Chael Sonnen thinks Gregor Gillespie could’ve gotten the upper hand against former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in the Octagon. Gillespie’s lone defeat in his MMA career came by way of a head kick against Kevin Lee at UFC 244. Outside of that, he has mauled all of his opponents, including most recently Diego Ferreira last May….
Chael Sonnen thinks Gregor Gillespie could’ve gotten the upper hand against former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in the Octagon.
Gillespie’s lone defeat in his MMA career came by way of a head kick against Kevin Lee at UFC 244. Outside of that, he has mauled all of his opponents, including most recently Diego Ferreira last May.
Gillespie’s always been known to have a grappling-first style when it comes to fighting. Sonnen believes this could’ve challenged Nurmagomedov as he made his rise in the lightweight division and his tenure as the champion.
During a segment on his YouTube channel, Sonnen explained why he believes Gillespie could’ve beaten Nurmagomedov while both were competing in the UFC.
“When I would have private conversations… people would ask me all the time, is there anyone that could beat Khabib. Who’s the guy that can stop Khabib and in private conversations I would say we actually have a guy now,” Sonnen said. “He’s 11-0, he’s a national wrestling champion, nobody’s ever come close to taking him down, he’s taken absolutely everybody down, oh, and by the way, he can hold up.
A victorious Gregor Gillespie, Image Credit: UFC.com
“One thing that Khabib could do was push a pace that was much higher than what the opponent could push back. (Gregor) made his living getting people tired. That’s how highly I personally think of him. Now in all fairness, I did not do that publicly but the reason I didn’t do that publicly was you didn’t know what a Gregor Gillespie was.” (h/t PunditArena)
Gillespie’s loss to Lee knocked him out of the lightweight title picture, and he’s still hoping to get back in the thick of things at 155 pounds. He’s allegedly had trouble finding a next opponent, but he recently called out former interim champ Tony Ferguson for a fight.
Nurmagomedov left the fight game in 2020 after the death of his father, Abdulmanap. His last fight in the Octagon came against Justin Gaethje in a second-round submission.
Chael Sonnen believes UFC lightweight contender Gregor Gillespie’s frequent inactivity is a product of his own doing.
Since signing with the UFC in 2016, Gillespie has entered the Octagon eight times. In a perfect start to his run in the promotion,…
Chael Sonnen believes UFC lightweight contender Gregor Gillespie’s frequent inactivity is a product of his own doing.
Since signing with the UFC in 2016, Gillespie has entered the Octagon eight times. In a perfect start to his run in the promotion, “The Gift” went 6-0 during his first two-and-a-half years on MMA’s biggest stage, a record that included five finishes, two of which came over established veterans Vinc Puchel and Yancy Medeiros.
But a run of momentum has never been stopped quite as emphatically as Gillespie’s was. Heading into UFC 244 in 2019, the New York native was 13-0 and tipped to make a run for the 155-pound gold. Going in the opposite direction was Kevin Lee, who was coming off back-to-back losses to Rafael dos Anjos and Al Iaquinta.
Following his first setback in professional MMA, Gillespie wasn’t seen in action for nearly two years. He returned at UFC Vegas 26 last May. With a grueling TKO, the 34-year-old finished divisional veteran Carlos Diego Ferreira in the second round.
But without a fight booked since, it appears it could be close to, or more than, a year in-between fights yet again for the #10-ranked lightweight.
Sonnen Tells Gillespie, “You’re Turning Down Fights”
While the UFC has to offer members of its roster three bouts a year, Gregor Gillespie has fought just twice across the past three years. In the mind of former UFC star-turned-MMA analyst Chael Sonnen, Gillespie’s inactivity is his own fault.
In a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen claimed he’d heard rumors that suggest Gillespie has consistently been turning down fights the promotion offers him. While the 44-year-old admits the claim is just what he’s been told by others, he admitted he believes it to be true.
“Now, I only know about Gregor what I hear about Gregor… But I have heard this about Gregor for three years now, that he will not take fights,” said Sonnen. “The reason you see huge gaps in between Gregor’s last fight and his next fight isn’t because he’s not getting called, it’s not because he’s got a bum shoulder, knee, or ankle. He gets offered the fight and says no. He’s even been threatened in some regards, such as, ‘I can’t bump your money if you don’t take harder fights. ‘Great, don’t bump my money.’ I can’t prove any of these things are true, guys. I’m only confirming for you I have heard this, and I’ve heard this from other people.
“Okay, great, ‘Gregor we can’t put you in the placement of the card we’d like to use you if you’re fighting these kinds of guys. ‘Great, don’t put me on that place of the card.’ ‘Okay, we can’t move you up the rankings. ‘Okay, great, don’t put me up in the rankings. This is what I’ve been told and re-told, and I believe it to be true that Gregor isn’t taking fights.”
Citing Gillespie’s lengthy period of inactivity following his Lee loss and his ongoing spell on the sidelines since his Ferreira victory as evidence, Sonnen suggested there’s little chance “The Gift” is the one fighter not being offered the correct number of contests.
Instead, the former light heavyweight and middleweight contender said the more likely scenario is that Gillespie is attempting to handpick fights such as Tony Ferguson, rather than test himself against the opponents the UFC has placed on his table. When that doesn’t work out, Sonnen says the 155lber has no right to complain.
“Now the one time that he wants a fight and can’t get it, he’s upset, do you see the problem?” Sonnen added. “Now my entire diatribe goes out the window if I’ve been given bad information and Gregor is accepting fights. But I’m gonna have to push back on that and say, why from the time you fought Kevin Lee to your last fight was it a year or more? And why was your last fight in May, and we’re almost in May of this year? Are you the one guy under contract who isn’t owed contractually three fights? No, of course you are. You’re owed three fights; they offered you a fight. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and you’re turning down fights.
“So now all of a sudden you’re chomping at the bit because you’re seeing Tony Ferguson, who everybody knows who he is and you’re even maybe seeing a blueprint within your skills that looks good for Tony Ferguson? I mean, you see the problem?”
While Sonnen didn’t provide any evidence other than Gregor Gillespie’s recent inactivity, a social media post from the 34-year-old’s fellow lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan certainly backs up the claim.
After an impressive victory over Carlos Diego Ferreira last May, Gregor, “The Gift” Gillespie is still without a fight booked to start 2022.
After Gillespie’s victory over Ferreira, he was offered fights, but none of them interested him due to his…
After an impressive victory over Carlos Diego Ferreira last May, Gregor, “The Gift” Gillespie is still without a fight booked to start 2022.
After Gillespie’s victory over Ferreira, he was offered fights, but none of them interested him due to his hopes of climbing the ladder to a title shot. The 35-year-old wanted a fight with Ferguson because he said everyone else in the division at the time was already booked.
In an interview with MMAJunkie, Gillespie addressed his frustration regarding this fight not coming together and him remaining without an opponent.
“Yeah, super frustrating. I’ve been radio silent for the last five or six years. I don’t call people out. I’ve been pretty adamant about not doing that,” said Gillespie.
Gillespie also addressed his frustration via a video posted to his Instagram a few days ago about how Tony Ferguson turned down a fight with him. Gillespie had previously challenged Ferguson on December 14th with a friendly call-out on his Instagram page. Yet, Ferguson never responded.
Gillespie is especially frustrated about Ferguson eying a fight against Michael Chandler instead of him.
“He doesn’t want the fight and then I see him calling out Chandler and that really pissed me off,” Gillespie said. “Like you know, the ‘wrestler-wrestling season.’ Come on, give me a break. Chandler’s a great wrestler, but he doesn’t wrestle in his fights. In my last fight, I wrestled more than Mike Chandler has done in his last 10 fights.”
Gillespie has a valid opinion when it comes to wrestling, as he’s a former D-1 NCAA champion. Gillespie even defeated Michael Chandler in the 2009 NCAA Championship wrestling tournament.
“I’m the wrestler in that division. I did beat Mike Chandler. Not a lot of people know that it wasn’t a really close match,” Gillespie said, regarding his MD 10-2 victory over Chandler.
Who do you think Gregor Gillespie should fight next?
Gregor Gillespie has slammed Tony Ferguson for rallying for a fight against “Iron” Michael Chandler, a man whom Gillespie has claimed he out grappled during his college days. Gregor Gillespie Takes Aim At ‘El Cucuy’ “El Cucuy” is currently riding a three fight losing streak, having suffered a savage beating at the hands of Justin […]
Gregor Gillespie has slammed Tony Ferguson for rallying for a fight against “Iron” Michael Chandler, a man whom Gillespie has claimed he out grappled during his college days.
Gregor Gillespie Takes Aim At ‘El Cucuy’
“El Cucuy” is currently riding a three fight losing streak, having suffered a savage beating at the hands of Justin Gaethje at UFC 249, a mauling defeat to current Lightweight champion Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira, and a dominant loss to Beneil Dariush. According to Gillespie, Ferguson should be looking at him if it is a wrestling match that he is seeking. “The Gift” has also made the bold claim that he could and would put the same beating on Ferguson that he allegedly administered to Chandler. Gillespie has also claimed that Ferguson has been available to fight him since May of last year, when they fought a week apart from each other. Taking to Instagram, Gillespie said:
“Dude I just got a word again from my manager that Tony Ferguson will not accept a fight against me, bro. And then I see you online Tony? Calling out f***ing Michael Chandler. Saying it’s wrestling season, bro. Dude you understand, like I am the wrestler bro. I beat the sh*t out of Mike Chandler in college and I’ll f*** you up in wrestling, too.
“If you are looking for the wrestler bro, accept the fight dude. I need to start climbing and then none of you guys seem to wanna f***ing fight. Tony, me and you are f***ing available dude. We’ve been available since the same f***ing one weekend apart. I fought last and then that next weekend you fought. It’s time bro, let’s just f***ing do it.” (Transcribed by Sportskeeda)
“There’s My B*tch!!! @MikeChandlerMMA The Brass @danawhite @ufc Relayed Your Message Saying You Would Be Ready For Me April/June. Looks Like Your Trying To Delay That A*s-Whoopin’ I Owe Ya For Cutting In Line Kid- It’s Wrestling Season MF, Man Up- Champ.”
In response, Chandler claimed that, whilst Ferguson was one of the few fighters he held genuine respect for, he would beat him “from bell to bell” were they to finally face off:
“Oh Tony. There’s only a handful of guys in this game I truly respect…you’re one of them. Only because of your tenure, not your stature or your current presence in the division. I’ll beat you from bell to bell. Pray for a merciful ref. We shall see if this fight happens.”
Do you want to see Gregor Gillespie vs. Tony Ferguson?
Gregor Gillespie showed more color than usual when calling out Tony Ferguson recently.
Gillespie wants to get more recognition in the lightweight division. As he put it, he feels the need “to start climbing” up the rankings. He has recently been pu…
Gregor Gillespie showed more color than usual when calling out Tony Ferguson recently.
Gillespie wants to get more recognition in the lightweight division. As he put it, he feels the need “to start climbing” up the rankings. He has recently been publicly calling out #7 ranked lightweight Ferguson, who he sees as a good opponent.
While Gillespie has called out Ferguson before, his message Thursday showed more aggression than usual. In the message, he mentioned his frustration with Ferguson seemingly being more interested in a fight against former title challenger Michael Chandler.
In a short one-minute message via Instagram, Gillespie addressed Ferguson after receiving word that he allegedly turned down a fight between them.
“I just got word again through my manager that Tony Ferguson will not accept the fight against me. And then I see you online, Tony, calling out f Michael Chandler? Saying ‘it’s wrestling season bro,’ dude … If you’re looking for a wrestler, accept the fight [against me], dude.”
Gillespie’s reference to Ferguson talking about Chandler likely refers to a Twitter back-and-forth that the fighters had last week. In that conversation, both Ferguson and Chandler discussed potentially meeting later this year.
Last month, Gillespie uploaded a video that was politely calling for a fight with Ferguson. In what he noted was only his second time calling out someone, he jokingly said to Ferguson that “It’s time for me to ankle pick you in that Octagon.”
Gillespie, currently ranked #10 at lightweight, has a strong pro record of 14 wins through 15 fights. His sole pro loss came in 2019 when he was knocked out by Kevin Lee. He bounced back from that result in May of last year, stopping Diego Ferreira with strikes.
The next time Ferguson steps in the cage, he will be attempting to break a three-fight losing streak. The first part of this skid came at UFC 249 in 2020, when he lost an interim title fight against Justin Gaethje. Later that year, he lost to Charles Oliveira, who went on to become a champion a year later.
His most recent fight was a loss to Beneil Dariush at UFC 262.
Do you think Gregor Gillespie’s recent message will interest Tony Ferguson?
Gregor Gillespie wants former UFC interim title challenger Tony Ferguson as his next opponent.
Hot off a successful performance in his return, Gillespie wants to continue his climb up the lightweight ranks. In an attempt to do so, he has targeted t…
Gregor Gillespie wants former UFC interim title challenger Tony Ferguson as his next opponent.
Hot off a successful performance in his return, Gillespie wants to continue his climb up the lightweight ranks. In an attempt to do so, he has targeted the division’s seventh-ranked fighter in Ferguson.
Gillespie took to social media earlier this week to call for the matchup. He noted the importance of his message, stating that it is rare for him to ever call for a specific fight.
“For the last 15 fights, people have been pressuring me and annoying me to call someone out. I never wanted to, but I think it’s time to play the game,” said Gillespie in a Twitter clip. “I want my second callout to count, so Tony Ferguson, I think it’s time for me to ankle pick you in that Octagon. What do you say?” (h/t Sportskeeda)
What Gillespie vs. Ferguson Would Mean To Both Fighters
Image Credit: John Locher/AP
The theoretical fight offers Ferguson a chance to break a losing streak, putting him in the win column for the first time since his campaign towards a title shot in 2020. On the other hand, it gives Gillespie the opportunity to potentially climb numerous spots in the rankings, pushing him one step closer to the ultimate goal of becoming a champion.
The recent win for Gillespie was his first appearance in over a year. His prior fight was a loss against Kevin Lee in November 2019.
Ferguson is currently on a three-fight skid, although the losses have come against some of the best at lightweight. In 2020, Ferguson lost to Justin Gaethje and now-UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira. His last appearance saw him unfavored on the scorecards against Beneil Dariush.
Do you want to see Gregor Gillespie against Tony Ferguson? Who do you think would win?
Gregor Gillespie has slammed Tony Ferguson for rallying for a fight against “Iron” Michael Chandler, a man whom Gillespie has claimed he out grappled during his college days. Gregor Gillespie Takes Aim At ‘El Cucuy’ “El Cucuy” is currently riding a three fight losing streak, having suffered a savage beating at the hands of Justin […]
