Tag: Manny Pacquiao

Report: Ferguson vs. Khabib Set For April After UFC Strips McGregor

If a recent report proves true, the UFC lightweight title picture could be getting some extremely much-needed clarity very soon. Earlier today a report surfaced from Russian site Tass.ru that interim 155-pound champion Tony Ferguson will take on top contender Khabib Nurmagomedov for the official title at April 7’s UFC 223 from Brooklyn, New York. The […]

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If a recent report proves true, the UFC lightweight title picture could be getting some extremely much-needed clarity very soon.

Earlier today a report surfaced from Russian site Tass.ru that interim 155-pound champion Tony Ferguson will take on top contender Khabib Nurmagomedov for the official title at April 7’s UFC 223 from Brooklyn, New York. The news was later confirmed from reported sources by BJPenn.com, who backed up the initial report.

Apparently the contract for the highly-anticipated bout – which has fallen apart several times already – has been signed, and the fight will be officially announced at this weekend’s (Sat., January 20, 2018) UFC 220 from TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

The biggest news about the fight, of course, is that the fight will be for the undisputed title after the promotion strips current champion Conor McGregor for his 14-month inactivity.

UFC president Dana White has made several headlines about potentially stripping McGregor, who has not fought in MMA since defeating Eddie Alvarez for the title at UFC 205 in November 2016, most recently saying the UFC would “absolutely” strip the Irish champion if he didn’t want to return to the octagon until the fall.

Now, it appears the UFC has made that call, and the lightweight affair between Ferguson and Nurmagomedov, a fight fans have been anticipating for years, will now take place with the highest possible stakes on the line. That is, if and when it’s officially confirmed by the UFC.

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Dana White Says UFC Could ‘Absolutely’ Strip Conor McGregor Of Title

UFC president Dana White broke down his reaction to last night’s (Sun., January 14, 2017) UFC Fight Night 124 from St. Louis during the post-fight show on FOX Sports 1, but the discussion not surprisingly shifted to the messy lightweight title landscape as champion Conor McGregor sits on the bench with no return in view. As interim champion […]

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UFC president Dana White broke down his reaction to last night’s (Sun., January 14, 2017) UFC Fight Night 124 from St. Louis during the post-fight show on FOX Sports 1, but the discussion not surprisingly shifted to the messy lightweight title landscape as champion Conor McGregor sits on the bench with no return in view.

As interim champion Tony Ferguson heals from elbow surgery, the future of the storied 155-pound class was only made more confusing when Khabib Nurmagomedov ran over Edson Barboza at December 30, 2017’s UFC 219. The performance was so dominant it reminded fights fan everywhere just why “The Eagle” was considered quite possibly the toughest out in the class, with only his only injuries and weight-cutting issues preventing him from hoisting the belt.

So as McGregor mulls his next move that will reportedly require a promoter’s share of the profit, White said that if McGregor waits until this fall to step into the octagon, the weight class would have to move on, so they’re working on Ferguson vs. Nurmagomedov, and it may be for the real championship:

“Conor has said he’s thinking about coming back in September, if he comes back in September, that’s almost two years. That can’t happen, it’s just, it’s not fair to everybody else. Love Conor, respect Conor, love everything that he’s done for this company, everybody knows that; I say it all the time. The belt would have to move on. You do Khabib vs. Tony; we’re working on that fight now, and if and when Conor comes back, he would get the first crack at the title.”

Previously saying that McGregor would have until March to make a decision, White then confirmed that the promotion was ready to strip by far their biggest star as a matter of principle:

“Absolutely.”

As the UFC is bombarded with a stream of hate that only grows much bigger with each day, the world leader in mixed martial arts seems to be being lenient with their only real superstar, but with a limit to how long they are willing to wait.

Many thought UFC titles were devalued at an alarming rate during a strange transitionary period for the UFC and new owners Endeavor last year, so it should be refreshing for many hardcore fans of the sport to see them put out a concrete plan of where lightweight will go.

Now, they’ll just have to act on it.

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Joe Rogan Reveals Real Reason UFC Will Strip Conor McGregor’s Title

Without anything close to a clear return date confirmed, the talk about the UFC stripping lightweight champion Conor McGregor is reaching a fever pitch in most MMA circles. There’ve been multiple discussions about “The Notorious” coming back to finally unify the lightweight titles with interim champ Tony Ferguson, another about him fighting former two-division champ […]

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Without anything close to a clear return date confirmed, the talk about the UFC stripping lightweight champion Conor McGregor is reaching a fever pitch in most MMA circles.

There’ve been multiple discussions about “The Notorious” coming back to finally unify the lightweight titles with interim champ Tony Ferguson, another about him fighting former two-division champ Georges St-Pierre, more still about him meeting multiple past-prime boxers in the squared circle, and of course, his long-rumored trilogy match with rival Nate Diaz.

But none of it has come even close to fruition, and with McGregor demanding some sort of promoter’s or ownership stake for his next bout, his return could be many months off if it ever comes.

That, unfortunately, has the MMA world in a restless state of influx as fans await any news whatsoever from the sport’s biggest star – a star who was greatly missed throughout an up-and-down 2017 for the world’s biggest MMA outfit. And if you ask octagon commentator Joe Rogan, it’s going to stay that way for awhile.

Speaking to UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley on his “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast (via MMA Mania), Rogan revealed his opinion why the UFC will have to eventually strip McGregor of the title, opening up the path for a huge Ferguson vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov fight in Russia:

“Here’s my prediction: My prediction (is) Conor doesn’t fight for a while. They strip Conor. Tony and Khabib fight for the world title. I think they’re going to strip him, because Conor’s got $100 million in the bank, and he’s having fun and talking (expletive), and he’s going to keep training,” Rogan said.

“And he’s going to make a big fight in the future, but I think Khabib and Tony is the big fight and (expletive), they might even do that one in Russia. They’re talking about doing a big fight in Russia.”

Indeed the UFC has long discussed a foray into the fight-crazed Russian market, but logistical concerns have kept them out of the country until now, where it simply can no longer be denied with Nurmagomedov rapidly becoming one of their most dominant and fastest-rising stars.

The promotion plans to put on their first-ever card on Russian soil this fall, and Nurmagomedov insists he wants to fight three times this year, with the first bout coming in the spring and the second coming in the fall after Ramadan has passed. That timeline could work out with the UFC’s first event in Russia, and it could also be when the UFC has finally had enough with McGregor and strips him if he has not at least clarified when he plans to return.

Rogan’s suggestion that the champ is more interested in enjoying the $100 million he earned from his circus-like boxing match against Floyd Mayweather certainly appears true on the surface, and there is a good chance he never returns to the octagon.

With each passing day, Rogan’s point of view could become more and more likely – and that’s a call you can bet the UFC is hoping they don’t have to make.

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Khabib’s Management Refuses To Fight For ‘Fake’ Interim Belt

Following his three-round destruction of Edson Barboza at UFC 219, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father recently said they were willing to take on former champion Eddie Alvarez if the UFC decided to book Conor McGregor vs. Tony Ferguson to unify the 155-pound belt. However, his manager is singing an entirely different tune. Ali Abdelaziz told MMA Fighting that […]

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Following his three-round destruction of Edson Barboza at UFC 219, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father recently said they were willing to take on former champion Eddie Alvarez if the UFC decided to book Conor McGregor vs. Tony Ferguson to unify the 155-pound belt.

However, his manager is singing an entirely different tune.

Ali Abdelaziz told MMA Fighting that they are not interested in fighting for Ferguson’s interim title, a ‘fake’ belt that no one wants:

“Khabib’s next fight, we’re not fighting for no damn interim belt,” Abdelaziz said. “We want the real belt, or we don’t want nothing. We appreciate everything the UFC has done for us, but it’s time for a real belt. Nobody is interested in fighting for a fake belt. Tony Ferguson has a fake belt. Nobody wants this.”

The UFC lightweight title picture is beyond a mess right now, with Dana White stating champion Conor McGregor must make his intentions known so they can book Ferguson vs. Nurmagomedov for the interim title sometime around March with the winner taking on “The Notorious” later in the year.

But Abdelaziz’s insistence throws yet another wrench into the plans, which are haphazard at best while McGregor negotiates a potential promoter’s stake in his next fight and Ferguson recovers from elbow surgery. Adding to that mess is Nurmagomedov’s long track record of injuries and weight-cutting issues, making any fight involving him a dangerous prospect in a division that needs him – and McGregor – active to truly move on.

“The Eagle” set his sights on three bouts in 2018 – one in the spring, one around September after Ramadan is over, and a final fight in December. To do so, the UFC will have to get to work booking the dominant grappler soon, and that may not be easy with both McGregor and Ferguson out of action.

There’s little chance Khabib would leapfrog Ferguson and fight for the official belt, and it seems we’re perhaps several months away from McGregor actually defending his title if he ever does, so the logjam at lightweight may have just had a fresh load of logs thrown on top of it.

Welcome to 2018, fight fans.

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Jeremy Stephens Won’t Stop Talking About Conor McGregor’s Mom

Longtime veteran Jeremy Stephens may have his hands full with rising contender Dooho Choi in the main event of this weekend’s (Sun. January 14, 2017) UFC Fight Night 124 from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri, but it appears he’s still trying to rustle up a rivalry with Conor McGregor. After becoming one of MMA’s […]

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Longtime veteran Jeremy Stephens may have his hands full with rising contender Dooho Choi in the main event of this weekend’s (Sun. January 14, 2017) UFC Fight Night 124 from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri, but it appears he’s still trying to rustle up a rivalry with Conor McGregor.

After becoming one of MMA’s most quoted punchlines when McGregor famously said “who da fook is that guy” to Stephens’ trash talk at a press conference, Stephens took to Twitter a few months back to suggest that it was McGregor’s own mother who “knows who da fook” he was:

With the spotlight on him for the week, Stephens isn’t letting up on making his name by way of McGregor’s sport-redefining star power. During an interview with TMZ Sports, “Lil’ Heathen” said he would take McGregor’s mother Margaret on a date where his father would pick them up in a cab:

”His mom’s pretty hot too, she’s great,” Stephens said. “Maybe his dad can pick us up with the cab he used to drive and then take me and his mom out on a date. Hey bro, look at her. She’s not bad looking, right? She’s a lady right there … she’s always got the invite to be snugged up here under this right arm.”

McGregor may have been out of action for nearly 14 months, yet it doesn’t seem like a single conversation about mixed martial arts can arise without his name somehow becoming involved, evident by the fact just that has transpired concerning a Midwest-U.S. event that has nothing to do with him despite Stephens’ continued trash talk towards the absentee lightweight champion.

If he’s trying to make more of a name for himself on social media, it may be working, but at some point, his jabs grow may grow weary considering he’s light years away from ever getting an actual fight with “The Notorious.”

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Darren Till Insists He’s ‘Much Better’ Than Conor McGregor

Surging UFC welterweight Darren Till was one of the hottest rising contenders in the deeply talented 170-pound division throughout 2017. The Liverpool, England-based fighter truly blasted onto the scene by knocking out longtime veteran Donald Cerrone in the main event of October’s UFC Gdansk, a fight after which he deservedly began entertaining some potential big-name bouts. […]

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Surging UFC welterweight Darren Till was one of the hottest rising contenders in the deeply talented 170-pound division throughout 2017.

The Liverpool, England-based fighter truly blasted onto the scene by knocking out longtime veteran Donald Cerrone in the main event of October’s UFC Gdansk, a fight after which he deservedly began entertaining some potential big-name bouts.

A match-up with former title challenger Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson made the rounds, but the No. 1-ranked Karate wiz eventually said it wasn’t in his best interest to fight a lower-ranked, up-and-coming opponent. On the other hand, it would obviously give Till another sizable shot right up the ranks, something he told MMA Junkie wasn’t necessarily his goal.

For him, he knows he has a long way to go, so it was more of a challenge against one of the UFC’s best strikers in ‘Wonderboy’:

“I don’t feel like I’ve earned a title shot and, to be totally honest, I don’t even feel like I’ve earned a top-three spot. The only reason why I asked for ‘Wonderboy’ is because I think it would decipher who the best striker is (in welterweight division). But I don’t really care if it’s No. 1 or No. 10.

“He’s an excellent fighter, one of the best, and I don’t want to fight him for an easy route to the title, but because I want to test myself against the best. If he’s the guy to beat me and take all my momentum, then fair play to him. But I don’t believe he could do it.”

Even if Thompson is unwilling to face Till, the Liverpudlian striker already had another high-profile match-up in his back pocket, this time a pay-per-view (PPV) bout against fellow rising challenger Rafael dos Anjos in Brazil.

In his eyes, dos Anjos would be easy money despite his spotless track record as of late. Till believes a match-up with dos Anjos would be over in one single round, and that even UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor, who fights a weight class below the massive welterweight Till, would have destroyed dos Anjos.

With that established, Till said he was similar to the notorious Irish megastar, only ‘much better’:

“A pay-per-view against dos Anjos in Brazil would be huge, and I am totally up for it,” Till said.

“The great thing is, I would go there and beat him in a round because he’s designed for me and is just too scrappy on the feet. I think Conor McGregor would have absolutely annihilated him, and I’m twice Conor’s size. I’m also a similar fighter to Conor – just much better. I would kill dos Anjos, and I just don’t know what he’s doing in this division.”

Much of that confidence may lie in Till’s full knowledge that he’s simply much bigger and stronger than his competition. Walking at a reported out-of-fight weight of 210 pounds, Till fully acknowledged he was too big to keep fighting at 170 pounds forever.

Because of his overwhelming stature, Till said he plans on not only eventually moving up to 185 pounds but also to 205 in an effort to become an unprecedented three-weight champion:

“In all honesty, I am too big for the division,” he said. “You could see with Cerrone, and I know he’s a former lightweight, but I am huge at this weight. I’m going to spend some time taking over at welterweight, but then I will move up.

“People think I’m joking, but I’m also planning on going up to light heavyweight because I still have years to go and I’m going to continue to grow. I want to be a three-weight world champion.”

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