jon Jones

Jon Jones is back at it on social media, as he expressed his frustration toward Dana White and the UFC, demanding that he be released from his contract after the battle went public. The negotiations for the light heavyweight champion to move up to heavyweight has spurred these new comments, and his rant could see him to the street looking for a new deal elsewhere.

Ultimately, Jones is in pursuit of an exorbitant amount of money to fight Francis Ngannou, but White has indicated he doesn’t want to release him from his contract. Jones has a point, though, as he stated his income isn’t even half of what Deontay Wilder is earning for his fights.

Reports stated that Wilder cashed in in the $25-30 million range to fight Tyson Fury several months ago.

Jones’ public rant was directed at the UFC director, and he seems confident his worth is far more than his earnings indicate:

“Don’t be a f–king liar, my reputation has already taking enough hits,” Jones tweeted. “I don’t need this bulls–t Dana. I never asked for Diante [sic] Wilder‘s numbers. And how about since Diante is making 30 million, we settle for half of that. Since you said I’m the goat and everything.”

Jones is considered one of the best MMA fighters out there, learning a 26-1 record and somehow only earned $500K for his last fight, via the New York Post. Despite his incredible talent, Jones is one of the more tolerated fighters out there considering his legal troubles and suspensions. Of course, White has to consider who he’s paying and why they’re earning that much.

Paying Jones that much money would have to match up with his image and what he brings to the table. Ultimately, it seems he has the talent but doesn’t represent the UFC most advantageously.

UFC: Controversial Colby Covington Leaves American Top Team

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UFC, Colby Covington

While the news cycle for other sports may have slowed down due to coronavirus, there’s still relevant things happening in the UFC – and a rising story right now is the departure of one of the most controversial fighters in the organization from one of its top gyms. That fighter is welterweight Colby Covington, and that gym is American Top Team.

ATT is known for having one of the largest collections of talent in the entire MMA world, with names ranging from Dustin Poirier to Amanda Nunes, and previously, Covington was among the names that trained there. But the relationship between the two wasn’t always the greatest. Covington has been in beefs before with other team members, and while in the past, these tensions didn’t get in the way of his participation with the team, it looks like things have boiled over to an extent to the point where it’s best for both sides to split up.

Covington talked about his departure on The Score MMA, responding quickly and honestly when asked about his name being removed from the team website and whether or not he is still with the team.

“I’m not a member of American Top Team in Coconut Creek. I’m a member of Colby Covington, Inc. I’m a member of Colby Covington business and Colby Covington team,” Covington said. “You can now direct your complaints at me. All the people going to Dan Lambert and American Top Team directing their complaints, up in their feelings: ‘I’m a pro fighter, but I’m going to going to Dan Lambert. “Hey, Dan, I don’t want to fight him in the cage because I know I can’t beat him, but can you protect my precious little feelings?'”

However, despite the split, Covington does claim that he’s still working with some of the same partners – just not under the banner of American Top Team. In this day and age, with the sport growing into a more significant business, it’s not entirely unheard of for a fighter to put their own team together without relying on a larger gym. It remains to be seen, though, how Covington will do in this regard. While building a team independently isn’t impossible, it does require more effort put into networking, and it may be harder to attract top coaches and training partners compared to an established brand such as ATT.

Despite the split, Covington notably isn’t beefing with former coach Dan Lambert, the founder of American Top Team, and one of his main past collaborators. “I owe that guy everything. He gave me an opportunity nine years ago to come train at his gym full-time, have food, money, and a place to live. He never left me out in the cold. He always gave me the opportunity. So I’m very thankful for my time there. He’s still a friend, he’s still a mentor, but I fulfilled my debts there,” Covington continued.

It’s not clear who Covington’s next opponent is, following his December loss to Kamaru Usman for the welterweight title. For now, though, it doesn’t look like his beef with former ATT teammate Jorge Masvidal will turn into an actual fight in the ring. When Covington does step into the ring again, however, it will likely be watched with interest by many – both by fans and those looking to see the controversial fighter take another loss.

UFC on ESPN 9 Preview: Tyron Woodley looks to bounce back from Usman loss

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UFC, Tyrone Woodley

This Saturday night, the UFC makes its long-anticipated return to Las Vegas with UFC on ESPN 9, which will be headlined by a welterweight contest between former champion, Tyron Woodley, and rising contender, Gilbert Burns. The UFC took a couple of weeks off after shelling out three events in just eight days back in early May. With the restrictions being lifted back in Las Vegas, the UFC is bringing fights home to their new APEX. The card is filled with some really intriguing matchups, including a couple of former title challengers to go along with the former Welterweight champion Woodley. Let’s take a look at a few of the fights that stick out for the UFC’s return to their home base in Vegas.

Tyron Woodley vs Gilbert Burns

This is a fight that really intrigues me for a number of reasons. Tyron Woodley (19-4-1), is making his return after he was utterly dominated by Kamaru Usman back at UFC 235. Woodley was coming into that fight as a three-time defender of his Welterweight title, but he looked like a shell of the guy who was the champion for almost three years. There was no explosion, and Woodley just appeared to be lost. Maybe that’s just what Kamaru Usman does to guys, or maybe Woodley just wasn’t feeling it. Either way, the performance was lackluster, to say the least. Woodley now finds himself at a bit of a career crossroads. He’s 38 years old, but he just lost the title, and now he’s facing a very hungry contender. A win would likely earn Woodley another crack at the title he lost, but a loss might signal the end for Tyron Woodley. For that reason, it’s also a critical fight for the former champion.

Standing across from Woodley will the rising Gilbert Burns (18-3), who is coming off of the best win of his career, a knockout of former title contender Demian Maia. Burns had won four fights in a row leading to that Maia fight. Maia was a big step up in competition, and many were wondering how Burns would do. Well, Burns survived having his back taken early and turned right around to knockout Maia in the first round. Burns has elite skills on the ground, and he’s very dangerous on his feet. He’s very quick with a good amount of pop in his legs and his hands. He presents an exciting challenge for the former champ. Both guys are powerful, and both guys have excellent quick trigger speed.

When looking at this fight, it all comes down to which Tyron Woodley shows up. If the rapper/TV personality Tyron Woodley shows up, I think Burns can win this fight on points just being a more active striker than Woodley. However, if the former champion shows up with some urgency, I think this is a very winnable fight for Tyron Woodley. Gilbert Burns was put away by Dan Hooker so you know he’s capable of being knocked out, and there’s a massive difference between the power of Dan Hooker and the power of Tyron Woodley. I think Woodley is going to come out with a little bit of a chip on his shoulders wanting to climb the latter one more time before he fully transitions out of fighting. I think we are going to see some fireworks early, and I don’t see the fight lasting two rounds.

Prediction: Tyron Woodley by TKO – Round 2

Blagoy Ivanov vs Augusto Sakai

The co-main event of this card presents an interesting fight between two heavyweight contenders inside the top 15. Augosto Sakai (14-1-1) comes into this fight on a five-fight win streak, which features four wins by KO/TKO. Sakai’s only loss in his career came at the hands of former top UFC contender Cheick Kongo by split decision. Sakai is a very intriguing prospect who goes right after whoever he’s fighting.

The most notable win in Sakai’s UFC career was his split decision victory over former champion Andrei Arlovski back at UFC Fight Night 150. Standing across from Sakai will be a guy who can take ungodly amounts of punishment and just keep coming. Blagoy Ivanov (18-3), is almost like a gatekeeper in the UFC’s heavyweight division. He’s fought some of the better guys in the division from former champ Junior Dos Santos to former title challenger, Derrick Lewis. Those two are two of the biggest hitters in the division, and Ivanov just ate everything they had and kept moving forward.

Prior to his decision loss to Derrick Lewis at UFC 244, Ivanov was coming off back to back impressive wins over Ben Rothwell and Tai Tuivasa. Ivanov has an impressive background in Sambo, but you rarely see him use any form of it in MMA. This is a fight that you will likely see contested on the feet. I don’t think either guy is going to be able to put the other away, so this is a fight that is going to go the distance. I think I’m going to give the overall striking advantage to Sakai, but a lot will come down to if he can keep up with Ivanov’s suffocating pace. In the end, I think Sakai will do enough to secure the points to win this one, which should get him a top ten opponent in his next outing.

Prediction: Augusto Sakai – Decision

Katlyn Chookagian vs Antonina Shevchenko

The featured prelim of the night on ESPN+ will show former title challenger, Katlyn Chookagian (13-3), facing off against the older sister of UFC Flyweight champion, Valentina Shevchenko. Antonina Shevchenko (8-1) is making her fourth appearance in the UFC, and she’s getting a big step up in competition getting the third-ranked flyweight in the world. Chookagian was coming off back to back wins leading into her title shot against Valentina back in February at UFC 247.

Chookagian has a really good point style striking game where she can get in and out of exchanges without taking a lot of damage. Chookagian is not the type of striker who is going to threaten to put your lights out, but her consistent output frustrates and annoys anyone who steps across from her in the cage. Her style might not be the most exciting, but it is effective, which is how she got the title shot. Antonina Shevchenko was able to bounce back against Luci Pudilova at UFC on ESPN 5 after suffering her first career loss against Roxanne Modafferi back in April of 2019.

The elder Shevchenko possesses good submissions skills and an elite striking game being a former world champion in Muay Thai. This is a step up in terms of rankings, but it is a very good fight for Shevchenko, considering it’s likely to stay on the feet. Shevchenko is likely the betting favorite with her past experience in Muay Thai and the fact that her sister and lead training partner just dismantled Chookagian a few months ago. I think Chookagian is going to land her shots in this fight, but I see Antonina Shevchenko landing the more significant shots as this fight goes on. Another decision is going to be coming here, and it’s going to come down to what the judges are looking for. Do not be shocked to see Chookagian land more overall strikes, but expect Shevchenko to land the more significant shots.

Prediction: Antonina Shevchenko – Split Decision.

Rest of the Card

Overall this is a pretty solid card for the UFC’s return to Las Vegas. There are many more intriguing fighters on the card, including Brok Weaver, Mackenzie Dern, Tim Elliot, and more. The UFC will waste no time after this weekend’s fight night turning right around for UFC 250 on June 6th, which is also expected to be contested at the UFC Apex. That event will feature the return of the GOAT, Amanda Nunes, as she takes on Canadian challenger, Felicia Spencer, for the Women’s Featherweight Title. We will have a full breakdown of that card next week, but for now, keep looking forward to UFC on ESPN 9 this weekend.

UFC: Who will Conor McGregor fight next?

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Conor McGregor, UFC

UFC fans all around the world have been pondering the question, “Who is Conor McGregor going to fight next?” The former two-division champion made his triumphant return to action back in January, where he starched fan favorite Donald Cerrone in 40 seconds with a devastating combination of shoulder strikes and a high kick. It was a great way to kick off the year, and Conor made the statement that he would love to fight several times in 2020.

Well, the world encountered a global pandemic that has really thrown a wrench in McGregor’s original plans. It’s becoming clear to me that the UFC was going to have Conor fight the winner of the Tony Ferguson/Khabib Nurmagomedov fight that was originally scheduled for April. That fight, of course, fell through, and Tony Ferguson fought Justin Gaethje instead. Of course, Gaethje spoiled the party by upsetting Ferguson to be crowned Interim Lightweight Champion of the UFC.

Conor McGregor has been extremely active on Twitter, calling out people and saying he is ready to fight. With that in mind, let’s look at four men who could be a possibility for the Notorious one’s next fight.

Nate Diaz

You just had to know that we were starting with this. Imagine a Conor McGregor/Nate Diaz trilogy fight with nobody in the stands on the UFC’s Fight Island. You could hear every word that these two rivals would be saying to each other. To me, this is the fight that makes the most sense from a business perspective for Conor McGregor. It is clear that Conor McGregor would like to get back to UFC gold, but there’s a roadblock at 155. Interim Champ, Justin Gaethje, is currently waiting for his shot at Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Those two are not likely to fight until September, and it’s highly unlikely that McGregor will sit out until the winter to get his shot at the belt. That is where Nate Diaz comes into the equation.

The two rivals have a history, and it needs to be settled once and for all. Nate Diaz shocked the world back in 2016 when he took a fight against Conor McGregor on short notice. After getting touched up early, Diaz found his groove and took it to a tired McGregor. Diaz would go on to submit McGregor in the second round via rear-naked choke. The two immediately ran that fight back a few months later, and it was a back and forth classic. McGregor took that close fight by Majority Decision. With the two fan favorites currently 1-1 in their series, it would just make the most sense to run this one back a third time. There are no easy fights for Conor McGregor right now, but arguably the most winnable option for him would be Nate Diaz. He has the blueprint for beating Nate Diaz, and I think he would if they were to fight a third time. Conor could make the most amount of money in this fight, and it would be another big win for him as he awaits the winner of the Nurmagomedov/Gaethje fight in September.

Jorge Masvidal

Who would not want to see this fight happen? This was the hot fight that everyone was talking about after Conor McGregor stopped Donald Cerrone back in January. Jorge Masvidal was in the front row for that fight wearing a robe that matched the robe Conor McGregor wore in his fight with Floyd Mayweather. Masvidal was coming off of his victory for the BMF Title over Nate Diaz.

Nobody in the sport had a better year in 2019 than Jorge Masvidal. Masvidal knocked out Darren Till in England, knocked Ben Askren out in 5 seconds, then beat Nate Diaz and had The Rock wrap a BMF title around his waist to cap it off. Masvidal has a personality that would sell, and I bet he’d be willing to put that BMF title up for grabs in a fight with Conor McGregor. Masvidal used to fight at 155, so there wouldn’t be a huge size discrepancy between the two men. It’s a tougher fight for Conor than Nate Diaz would be, but it’s another fight that Conor could win. This fight would be a standup war, and one thing people can’t deny is how good Conor McGregor is on his feet. He’s one of the best in the business at gauging the range and timing shots when he’s on top of his game. Not sure if either man would get a finish in this fight, but it would be a fun war to watch.

Justin Gaethje

This would be the most personal of all the options for Conor McGregor. McGregor recently turned to Twitter to call out Gaethje where he mentioned Gaethje’s comments about McGregor’s skills as a father. This is a fight that Conor wants really badly, and it would be a fight that would give him at least some gold if he’s able to win. As mentioned above, Gaethje is currently waiting for his shot against Khabib for the Undisputed Lightweight title. However, there is one factor that could throw everything off. There have been many reports out of Russia on the condition of Khabib’s trainer and father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. Khabib is a very private person when it comes to his family, but one thing that isn’t private is his love for his father. The elder Nurmagomedov is currently battling for his life due to Covid-19. Recent reports have suggested he’s either in a medically induced coma or he’s on life support. With everything going on with his father, I’m not sure Khabib is going to be fighting anytime soon. If that turns out to be the case, you will likely see the UFC move to book Conor McGregor vs Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title.

On paper, this would seem to be a fight that would give Conor McGregor trouble with Gaethje’s ability to wrestle, but that is just not Gaethje’s style, which will play right into Conor McGregor’s hands. Justin Gaethje has insane power, and he’s very fast, but Conor McGregor is not Tony Ferguson when it comes to striking. In a pure striking match, I do not believe Justin Gaethje could beat Conor McGregor unless he knocks him out. I think the diversity of Conor’s striking techniques, along with his ability to time straight counters, would give Gaethje fits throughout the evening. Eddie Alvarez, who fought both men, believes that McGregor would finish Justin Gaethje. Styles make matchups, and this is not a matchup that would excitement as a Gaethje fan unless he said he would mix in his wrestling, which we all know he wouldn’t.

Kamaru Usman

Wouldn’t this be something? Conor McGregor getting a shot to become the first man in UFC history to hold a title in three different weight divisions, would be huge business for the UFC but a nightmare of a fight for Conor McGregor. Khabib Nurmagomedov is a nightmare matchup for Conor McGregor, and it showed in their first fight. To be fair, I don’t believe we saw the best version of Conor McGregor in that fight, but either way, it’s a tough matchup. Kamaru Usman is like Khabib except much bigger and stronger.

This would be one fight where even the die-hard Conor McGregor fans would have to look at it and question the odds. The Nigerian Nightmare would immediately shoot once the opening bell sounded. If he couldn’t take Conor down, he’d likely lean on him by the cage and engage in some dirty boxing. We’ve seen Conor McGregor gas in fights before, and this is a fight that would have the potential to zap his energy exceptionally quickly. I’m not sure there’s a worse matchup for Conor in the UFC right now than Kamaru Usman.

Would it be a huge fight for the legacy of Conor McGregor? Absolutely, because no man has ever held a title in three weight classes, but the mountain he’d have to climb is a steep and tall one. The only way McGregor wins the title in this fight would be to stop Usman early with a clean shot. Does Conor have the pop to take out Usman at 170? There is no question that Conor McGregor is a better striker than Kamaru Usman, but this isn’t a kickboxing match. In the world of MMA, this is a fight I do not like if I’m a Conor McGregor fan.

Who will it be?

Thinking through everything, it still makes the most sense for Conor McGregor to fight Nate Diaz in his next fight. The history is there, and it’s the fight that makes the most sense. Let’s hope and pray that Khabib’s father recovers so his life can get back to normal and as fight fans we get to see the Nurmagomedov/Gaethje fight in September. If Conor can beat Nate Diaz, he can turn his attention to the winner of the September title fight. Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal need to fight for the 170-pound title. It’s the fight that makes the most sense at that weight class, and it’s a fight that needs to happen. If Conor McGregor is able to capture the 155-pound title before 2021, the UFC could then turn their attention to doing a champion versus champion fight in Q1 of 2021 with Conor McGregor facing off against whoever is the welterweight champion.

Dustin Poirier & Dan Hooker to Headline UFC’s June 27th Card

by
Dustin Poirier, UFC

A big fight in the UFC’s lightweight division is coming together to headline the UFC’s June 27th fight night card. Former title challenger, Dustin Poirier (25-6), is making his return to action following his title defeat last year at the hands of Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi.

Poirier will be facing off against Dan Hooker (20-8), who is coming off a split-decision victory over Paul Felder back in February, which was his third consecutive win. This is a massive fight for the lightweight division, considering both of these guys are currently in the top five in the UFC’s lightweight rankings.

For Poirier, this is a fight that can get him back on track. He was on an absolute tear prior to getting handled by the champion, Nurmagomedov. Poirier had wins over Max Holloway and current interim champion, Justin Gaethje. Poirier believes he didn’t show the best version of himself in his title loss to Nurmagomedov. This matchup is an excellent opportunity for Poirier to show off his skills in an impressive fashion, which could get him right back into title contention.

Step Up for The Hangman

For Dan Hooker, this is the chance that he’s been waiting on. Since 2017, Hooker has gone 7-1 with his lone loss being to Edson Barboza. Hooker has beaten Gilbert Burns, Al Iaquinta, and Paul Felder during that stretch. The Hangman is no joke, and this is his chance to really make a case for him being one of the best in the world.

This fight is very interesting, given the skill sets of both guys. You are likely going to see a standup war, and it should be a lot of fun. While they both have a 72-inch reach, Hooker seems to fight more to his height. He uses his legs a lot to keep his distance with calf kicks, but Poirier is one of the best in the business when it comes to getting inside and land some big shots. It’s going to be a fun fight to breakdown as we get closer to that event, but this is one that UFC fans should circle on their calendars. Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker are going to put on a show in a fight that is going to have a pretty big impact on the UFCs lightweight division.