Diaz appears to find the opportunity to step back into the octagon humorous. When UFC president Dana White confirmed that he had offered Diaz a fight, fans will have undoubtedly been excited at the prospect of a return of the fan favorite. It seems that any hopes of seeing Nate Diaz in action should be put […]
Diaz appears to find the opportunity to step back into the octagon humorous. When UFC president Dana White confirmed that he had offered Diaz a fight, fans will have undoubtedly been excited at the prospect of a return of the fan favorite. It seems that any hopes of seeing Nate Diaz in action should be put […]
McGregor once again reminds us of the lavish lifestyle enjoyed by MMA’s premier superstar. UFC’s lightweight champion posted a video on his official Instagram account, which gives a fly-on-the-wall look at his recent exploits in Manchester, England. The video sees McGregor arriving in his private jet, prior to rolling on to meeting fans in at […]
McGregor once again reminds us of the lavish lifestyle enjoyed by MMA’s premier superstar. UFC’s lightweight champion posted a video on his official Instagram account, which gives a fly-on-the-wall look at his recent exploits in Manchester, England. The video sees McGregor arriving in his private jet, prior to rolling on to meeting fans in at […]
Frankie Edgar is a little fed up.
That’s not a new stance from the popular former UFC champion. But he’s not backing off it, either, and with his UFC contract set to expire, it could be causing Edgar’s eye to wander.
Edgar, who has only one fight left …
That’s not a new stance from the popular former UFC champion. But he’s not backing off it, either, and with his UFC contract set to expire, it could be causing Edgar’s eye to wander.
Edgar, who has only one fight left on that contract, said Monday on The MMA Hour broadcast with host Ariel Helwani that he would be selective about his next opponent. And it won’t come, as some have speculated it might, in the bantamweight division.
“If they offered me a title shot [at bantamweight], I wouldn’t be able to turn it down,” Edgar said. “But I’m not going down there to fight a contender fight and do that, not while I’m as close as I am at 145 [pounds]. Especially since we don’t know what’s gonna happen. I don’t want to leave yet and [stuff] gets figured out and I’m sitting here fighting in a 135-pound contender fight when I could have been fighting for a 145-pound title.”
The 35-year-old Edgar (21-5-1) has said before that a title shot was the only acceptable fight at bantamweight—or anywhere else.
Before a recent groin surgery, which he apparently got after contract renegotiations failed with the UFC, The Answer made serious hay at featherweight, going 3-1 over the past two years, stocking two Performance of the Night bonuses and losing only to Jose Aldo for the interim title.
Speaking of interim titles, that’s another issue that appears to be causing friction for Edgar.
“I just think they’re getting silly with these interim titles,” Edgar said. “It’s a little too much. They’re already taking Conor [McGregor]’s 155 one away. I just don’t get it.”
Edgar was referring to the UFC’s recent decision to match Khabib Nurmagomedov with Tony Ferguson for an interim lightweight title. McGregor will retain his lineal lightweight title while he takes an extended hiatus to start a family.
In the meantime, could another promotional home be beckoning for Edgar? Just last weekend, light heavyweight Ryan Bader became the latest big UFC name to migrate to Bellator MMA. He joins other stars like Benson Henderson, Rory MacDonald and Phil Davis who have made the same leap.
Although the UFC remains the promotional standard-bearer for the sport, Bellator appears to be making more competitive offers of late, if its increased ability to land top stars is any indication. Although Edgar has not stated any desire to leave the UFC, his ongoing dissatisfaction with the promotion’s treatment of him and others, combined with Bellator’s stronger negotiating position, may very well have raised questions in the ex-champ’s mind.
It will be interesting to see how the UFC handles Edgar once he returns from his surgery rehab this spring. It could tell a lot about The Answer’s future promotional home.
Former longtime UFC middleweight champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva is gearing up to take on No. 8-ranked Derek Brunson in the co-main event of this weekend’s (Feb. 8, 2017) UFC 208 from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, but he recently expressed his interest in fighting reigning lightweight champion Conor McGregor. Silva said that
Former longtime UFC middleweight champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva is gearing up to take on No. 8-ranked Derek Brunson in the co-main event of this weekend’s (Feb. 8, 2017) UFC 208 from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, but he recently expressed his interest in fighting reigning lightweight champion Conor McGregor.
Silva said that the challenge was not out of disrespect, but rather his respect for McGregor’s fighting technique, and his desire to challenge himself.
It seems as if the Irishman has gotten wind of Silva’s challenge, and he didn’t appear to show as much respect, although as always, he said he’d fight anyone as long as the ‘numbers are right’:
“(Expletive) every one of them,” McGregor said during a recent Internet pay-per-view interview. “You see Anderson (Silva)? What’s Anderson talking about? What the (expletive) is Anderson Silva talking about? He keeps mentioning my name over and over again. Look, I’ll fight any one of them. Make sure the numbers are right, make sure the situation is right. I’ll fight any one of them at any given time.”
Although the potential scrap may be considered an intriguing one, it’s unlikely to come to fruition as Silva has competed at both 185-pound as well as 205 pounds, while McGregor has spent the majority of his career fighting at 145-pounds and 155-pounds, also fighting Nate Diaz twice at welterweight. Silva, however, did say he would be willing to cut below the middleweight limit to make the fight happen.
What do you make of the chatter between Silva and McGregor?
Conor McGregor can knock out Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a boxing match. That is according to at least on respected mixed martial arts (MMA) coach who has witnessed McGregor’s work first-hand. Former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez’s head-coach, Mark Henry, recently spoke to Chisanga Malata of The Daily Star UK and stated that he believes ‘The
Conor McGregor can knock out Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a boxing match. That is according to at least on respected mixed martial arts (MMA) coach who has witnessed McGregor’s work first-hand.
Former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez’s head-coach, Mark Henry, recently spoke to Chisanga Malata of The Daily Star UK and stated that he believes ‘The Notorious One’ has all the attributes to get ‘Money’ out of the ring early if the two men met in a boxing superfight. McGregor knocked out Henry’s pupil, Alvarez, in the second round of their title bout at UFC 205 this past November, to become the first dual-weight champion in UFC history.
After having seen what McGregor’s ‘unbelievable’ striking ability can do, Henry is convinced the Irish knockout artist can finish Mayweather in his own backyard within the first three or four rounds:
“All credit to Conor that he hit him from the beginning early and rocked him,” Henry said. “It’s like I said, the swing that he has is unbelievable.”
“I think he would have the possibility of knocking out Mayweather. He’s way bigger than Mayweather too. Boxers only cut about ten pounds, whereas Conor probably walks around at 173lbs. So he’s also a lot bigger than Mayweather too. I even think he has a chance of knocking out Mayweather if it was in the first three to four rounds. After that, I’d definitely give the edge to Mayweather.”
McGregor’s only prior boxing experience comes at the amateur level, however, he continues to pursue the big money fight with Mayweather by obtaining his boxing license in the state of California, with Nevada now in his sights next:
“You know Conor, his defence isn’t as good as Mayweather. But Conor’s speed, power, and precision is unbelievable,” he said. “After watching that fight, I’d even give a possible chance of knocking out Mayweather early. I don’t think it’d go his way, but I definitely give him the chance of a KO because his power isn’t something I’ve seen (before).”
Do you agree with Henry? Does ‘The Notorious One’ really stand a chance against Mayweather inside the squared circle?
Never one to shy away from offering his opinion on anything that crosses his mind, UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor recently spoke on a wide variety of topics.
With WrestleMania 33 approaching April 2, McGregor left the door open for a possible …
Never one to shy away from offering his opinion on anything that crosses his mind, UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor recently spoke on a wide variety of topics.
With WrestleMania 33 approaching April 2, McGregor left the door open for a possible WWE appearance at some point.
“Never say never,” he said, per MMA Fighting. “I’ll love to go into that WWE and have a real knock. Let one of them have a real knock and see what’s what. But we’ll see. There’s conversations ongoing. I’ve turned down some things, the conversation’s still ongoing.”
WWE and the UFC have agreed to share talent in the past. Brock Lesnar returned to the Octagon in July at UFC 200. Ronda Rousey had a memorable appearance with The Rock, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon at WrestleMania 31 in 2015.
McGregor also had some choice words for WWE chairman Vince McMahon, particularly regarding the unique walk McMahon has on WWE television, which McGregor used following his victory over Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 in November.
“I’m thinking Vince McMahon must be pissed,” McGregor said. “I don’t give a f–k about Vince McMahon. I stole that walk, and that walk is now mine. And not Vince, or any of those p—ies over at the WWE will do anything about it. That’s my walk. I created that walk. I made that walk.”
On a more genuine note, McGregor was appreciative of the many athletes in other sports he’s seen adopt elements of his swagger and style.
“All different cultures, all different sports, all the NFL players, all the NBA players, all the football players over here,” he said. “Look, fighting is everywhere. American football is over there. Soccer, or football as we call it, is over here. Fighting is f–king everywhere, and we’re finally seeing that. So I’m very happy and very proud of that.”
McGregor has turned himself into one of the biggest sports stars in the world as well as a box-office hero for the UFC.
His brash attitude can rub some people the wrong way, but he’s proved to be one of the world’s best fighters time and again. And there’s no reason to think he will slow down anytime soon.
McGregor’s only prior boxing experience comes at the amateur level, however, he continues to pursue the big money fight with Mayweather by obtaining his boxing license in the state of California, with Nevada now in his sights next: