Tag: ufc 254

Report: No Crowds For UFC 254, Only ‘Small Handful Of Invitees’

UFC 254It turns out there won’t be any crowds for the UFC 254 pay-per-view event this weekend. UFC 254 takes place Saturday in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, as Khabib Nurmagomedov takes on Justin Gaethje in a highly-anticipated lightweight title unification fight in the event headliner. And it was recently revealed by Department of Culture and Tourism […]

UFC 254

It turns out there won’t be any crowds for the UFC 254 pay-per-view event this weekend.

UFC 254 takes place Saturday in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, as Khabib Nurmagomedov takes on Justin Gaethje in a highly-anticipated lightweight title unification fight in the event headliner.

And it was recently revealed by Department of Culture and Tourism destination marketing director Saeed Rashed Al Saeed that although not approved, there was a plan in place to get fans in attendance for the event.

“We are currently studying how to bring fans into UFC 254,” Al Saeed said. “Right now we’re going through how to segregate fans from people inside the bubble but still get them inside the space in the safe manner.

“If everything goes to plan we’ll be announcing this soon. It’s not confirmed yet but the plan is in place but it needs to be endorsed. I’m optimistic but health and safety cannot be compromised. That is our priority, it will not happen unless it is fool proof.”

Unfortunately, it looks like it wasn’t approved in the end.

That said, there will be a handful of invitees who will get the opportunity to attend the event as per ESPN’s Brett Okamoto.

“Update on UFC 254: No fans, unfortunately. A plan that would have allowed additional fans in the building and put tickets on sale was not approved in time. There will be a small handful of invitees, but atmosphere will essentially be the same as every other event, I’m told.”

While many prefer for fans to be in attendance as it adds to the atmosphere, there are many who also prefer UFC events without fans as well as there is no booing and you really get to hear the sound of the strikes during a fight.

Do you prefer UFC events with or without fans?

WATCH: UFC 254 Cold Open Released

The UFC has released the cold open for the highly-anticipated UFC 254 pay-per-view card. In the main event of UFC 254, Khabib Nurmagomedov is set to take on Justin Gaethje in what many are calling his toughest test to date. It is one of the most antici…

The UFC has released the cold open for the highly-anticipated UFC 254 pay-per-view card. In the main event of UFC 254, Khabib Nurmagomedov is set to take on Justin Gaethje in what many are calling his toughest test to date. It is one of the most anticipated fights of 2020 and the promotion dropped the […]

The post WATCH: UFC 254 Cold Open Released appeared first on MMA News.

Watch Emotional Animated Promo On Khabib Nurmagomedov And Father (Video)

NurmagomedovKhabib Nurmagomedov‘s upcoming fight against Justin Gaethje will certainly be an emotional affair. Nurmagomedov meets Gaethje in a lightweight title unification fight at UFC 254 next weekend in what will be his first fight since the tragic death of his father Abdulmanap. And in a tribute to the late Nurmagomedov, BT Sport released an emotional […]

Nurmagomedov

Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s upcoming fight against Justin Gaethje will certainly be an emotional affair.

Nurmagomedov meets Gaethje in a lightweight title unification fight at UFC 254 next weekend in what will be his first fight since the tragic death of his father Abdulmanap.

And in a tribute to the late Nurmagomedov, BT Sport released an emotional animated promo dedicated to the duo.

You can watch it below:

Khabib and his father were naturally close, but they were closer than most given Abdulmanap was also his best friend and coach.

“I’m sure everyone in this room lost someone,” Nurmagomedov told media back in August. “A friend, a neighbor, a cousin, a mother, a father, girlfriend. Everyone goes through loss, I understand that. But on the other hand it’s very difficult. Some people have strictly a father-son relationship, but my father was very close to me. We were like friends. He was my father and coach, we were always together. We were very close. Of course I’m sad.

“… If I tell you with a straight face that it doesn’t affect my training, that’d be a lie. It does affect me, I think about him all the time. Maybe this pain will put me on another level and make me stronger. Any challenge either breaks you or makes you stronger. We’ll see what it does to me in time.” 

We’ll get to see how Nurmagomedov responds in the Octagon in less than a week.

What did you think of the promo?

Justin Gaethje Says Beating Khabib Will Cement Legacy, Not Interested In McGregor

Gaethje McGregorJustin Gaethje still doesn’t seem to be interested in fighting Conor McGregor. Gaethje takes on Khabib Nurmagomedov in a lightweight title unification fight in the UFC 254 headliner next weekend. Should he come out on top, he will not only be the unified lightweight champion, but will have done so by defeating Ferguson and Nurmagomedov […]

Gaethje McGregor

Justin Gaethje still doesn’t seem to be interested in fighting Conor McGregor.

Gaethje takes on Khabib Nurmagomedov in a lightweight title unification fight in the UFC 254 headliner next weekend. Should he come out on top, he will not only be the unified lightweight champion, but will have done so by defeating Ferguson and Nurmagomedov en route to the feat.

As for fighting McGregor afterwards? It’s getting less and less enticing.

“I said it before, I’ll say it again, he’s losing all his pull here,” Gaethje told TMZ. “Especially when he put those text messages out. Not a smart move, not a smart move.”

Of course, if Gaethje were to become champion, he would be foolish not to face McGregor. After all, it’s still a huge fight and would mean even more eyeballs and a bigger paycheck.

That said, “The Highlight” isn’t bothered about who he will fight in the future — because becoming the first fighter to defeat Nurmagomedov is more than enough to cement his legacy already.

“You know, for me, wrestling my whole life, when you were champion you didn’t think about others,” Gaethje said. “You just thought about not letting someone take that from you. When I get this belt, the target will be on my back and I will have no need to call anybody out.

“So who knows. Honestly it wouldn’t matter. It wouldn’t matter who I fought after I beat Khabib. This is will cement my legacy and that’s the only thing I’m here for.”

What do you think of Gaethje’s comments?

UFC 254 Plan To Allow Fans In Arena Not Approved

The fanless era of the UFC will continue for the time being, as UFC 254 will not have fans in attendance this coming Saturday. Earlier this week, it was reported that there was a possibility that UFC 254 would have fans in attendance. Abu Dhabi’s Depar…

The fanless era of the UFC will continue for the time being, as UFC 254 will not have fans in attendance this coming Saturday. Earlier this week, it was reported that there was a possibility that UFC 254 would have fans in attendance. Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) had proposed a plan […]

The post UFC 254 Plan To Allow Fans In Arena Not Approved appeared first on MMA News.

Cynthia Calvillo Out Of UFC 254, UFC Looking For Replacement

CalvilloTop ranking UFC Women’s Flyweight Cynthia Calvillo has been pulled from her scheduled bout against Lauren Murphy at UFC 254. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto shared the news on Twitter stating that sources had informed him the UFC would be looking for a replacement to keep Murphy still on the card. UPDATE: Calvillo will be replaced by […]

Calvillo

Top ranking UFC Women’s Flyweight Cynthia Calvillo has been pulled from her scheduled bout against Lauren Murphy at UFC 254.

ESPN’s Brett Okamoto shared the news on Twitter stating that sources had informed him the UFC would be looking for a replacement to keep Murphy still on the card.

UPDATE: Calvillo will be replaced by UFC debut fighter Liliya Shakirova who will now face Lauren Murphy at UFC 254.

In an article for ESPN Okamoto went further explaining that the withdrawal comes after a positive COVID-19 test on Thursday.

Calvillo was set to make her second appearance at Flyweight after moving up from Strawweight to take on Jessica Eye in June. In this matchup, Calvillo shut out Eye earning a dominant Unanimous Decision victory. This win would extend her winning streak to three with her only loss coming against Carla Esparza in 2017.

Lauren Murphy was also coming into this fight on a winning streak of three, most recently defeated Roxanne Modafferi by unanimous decision in June. Coming in at number 6 a win against Calvillo would look to move Murphy into the top five of the division.

Currently, the UFC has not shared any news about who will replace Calvillo to keep this fight on UFC 254 to be headlined by Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje. This is not the first fighter to fall out of the PPV, last week Rafael Dos Anjos was forced to pull out due to a positive COVID test leaving Islam Makhachev without an opponent. The UFC remains hopeful they will be able to find him an opponent also so he may remain on the card with his teammate, the champions Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Outside the main event, UFC 254’s co-main event will showcase a matchup of two top-ranking Middleweight contenders when the former champion Robert Whittaker takes on the rising Jared Cannonier. The main card also showcases a key matchup in the heavyweight division between Alexander Volkov and Walt Harris, and a fight that has been rebooked many times between Magomed Akalaev and Ion Cutelaba.