Tag: The Ultimate Fighter 31

Kamaru Usman welcomes fight with UFC star Conor McGregor next: ‘That makes sense, let’s do it’

Kamaru Usman welcomes fight with Conor McGregor next that makes sense UFCHimself attempting to return from a two-fight losing skid in his Octagon return akin to former UFC champion, Conor McGregor, former welterweight kingpin, Kamaru Usman has claimed he is open to a fight with the Dubliner next – pointing to the prior collusion course both appeared to be on. Usman, the current number one ranked […]

Kamaru Usman welcomes fight with Conor McGregor next that makes sense UFC

Himself attempting to return from a two-fight losing skid in his Octagon return akin to former UFC champion, Conor McGregor, former welterweight kingpin, Kamaru Usman has claimed he is open to a fight with the Dubliner next – pointing to the prior collusion course both appeared to be on.

Usman, the current number one ranked welterweight contender, has been sidelined from the Octagon since headlining UFC 286 back in March in London, England – suffering a trilogy title rubber match defeat to champion, Leon Edwards.

As for McGregor, the former undisputed lightweight and featherweight titleholder, has yet to return to the Octagon since fracturing his left tibia and fibula in a first round doctor’s stoppage TKO loss to former interim titleholder, Dustin Poirier.

And since returning to feature as an opposing coach on The Ultimate Fighter 31 against Kamaru Usman’s former training partner, Michael Chandler, McGregor has yet to book an expected welterweight clash with the former three-time Bellator MMA lightweight gold holder.

Conor McGregor had previously called for a fight with Kamaru Usman

With his future in the sport still firmly up in the air, McGregor, who turns 35-years-old later this month, has yet to return to the USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) testing pool, as per UFC president.

“He’s (Conor McGregor) not,” Dana White replied when asked if Conor McGregor had returned to the USADA testing pool. “We’ll see how that plays out… I don’t talk about sh*t until sh*t happens, you know what I mean? To sit here and think hypothetically how a million different things could happen, no idea. I’m focusing on what’s happening this Saturday [UFC 290], and then next Saturday. UFC 300 isn’t even on my mind right now.”

“The Conor thing, who the hell knows how that’s gonna play out?” White explained. “Who cares what USADA says? We’ll see what happens when it happens. So, I don’t know.” 

And according to Usman, following a failed pairing with the undefeated, Khamzat Chimaev later this year, the Auchi native has welcomed a fight against McGregor instead.

“Conor (McGregor) said he’s always wanted to fight me at 170 (pounds), so that makes sense,” Kamaru Usman told assembled media ahead of UFC 290. “I’m not the champ anymore, so, hey, let’s do it.” 

Dana White confirms Conor McGregor has not returned to USADA testing pool, fails to rule out granting exemption

Conor McGregor still yet to return to USADA testing pool Dana White UFCUFC president, Dana Whtie has tonight confirmed that former two-weight promotional champion, Conor McGregor has till yet to make an official return to the USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) testing pool, ahead of his expected Octagon comeback before the end of this year. Speaking with TSN reporter, Aaron Bronsteter, White confirmed that McGregor, a former […]

Conor McGregor still yet to return to USADA testing pool Dana White UFC

UFC president, Dana Whtie has tonight confirmed that former two-weight promotional champion, Conor McGregor has till yet to make an official return to the USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) testing pool, ahead of his expected Octagon comeback before the end of this year.

Speaking with TSN reporter, Aaron Bronsteter, White confirmed that McGregor, a former undisputed lightweight and featherweight champion under the banner of the organization, has yet to make his re-entry to the anti-doping agencies testing pool, with prior statements confirming how he would need to spend a period fo at least six months in the programe before he would be eligible to make a UFC return.

Dana White confirms Conor McGregor has yet to make a return to the USADA testing pool

Furthermore, when discussing the possibility that an exemption would be enforced to allow the soon-to-be 35 year old to make a return without spending a period of six months in the testing pool, White remained non-committal.

“He’s (Conor McGregor) not,” Dana White replied when asked if Conor McGregor had returned to the USADA testing pool. “We’ll see how that plays out… I don’t talk about sh*t until sh*t happens, you know what I mean? To sit here and think hypothetically how a million different things could happen, no idea. I’m focusing on what’s happening this Saturday [UFC 290], and then next Saturday. UFC 300 isn’t even on my mind right now.”

“The Conor thing, who the hell knows how that’s gonna play out?” White explained. “Who cares what USADA says? We’ll see what happens when it happens. So, I don’t know.” 

Sideline since headlining UFC 264 back in July 2021, McGregor suffered a fractured left tibia and fibula en route to a first round doctor’s stoppage TKO loss to former interim lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier. 

Featuring as an opposing coach on The Ultimate Fighter 31 this year, McGregor has been earmarked to fight former lightweight title challenger, Michael Chandler, however, the pair have yet to officially book a clash. 

Conor McGregor’s conduct on TUF 31 questioned: ‘He’s kind of whining, complaining, throwing tantrums’

Conor McGregor conduct on TUF 31 criticized he's whining complaining throwing tantrums UFCFormer two-weight UFC champion, Conor McGregor has been heavily edited during this season of The Ultimate Fighter 31 according to light heavyweight contender, Anthony Smith – who claims footage shows the Dubliner in a rather unfavorable light. McGregor, who has served as opposing coach on The Ultimate Fighter 31 this season – taking on Michael […]

Conor McGregor conduct on TUF 31 criticized he's whining complaining throwing tantrums UFC

Former two-weight UFC champion, Conor McGregor has been heavily edited during this season of The Ultimate Fighter 31 according to light heavyweight contender, Anthony Smith – who claims footage shows the Dubliner in a rather unfavorable light.

McGregor, who has served as opposing coach on The Ultimate Fighter 31 this season – taking on Michael Chandler, withthe duo expected to fight at the welterweight in their next respective fights.

Conor McGregor has yet to land a victory on this season of TUF

Making his return to the reality television show following a 2015 appearance opposite former WEC featherweight champion and former UFC bantamweight title challenger, Urijah Faber, leaked footage last week appeared to show Conor McGregor falling to 0-6 this season, with Straight Blast Gym teammate, Lee Hammond suffering a second round guillotine choke loss to Kurt Holobaugh. 

And according to Smith, McGregor – who engaged in a tense face-off and physical altercation with Chandler off the back of Hammond’s loss on this week’s episode, has been cast in a bad light due to editing of the show.

“I also don’t think that this season of The Ultimate Fighter 31 is doing him (Conor McGregor) very well,” Anthony Smith said on an episode of Believe You Me. “I think people are getting annoyed by him and that’s not necessarily his fault. It’s a lot of editing, you know what I mean, I just don’t think he’s being portrayed, he looks like a great coach but it’s also making him look like a baby. Like he’s kind of of whining, complaining, throwing tantrums.” (H/T MMA News)

In the midst of a two-fight losing skid, McGregor dropped a January 2021 knockout loss to former interim lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

In July of that year in the pair’s subsequent trilogy rubber match, McGregor fractured his left tibia and fibula in the opening frame, suffering a first round doctor’s stoppage TKO defeat. 

Video – Conor McGregor distraught after footage of teammate Lee Hammond’s loss on TUF 31 leaks

Conor McGregor distraught falls to knees Lee Hammond loss on TUF 31 leaked UFCAhead of next week’s airing of the next episode of The Ultimate Fighter 31 next week, footage has emerged, appearing to show former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor slump to 0-6 on the reality television show against opposing coach, Michael Chandler – with SBG teammate, Lee Hammond suffering a second round mounted guillotine submission loss. McGregor, […]

Conor McGregor distraught falls to knees Lee Hammond loss on TUF 31 leaked UFC

Ahead of next week’s airing of the next episode of The Ultimate Fighter 31 next week, footage has emerged, appearing to show former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor slump to 0-6 on the reality television show against opposing coach, Michael Chandler – with SBG teammate, Lee Hammond suffering a second round mounted guillotine submission loss.

McGregor, a former undisputed lightweight and featherweight champion under the banner of the UFC, has served as an opposing coach on The Ultimate Fighter 31 earlier this year against former lightweight title chaser, Chandler, with the duo expected to fight at the welterweight limit in their next respective Octagon outing.

Slumping to 0-5 as a coach on the reality television show during airing earlier this week, across social media in the days following the latest episode, footage has emerged of a tense face-off and altercation between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler – following the Dubliner’s sixth consecutive loss.

Conor McGregor sees his record on TUF 31 as a coach fall to 0-6

Distraught and dropping to his knees outside the Octagon at the UFC Apex facility, McGregor watched on as Straight Blast Gym teammate, Hammond suffered a second round submission loss to UFC alum, Kurt Holobaugh, who latched onto a mounted guillotine, eventually forcing a submission. 

Himself without a victory in his last two consecutive Octagon walks, McGregor most recently fractured his left tibia and fibula back in July 2021 in a doctor’s stoppage TKO loss to former interim champion, Dustin Poirier.

Prior to that, in January of the same year, Conor McGregor dropped his first loss via knockout in professional mixed martial arts, dropping a second round KO to Poirier in Abu Dhabi, UAE – in his return to the lightweight limit to boot. 

McGregor’s most recent win came in the form of a January 2020 stoppage over incoming UFC Hall of Fame inductee, Donald Cerrone, stopping the former lightweight championship challenger with a 40-second high-kick and ground strikes TKO triumph. 

Michael Chandler provides bleak update on Conor McGregor clash: ‘I do believe I fight him in the next six months’

Michael Chandler claims he will fight Conor McGregor in the next six months UFCUFC lightweight contender, Michael Chandler appears to be losing further faith on a potential fight with former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor in the near future – providing a six month projected timeline for an earmarked clash. Chandler, the current number five ranked lightweight contender, has been sidelined since he featured on the main card of […]

Michael Chandler claims he will fight Conor McGregor in the next six months UFC

UFC lightweight contender, Michael Chandler appears to be losing further faith on a potential fight with former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor in the near future – providing a six month projected timeline for an earmarked clash.

Chandler, the current number five ranked lightweight contender, has been sidelined since he featured on the main card of UFC 281 back in November of last year at Madison Square Garden, suffering a third round rear-naked choke submission loss to common-foe, Dustin Poirier.

Also dropping a pair of losses to former interim titleholder, Poirier in his two most recent walks, McGregor fractured his left tibia and fibula at UFC 264 back in July 2021, resulting in a first round doctor’s stoppage TKO loss. 

Serving as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 31 earlier this year ahead of an expected return at the welterweight limit for the pair, Chandler and McGregor have yet to be booked for an event, location, or date for their projected pairing.

Michael Chandler issues timeframe for potential Conor McGregor fight

And despite offering an update on his fighting future – in which he maintains he is still attempting to book a fight in the wake of his uncertain relationship with anti-doping agency, USADA, McGregor has been given a six month deadline to return, per Chandler.

“He’s (Conor McGregor) coming back,” Michael Chandler told Daniel Cormier during a recent interview. “Yeah, supposedly, there was a countdown with USADA, six months, and all that other stuff. That’s not for me to choose or decide. People are talking about exemptions, of course, that’s all on the table. All I know is I’m controlling the controllables and I also know that either way, I’m gonna keep on moving forward.”

“And I do believe I fight Conor within the next six months,” Michael Chandler explained. “It’s gonna be one of the biggest pay-per-views that we have ever seen, and I’m gonna go out there and knock him out within the first two rounds.” 

Michael Chandler offers chilling prediction for fight with Conor McGregor: ‘I’d murder him on the ground’

Michael Chandler claims he'll murder Conor McGregor on the ground UFCWith speculation rife regarding regarding the possibility of a welterweight clash between former two-weight UFC champion, Conor McGregor, and veteran lightweight, Michael Chandler, the latter has issued a notable warning to the Dubliner – hinting at a potential wrestling-heavy gameplan to boot. Chandler, the current number five ranked lightweight contender, has been sidelined from active […]

Michael Chandler claims he'll murder Conor McGregor on the ground UFC

With speculation rife regarding regarding the possibility of a welterweight clash between former two-weight UFC champion, Conor McGregor, and veteran lightweight, Michael Chandler, the latter has issued a notable warning to the Dubliner – hinting at a potential wrestling-heavy gameplan to boot.

Chandler, the current number five ranked lightweight contender, has been sidelined from active competition since he featured on the main card of UFC 281 back in November of last year, suffering a third round rear-naked choke submission loss to common-foe, Dustin Poirier.

Also last featuring against former interim champion, Poirier, McGregor fractured his left tibia and fibula against the Louisianan at UFC 264 back in July 2021, dropping a first round doctor’s stoppage TKO loss as a result. 

And despite the status of their expected welterweight fight firmly up in the air as a result of McGregor’s uncertain relationship with anti-doping agency, USADA – Chandler has admitted that he is less hopeful that a pairing eventually happens this year. 

Michael Chandler offers wrestling-heavy preview of potential Conor McGregor fight

However, if a bout ultimately materializes, Chandler has issued a stern warning to rival, McGregor – teasing a wrestling approach against the ex-champion.

“There’s no doubt, I’d murder him (Conor McGregor) on the ground, I think,” Michael Chandler said on his YouTube channel. “The thing about him too is – he’s very rangy, in and out – he negotiates and navigates the distance very well, so that’s why he hasn’t been taken down a lot in his fights. So I think he does a good job of coming into the pocket, bouncing out of the pocket, hitting guys with follow-up shots, or, I guess counter strikes if you will.”

“… That would definitely be the easiest path to victory,” Michael Chandler explained. “That’s been the easiest path to victory in all of my fights, I just haven’t shown it. So, either way, it’ll be the most electrifying first round we’ve ever seen. Okay, maybe I’ll take Conor down – maybe I’ll take Conor down.