Tag: alvarez vs mcgregor

Chael Sonnen Sends Message To ‘Dumb Sons Of B*tches’ In UFC

Three-time UFC title challenger and king of banter Chael Sonnen found himself a new home in Bellator MMA this year. Fitting his style of trash talk and fight promotion perfectly, it seems ‘The American Gangster’ has got a perfect outlet for his return. Facing fellow UFC veteran and former light-heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz at Bellator

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Three-time UFC title challenger and king of banter Chael Sonnen found himself a new home in Bellator MMA this year. Fitting his style of trash talk and fight promotion perfectly, it seems ‘The American Gangster’ has got a perfect outlet for his return. Facing fellow UFC veteran and former light-heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz at Bellator 170, Sonnen has already turned on the theatrics for his long-awaited comeback. During a recent televised ‘debate’ for their upcoming bout, Sonnen and ‘The Huntington Beach Bad Boy’ turned up the heat with a comical back-and-forth.

Before there was Conor McGregor, Chael P. was the biggest talker in the UFC. Now that torch has been passed, ‘The Notorious’ is experiencing a level of fame only previously reached by Ronda Rousey. Should the brash Irishman defeat Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205, he will surely surpass ‘Rowdy.’ Standing on the brink of history, McGregor has also been the subject of tense debates in the recent months. Joining the barrage of criticism from many fans, fellow fighters have demanded McGregor be stripped of the 145-pound title.

Credit: Fighters Only Mag

Who’s Got Two Thumbs & Likes Conor McGregor?

Chael Sonnen is not on board with all the hate directed towards Conor McGregor. In fact, ‘The American Gangster’ is shocked with the amount of fighters who can’t see what he considers as a great aid to the sport of MMA. Talking during a recent episode of his ‘Bad Guy Inc: Beyond The Fight’ podcast, Sonnen says other UFC fighters are just ‘too dumb’ to realise what’s going on. As transcribed by Forbes:

We’ve got fighters in weight classes that have no standing in this matter … and they’re saying, “You should strip him. Got to strip him, got to move that division on. I can’t believe that people don’t understand this that are in the industry. There is a historic opportunity if Conor should beat Eddie Alvarez. The opportunity there is that he will be the first guy in history to hold two world championships simultaneously in the UFC. It has never happened before.

So if you’re the UFC and you, through the power of the pen, take one of those belts away, you also lose the opportunity that so much media is running with to have the historic evening. If you wait to strip him or make a decision in that weight class after the fight, you preserve that opportunity. The UFC can’t come out and say that. They can’t come out and say, “Well, there’s actually a marketing opportunity for us.” Then they lose it.”

Credit: Mark J Rebilas USA Today Sports

Continued

“You think fighters would be able to understand this concept, shut their mouths, and if anything, beat the drum … help perpetuate the story. Instead, these dumb son of a b—-es are throwing water on the fire. They’re trying to get him stripped.

Why do I have to explain this so that other fighters can hear it and go, “Oh my God, he’s right.” How do you not understand what’s going on in your own industry? I never could understand … this is why you guys don’t get to be part of it, because you’re too dumb. I’m not trying to put you down. Dumb has a definition, go look it up and then relate it to yourself, because you fall under it.

We need media partners. We need headlines. Everybody in the show. Everybody in the industry. It really doesn’t even matter what organization you’re with. There is an industry called “‘mixed martial arts.’” … Why would you strip the guy and take that opportunity away? You fools.”

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Conor McGregor: F*** TJ Dillashaw, Who The F*** Is That Guy?

Leading in to the penultimate week before UFC 205, excitement for the historic pay-per-view mounts. Taking the lead for the promotion’s first event held in New York city are Eddie Alvarez and Conor McGregor. Moving up once again from the featherweight division, the Irishman will challenge for Alvarez’s lightweight belt on November 12. Putting the

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Leading in to the penultimate week before UFC 205, excitement for the historic pay-per-view mounts. Taking the lead for the promotion’s first event held in New York city are Eddie Alvarez and Conor McGregor. Moving up once again from the featherweight division, the Irishman will challenge for Alvarez’s lightweight belt on November 12. Putting the 145-pound class on hold for the third straight fight has led to some criticism of both McGregor and the UFC.

Teasing a ‘huge announcement’ after UFC 205, the consensus opinion is that McGregor will give up at least one belt if he wins, and may even retire or take an extended hiatus. The promotion choosing to allow ‘The Notorious’ to call so many shots has led to some rather disgruntled fighters. Jose Aldo has threatened retirement, and a stream of frustrated lightweight contenders have voiced their displeasure. Still, few can deny the salivating prospect of Alvarez vs. McGregor in New York.

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The Talk

Conor McGregor’s limerick style of trash talking has become one of his trademark traits. Getting in the head of one’s opponent is nothing new in the world of fighting, but McGregor is arguably the best at the mental warfare involved in MMA. Speaking with MMA Champions while sparring for UFC 205, ‘The Notorious’ wasn’t only intent on talking about Eddie Alvarez:

“From the first Diaz fight to the second Diaz fight, it took me three months to improve (my cardio). It took me three months to go from not lasting two rounds, to outlasting a triathlete who had 30 pounds on me. The cardio vascular training we are doing, nothing is guess-work. Watch them follow suit, we are releasing a three-month training programme. It’s currently in progression, it’s very scientific. It changed my life.”

In response to TJ Dillashaw saying McGregor is more of a theatrics artist than MMA fighter:

“F*ck him, who the f*ck is TJ Dillashaw? Who the f*ck is he? Where are his fights? He isn’t going out there, fight after fight, and taking these guys out. I hear a lot of talking, but not a lot of working. I had to work my bollocks off to get here, and now I’m still in here working. Who else is coming off a five round war with a triathlon and jumping straight back in here? Nobody! These fighters are saying they deserve what I have, no. I didn’t always have this, I had to work for it, they are the ones who are all talk. I hear a lot of moaning.”

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Conor McGregor: I’m The Best Fighter In Any Weight Class

History will be made at UFC 205, the question is just how much? The first ever event to be held in New York will prove to be a huge milestone for the promotion and sport as a whole, but the main event has us captivated just as much. Looking to spoil the Irish party will

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History will be made at UFC 205, the question is just how much? The first ever event to be held in New York will prove to be a huge milestone for the promotion and sport as a whole, but the main event has us captivated just as much. Looking to spoil the Irish party will be lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, as he takes on Conor McGregor in a clash of champions. Only the 155-pound belt will be on the line, but this means the 28-year old featherweight champ stands to break a sacred record.

No champion in the history of the UFC has ever held belts in two weight classes at the same time. Many will argue ‘The Notorious’ has held the 145-pound strap hostage in his last two fights at 170 pounds, but the fact remains, he could be making history in the Big Apple. Taking to the stage at the UFC 205 pre-sale presser two weeks ago, McGregor and Alvarez got the banter going strong. Was ‘The Silent Assassin’ bothered by the trash talk? That’s yet to be seen.

Psychological Warfare

Speaking during a recent interview with Ask Men, Conor McGregor spoke about the impact of ‘trash talk’ on his opponents, and also his fights at welterweight:

“The term “trash talk” is such an American thing. I still laugh at it. Like I’m trying to hurt someone’s feelings? I’m an Irishman and a fighter — I don’t give a f*ck about feelings. As far as I’m concerned, I just speak the truth. Sometimes the truth hurts. It hurts because they have a weakness — and I exploit weakness. A fight is mental, not just physical and psychological warfare is absolutely part of that. It’s interesting they allow it. I guess I’m the stronger man.”

Weight

“I did what I set out to do — I beat him at 170. I think I am the greatest fighter in any class. I know I can hold two, maybe even three belts. So I have business to take care of back in and around my weight class. There’s a lot to talk about. I won’t ever shy away from a fight and if it makes sense down the road, I’ll do it. But it will be on my terms.”

Having competed in two weight classes so far, and a third coming up, is there a possibility of a fourth down the line? Surely middleweight is far too much of a task, although if anyone is willing to give it a try. UFC 205 takes place in the iconic Madison Square Garden on November 12.

Here’s the full fight card as it stands so far.

UFC 205 Fight Card

Eddie Alvarez vs. Conor McGregor (for Alvarez’s lightweight belt)
Tyron Woodley vs. Stephen Thompson (for Woodley’s welterweight belt)
Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz (for Jedrzejczyk’s strawweight belt)
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Michael Johnson
Yoel Romero vs. Chris Weidman
Donald Cerrone vs. Kelvin Gastelum
Raquel Pennington vs. Miesha Tate
Frankie Edgar vs. Jeremy Stephens
Rashad Evans vs. Tim Kennedy
Tim Boetsch vs. Rafael Natal
Thiago Alves vs. Jim Miller
Lyman Good vs. Belal Muhammad
Liz Carmouche vs. Katlyn Chookagian

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Five Possible Outcomes From Conor McGregor vs. Eddie Alvarez

2016 has been a crazy year for fans of MMA. As always the UFC had the top shelf offering of all the major promotions, and they did so with a stream of high quality cards. At the zenith of the UFC’s pay-per-view draws this year were Conor McGregor and his rival Nate Diaz. UFC 196

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2016 has been a crazy year for fans of MMA. As always the UFC had the top shelf offering of all the major promotions, and they did so with a stream of high quality cards. At the zenith of the UFC’s pay-per-view draws this year were Conor McGregor and his rival Nate Diaz. UFC 196 and UFC 202 ranked in the top three biggest cards in the promotion’s history. McGregor vs. Diaz 2 smashed the bar set by UFC 100 with a cool 1.6 million buys. Was it any surprise the UFC put McGregor in against Eddie Alvarez at UFC 200?

Following his string of successful cards, albeit one with a loss, the charismatic Irishman was injected in to the UFC’s New York debut without hesitance. One topic that’s been hotly debated ahead of UFC 205 is the potential effect on the direction of MMA moving forward. The apparent disrespect from the UFC towards Jose Aldo has led to the interim champion retiring, and the decision to put McGregor ahead of the killers row at 155 has alienated many top contenders.

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McGregor vs. Alvarez

Looking like it could well be the biggest card of all-time, UFC 205 is pivotal for so many reasons. The fact McGregor will not be stripped of the 145-pound title to compete against Alvarez is another key factor in this debate. The Irish star will look to become the first ever champion to hold two UFC belts in different weight classes at the same time. After the big announcement of the UFC 205 card came the teaser of McGregor’s own ‘left field’ announcement.

UFC president Dana White said Conor had some ‘personal issues,’ and would make a big announcement out of ‘left field’ following UFC 205. This has led to massive speculation, one opinion being that McGregor’s girlfriend has fell pregnant. Another guess is that ‘The Notorious’ will retire, or maybe take a year off. With so much riding on this one historic bout in Madison Square Garden on November 12, check out Five Possible Outcomes From Conor McGregor vs. Eddie Alvarez…

Conor-Eddie

McGregor Defeats Alvarez, Retires

This future involves Conor McGregor winning the lightweight title,then calling it quits as a two-weight UFC champion. Complications aplenty would arise from ‘The Notorious’ riding off in to the sunset with two belts on his back. Obviously the issue of who fights for two vacated belts would be complicated enough, but in this outcome there’s the ‘McGregor shadow’ to consider.

‘The Notorious,’ although retired, would forever shadow the current crop of contenders in both divisions. This isn’t to say that both weight classes wouldn’t move on in time, but look at the scenario with Daniel Cormier right now. ‘DC’ may have lost in his bid against Jon Jones, but by no fault of his own was fighting for the vacant strap against Anthony Johnson at UFC 187. ‘Bones’ was stripped of the belt and has been pulled once again from the running due to a failed drug test. All this, and Cormier still receives criticism as champion. Imagine the impact on 155 and 145 if this were to be the outcome at UFC 205.

Continue on page 2…

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Donald Cerrone: McGregor Hidden From Other Fighters Backstage

UFC 205 goes down on November 12, and will arguably be one of the biggest events of all-time for a number of reasons. First and foremost, the pay-per-view extravaganza will mark the first UFC event in New York. After learning of the incredible star-studded line up in recent weeks, it’s the clear the promotion is

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UFC 205 goes down on November 12, and will arguably be one of the biggest events of all-time for a number of reasons. First and foremost, the pay-per-view extravaganza will mark the first UFC event in New York. After learning of the incredible star-studded line up in recent weeks, it’s the clear the promotion is pulling out all the stops for the Big Apple debut. Who sits at the top of the UFC 205 pile? None other than lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez and featherweight boss Conor McGregor, and they’re fighting each other.

Causing a huge division in opinion, Alvarez’s first lightweight title defense against McGregor has also brought out the best and worst in fellow fighters. One very common opinion was that MMA was heading down the direction of boxing. Money rules the game, and certain sects of both fans and fighters find this very negative. Following the initial wave of reactions, UFC welterweight and lightweight Donald Cerrone has some interesting opinions.

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Cowboy

Also fighting at UFC 205, Donald Cerrone was on stage at the infamous UFC 205 press conference last week. After sitting through another episode of the Conor McGregor show, ‘Cowboy’ revealed the Irish star had turned down two fights against him. Furthering these comments in a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Cerrone says the rest of the fighters have a dislike for McGregor. So much is the tension that, according to Cerrone, McGregor has to be kept separate from everyone else backstage:

“They line us all up in a line, but they take Conor and they put him off in another room because he can’t be around the other fighters because we don’t play that (expletive). behind the scenes he’s like a scared little kid.”

“He’s not one of the fellas, he’s not a good dude. It is what it is. He does a good job promoting the sport, he does a good job of making money. So I can’t hate the guy for that, but just as a person I ain’t a fan.”

Not My Buddy, Guy

Although he sees McGregor as the class clown, Cerrone acknowledges the good he’s done for the sport:

“He brings a lot of people, so my hat’s off to him for that,” added Cerrone, “but just like hang with him like a fella, no, he’d never be my buddy.”

Will Conor McGregor and Donald Cerrone ever fight? Given their recent tendency of fighting in multiple weight classes and their constant rivalry, why the heck not?

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Khabib Reacts To Conor McGregor vs. Eddie Alvarez Announcement

Well, it happened. The news we were all expecting, then not expecting, was made official late last night. Headlining the UFC 205 New York card are Eddie Alvarez and Conor McGregor. Adding to the steam that announcement creates in some circles is the fact McGregor will retain his featherweight title. Agree or not, the bout

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Well, it happened. The news we were all expecting, then not expecting, was made official late last night. Headlining the UFC 205 New York card are Eddie Alvarez and Conor McGregor. Adding to the steam that announcement creates in some circles is the fact McGregor will retain his featherweight title. Agree or not, the bout against Alvarez is huge in many ways. Fitting with the recent trend of money fights, having a champion vs. champion fight in the NYC debut for the promotion is a massive selling point.

Opposing that trail of thought is the ever-raging discussion on ‘legitimacy.’ Most definitely an intriguing topic, that argument is based on rankings holding primacy over what will line the pockets of certain individuals. In this particular case, the persons making big profit will be the UFC brass, Conor McGregor and Eddie Alvarez. It’s hard to argue against the latter, but many purist fans find it hard to swallow fight announcements like these because of their apparent cash-fuelled nature. Alas, at the least, we have a huge fight to look forward to. Oh, and ‘The Notorious’ will not be stripped of the featherweight belt.

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Good For Profits, Bad For Khabib

Aside from the likely irate Jose Aldo, there’s one particular fighter who’s very annoyed at this whole McGregor vs. Alvarez deal. You guessed it, number one lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov is furious right now. Taking to Twitter, the undefeated 155-pounder made his feelings clear:

Every Cloud

On the plus side, Khabib Nurmagomedov will surely be in line for the next crack at the lightweight belt. Assuming he is willing to wait that long, ‘The Eagle’ must be due his championship fight. In all honesty, who the heck knows anymore? The current climate of money talking louder in the UFC has no end in sight. Rankings, common sense and fan opinion be damned, but is that all bad?

Taking to Instagram, Nurmagomedov continued to vent his frustration, calling the UFC a ‘freak show.’

UFC 165: Ricci v Jury

Freak Show

When I signed agreement with @UFC it was sport. Now it became a freak show, or I don’t know how to call it right. Only thing that keeping me in this cracking sport, is that I don’t want to stop on the halfway, I wasn’t raised like this, not a quitter. I’ll keep moving forward InshaAllah.

You could make arguments for both sides, but right now only one thing is certain. Khabib is pissed, Alvarez vs. McGregor is happening and yet again the featherweight division gets the stanky leg. Discuss!

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