Tag: International Fight Week

Michael Chandler promises to take Conor McGregor’s ‘Head off’ in summer fight at UFC 303: ‘It’s going to happen’

Michael Chandler promises to take Conor McGregor's 'head off' this summer at UFC 303: 'It's going to happen'Michael Chandler remains confident that he will step inside the Octagon with Conor McGregor this summer. It’s been more…

Michael Chandler promises to take Conor McGregor's 'head off' this summer at UFC 303: 'It's going to happen'

Michael Chandler remains confident that he will step inside the Octagon with Conor McGregor this summer.

It’s been more than a year since the UFC revealed that the Irish megastar’s first opponent since suffering a brutal leg break against Dustin Poirier would be the former Bellator MMA champion. Since then, the two have traded verbal jabs and even went toe-to-toe on the 31st season of the promotion’s long-running reality series, The Ultimate Fighter. Yet after all that, we still have no official date for their seemingly mythical matchup.

However, that hasn’t stopped both Chandler and McGregor from making bold claims about the bout. On New Year’s Eve, ‘Mystic Mac’ suggested that his quote-unquote “greatest comeback in combat sports history” would go down this summer during the UFC’s annual International Fight Week festivities in Las Vegas.

Michael Chandler agrees to fight Conor McGregor at UFC 300 I accept see you soon
Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

While UFC CEO Dana White has shied away from confirming McGregor’s statement, Michael Chandler backed up the former two-division titleholder’s words during a recent interview.

“You’re going to get to watch me fight Conor this summer,” Chandler told The Schmo. “It’s going to happen. I believe June is going to happen. Just stay tuned. We got UFC 299 now. UFC 300 is going to be fun, I’ll be at 300. Then you’ll have 301 and 302… Whatever they are and then me and Conor. I’m going to go out there and take his head off.

Michael Chandler Sits as a slight favorite against conor mcGregor

After the promotion’s massive UFC 300 card on April 13, the next two pay-per-view events are expected to emanate from Rio de Janeiro and Newark, New Jersey before returning to Sin City on June 29 for UFC 303 — the culmination of this year’s International Fight Week.

Despite a middling 2-3 record since making his promotional debut in January 2021, Michael Chandler remains one of the lightweight division’s most beloved fighters courtesy of his balls-to-the-wall style that has already delivered some instant classics against the likes of Charles Oliveira, Justin Gaethje, and Dustin Poirier.

Chandler’s two wins inside the Octagon came via a pair of spectacular knockouts against division fan favorites Dan Hooker and Tony Ferguson.

He is currently listed as a slight favorite to come out on top against Conor McGregor, sitting at -130 while the Irishman holds at +110.

Who wins this summer in a potential fight: Michael Chandler or Conor McGregor?

Umar Nurmagomedov says fight with Cory Sandhagen expected to happen during International Fight Week

Umar NurmagomedovAfter more than a year on the shelf, Umar Nurmagomedov returned to the Octagon on Saturday night, delivering a…

Umar Nurmagomedov

After more than a year on the shelf, Umar Nurmagomedov returned to the Octagon on Saturday night, delivering a dominant performance against newcomer Bekzat Almakhan.

After being knocked down in the opening minute, Nurmagomedov rallied back and ran away with the bout with his signature Dagestani-style wrestling. He moved to 17-0 in his mixed martial arts career and signaled that he was ready for a big step up in competition.

“I want to fight with Cory Sandhagen,” Nurmagomedov said in his post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier. “It’s gonna be a contender fight.”

Appearing at the post-fight press event, Nurmagomedov echoed similar sentiments, suggesting that there is already a date in place for his long-awaited clash with ‘Sandman.’

“Right now, they said we have a date,” he said. “[International Fight Week] with Cory Sandhagen. Before this fight they were talking about this. Cory talked about this and I think it’s going to happen.”

Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov were previously scheduled to meet at UFC Nashville in August, but Nurmagomedov withdrew from the contest. Sandhagen went on to fight Rob Font in the evening’s headline, scoring a unanimous decision to make it three in a row.

Currently, ‘Sandman’ is holding strong at the No. 3 spot in the bantamweight rankings while Nurmagomedov is sitting firmly outside the top 10, residing at No. 13.

Stipe Miocic Cites UFC Master Plan As Reason Why He Wasn’t Jon Jones’ Opponent At UFC 285

Stipe Miocic thinks the UFC’s choice not book him against Jon Jones at UFC 285 was due to the promotion having some more significant plans for a later date. Jones returned to the cage after more than three years away when met Ciryl Gane in the ma…

Stipe Miocic thinks the UFC’s choice not book him against Jon Jones at UFC 285 was due to the promotion having some more significant plans for a later date. Jones returned to the cage after more than three years away when met Ciryl Gane in the main event of UFC 285 last weekend. The 35-year-old…

Continue Reading Stipe Miocic Cites UFC Master Plan As Reason Why He Wasn’t Jon Jones’ Opponent At UFC 285 at MMA News.

UFC announces dates for International Fight Week, including UFC 290

UFCThe UFC officially announced a date for this year’s International Fight Week. The promotion’s annual celebration of combat sports will go down the week of July 3-9, 2023. It will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, T-Mobile Arena, and Resorts World Las Vegas per an official announcement from the promotion. Included in the […]

UFC

The UFC officially announced a date for this year’s International Fight Week.

The promotion’s annual celebration of combat sports will go down the week of July 3-9, 2023. It will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, T-Mobile Arena, and Resorts World Las Vegas per an official announcement from the promotion. Included in the International Fight Week festivities will be UFC 290 which will emanate from the T-Mobile Arena on July 8. No bouts, including the event’s headliner, have been announced at this time.

The weeklong event will also play host to the 2023 Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Already announced as inductees for the 2023 Hall of Fame class is featherweight legend Jose Aldo who will be inducted into the modern wing while the promotion’s first-ever lightweight champion Jens Pulver will finally be inducted into the pioneer’s wing.

Fans Can Rub Elbows with MMA’s Biggest Superstars at UFC X

The promotion will also offer fans the opportunity to take part in UFC X, described as “the organization’s fully immersive and easily accessible two-day fan experience,” the event will be enhanced for the promotion’s 30th anniversary, giving fans “live stage programming, expanded autograph sessions, and increased athlete participation, providing fans with unparalleled access to UFC champions and Hall of Famers, top-ranked contenders, and other UFC personalities.”

Tickets for International Fight Week will go on sale this Friday, March 3 at 1 p.m. ET via AXS.com.

According to the official website, general admission tickets for UFC X start at $25 for one-day access and $45 for two-day access. All children ages 12 and under will receive free entry. The first 3,000 fans who purchase tickets will receive a complimentary 30th-anniversary gift. VIP packages will also be made available at a later date.

Will you be attending International Fight Week this summer?

Dana White Wants International Fight Week Built Around UFC 257

Dana WhiteUFC president Dana White wants the organization to pull out all the bells and whistles for Conor McGregor’s return at UFC 257. With McGregor officially signing his end of the bout agreement against Dustin Poirier, the UFC can start planning it’s build up to the fight. White’s idea is to have “Fight Island” play host […]

Dana White

UFC president Dana White wants the organization to pull out all the bells and whistles for Conor McGregor’s return at UFC 257.

With McGregor officially signing his end of the bout agreement against Dustin Poirier, the UFC can start planning it’s build up to the fight. White’s idea is to have “Fight Island” play host to an International Fight Week event, and have multiple cards building up to UFC 257 and possibly even fans. He detailed his plan in an interview with Barstool Sports.

“I’m looking to make it International Fight Week. The new Etihad Arena will be open, and that thing was designed with us in mind. Concerts, pool parties, all kinds of cool stuff. And, yes, I hope to bring fans back. … That’s what I’m shooting for.”

White has been adamant about pushing through the coronavirus and hosting events during the pandemic. Since their May return from the COVID lockdown, the UFC has primarily operated weekly shows out of the APEX Gym in Las Vegas, and two separate five-weeks stints on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi. Having fans be able to attend a show featuring the UFC’s biggest draw in McGregor comes as no surprise. White is certain that the UFC would be able to pull it off safely.

“It would be good to have fans. And the thing is, from ‘Fight Island’ we can get fans all over the world there. It’s an easy destination to get to, a fun destination to go to, and we can just (expletive) blow the doors off this thing,” White said.

“I’m ready for some fights with fans. I’m ready to go to a live concert. I’m ready to have some parties. I’m gonna go to all this shit. I want to mingle with the fans again. I want the fans back. We’ve figured this whole thing out up to now. We’ll figure out how to do do this safely and pull this thing off in Abu Dhabi.”

International Fight Week has typically taken place in July. The UFC usually builds up a number of fight cards to go along with the UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony as well as a fan convention, among other events. Max Holloway and Calvin Kattar are already scheduled to headline a card on January 16, one week before UFC 257. With hopes of having a full week of fights, don’t be surprised to see the UFC add another card between the two dates.

What do you think of Dana White’s plan to have fans attend International Fight Week?

UFC Fight Week 2020: Three Must-See Potential Match Ups

Justin Gaethje McGregorAs International Fight Week approaches, it’s fun and challenging looking at what bout could be the talk of the town for such an important UFC calendar event. Following this piece, it would be in our writer’s best interest to take advantage of Bet365 Sign Up offer ahead of the UFC’s International Fight Week events. The […]

Justin Gaethje McGregor

As International Fight Week approaches, it’s fun and challenging looking at what bout could be the talk of the town for such an important UFC calendar event. Following this piece, it would be in our writer’s best interest to take advantage of Bet365 Sign Up offer ahead of the UFC’s International Fight Week events.

The UFC promotion yet again, rolls out it’s biggest media must-see events, that comes with the most interviews, the biggest fan interaction events and usually one the promotion biggest fights of the year for International Fight Week. Stats as collated and kindly supplied by UFC fan and self-confessed information fanatic Ojo Olayiwola’s gooner news, it’s the promotion annual early-July event that usually gets some of the biggest

With Jorge Masvidal taking on welterweight champion Kamaru Usman all but confirmed and Daniel Cormier openly admitting a third fight request versus Stipe Miocic in the summer, or perhaps probably hang his fighting gloves, followed by the rumoured Justin Gaethje and Conor McGregor fight that could happen in the summer as well, there comes one of the best options for the UFC to make the week memorable events.

That said, let’s take a look at the three fights which could be made for this upcoming July International Fight Week 2020 event.

Conor McGregor vs. Justin Gaethje

Conor McGregor vs. Justin Gaethje – this is a fight wherein the Irishman’s supporter and foes want him to take in the summer. As per the gooner news stats mentioned above, Conor McGregor’s supporters want him back into the octagon against Justin Gaethje simply because of a win against the American fighter would propel their champion back into the UFC title picture. McGregor’s foes on the other hand, however, sees his 31-year-old opponent as the ideal fighter just as violent, someone just as lethal and someone just as stone-cold resilient as the ultimate stopper to McGregor. That being said, Justin Gaethje v Conor McGregor would put on a monster of a show coming this summer.

Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier – Part 3

Many of the UFC light heavyweights division supporters believes deserve to get a fight against Miocic, but Dana White is giving the fight to Daniel Cormier one last time and one last fight before his retirement. Funny as it sounds. Cormier made mentioned of retirement last year after one more fight, and here we are again. Same story, same dance. In the last bout, Cormier was winning that second fight with Miocic for the record, but his pride got in his way and instead of trying to wrestle Miocic. He decided to outstrike him which turned out to be a very bad idea for him and he returns, Miocic went Paul Bunyan on Cormier and chopped him down with a furious focus of fists to Cormier’s face and body. Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier for the third time is anyone’s guess depending on how Cormier opts to fight it.

Jon Jones vs. Dominick Reyes – Part 2

Some numbers of UFC light heavyweight division supporters see Dominick Reyes cheated as to who the king of the light heavyweight division title should be given to. Reyes won the first three rounds of his bout against Jon Jones and did more injury on his opponent throughout the fourth round of the fight. However, Jones got a handful of takedowns but did next to no damage to Reyes while doing so. A rematch between these two fighters should garner headlines in the summer should it come to pass. And if not that, Reyes should be given another shot against Jon Jones to prove that he can beat him in a city that knows how to judge fights.