UFC 209 Salaries: Alistair Overeem & Mark Hunt Top List

The UFC 209 salaries are in and two fighters stand alone at the top. This past Saturday night (March 4) UFC 209 took place inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the main event, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight title holder Tyron Woodley defended his gold against Stephen Thompson once again. This time, […]

The UFC 209 salaries are in and two fighters stand alone at the top. This past Saturday night (March 4) UFC 209 took place inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the main event, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight title holder Tyron Woodley defended his gold against Stephen Thompson once again. This time, […]

Nate Diaz Says UFC Has Been ‘Holding Him Back’

Nate Diaz hasn’t fought since dropping a majority decision loss to Conor McGregor in their rematch last August, but he was in Las Vegas this past weekend (March 4, 2017) for UFC 209, which was headlined by a welterweight title rematch between Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson. The fight ended up being quite a lackluster

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Nate Diaz hasn’t fought since dropping a majority decision loss to Conor McGregor in their rematch last August, but he was in Las Vegas this past weekend (March 4, 2017) for UFC 209, which was headlined by a welterweight title rematch between Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson.

The fight ended up being quite a lackluster bout, and both Woodley and Thompson have received some criticism because of it. In Diaz’s opinion, the two fighters are simply ‘boring’:

“People who treat it like it’s a business, wearing a suit, acting a certain way, like (Tyron) Woodley and (Stephen) Thompson, they’re so boring,” Diaz told USA Today Sports. “You guys are acting in a certain way you think you should be acting to be professional, but the best example of a professional fighter is me and my brother (Nick).”

Diaz has always seen himself as a star, and he certainly is at this point given the attention his rivalry with McGregor received, but he doesn’t seem too urgent to get back into the Octagon. He has said that he’s only interested in a trilogy bout with McGregor or a big fight, but it’s rare that him in the promotion can agree on financial terms for a fight.

In regards to his relationship with the UFC, Diaz feels as if he doesn’t represent the ‘look’ the promotion wants. In fact, he even said that the UFC tried to prevent him from the role he landed promoting the upcoming movie ‘Fist Fight’:

“The UFC is like, ‘We’re thinking GSP or Conor McGregor,’ ” Diaz said. “My guy said, ‘Don’t worry, we’re going to use Nate.’ They came back to say, ‘We really think you should use GSP or Conor.’

“I don’t know what it is. I’m not a white boy with blue eyes or great looking, I talk all (messed) up. I’m not the look they’re going for, but this is fighting. You don’t go for a look. You go for the baddest that’s out there. This is an example of my whole career.”

It’s for this reason that Diaz isn’t afraid to speak his mind about the UFC, although he added that he’s ‘still here’:

“They try to shut us down. With Conor, they made a star out of him. They have never done that for me. I’m still here after all the holding back I’ve been through. They’ve never put my name on a pedestal. If they had my back the whole way, I’d be like, ‘UFC, all day, don’t be dissing my company like that,’ but why would I do that for a company that does this?”

Do you expect to see Diaz fight again in the near future?

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Quote: Khabib Just Lost His Title Shot To Nate Diaz

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s lightweight title opportunity may have just fallen into the lap of Nate Diaz. Well, at least according to former UFC light heavyweight and middleweight title challenger and current Bellator MMA competitor Chael Sonnen. Following the conclusion of the UFC 209 pay-per-view (PPV) this past weekend (Sat. March 4, 2017), Sonnen and UFC lightweight Gilbert

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Khabib Nurmagomedov’s lightweight title opportunity may have just fallen into the lap of Nate Diaz.

Well, at least according to former UFC light heavyweight and middleweight title challenger and current Bellator MMA competitor Chael Sonnen. Following the conclusion of the UFC 209 pay-per-view (PPV) this past weekend (Sat. March 4, 2017), Sonnen and UFC lightweight Gilbert Melendez took to ESPN to discuss Nurmagomedov’s failure to make weight for his scheduled co-main event meeting with Tony Ferguson.

‘The Eagle’ and ‘El Cucuy’ were slated to meet for the interim 155-pound title, however, Nurmagomedov was hospitalized early on weigh-in morning due to weight cutting complications. Sonnen stated that Nurmagomedov’s inability to make weight, and the bout’s subsequent scrapping, may have just cost the Russian his shot at UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor in his home-country; opening up the door for Nate Diaz to swoop in (quotes courtesy of Bloody Elbow):

“This caused Khabib Nurmagomedov long term effects,” Sonnen said. “I’ll tell you the politics here. Dana White comes back from Russia, announces that he has a new TV deal. 48 hours later, he announces that the winner of Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Tony Ferguson will be taking on Conor McGregor.

“You don’t need to put on your Colombo rain jacket to realize, Conor McGregor vs the favorite, Khabib Nurmagomedov was going to happen on the debut of the Russian TV deal. It is likely gone!” he said. “And I believe it goes to Nate Diaz.”

McGregor and Diaz have quite the history with one another as the Stockton Native subbed in for Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 196 last March, when the Brazilian was forced out of his scheduled lightweight title defense against ‘The Notorious One’ with a broken foot. Diaz went on to submit McGregor in the second round of their contest via rear-naked choke, handing the Irish knockout artist the first loss of his UFC career.

The pair rematched in the main event of UFC 202 last August in which McGregor took home the majority decision win, making them 1-1 against one another in their mixed martial arts (MMA) careers. A trilogy bout with the 155-pound title on the line (after both of their previous matches took place at welterweight) would be a massive event to cap off their legendary feud with each other.

You can check out Sonnen and Melendez’s comments on Nurmagomedov and Nate Diaz here:

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Stephen Thompson: I Know I’ll Fight Tyron Woodley Again

Coming off of his controversial majority decision loss to Tyron Woodley in the main event of UFC 209 this past weekend (Sat. March 4, 2017), Stephen Thompson has had some time to reflect on the upsetting defeat at the hands of ‘The Chosen One.’ Thompson and Woodley initially met in the co-main event of UFC

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Coming off of his controversial majority decision loss to Tyron Woodley in the main event of UFC 209 this past weekend (Sat. March 4, 2017), Stephen Thompson has had some time to reflect on the upsetting defeat at the hands of ‘The Chosen One.’

Thompson and Woodley initially met in the co-main event of UFC 205 from Madison Square Garden this past November, where the bout was ruled a majority draw after the Fight Of The Night. Their rematch, however, didn’t quite live up to expectations, as it was heavily received as one of the worst UFC title bouts in recent memory.

‘Wonderboy’ got the short end of the stick in the controversial decision after the judges read their score-cards, but he has had some time to reflect on the loss in a recent statement issued to FOX Sports:

“Last night was not the outcome I wanted. I wanted that title more than anything, but it didn’t go my way,” Thompson said. “Tyron is a great fighter, a deserving champion, and a worthy opponent.

“We’ll fight again, I know it.”

Given that Woodley and Thompson have fought twice now consecutively, the former kickboxing star will have to earn his opportunity at the 170-pound title once again. While the welterweight champ will likely meet the winner of Jorge Masvidal and Demian Maia next, Thompson is ready for whatever challenge the UFC has planned for him:

“In the meantime, I’m gonna go home and see my dogs, hang out with my family, and just appreciate the fact that I get to do what I do for a living,” Thompson said. “I am blessed by everyone’s support and love and hope that every time I step on that canvas that love is repaid.

“I welcome the next challenge with open arms and a full heart.”

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Khabib Nurmagomedov Releases Statement on Canceled UFC 209 Bout

Khabib Nurmagomedov has offered an apology for the cancellation of his UFC 209 bout. “The Eagle” was going to compete against Tony Ferguson last night (March 4) at UFC 209. The two were going to share the Octagon for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) interim lightweight title. The winner would’ve likely met Conor McGregor in […]

Khabib Nurmagomedov has offered an apology for the cancellation of his UFC 209 bout. “The Eagle” was going to compete against Tony Ferguson last night (March 4) at UFC 209. The two were going to share the Octagon for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) interim lightweight title. The winner would’ve likely met Conor McGregor in […]

Daniel Kelly Doesn’t Feel Rashad Evans Should Walk Away From MMA

Daniel Kelly doesn’t agree with those who say his UFC 209 opponent Rashad Evans should consider retirement. Last night (March 4) Kelly welcomed Evans to the middleweight division. With Evans being a former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight title holder, he was Kelly’s highest profile fight. It was Kelly who walked out of the […]

Daniel Kelly doesn’t agree with those who say his UFC 209 opponent Rashad Evans should consider retirement. Last night (March 4) Kelly welcomed Evans to the middleweight division. With Evans being a former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight title holder, he was Kelly’s highest profile fight. It was Kelly who walked out of the […]