Tag: Tony Ferguson vs. Kevin Lee

Kevin Lee Reveals Conor McGregor’s Rumored UFC Return

Conor McGregor’s supposed MMA return remains one of the hottest topics in an MMA topic currently devoid of true pay-per-view-worthy stars. Although many fight fans have seemed to grow at least somewhat tired of ‘The Notorious” outside-the-cage antics as he holds the coveted UFC lightweight title hostage, there’s also little question that those same fans […]

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Conor McGregor’s supposed MMA return remains one of the hottest topics in an MMA topic currently devoid of true pay-per-view-worthy stars.

Although many fight fans have seemed to grow at least somewhat tired of ‘The Notorious” outside-the-cage antics as he holds the coveted UFC lightweight title hostage, there’s also little question that those same fans would tune in to watch the biggest name in the UFC fight no matter whom it was against.

He’s been rumored to face off with interim champion Tony Ferguson, who is currently on the sidelines after getting elbow surgery, and boxing legend Floyd Mayweather recently hinted at a UFC return – even though he ultimately shot it down – after beating McGregor in the boxing ring via 10th-round TKO this August.

With the MMA world awaiting any kind of news, recent interim title contender Kevin Lee revealed what he knew during a recent appearance on MMA Junkie Radio (quotes via MMA Mania), noting that he would most likely fight Ferguson but ‘something crazy’ could happen with Mayweather:

“Either that, or something crazy is going to happen there. But, at least I think everything that I’ve seen and all the little whispers that I’ve heard, he comes back, he fights Tony.”

If and when the anticipated title bout does go down, Lee doesn’t believe McGregor will be able to handle the experience of Ferguson after facing and losing to him at UFC 216. As for when “The Motown Phenom” said he’s heard the fight will happen this March:

“I don’t think he beats Tony. There ain’t no way. Tony’s going to be way too experienced, Tony’s going to be way too tough… He’s going to be too much for him. So I’m interested to see that fight. I wish they would just go ahead and make the damn fight happen already. I hear it’s supposed to go down in March, so we’ll see.”

There’s absolutely no doubt that a title unification bout between the two 155-pound champions would be one of the biggest fights the UFC could currently put on, and it would also go a long as to addressing McGregor’s lack of title defenses throughout his entire MMA career.

But McGregor has seemed to love the wealth of fighting rather than actually fighting since fighting Mayweather, so he may be wanting an even bigger potential payday than the Ferguson fight would provide, namely against Mayweather in MMA or perhaps Georges St-Pierre.

Either way, the UFC needs McGregor back, so the sooner, the better. Can they corral their unpredictable star back into the Octagon in early 2018?

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Tony Ferguson Trolls Conor McGregor With “Season’s Beatings”

Tony Ferguson may not have even a potential title unification bout with Conor McGregor on the horizon, but that won’t stop him from trolling the controversial Irish champion online. Without the fight many fans are calling for, ‘El Cucuy’ is on the sidelines recovering from a recent elbow surgery awaiting McGregor’s prospective return, something that truly […]

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Tony Ferguson may not have even a potential title unification bout with Conor McGregor on the horizon, but that won’t stop him from trolling the controversial Irish champion online.

Without the fight many fans are calling for, ‘El Cucuy’ is on the sidelines recovering from a recent elbow surgery awaiting McGregor’s prospective return, something that truly may never happen after a $100 million payday to fight Floyd Mayweather in a boxing ring this August.

Ferguson is going to do his best to get ‘The Notorious’ back in Octagon, however, posting a ranting tweet online that featured a GIF of Will Ferrell from “Old School,” in addition to a laughable misspelling of “potato”:

It’s definitely true that “El Cucuy” has spewed a lot of at-times incomprehensible trash talk in the last year or two, but his overall message that McGregor, who hasn’t defended the 155-pound title since winning it versus Eddie Alvarez in November 2016, should either get back in the Octagon or vacate the belt is one that’s been repeatedly voiced by growing numbers of fans. The promotion made his mind up for him in a similar situation by stripping the 145-pound title.

The Irish star may have some of the most jaw-dropping knockout power in MMA history, but his seeming unwillingness to defend a single title has placed his spot among the true pound-for-greats in MMA into serious question.

“El Cucuy” appears ready to climb into that rarified air, yet the fight he needs to do it may not be available anytime soon – no matter how many times he calls out “The Notorious” online.

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Six Major Reasons Conor McGregor Needs To Defend His Title Right Away

On a day like today named Black Friday in America, where people trample each other to get better deals on Christmas gifts one day after supposedly giving thanks for everything they already have, there’s a far more dark and sinister scene playing out in the mixed martial arts (MMA) world, and that’s the absence of […]

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On a day like today named Black Friday in America, where people trample each other to get better deals on Christmas gifts one day after supposedly giving thanks for everything they already have, there’s a far more dark and sinister scene playing out in the mixed martial arts (MMA) world, and that’s the absence of their biggest star Conor McGregor.

The UFC lightweight champion has been out of action since winning the title in what seems like forever ago at UFC 205 in November 2016. He spent the most of 2017 chasing and participating in his boxing super-circus with Floyd Mayweather, and while UFC President Dana White likes to say the UFC has never had a better year financially, it was because of a boxing match his biggest star got finished in.

As actual UFC numbers continue to dive, it’s clear that promotional owners Endeavor need him to get back in the Octagon as soon as possible, something that may not be all that easy to pull off given his demands for a promoter’s stake in his next fight.

But finances aside, there are many more ramifications for McGregor’s unnecessary stay on the sidelines, and it’s clearly hurting the fight game by having by far its biggest name without a fight for so long. Let’s take a look at the reasons McGregor needs to defend his 155-pound title now.

Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger for USA TODAY Sports

He’s Destroying A Potentially Historic Legacy:

This one will most likely be something McGregor doesn’t care about due to his hundreds of millions of dollars, but it has to at least be discussed.

‘The Notorious’ is undoubtedly damaging a legacy that could be up there with the best fighters of all-time if he simply practiced what he preached and defended his title against all comers. Instead, he’s chased ‘money fights’ after winning each belt, fighting in other weight classes and even another sport as he held respective divisions hostage with his antics.

He’s never defended a single title in his entire fight career, and it can be asked what is the point of even having titles if the UFC is going to let him win a belt then put it on the shelf for a year or more afterward. It’s getting old, and even the most fervent ‘Notorious’ supporters are running out of excuses for him, even if they won’t admit it on the Internet.

He could quiet all that by simply defending his title a couple times, but again, he most likely doesn’t care.

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Rumor: Nate Diaz Begins Training For UFC Return

One of the UFC’s most polarizing fan favorites could be returning to the Octagon soon. It’s only a rumor at this point, but a post surfaced on Instagram today from Nate Diaz’ strength and conditioning coach Jose Garcia (via BJ Penn) telling fans to be ready because Diaz was supposedly back in training camp. The […]

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One of the UFC’s most polarizing fan favorites could be returning to the Octagon soon.

It’s only a rumor at this point, but a post surfaced on Instagram today from Nate Diaz’ strength and conditioning coach Jose Garcia (via BJ Penn) telling fans to be ready because Diaz was supposedly back in training camp.

The post was quickly deleted, but check it out right here:

Speculation naturally ran rampant after the photo was seen earlier today, with fans online getting rumors swirling that Diaz would be fighting interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson at December 30’s UFC 219 from Las Vegas.

Even further rumors stated the UFC had stripped McGregor of the lightweight title and Diaz would be fighting Ferguson for the official unified championship.

None of that has been confirmed and is all speculation at this point. What is strange, however, is that Diaz’ strength coach would post such a clear statement of his return online and quickly delete it.

Maybe he got overexcited at news that was only potential at the time and was instructed to take it down, or maybe he misinterpreted what he had heard. Either way, the MMA world is abuzz with the potential that Diaz may finally return to the Octagon.

Stay tuned.

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Breaking: Conor McGregor Won’t Return To UFC Without Promoter’s Stake

With the MMA world focused on this weekend’s (Sat., November 4, 2017) UFC 217 from New York City, the hottest topics in the fight game are still when and against whom UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor will set foot back into the Octagon. McGregor teased a title defense against interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson during […]

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With the MMA world focused on this weekend’s (Sat., November 4, 2017) UFC 217 from New York City, the hottest topics in the fight game are still when and against whom UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor will set foot back into the Octagon.

McGregor teased a title defense against interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson during a recent Q&A in his native Dublin, but also left the door open for a potential trilogy bout with rival Nate Diaz or any number of potential boxing crossover fights.

That left his UFC return uncertain at best, but based on what he revealed during a short Q&A session surrounding the debut of the documentary film about his life, there’s a much bigger topic that has to be hashed out before “The Notorious” fights for the UFC again. According to MMA Junkie’s Chamatkar Sandhu, McGregor revealed he will not fight until he has a promoter’s stake:

That may not come as a surprise to many, as during a down 2017 without him in the actual UFC, it’s clear the promotion needs him, perhaps much more than he needs them. If he does indeed get the promoter’s stake in the company that he very well may deserve, he’d like to get a fight booked in Ireland:

Sandhu clarified that the Q&A session was a short one, but the main takeaways were that the UFC was understandably trying to get McGregor back into the octagon before year’s end to bolster a sinking bottom line, and McGregor wouldn’t be playing ball without part ownership of his next fight:

So McGregor has reportedly drawn a proverbial line in the sand for new UFC owners Endeavor (formerly WME-IMG), and after they let him take the entirety of 2017 off MMA to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a boxing ring, they most likely aren’t going to be too happy about the position he’s now put them in.

They also don’t seem like people who like to be pushed around, even by the biggest star in MMA.

Should the UFC give in and grant McGregor his promoter’s stake, or is he getting too big for his own good?

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Conor McGregor Reveals Plans For Next Opponent

UFC 217 may be taking place this weekend (Sat., November 4, 2017) from New York, but much of the focus of the MMA world still remains on just whom lightweight champion Conor McGregor will face in his awaited Octagon return. Today (Tues., October 31, 2017) we may have some direct insight into his plans, as […]

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UFC 217 may be taking place this weekend (Sat., November 4, 2017) from New York, but much of the focus of the MMA world still remains on just whom lightweight champion Conor McGregor will face in his awaited Octagon return.

Today (Tues., October 31, 2017) we may have some direct insight into his plans, as McGregor revealed to Ireland’s entertainment.ie (via MMA Fighting) that interim lightweight champ Tony Ferguson, the hardcore MMA community’s overwhelming choice for his next bout, is the logical next choice for him:

“I’ve got everyone clawing at me, trying to get at me, and that’s from multiple sports, multiple organizations, multiple everything. It’s been like that for a long, long time, I feel, so it’s just another day for me. I know there are many contenders in the UFC. There are many boxing contenders as well. What interests me is certainly a UFC bout, certainly a defense of my lightweight title. There is a fighter with the interim lightweight belt. I feel that will be next. We’ll see how negotiations go.”

McGregor has yet to participate in an official title defense since first winning the UFC featherweight title from Jose Aldo at December 2015’s UFC 194, after which he engaged in his now-legendary rivalry with fan favorite Nate Diaz before winning the lightweight title from Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 last November, after which he was stripped of the 145-pound belt.

He’s been out of action for the entirety of 2017 thus far after meeting Floyd Mayweather in a boxing match August 26.

The other frontrunner for his next fight is his trilogy bout with Diaz, a fight that has been losing steam as discussions of the Ferguson match-up gain momentum. McGregor acknowledged that was still a possibility, however, just like one of several potential boxing crossover matches:

“The Diaz trilogy is also there,” McGregor said. “I can defend my belt against Nate. Maybe we can persuade one of these boxing opponents to step into the Octagon, or there’s also boxing bouts as well. So, there’s so many options. I feel to legitimize the belt — there’s an interim champion, I’m the unified champion — I feel that will be next. We are currently in contract negotiations, and we’ll see where it goes.”

So ‘The Notorious’s’ plans remain wide open, even if Ferguson remains the frontrunner. Whom do you think he should return to face?

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