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Khabib Nurmagomedov Doesn’t Want UFC Title To Change Him

This past weekend (April 7, 2018), Khabib Nurmagomedov scored a one-sided decision victory over Al Iaquinta in the main event of UFC 223 from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York to become the promotion’s undisputed 155-pound champion. And while it’s been a long road to the title for the undefeated Dagestani fighter, he admitted […]

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And while it’s been a long road to the title for the undefeated Dagestani fighter, he admitted that he’s a bit worried about the belt, as he doesn’t want it to change him:

“I’m a little bit worried about this belt,” Khabib said during a post-fight media scrum (transcript via MMAjunkie). “Sometimes you think, ‘You’re UFC champion (and) a lot of stuff.’ But I’m a little bit scared about this. I don’t want to change. I want to be same Khabib, like, before belt and after the belt. This is not about me. This is about all people around me.”

Originally, Nurmagomedov was set to take on Tony Ferguson at UFC 223, but Ferguson was forced to withdraw just a week prior to the event after suffering a freak knee injury. Then, the UFC called on featherweight champion Max Holloway to step up on short notice, but Holloway was deemed medically unfit to fight on the day of weigh-ins by the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC), which led to Iaquinta accepting the fight.

Now, it’s currently unclear who Nurmagomedov will take on next, but he said that he’s hoping to defend his title by the end of the year:

“With the belt comes a lot of attention, a lot of money – crazy stuff, a lot of crazy stuff,” he said. “I don’t want this belt to change me. I want to stay focused. Next month is Ramadan coming. After Ramadan, I want to begin training, come back this year and defend this title.”

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The 10 Most Unexpected Short-Notice Fights In UFC History

The matchmaking for this past weekend’s UFC 223 headliner had more twists and turns than a Hollywood blockbuster. However, it’s far from the only time in the promotion’s history that the UFC’s matchmakers have been left scrambling at the last minute to find short-notice replacements. In this article, we’ll look back at 10 classic examples […]

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The matchmaking for this past weekend’s UFC 223 headliner had more twists and turns than a Hollywood blockbuster.

However, it’s far from the only time in the promotion’s history that the UFC’s matchmakers have been left scrambling at the last minute to find short-notice replacements.

In this article, we’ll look back at 10 classic examples of new opponents unexpectedly materializing out-of-the-blue in the final days before a big event to ensure that the show could still go on.

Fred Ettish vs. Johnny Rhodes

You have to dig deep into the history books to find out the shortest-notice fight ever in UFC history.

The night before UFC 2 in March of 1994, alternate fighter Fred Ettish was informed that he wouldn’t be fighting on the show, but he was invited to help out behind-the-scenes to make sure that the other fighters had everything they needed and were ready to fight on time.

On the night, Ettish was working backstage when one of the UFC’s head honchos Rorion Gracie urgently approached and asked if he could step in at the last minute to replace Freek Hamaker, who had just injured his hand during his opening round victory in the tournament.

Ettish estimates he had as little as 10-20 minutes to prepare, in which time he had to gather his gear, cornermen and do the briefest of warm-ups, before heading out to fight his opponent, Johnny Rhodes.

Unfortunately for Ettish, his bravery that night didn’t pay off as a disappointing performance against Rhodes led to a first-round submission loss, while he then cruelly became something of a laughing stock among MMA fans at the time, though these days he’s become more fondly remembered and respected.

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[ARCHIVES] Kevin Lee: “Cokehead McGregor Isn’t A Real Gangster”

[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED APRIL 11, 2018, 11:03 AM] With UFC 223 having concluded, the fallout of the Conor McGregor saga continues. With ample of figures throughout the sport sharing their views, UFC lightweight Kevin Lee recently offered his thoughts. “I…

Continue Reading [ARCHIVES] Kevin Lee: “Cokehead McGregor Isn’t A Real Gangster” at MMA News.

Khabib “A Little Scared” By His UFC Success

Khabib Nurmagomedov was welcomed like a hero when he returned to Russia, the new UFC lightweight champion. The outpour of support is just the beginning Khabib feels. Although the Russian is yet to really become a superstar in the States, he is a cult h…

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Bruce Buffer Says Conor McGregor ‘S*it On All Of Us’ With Brooklyn Outburst

By now, Conor McGregor’s actions that took place last Thursday following UFC 223 media day at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York have been highly publicized and many have been highly critical of the Irish star, who ended up spending a night in jail late last week. One of those people happens to be […]

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One of those people happens to be longtime UFC announcer Bruce Buffer, who recently spoke with TMZ on McGregor’s bizarre rampage:

“Never think anything like this could ever happen,” Buffer said. “In my 22-plus years of being in the UFC and doing everything I can in my life to build this great brand and to support this fantastic sport … it’s like you sh*t on all of us – with that one move. That’s not what we’re about. Perception is reality out there. I don’t understand how anybody could condone that kind of behavior, and if they do, then obviously they will be willing to do that kind of behavior.”

Essentially, it’s assumed that McGregor arrived in New York to confront Khabib Nurmagomedov, who had gotten into a bit of an altercation with Artem Lobov, a close friend and training partner of McGregor’s, earlier in the week.

And while some have praised McGregor for defending Lobov, Buffer sees no justification for the “Notorious” one’s actions:

“As a whole, everyone has their own personal reaction, but I think it’s total disgust,” Buffer said.

“I don’t care who they are. Anybody that justifies that has a problem,” he added. “I could say something else right now, and I want to say it, but I’m telling you right now: They have a problem. I’m being very polite.

“We’ll see how it all pans out,” Buffer said. “There’s no excuse for it. It’s an insult. It’s disgusting. I mean, that’s not what we’re about. … This is something that occurred with one individual. It’s separate from who we are.”

As far as what happens next, McGregor will have to appear in court in June with his fighting future currently unclear.

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Khabib’s Coach Sounds Off On Joe Rogan For UFC 223 Criticism

After receiving quite a bit of criticism for his UFC 223 (April 7, 2018) commentary, which appeared to talk negatively on Khabib Nurmagomedov’s striking, Joe Rogan issued an apology via his Instagram earlier this week. And according to “The Eagle’s” head coach, Javier Mendez, Rogan ‘totally didn’t understand’ what was going on: “I saw the […]

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After receiving quite a bit of criticism for his UFC 223 (April 7, 2018) commentary, which appeared to talk negatively on Khabib Nurmagomedov’s striking, Joe Rogan issued an apology via his Instagram earlier this week.

And according to “The Eagle’s” head coach, Javier Mendez, Rogan ‘totally didn’t understand’ what was going on:

“I saw the fight last night with Joe Rogan [commentating] and he totally didn’t understand what the hell’s going on,” Mendez said Monday on The MMA Hour, “because he totally based that thing completely wrong. ‘Oh, he exposed Khabib. There’s a lot of holes in his game.’ There’s no holes in his game. He’s never been a stand-up guy, yet he’s gotten better, and if you don’t acknowledge how much better he’s gotten compared to the last time, then you’re not really doing your research. Because he switched southpaw on this guy, he even did a goddamn back kick, for God’s sake.

“He’s improving all the time and you need to acknowledge that. Don’t act like he’s got these holes in his game. Jesus Christ, do you think if he’s going to fight Nate Diaz, we’re going to stand with Nate Diaz? Do you think we have a chance [standing] against Nate Diaz? Do you think I think that? For God’s sake, no way. No way in hell are we going to fight with Conor [McGregor]’s stand-up too. Everybody’s got a different gameplan, and if you don’t change the gameplan according to what’s going on, you’re going to get checkmated.”

Despite the criticism, Nurmagomedov essentially dominated late replacement Al Iaquinta in the main event to become the promotion’s undisputed lightweight champion.

And while Mendez may not have been too happy with Rogan’s comments, he also said that it wasn’t necessary for the longtime announcer to issue an apology:

“I love Rogan, but yeah, if he’s apologized, he shouldn’t,” Mendez said. “He doesn’t need to apologize. Hey, that guy’s fantastic in my eyes. He says something, it causes controversy.

“So for me, he doesn’t need to apologize. But I’m sure he’s probably getting a lot of hate mail, because, I mean, when you think about it — right? — you call [a fight for] this guy [and say] he’s open [to getting hit], open… but yet he out-struck a guy that, before this, you would’ve thought he’d never out-strike.”

Moving forward, it’s currently unclear whom Nurmagomedov, who extended his professional record to a perfect 26-0, will defend his title against next.

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