Why, hello and happy Friday. You might know me from all the post-fight columns, features and other MMA coverage I’ve provided here over the past eight years. Welcome to my first in a series of weekly columns, publishing every Friday morning…
Why, hello and happy Friday. You might know me from all the post-fight columns, features and other MMA coverage I’ve provided here over the past eight years. Welcome to my first in a series of weekly columns, publishing every Friday morning…
Eddie Alvarez still believes he’s the only one who can defeat Khabib Nurmagomedov. Following the events of UFC 257 this past weekend, Dana White revealed it was unlikely that Nurmagomedov would return to mixed martial arts action. That means “The Eagle” leaves a legacy as one of the greatest fighters of all time who never […]
Eddie Alvarez still believes he’s the only one who can defeat Khabib Nurmagomedov.
That means “The Eagle” leaves a legacy as one of the greatest fighters of all time who never tasted defeat at the highest level of the sport.
Even if he did return to action, it’s hard to see any lightweight causing him trouble. However, ONE Championship’s Alvarez believes he is that fighter.
Having long claimed he was the one to inflict Nurmagomedov’s first defeat, “The Underground King” expanded on why he felt he would be able to do what 29 other men were unable to.
“I’m his only matchup that would make any sense, or give him a terrible time,” Alvarez said in a recent interview (via Middle Easy). “There’s one guy that gave him a terrible time in the whole division, and this is just the truth. (Gleison) Tibau gave him a terrible time because Tibau was not overly great at anything.
“Neither am I. I’m not overly great at anything. You say ‘What is Eddie great at?’ I’m not great at anything. I’m not a great striker, I’m not a great wrestler or great jiu-jitsu guy. I’m athletic, I have a strong spirit, a strong heart, and I will fight, I’ll fight to the death.” Tibau had a great, solid gameplan, and he arguably won that fight. He was able to match Khabib’s strengths, he was able to throw good, straight shots, and he was able to negate a lot of Khabib’s wrestling.
“That’s what I’m able to do against virtually every opponent I’ve fought. Styles make matchup, and anybody who’s in this sport at a high level knows that. I just think that matchup in general would have been something special.”
It’s a fight that could have even happened in 2016 only for McGregor to leapfrog Nurmagomedov and defeat Alvarez on his way to becoming the first simultaneous two-weight champion in the UFC.
But for now, we’ll never know what would have happened if they did collide.
Do you think Alvarez would have posed problems for Nurmagomedov? Or would it be business as usual for the latter?
Georges St-Pierre thought he would end up fighting Khabib Nurmagomedov. For over a year now, many people speculated that Nurmagomedov’s final fight would be against St-Pierre. The Canadian says he thought Nurmagomedov would’ve called him ou…
Georges St-Pierre thought he would end up fighting Khabib Nurmagomedov. For over a year now, many people speculated that Nurmagomedov’s final fight would be against St-Pierre. The Canadian says he thought Nurmagomedov would’ve called him out, and if he did, he would’ve had to think about whether or not he would return. “I was in […]
American Kickboxing Academy head coach Javier Mendez believes Conor McGregor has regressed after watching the Irishman lose to Dustin Poirier at UFC 257. For that reason, Mendez says McGregor will never get the chance to rematch his star student and UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. ‘Notorious’ looked flat as he was easily taken out by […]
American Kickboxing Academy head coach Javier Mendez believes Conor McGregor has regressed after watching the Irishman lose to Dustin Poirier at UFC 257. For that reason, Mendez says McGregor will never get the chance to rematch his star student and UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
‘Notorious’ looked flat as he was easily taken out by Poirier in their highly anticipated rematch this past weekend. McGregor previously knocked out ‘The Diamond’ in 2014. However, six years on the tables turned with Poirier using wrestling, calf kicks, and fast hands to stop McGregor inside two rounds.
In an interview with Submission Radio, Mendez gave his thoughts on the fight, McGregor’s performance, and exactly what went wrong.
“When I saw Dustin start going for the leg kicks, I go, oh my god, Conor’s stance is not made for checking properly, leg kicks like that. Especially calf kicks,” Mendez said. So, I thought that was going to be a major problem. And then when he hit Dustin with the good shot and Dustin took it, that’s when I kind of knew, oh boy, things are gonna change. And sure enough, they did. And it was a great game plan from Dustin to work the leg kicks, calf kicks. And it was a bad judgement on Conor’s part to not be prepared for that.”
“[Inactivity] does affect things, and that’s what he’s saying, but I also happen to know too, when you make changes in camp, when things weren’t broken, why change them? I heard he went to Portugal, or something like that, to do training,” Mendez added. “But what was wrong with where he’s always trained? I don’t know. It looks like he made a lot of changes, and why change when things aren’t broken? I’ve always told Khabib and all those guys, when you’re doing something good and you’re winning, why change it? Why try to change things up? There’s no need to change things if things are working. That’s what I’m thinking. I’m not saying I’m right; I’m just saying that’s what I’m thinking.”
Mendez went on to claim McGregor would get “smashed” in a rematch with Nurmagomedov in a fight he says is no longer on the table.
“He would’ve got smashed. Khabib’s gotten better,” Mendez claimed. “He would’ve gotten smashed. He would have gotten smashed. Straight up. Khabib’s better. He’s better than he was when they fought two years ago. Conor didn’t appear to be better. He’s regressed a little bit. Khabib’s gotten way better. He would have gotten smashed.”
“You’re never gonna get that rematch,” Mendez concluded. “Just like you’re never going to get the Tony and Khabib fight. That’s never gonna happen either. It’s not gonna happen. I mean, Khabib doesn’t need it. He seems fulfilled. And like I said, I think the only juicy part for him is what his father wanted, GSP. I’ve said it many times. And who knows, maybe that’s out of the question now. Maybe GSP doesn’t want it, maybe Khabib don’t want it now. I don’t know, cause I never talked to Khabib about what he wants, I’ve always listened to him.”
Do you agree with Javier Mendez? Has Conor McGregor regressed?
Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler has vowed to beat Khabib Nurmagomedov if the undefeated Russian chooses to return from his brief retirement. The UFC lightweight champion walked away from the sport after defeating Justin Gaethje in October. Since then, speculation about Nurmagomedov’s status has went into overdrive. The 32-year-old fed into that by telling […]
Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler has vowed to beat Khabib Nurmagomedov if the undefeated Russian chooses to return from his brief retirement.
The UFC lightweight champion walked away from the sport after defeating Justin Gaethje in October. Since then, speculation about Nurmagomedov’s status has went into overdrive.
The 32-year-old fed into that by telling Dana White that if someone seriously impressed him at UFC 257, a comeback could be on the cards.
Chandler was uber impressive in his UFC debut this past weekend. He only needed one round to take out top contender Dan Hooker. In his post-fight interview with Jon Anik, Chandler ripped a WWE style promo.
“Conor McGregor; surprise, surprise, there is a new king in the lightweight division,” he screamed in his octagon interview,” Chandler said.
“Dustin Poirier, your time is coming and Khabib – if you ever do see fit to grace us with your presence in the UFC octagon in your quest for 30-, you have to beat somebody.
“So beat me, if you can! God bless, see you at the top.”
Nurmagomedov seemed to shut down comeback talk in the aftermath of UFC 257. He told White that no-one in the lightweight division is on his level after Dustin Poirier knocked out Conor McGregor in the main event.
Chandler later continued his pursuit of Nurmagomedov as he chatted with media members at the UFC 257 post-fight press conference.
“You are right, none of these guys can hold a candle to you – what are you going to do, come back and rematch? It’s not going to happen because you don’t need to do that,” Chandler said.
“I promise you I can beat Khabib and I told him,” he added. He will become 29 and Chandler.” (Transcribed by Talk Sport)
Do you think Michael Chandler could be the man to beat Khabib Nurmagomedov?
Michael Chandler believes that he is the guy to hand Khabib Nurmagomedov his first professional defeat, but UFC President Dana White isn’t confident he’ll ever get the chance to prove it. Michael Chandler impressed the world in his UFC 257 debut when h…
Michael Chandler believes that he is the guy to hand Khabib Nurmagomedov his first professional defeat, but UFC President Dana White isn’t confident he’ll ever get the chance to prove it. Michael Chandler impressed the world in his UFC 257 debut when he knocked out Dan Hooker in the co-main event. He was so impressive, […]
Eddie Alvarez still believes he’s the only one who can defeat Khabib Nurmagomedov. Following the events of UFC 257 this past weekend, Dana White revealed it was unlikely that Nurmagomedov would return to mixed martial arts action. That means “The Eagle” leaves a legacy as one of the greatest fighters of all time who never […]
American Kickboxing Academy head coach Javier Mendez believes Conor McGregor has regressed after watching the Irishman lose to Dustin Poirier at UFC 257. For that reason, Mendez says McGregor will never get the chance to rematch his star student and UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. ‘Notorious’ looked flat as he was easily taken out by […]
Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler has vowed to beat Khabib Nurmagomedov if the undefeated Russian chooses to return from his brief retirement. The UFC lightweight champion walked away from the sport after defeating Justin Gaethje in October. Since then, speculation about Nurmagomedov’s status has went into overdrive. The 32-year-old fed into that by telling […]