Paulie Malignaggi

‘Selfish’ UFC Should Compensate Michael Chandler for Stalled-Out Conor McGregor Fight

'Selfish' UFC Should Compensate Michael Chandler for Stalled-Out Conor McGregor Fight Boxing legend Paulie Malignaggi thinks the UFC should compensate Michael Chandler for the last two years he sat on…

Boxing legend Paulie Malignaggi thinks the UFC should compensate Michael Chandler for the last two years he sat on the sidelines waiting for a fight that was never going to happen.

At 38 years old, Chandler’s window to compete at the highest level is closing quickly. Unfortunately, the former Bellator champion spent the last couple of years banking on a fight with Irish megastar Conor McGregor. The two superstars coached opposite one another on The Ultimate Fighter last year, but it was almost a year before they were finally booked to headline an event in Las Vegas.

Sadly, their UFC 303 scrap never came to fruition after McGregor bowed out of the bout weeks away from fight night due to, of all things, a broken pinky toe.

Frustrated, Chandler finally decided to move on, booking a rematch with former UFC lightweight titleholder Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 in Madison Square Garden. And while ‘Iron’ is hopeful that his long-awaited fight with ‘Mystic Mac’ will still happen, there are those who think the UFC should pay him for all the time he spent sitting around instead of making the most of his twilight years in the fight game.

“I’d love for Chandler to be financially rewarded for waiting but I doubt it,” Malignaggi said in a recent interview with CanadaCasino.ca. “Who’s going to reward him? The UFC is run by the most selfish people. They underpay the fighters who fight — imagine how they treat the fighters who don’t. He should be compensated, but I’m not sure how they’d handle that. I think he deserves it, but he’s been waiting on the sidelines for this fight, and it’s just not going to happen for him.

“I feel for Chandler. Fighting is a tough way to make a living. It’s not easy. You get damaged, your best years pass by, and you can’t go back to reach the levels you want. When you get to the point where your best years are behind you, you’d hope for a big payday to make the rest of your life more comfortable. This struggle is common in combat sports” (h/t MMA News).

Michael Chandler places the blame on his shoulders

While Malignaggi certainly makes a point, Michael Chandler has repeatedly accepted responsibility for his actions, noting that at any time he could have called up the UFC and asked for a fight instead of holding out for his ‘red panty night’ against McGregor.

“No [there’s no more ill-will for McGregor],” Chandler told MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin. “Not any more than I had at the beginning. I don’t blame him for anything, I really don’t. The outsiders can look and say, ‘Man, he must hate Conor. Conor did this to him, Conor did that to him, the UFC did this to him.’ I did all this to myself.”

With McGregor still contracted for two more fights inside the Octagon, here’s to hoping that Chandler will still get the chance to cash a multi-million dollar check against the Irishman before wrapping up his mixed martial arts career.

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5 Opponents We’d Love To See Conor McGregor Take On In BKFC

Conor McGregor has been back in the headlines this week as he hosted his first press conference as part-owner of BKFC ahead of the company’s scheduled event in Marbella, Spain later this year. The former UFC two-weight world champion was scheduled to fight in the Octagon for the first time in three years at UFC […]

Continue Reading 5 Opponents We’d Love To See Conor McGregor Take On In BKFC at MMA News.

Conor McGregor has been back in the headlines this week as he hosted his first press conference as part-owner of BKFC ahead of the company’s scheduled event in Marbella, Spain later this year.

The former UFC two-weight world champion was scheduled to fight in the Octagon for the first time in three years at UFC 303 recently, but a foot injury put paid to those plans. Speaking at the BKFC press conference, the Irishman revealed that he only has two fights left on his current contract with the UFC and said that he has ambitions to test the waters inside the bareknuckle ring once those commitments are fulfilled.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at five intriguing options we would love to see “The Notorious” face in BKFC.

Nate Diaz

The rivalry between McGregor and Diaz has simply refused to go away ever since the pair first met inside the Octagon at UFC 196 back in 2016. Diaz took the fight on short notice as a replacement for McGregor’s original opponent Rafael Dos Anjos and shocked the world by handing the then-featherweight champion his first defeat in the UFC.

McGregor won an immediate rematch via majority decision just five months later and it seemed it would only be a matter of time before the pair would square off again. The rubber match never came, however, and Diaz fought out his UFC contract, finishing up with a submission victory over Tony Ferguson in September of 2022.

Since leaving the promotion, Diaz has pivoted to the world of boxing, where he has been defeated by Jake Paul and picked up a win over former UFC rival Jorge Masvidal, although he is now embroiled in a legal battle as he still hasn’t been paid for that fight.

Should McGregor fight out his UFC contract and join Diaz as a free agent, it’s likely the pair would become the hottest ticket in combat sports.

Mike Perry

The current BKFC middleweight champion and the face of the promotion. Perry’s career since leaving the UFC back in 2021 has gone from strength to strength, as he has won all five of his fights inside the squared circle and become the biggest name in the world of bareknuckle fighting.

“Platinum” has taken out a list of former UFC fighters under the BKFC banner such as Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez and Thiago Alves. He has become the highest paid fighter in the promotion and will fight Jake Paul in a lucrative crossover boxing bout this Saturday night in Tampa, Florida.

Although he failed to enter the title picture during his career inside the Octagon, Perry is now regarded as one of the biggest draws in combat sports outside the UFC.

Jorge Masvidal

“Gamebred” was a mainstay in the UFC’s lightweight and welterweight divisions between 2013-2023. He twice fought for the 170lb title against Kamaru Usman but was unsuccessful both times. After leaving the UFC (and temporarily retiring) in 2023 he recently made his first foray into the world of boxing when he faced Nate Diaz.

Although the event was a commercial failure and Masvidal lost a close decision to Diaz, he is rumoured to be planning to pursue some more fights inside the ring going forward. McGregor also revealed on social media that he won $1.625 million after placing a bet on Diaz to beat Masvidal.

This one could be considered a long shot, but “Magic Man” and “The Notorious” certainly shared one of the most interesting beefs in the recent history of combat sports.

McGregor invited the former IBF and WBA welterweight boxing champion into his camp as a sparring partner in the lead up to his infamous boxing match against Floyd “Money” Mayweather back in 2017. After sharing multiple clips of McGregor knocking down Malignaggi during the workouts all over social media, tensions between the pair spiralled and rumors circulated that they would meet in a boxing match further down the line.

Although that fight never happened, Malignaggi did face McGregor’s former training partner and close friend Artem Lobov in a bareknuckle fight back in 2019 at BKFC 6, surprisingly losing by unanimous decision to the former UFC featherweight.

Malignaggi has carved out a career as a boxing commentator and analyst and has worked on BKFC events since his retirement from fighting. At 42-years-old, could we see him tempted into one more fight with his old rival?

Khabib Nurmagomedov

Could it be? Could the stars possibly be aligning for one of the most heated rivalries in the history of the UFC to be rekindled?

After Nurmagomedov conclusively beat “The Notorious” at UFC 229 back in 2018 to claim the UFC lightweight championship, the Irishman campaigned tirelessly for a rematch. His disappointment at Khabib announcing his retirement just two years later was captured on camera during the filming of his documentary McGregor Forever, and the Dubliner has never missed an opportunity to berate Nurmagomedov when given the chance in the years that have passed.

Now that Khabib has seemingly fallen upon hard times and into some hot water with the Russian tax authorities, could we see him backed into a corner and forced into accepting a big-money payday to face his old rival once again?

Continue Reading 5 Opponents We’d Love To See Conor McGregor Take On In BKFC at MMA News.

Conor McGregor reignites feud with Paulie Malignaggi ahead of UFC 303: ‘He got battered out of the gym’

Ahead of his return to the Octagon in June, former two-division champion, Conor McGregor has rekindled his rivalry with…

Ahead of his return to the Octagon in June, former two-division champion, Conor McGregor has rekindled his rivalry with former sparring partner, ex-professional boxer, Paulie Malignaggi, claiming the Italian-American was “battered out of the gym” during their infamous sparring sessions back in 2017.

McGregor, a former undisputed lightweight and featherweight champion under the banner of the UFC, has been sidelined since he fractured his left tibia and fibula in a first round doctor’s stoppage TKO loss to Dustin Poirier almost three years ago.

And booking his official return to active competition amid more than a year of speculation linking him with a comeback to the Octagon, McGregor is officially set to headline UFC 303 at the end of June during International Fight Week.

Taking on former lightweight title challenger, Michael Chandler in a heated grudge match between the two, Conor McGregor – who has been backed by his long-time head coach, John Kavanagh to dispatch of the veteran contender inside two rounds, returned to full-time training this month in anticipation of his return.

Conor McGregor hits out at Paulie Maglignaggi years after sparring fiasco

Backed to return with aplomb amid his continued layoff through a nasty injury, McGregor could not help himself but once more aim barbs in the direction of the above-mentioned Malignaggi, claiming the former WBA and IBF gold holder was comfortably “battered” out of their gym and ring during their infamous sparring tussles back in 2017.

Notably stepping into the squared circle with McGregor that year to briefly help the Dubliner prepare for his historic tangle with former world champion star, Floyd Mayweather, footage emerged of Malignaggi finding himself on the receiving end of some heavy strikes from the former – with the argument of an apparent and phantom knockdown still rife.

Going on to himself suffer a tenth round TKO loss to the unbeaten, Mayweather in the Michigan native’s final professional walk to the ring, McGregor and Malignaggi have both continuously weighed up a potential grudge match down the line since 2017, ultimately to no avail.

Do you think Conor McGregor and Paulie Malignaggi will cross paths down the line?

Jake Paul backed to challenge Conor McGregor in MMA clash: ‘If you hang with him he will get uncomfortable’

Former boxing world champion, Paulie Malignaggi, backs Jake Paul to trouble Conor McGregor in a potential MMA fight. Since Paul has made his transition to combat, he has desperately attempted to entice McGregor into a fight. The American seems to take every opportunity to criticise and goad the former UFC champion. Jake Paul is set […]

Former boxing world champion, Paulie Malignaggi, backs Jake Paul to trouble Conor McGregor in a potential MMA fight.

Since Paul has made his transition to combat, he has desperately attempted to entice McGregor into a fight. The American seems to take every opportunity to criticise and goad the former UFC champion.

Jake Paul is set to take on McGregor’s long-standing rival, Nate Diaz in a boxing match on August 5 but has also expressed interest in also taking to MMA after signing with PFL earlier this year.

Paulie Malignaggi gives Jake Paul fighting chance

Paulie Malignaggi, another detractor of McGregor, spoke to the chances of Jake Paul if he were to face McGregor inside the cage. Malignaggi and McGregor very publicly feuded after the latter released sparring footage in the build up for his fight with Floyd Mayweather. The video shows McGregor knocking down the ‘Magic Man’, appearing to get the better of him – something which the junior welter and welterweight champion disputes.

“Jake has a high school wrestler background, so he would not be totally out of his element in the cage,” said Malignaggi. “He’d need to be alert to his kicks, but McGregor (has) absolutely no balls. If you make him just a little bit uncomfortable, you are going to put yourself in a position where you might win the fight.

“You can make him uncomfortable by beating on him, or if he’s beating on you, if you just hang in the fight he begins to get nervous and paranoid. He’s not a true fighter,” he continued. “He looks for the first window to jump out of. He’s got athletic ability but his anxiety levels get high. That’s why he gets so tired in fights. (H/T Lord Ping)

“Jake just needs the ability to hang in there and he can start to trouble him a little. He can put himself in the position to win the fight. I think McGregor’s boxing is brutally bad, but at this point, even in MMA, if you hang with him he will get uncomfortable,” Malignaggi concluded.

The now infamous Conor McGregor and Paulie Malignaggi sparring footage

Do you agree with Pauli Maliganni?

Paulie Malignaggi Reveals Why He Declined An Offer To Box Dan Hardy

Paulie Malignaggi is wary of any offers that might pull him back into fighting, even if it’s a matchup with a former UFC fighter. “Magic Man” revealed in an interview with Dylan Bowker that he recently turned down an offer to box former UFC welterweight Dan Hardy. “I was offered recently an exhibition boxing bout…

Continue Reading Paulie Malignaggi Reveals Why He Declined An Offer To Box Dan Hardy at MMA News.

Paulie Malignaggi is wary of any offers that might pull him back into fighting, even if it’s a matchup with a former UFC fighter.

“Magic Man” revealed in an interview with Dylan Bowker that he recently turned down an offer to box former UFC welterweight Dan Hardy.

“I was offered recently an exhibition boxing bout against Dan Hardy in England. Former UFC fighter Dan Hardy,” Malignaggi said. “Which was kind of interesting, but at the end of the day, I just felt like it would take away from my schedule that I had with my commentary gigs. My commentary is sort of what I’m trying to stay focused on right now.”

The 41-year-old most recently competed in 2019 when he faced off with Artem Lobov in the main event of BKFC 6. Malignaggi lost via decision to Lobov in his only bare-knuckle boxing appearance, but he’s remained in the sport by moving into a commentary role with BYB Extreme Fighting Series.

Even though he turned down the opportunity to fight Hardy, “Magic Man” admits that he was tempted by the details of the matchup.

Malignaggi last fought in a bare-knuckle bout against Artem Lobov in 2019. (Esther Lin/MMA Fighting)

“They gave me a decent offer actually (for Hardy). Honestly, it was a cool scenario all around. It was less risk and would have been with 16-ounce gloves. It was definitely less risk. I come from a life where I had to pay people to spar in 16-ounce gloves…So to be able to be paid to do a 16-ounce glove sparring match would have been interesting. I was offered it with no headgear. Listen, I can’t say it didn’t get my attention. But what I figured to myself was if I take this, I’m going to keep getting other offers and I’m going to keep getting sucked back into this.”

Malignaggi has floated in and out of MMA headlines since his controversial sparring session with Conor McGregor in the lead up to McGregor’s fight with Floyd Mayweather. He blamed his 2019 BKFC loss to Lobov on “MMA judges” and criticized Ben Askren’s boxing performance against Jake Paul. Earlier this year, he threw his own name into the mix as a possible opponent for Paul.

Dan Hardy is set to appear in an exhibition boxing match on July 2 against Diego Sanchez. Malignaggi previously claimed to have been offered a fight with Sanchez for BKFC in 2021.

What do you think of Pauli Malignaggi’s explanation for why he turned down a fight with Dan Hardy?

Continue Reading Paulie Malignaggi Reveals Why He Declined An Offer To Box Dan Hardy at MMA News.

Conor McGregor Reignites Feud With Paulie Malignaggi After ‘Light Work’ Comment

Conor McGregor fired shots back at Paulie Malignaggi who weighed in on Jake Paul’s recent comments regarding a video of ‘Notorious’ hitting a pad with boxing gloves. Paul responded to McGregor’s video criticizing his head movement and lack of guard leaving his chin vulnerable. He continued trolling McGregor suggesting that he could knock him out […]

Conor McGregor fired shots back at Paulie Malignaggi who weighed in on Jake Paul’s recent comments regarding a video of ‘Notorious’ hitting a pad with boxing gloves.

Paul responded to McGregor’s video criticizing his head movement and lack of guard leaving his chin vulnerable. He continued trolling McGregor suggesting that he could knock him out in both boxing and MMA.

Malignaggi also took shots at McGregor as he supported Paul’s claims of making ‘light work’ of the former two-division UFC champion on the video.

After half a decade, the rivalry between the Irishman and the former WBA & IBF junior welterweight champion continues. McGregor was quick to fire back at the ‘Magic Man’ with a photo from their sparring session back in 2017 which showed a knocked down Malignaggi.

I left you like a little seesaw pic.twitter.com/5FNO8U0KVF

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 12, 2022

Malignaggi’s best days are behind him as he sits comfortably in the role of a color commentator and analyst these days. He had turned down a fight against Diego Sanchez in BKFC and had lost his latest outing in the ring against Artem Lobov in 2019.

Will Conor McGregor fight Jake Paul in boxing or MMA?

McGregor has been on the road to recovery since suffering a horrific leg injury in the first round of his third fight against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. In July 2021, the Irish superstar returned to the octagon for his trilogy bout where he broke his leg after Poirier checked one of his leg kicks.

He looks determined to make his return in the UFC this year after sharing his speedy recovery ahead of schedule after a recent leg scan. A fourth fight with the Diamond could be on the cards amongst other possible options in Nate Diaz and even a potential title fight with the lightweight champion Charles Oliveira.

It remains to be seen whether McGregor will fight Jake Paul in either boxing or MMA as the two continue to bash each other online. While most of the Twitter feuds fizzle out, there is a possibility we may see the two facing each other to put on a show for the fans.

Tag: Paulie Malignaggi