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Conor McGregor sides with UFC over Francis Ngannou dispute: ‘Look at all he got, I thought he made an error’

Former two-weight UFC champion, Conor McGregor has shared his thoughts on the infamous contract dispute between former undisputed heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou and the organization – claiming the Cameroon native made an “error” in how he handled the situation. McGregor, a former undisputed lightweight and featherweight champion under the banner of the UFC, recently wrapped […]

McGregor, a former undisputed lightweight and featherweight champion under the banner of the UFC, recently wrapped up filming on The Ultimate Fighter 31 earlier this week – with the Dubliner serving as an opposing coach on the reality television show against lightweight contender, Michael Chandler.

Expected to fight the Missouri native later this year, McGregor has yet to return to the USADA testing pool in order to make himself eligible to make a return to the Octagon, however, a potential September matchup between the duo has been floated by the promotion.

As for Ngannou, the Batié native made his final Octagon outing back in January of last year against Ciryl Gane – defeating the former interim champion to successfully unify the heavyweight titles.

In January of this year, Ngannou was officially stripped of his undisputed heavyweight crown and issued his release from the UFC, having completed his contractual obligations with the organization back in December of last year.

Conor McGregor shares his thoughts on Francis Ngannou’s UFC departure

Touching on the subject of Ngannou’s messy departure from the Dana White-led promotion, McGregor pointed to the fact that the former was allowed to utilize training equipment free of charge at the UFC Performance Institute, as well as claiming some of the “shine” had been taken from Ngannou’s run with the organization following his departure.

“I mean, if you think of (Francis) Ngannou – think of all he got,” Conor McGregor told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “Okay, he had his injury – think about all he got. He was in that [UFC] PI, using all the equipment, using all the – everything. There was no dough on that – there wouldn’t have been a charge on that.”

“Like, he’s getting accommodation and everything sorted,” Conor McGregor explained. “I thought he made an error to be honest. He’s hasn’t fought in a minute – get a bout under the belt, and then maybe start. I wasn’t sure why he done that to be honest. It kinda took the shine off him, how it went. But, look, I wish him well.”

Alistair Overeem, team deny PED use following one year GLORY suspension: ‘it surprised him’

Alistair Overeem’s team vehemently denies the use of any performance-enhancing drugs following a 12-month suspension handed down by GLORY Kickboxing. The promotion announced that ‘The Demolition Man’ had been suspended for one year after testing positive for a banned substance surrounding his October trilogy bout with Badr Hari at GLORY COLLISION 4. “Alistair Overeem has […]

Alistair Overeem’s team vehemently denies the use of any performance-enhancing drugs following a 12-month suspension handed down by GLORY Kickboxing.

The promotion announced that ‘The Demolition Man’ had been suspended for one year after testing positive for a banned substance surrounding his October trilogy bout with Badr Hari at GLORY COLLISION 4.

“Alistair Overeem has been removed from the GLORY rankings and his fight again Badr Hari is ruled a ‘No Contest’ due to a violation of GLORY’s anti-doping rules,” GLORY announced in an official statement. “His suspension is for 12 months, starting at his last fight – COLLISION 4. And he must return a percentage of his wages.”

Following the promotion’s announcement, Alistair Overeem’s trainer Nick Hemmers went on record stating that an anti-inflammatory medication was responsible for the positive test and not a performance-enhancing drug.

“Apparently a minimal amount of it was found in his blood…. He has not used any means to be stronger in the ring,” Hemmers stated. “I think it’s nonsense that his victory was taken away. We simply won that match against Badr, and I will always say that.”

Alistair Overeem has been suspended for one-year after failing a drug test.

His most recent win over Badr Hari has been overturned to a no-contest. pic.twitter.com/AQdTrArUxi

— Lewis Simpson (@LewisSimpsonMMA) March 14, 2023

Alistair Overeem’s Team Released an Official Statement

Alistair Overeem’s management team also issued a statement on the situation, saying:

“We have taken note of the removal of Alistair from the ranking. After the B-sample was also positive, it was to be expected that his fight against Badr Hari would be converted to ‘No Contest’. We are talking about trace amounts of a supplement that Alistair has used for recovery from an injury, which is not performance-enhancing.

“This injury occurred during the preparations for his fight with Rico (Verhoeven). It surprised Alistair that after eight months traces were still found in his system. For now, we will rest and wait and see what comes next.”

This is not the first time that Alistair Overeem has tested positive for banned substances in his combat sports career. In 2012, ‘The Demolition Man’ was scheduled to challenge then-UFC champion Junior dos Santos at UFC 146. Weeks before the bout, it was revealed by the NSAC that Overeem had an abnormally high testosterone-to-epitestosterone (T/E) ratio which he attributed to a doctor-prescribed “anti-inflammatory medication that was mixed with testosterone.”

Deontay Wilder frontrunner to fight Francis Ngannou in boxing match following January UFC departure

It’s been a couple months since former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou was released from his contract, and he’s been in search of an opponent ever since. Ngannou is looking to compete in boxing and there was talk of him facing WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury for some time, but it appears he’s looking in […]

It’s been a couple months since former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou was released from his contract, and he’s been in search of an opponent ever since.

Ngannou is looking to compete in boxing and there was talk of him facing WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury for some time, but it appears he’s looking in a different direction at this point.

The former heavyweight champion recently went onto Ariel Helwani‘s MMA Hour to discuss what’s next for him.

Helwani asked Francis Ngannou if former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder was a match up he’s interested in:

“Yes, we have had the conversation and at this moment we are closer (with him) than anyone else.”

Helwani then asked when this match-up could take place:

“Maybe sometime this summer, maybe from the beginning or the end of summer.”

Ngannou then stated he doesn’t know whether the fight will take place in the USA or elsewhere, before answering if this would be a one-off, or if the two will rematch in MMA:

“Well it depends how serious he is. For me I think there’s more interest in boxing because I will give him more challenge than he can give me a challenge in MMA. I think (fighting) him in MMA would be a very easy one.”

Francis Ngannou talks Deontay Wilder.#TheMMAHour pic.twitter.com/vmw4YSi99n

— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) March 15, 2023

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Dustin Poirier plots UFC return following recent fight offer from Rafael dos Anjos: ‘What’s next?’

Yet to make his Octagon return since November last, former interim UFC lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier has questioned fans and followers – “what’s next” for him, as he plots a return to active competition. Poirier, the current #2 ranked lightweight contender, most recently featured on the main card of UFC 281 back in November of […]

Poirier, the current #2 ranked lightweight contender, most recently featured on the main card of UFC 281 back in November of last year at Madison Square Garden, defeating Michael Chandler with a third round rear-naked choke submission victory.

The triumph returned Poirier to the winner’s enclosure, off the back of a third round standing rear-naked choke loss to former undisputed lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira back in December 2021 in an undisputed title fight.

The defeat came as Poirier’s second undisputed title fight loss – following a prior Abu Dhabi, UAE title unification loss to former gold holder, Khabib Nurmagomdov.

Winning interim lightweight gold back in April 2019, Dustin Poirier defeated two-time opponent and former undisputed featherweight champion, Max Holloway in a close, unanimous decision win in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dustin Poirier questions fans and followers who he should share the Octagon with next

Questioning fans as to who he should fight next, American Top Team mainstay, Dustin Poirier – took to his official Twitter account to seek advice.

Whats Next? pic.twitter.com/6DaruxLqv4

— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) March 14, 2023

Receiving a recent offer from former undisputed lightweight champion, Rafael dos Anjos to fight at the welterweight limit in a much-rumored debut at 170lbs, Poirier was also offered a rematch with fellow former interim titleholder, Gaethje – who claimed he would attempt to avenge a loss to the former if it would land him a championship fight following his UFC 286 return.

“I have a gold belt hanging in my house, but it’s an interim title,” Justin Gaethje said ahead of his UFC 286 fight with Rafael Fiziev. “I’m sitting at number three [at lightweight], very close, a big win over (Rafael) Fiziev puts me right back there, you know. You got (Beneil) Dariush and (Charles) Oliveira fighting [at UFC 286]. They got to figure that you and then the winner’s going to fight the champion [Islam Makhachev].”

“And if I need to fight [Dustin] Poirier in between that, I will,” Justin Gaethje continued. “If not, someone’s gonna fight that winner and that’ll be me.”

Headlining UFC Fight Night Glendale against Gaethje back in 2018, Poirier defeated the former with a fourth round standing TKO victory.

Islam Makhachev expects UFC to sideline him until Abu Dhabi event: ‘They want to give me time to rest’

Undisputed UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev has claimed that he will likely remained sidelined from the Octagon until the promotion makes its return to Abu Dhabi, UAE later this year. Makhachev, the current undisputed lightweight champion, headlined UFC 284 last month in Perth, Australia – defending his championship for the first time. Featuring opposite undisputed […]

Undisputed UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev has claimed that he will likely remained sidelined from the Octagon until the promotion makes its return to Abu Dhabi, UAE later this year.

Makhachev, the current undisputed lightweight champion, headlined UFC 284 last month in Perth, Australia – defending his championship for the first time.

Featuring opposite undisputed featherweight titleholder, Alexander Volkanovski, Makhachev managed to defend his lightweight crown – securing a unanimous decision triumph over the New South Wales favorite.

Winning the vacant lightweight crown back in October of last year on ‘Fight Island’ – Makhachev stopped former undisputed champion, Charles Oliveira with a second round arm-triangle choke in the main event of UFC 280.

Weighing up options for his next attempted title defense, Islam Makhachev has been linked with potential fights with both Beneil Dariush, and the aforenoted, Oliveira – who fight in May – as well as former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor.

Islam Makhachev is expected to remain sidelined until a ‘Fight Island’ return

Noting his intentions to fight at the welterweight limit in the future too in a bid to become a two-weight champion to boot, Makhachev revealed that he will likely be restricted to competition on ‘Fight Island’ by the UFC – with officials urging the American Kickboxing Academy staple to take time to rest and recover.

“They all say, Sean Shelby [UFC matchmaker], Hunter (Campbell{ [UFC Chief Business Officer[, Dana (White) [UFC president] – they all say, ‘We want to give you some time for the rest and we want to see you in Abu Dhabi,’” Islam Makhachev said during an interview on WEIGHING IN. “In my mind, I think they’re [the UFC] gonna give me [a fight in] June, maybe August, some fight. [But] they say, ‘You will come back in Abu Dhabi.’”

Off the back of UFC 285 earlier this month, Makhachev slumped to #3 in the official pound-for-pound ranking – dropping beneath the above-mentioned, Volkanovski, as well as newly minted heavyweight champion, Jon Jones – who tops the list following his submission win over Ciryl Gane.

Luke Rockhold slams Mike Perry ahead of BKFC 41: ‘He’s so fcking dumb, I can put this fcking kid away’

Former undisputed UFC middleweight champion, Luke Rockhold has taken aim at incoming opponent, Mike Perry ahead of their BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship) 41 headliner next month – claiming the UFC alum is “so f*cking dumb” – as well as predicting a knockout win over the latter. Rockhold, a former undisputed middleweight champion under the […]

Rockhold, a former undisputed middleweight champion under the banner of the UFC and Strikeforce, most recently competed professionally on the main card of UFC 278 back in August of last year in Salt Lake City, Utah – suffering a unanimous decision loss to Paulo Costa.

In the immediate aftermath of his loss, the Californian confirmed his decision to walk away from mixed martial arts, and retired from active competition with immediate effect.

However, late last month, BKFC founder, David Feldman confirmed that Rockhold had signed with the promotion, and would fight UFC welterweight veteran, Perry next month – atop a card that also features a lightweight fight between Chad Mendes, and former UFC lightweight champion, Eddie Alvarez.

Luke Rockhold slams Mike Perry in expletive-filled tirade ahead of BKFC clash

Criticizing the above-mentioned Flint native, Perry in a rather scathing message, Rockhold claimed that he would finish the latter in Broomfield, Colorado.

“I’m confident in my abilities to put this kid (Mike Perry) away,” Luke Rockhold told MMA Junkie ahead of BKFC 41. “I don’t think he understands the danger that’s coming and that’s the thing that works to his advantage, too. He doesn’t understand danger, he’s so f*cking dumb. It makes him effective, but also, I think it’s gonna lead me to an opening that I can f*cking put this kid away. I’m big and I hit hard. I don’t think you’re ready.”

“I’m not an 80-year-old man you can knock the f*ck out, you f*cking piece of sh*t,” Luke Rockhold explained. “I kind of forgot about that one, but I was reminded how pathetic you are. I’m gonna make you move pathetic come April 29.”

2-0 since his move to BKFC last year, Perry managed to debut with a decision win over The Ultimate Fighter veteran, Julian Lane, before defeating recent winner and one-time Bellator MMA welterweight title challenger, Michael Page in a main event slot in London last year.