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Joe Rogan: Alvarez Is Savage, But McGregor Might Be Better At 155 Pounds

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Leading up to one of the most exciting string of pay-per-view events in UFC history, all eyes are on the New York show. UFC 205 will mark the first event held in NYC, and the promotion isn’t holding back in their efforts on this new territory. Shooting for the most successful pay-per-view ever, the UFC has put together an epic line-up for the Madison Square Garden extravaganza. Preparing to collide in the main event are lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez and featherweight boss Conor McGregor.

Only one belt will be on the line, Alvarez’s 155-pound strap, but the ramifications of this fight are truly huge. Coming during a time when money and rankings sit on opposing sides of the fence, Alvarez vs. McGregor is about much more than the title. Potentially seeing the first current two-weight champ and carving a path for the future under WMG, UFC 205 will be historic in many ways.

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Joe Rogan’s Two Cents

Ahead of the pivotal UFC 205 main event, UFC color commentator Joe Rogan gives his two cents. Noting the potential improvement in McGregor’s form at lightweight from featherweight or 170 pounds, Rogan also acknowledges the power and endurance of Alvarez. From the latest Joe Rogan Fight Companion (Friday October 21, 2016):

“Eddie Alvarez is a f*cking savage. What he did against Rafael dos Anjos, that combination, the sheer amount of punches. That’s some serious endurance, he’s got that power and he’s a very strong guy for 155. I’m curious to see what Conor looks like at 155, because we haven’t seen him there, in the UFC. We’ve seen 145, and seen him cut no weight and weigh 169 against Nate. That might be the perfect weight for him, it’s entirely possible we might see a better McGregor at 155.”

What About Nurmagomedov?

The conversation took an interesting turn, as Rogan and UFC veteran Yves Edwards discussed top lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov. Pointing out similarities between ‘The Eagle’ and Jon Jones’ dominant styles, Rogan says Khabib is a special fighter:

“What about Khabib Nurmagomedov? That guy rag dolled everyone he’s fought. Nurmagomedov is special. What he did to dos Anjos was pretty stunning. Nurmagomedov just grabbed a hold of him and did what he wanted. It’s his technique and his aggression, he’s a scary dude. Demian Maia grapples like that, he grabs guys with this squeezing style, but Khabib is just pure power and aggression. He just smashes you, his ground and pound is horrific. He ragdolls guys in a very unusual way, it’s as totally different style of domination. Good luck out-grappling that dude. His takedown percentage is probably a million percent.”

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Conor McGregor Wishes Fighters Would Stop Crying & Moaning

The post Conor McGregor Wishes Fighters Would Stop Crying & Moaning appeared first on LowKick MMA.

UFC 205 is just weeks away now. The historic Madison Square Garden pay-per-view has arguably the greatest line-up of any show in UFC history, with a main event to die for. Clashing in the top spot in New York will be lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez and Irish sensation Conor McGregor. Leaving the featherweight belt on hold for the third straight fight, ‘The Notorious’ looks to make history. Becoming the first champ to hold UFC belts in two weight classes at one time would be huge. Following the announcement of this titanic main event came a number of complaints from fellow fighters.

Arguing about title shots comes with the territory, but recently it’s been much more of a hot topic. Interim champion Jose Aldo has essentially retired over the UFC’s decision to book Alvarez vs. McGregor. Also outraged by he UFC 205 main event is number one lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov. When money is king, feelings are bound to be hurt, and rankings become less relevant by the day. Opposing this argument over rankings is the debate about exposure, and how these super fights involving the biggest stars help the sport grow as a whole.

McGregor’s Thoughts

Standing at the forefront of this typically wild saga is the UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor. Speaking with Sports Illustrated this week, ‘The Notorious’ urges his fellow fighters to stop complaining, and get on board with the way the promotion is headed:

“Tell me one time that crying and moaning, tell me one time that’s good for progression. It’s not,” he told SI by phone while promoting his role in Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare. “Where would you be if I wasn’t here? Be grateful that you’re even in the conversation.

“Keep your head down, keep working, stay focused, stay positive, that’s the way to go forward. Not crying, moaning, complaining. I can’t engage in that. I wish them well, but I’m on something different here.”

McGregor on Media

As he awaits the biggest fight of his career, potentially the most pivotal in UFC history given the ramifications, Conor McGregor discusses the media. The Irish striker says sour grapes cause him to be cast in a somewhat negative light:

“I’ll always listen to the correct business move and I’ll always do what is the correct move,” he added, “but let me do it and let me go back and look at some pictures of me with two belts and let me embrace it for half-a-day.”

“It’s the media that’s making this,” he said. “Let me look at the historic images we’re going to get on this night, me with these two belts. That’s what everyone should be excited about, this is history.”

“Everyone wants to see you do good, but not better than them,” he said. “That’s what’s happening here. I’m just looking forward to raising the belts, and doing what has not been done before.

“Don’t be trying to take away the historic moment before I’ve even experienced it.”

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Nurmagomedov’s Ultimatum Fighting: Title Fight or UFC Will Never Go to Russia

Khabib Nurmagomedov feels like he was played by the UFC…and he is not taking that lightly. Speaking with Luke Thomas on SiriusXM’s The Luke Thomas Show, the lightweight contender issued a strong ultimatum to the UFC.
He said, per Fight Spor…

Khabib Nurmagomedov feels like he was played by the UFC…and he is not taking that lightly. Speaking with Luke Thomas on SiriusXM’s The Luke Thomas Show, the lightweight contender issued a strong ultimatum to the UFC.

He said, per Fight Sports.TV (warning: NSFW language):

If UFC don’t give me the title fight after this fight, I’m going to show how I have power in Russia and I know if I don’t fight for the title next fight, UFC will never ever go to Russia. If I don’t fight after this fight for the title, I never fight in the UFC, no more. I deserve this. If UFC doesn’t give me title after fight…I’m gonna show how I have power in Russia. Because UFC think Conor [McGregor] have power? I have power too. This is not all about pay per view. I have power too. I’m gonna show this power.

Nurmagomedov’s frustration stems from a series of conflicting reports that came out two weeks ago. Following weeks of rumors hinting at a superfight between UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez and UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor, UFC President Dana White threw the world a curveball by flatly stating on social media that the company was instead looking to have Alvarez defend his title against Nurmagomedov.

The company would later double-down on this by stating on UFC Tonight that it was trying to set up Alvarez vs. Nurmagomedov. Then it triple-downed by adding that Alvarez was no longer a part of the UFC 205 card. Then it quadruple-downed by sending Nurmagomedov a bout agreement.

However, Nurmagomedov’s contention may have been a tool to pressure Alvarez during contract negotiations. The UFC would officially announce Alvarez vs. McGregor as the main event to UFC 205 at a press conference last Tuesday.

Alvarez, speaking with Ariel Helwani on Monday on The MMA Hour (warning: NSFW language), stated he didn’t know if Nurmagomedov entering the equation was “gamesmanship” on the UFC’s part but followed up by saying he didn’t think “there was any other names in question” for UFC 205 outside himself and McGregor.

Obviously, that has left Nurmagomedov frustrated. So frustrated, in fact, it seems he may have implied leveraging political allies in his native Russia. While that may sound odd, the connections between sports and politics in Russia are deep and storied. The connections between western Russian politicians and mixed martial arts, however, are openly flaunted, with fighters unknowingly or actively becoming part of propaganda for regional leaders and events oftentimes becoming celebrations of the oligarchy’s wealth and power.

In the short term, Nurmagomedov has a full plate.

“For me, it’s a crazy situation,” he said. “But it’s OK, life is going and I’m going to keep going and I’m going to finish Michael Johnson at UFC 205 and after this I’m going to fight for the title. I’d rather take this fight because he signed with the UFC bulls–t contract because he knows if he takes fight with me, his belt is going bye bye.”

What comes after November 12’s UFC 205, where Nurmagomedov, Alvarez and McGregor will all compete, will be interesting to watch. If Nurmagomedov isn’t simply lashing out, things could get quite heated.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Khabib Willing To Leave UFC Without Title Shot

Not too many people are happy about the recent booking of UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez and UFC 145-pound champ Conor McGregor headlining UFC 205 next month, and one such man who isn’t too hot about the idea is none other than Khabib Nurmagomedov. McGregor will attempt to make history when he takes on Alvarez,

The post Khabib Willing To Leave UFC Without Title Shot appeared first on LowKick MMA.

McGregor will attempt to make history when he takes on Alvarez, as the current 145-pound title holder is eying to become the first man in UFC history to hold two titles in different weight classes simultaneously.

Alvarez is a fresh champion who is coming off of a first round knockout win over Rafael dos Anjos to secure the lightweight crown, and is hoping to derail the Irishman’s hype train on the biggest stage in mixed martial arts (MMA) history.

By doing this, however, he will be leaving No. 1-ranked Khabib Nurmagomedov waiting in the wings for his long awaited shot at the division’s championship, as he will instead be taking on Michael Johnson on the same card that ‘The Silent Assassin’ and ‘The Notorious One’ will be headlining.

During a recent appearance on The Luke Thomas Show, courtesy of FightSports.TV, Nurmagomedov discussed Alvarez’s reluctance to meet him in the Octagon for the title, revealing the champ declined to fight him on three different offers:

“UFC said ‘You’re going to fight August 27 in Canada against Eddie.’ I said yes, I take this fight. Eddie does not take this fight. After this UFC gives me UFC 205, Eddie say no. 206, Eddie say no.”

‘The Eagle’ went on to claim that if he doesn’t get his title opportunity after his match with Johnson, he’ll show them just how powerful he is in his home-country of Russia:

“After this fight I have to fight for the title,” he said. “UFC thinks Conor has power? Ireland only has like 6 million people. I am from Russia, 150 million people. If UFC don’t give me the title fight after this fight, I’m going to show how I have power in Russia and I know if I don’t fight for the title next fight, UFC will never ever go to Russia.”

Nurmagomedov went on to point out the fact that Alvarez called for an easy fight after his title win over ‘RDA’, stating that Alvarez knows he is a bad match-up for him:

“Eddie understands who is who,” Nurmagomedov said. “Eddie and all his coaches know ‘This [is a] very tough fight for me.’ He even said ‘I want an easy fight’. No, you’re champion. You fight #1 ranked, and #1 ranked is not easy. For me, it’s a crazy situation. But it’s ok, life is going and I’m going to keep going and I’m going to finish Michael Johnson at UFC 205 and after this I’m going to fight for the title.

“I’d rather take this fight because he signed with the UFC bullshit contract because he knows if he takes fight with me, his belt is going bye bye.”

In an even bolder statement the Russian went on to promise that if he isn’t granted his shot at the 155-pound throne with a potential win over ‘The Menace’, he won’t fight for the UFC again:

“If I don’t fight after this fight for the title, I never fight in the UFC, no more. I deserve this. If UFC doesn’t give me title after fight — I don’t care about unanimous decision, split decision, first round KO. If I don’t fight, I’m gonna show how I have power in Russia. Because UFC think Conor have power? I have power too. This is not all about pay per view. I have power too. I’m gonna show this power.”

“Very soon,” he said, “a young and very hungry Eagle is going to change these rules.”

Nurmagomedov will meet Johnson on the preliminary card of UFC 205 live on FS1, from the Madison Square Garden arena in New York City on November 12, 2016.

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Donald Cerrone Trashes Khabib and Conor, Says Neither Want To Fight Him

So, much in the fashion of the current UFC and MMA landscape, talking seems to be the best way to bring in the dollars. While many want to denounce Conor McGregor for his tactics, the reality is that he’s been able to get paid a considerable amount of money based on his fighting skills as well as his equally impressive skills on the microphone. As such, more and more fighters are speaking out letting the masses know exactly what’s on their minds. Now granted these fighters have always remained true to themselves, but racking up a pile of cash like McGregor isn’t easy and it requires fighters to turn themselves into a brand.

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Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone was always a fighter who spoke his mind, unafraid of the backlash he’d receive from fighters because, well, if they had a problem they can actually solve it with their fists. To say Cowboy hasn’t spoken his mind before Conor McGregor entered the scene would be a grossly idiotic and uninformed stance to take. But never before has Cowboy singled his opponents unless he signed a bout agreement. As time passes and his star has grown, Cowboy has become a man who tells it like it is and isn’t afraid to let everyone know exactly what he’s thinking.

In a recent interview on the radio show Jim Norton & Friends, Cowboy went in depth about how he feels about a number of fighters in the game, namely Khabib Nurmagomedov and one Conor McGregor. According to Cowboy Cerrone, these two men have been running scared and have no intentions of meeting him in the cage. Take a listen.

How do you think Cowboy would do in a fight against Khabib or Conor?

Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.

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Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Michael Johnson Announced For UFC 205 at Madison Square Garden

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpKHW6K7EVY

During Tuesday’s UFC 205 press conference in New York City, UFC President Dana White announced yet another fight for the card, which takes place November 12th at Madison Square Garden. In a battle of top 10 lightweights, #1 contender Khabib Nurmagomedov will take on #6 contender Michael Johnson. Johnson is coming off of a first round knockout win less than two weeks ago at UFC Fight Night in Hidalgo, Texas, while Nurmagomedov is getting his first elite opponent in over two years, as he fought late replacement Darrel Horcher in April in his return from various injuries.

Nurmagomedov had been sent bout agreements to face champion Eddie Alvarez on either this card or the following month’s UFC 206 in Toronto, but going by his tweets, this may have been Alvarez’s defense against UFC Featherweight Champion Conor Mcgregor at MSG:

I have two bout agreements that bullshit champ refuses to sign. I got used the whole time to make Conor and Eddie get on their knees and beg

— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) September 27, 2016

Of course, there’s also the possibility that Nurmagomedov was added to the card with the idea that he can be an injury replacement in the main event as a worthy top contender.