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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?

Sean O’Malley doubles down on his demand to fight Ryan Garcia after next UFC title defense

Once Sean O’Malley takes care of some business with Merab Dvalishvili, ‘Sugar’ has his sights set on a crossover…

Once Sean O’Malley takes care of some business with Merab Dvalishvili, ‘Sugar’ has his sights set on a crossover clash with boxing star Ryan Garcia.

‘King Ryan’ is all the rage after he delivered a lights-out performance against WBC super lightweight world champion Devin Haney in Brooklyn. Since then, a slew of boxers have come out of the woodwork lobbying for a fight with Ryan, including Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, Jaron Ennis, Conor Benn, and Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz.

You can also add UFC bantamweight world champion Sean O’Malley’s name to the list. Taking to social media, ‘Sugar’ suggested that after his next title defense, which is all but guaranteed to come against streaking Georgian contender Merab Dvalishvili, he plans to box Ryan Garcia.

“After I KO Merab I’m boxing Ryan,” O’Malley wrote on X.

Considering the UFC chose to let Francis Ngannou leave rather than allowing him to box in between fights inside the Octagon, we’d say there is a 0.01% chance that Dana White allows O’Malley to take on one of the best boxers in the world today while they’ve got him under contract.

Aside from having a very tough test in front of him in Dvalishvili, Sean O’Malley already has a slew of potential contenders to deal with at 135.

A proposed fight between Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov will likely decide the division’s next title contender. You’ve also got Deiveson Figueiredo who has continued to climb his way up the bantamweight ranks after already claiming gold at flyweight.

And then there’s Petr Yan who got back into the win column at UFC 299 with a big win over Song Yadong in the main card opener.

Needless to say, there are plenty of fights to keep O’Malley busy without having to fish for a boxing match with the flavor of the month.

‘Nobody wants to see’ Sean O’Malley vs. Ryan Garcia

UFC fans were none-too interested in the idea of seeing Sean O’Malley step inside the ring with Ryan Garcia based on the backlash ‘Sugar’ received on social media.

TKO Group CEO Ari Emanuel banks almost $85 million in 2023, including $20 million UFC bonus

Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel banked nearly $85 million in 2023. According to a proxy statement filed with the Securities…

Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel banked nearly $85 million in 2023.

According to a proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ahead of an annual stockholders meeting scheduled for June, Emanuel netted $65 million for his role as one of the top executives for TKO Group Holdings, the publicly traded entity that currently houses both the Ultimate Fighting Championship and World Wrestling Entertainment under the same roof.

Per a report from Damon Martin of MMA Fighting, the breakdown includes $911,538 in prorated salary based on the merger date to the end of the fiscal year on September 12, 2023, along with a $24 million bonus and just over $40 million in stock rewards.

Emanual also took home a $20 million transaction bonus from UFC that “was not tied to achievement of any specified performance measure and, as such, is not included herein.”

Ari Emanuel wasn’t the only executive who brought home the bacon in 2023

Next on the list was TKO president and chief operating officer Mark Shapiro who made $16 million, including a $9 million bonus and more than $6 million in stock awards. Shapiro brought in another $22.77 million attributable to Endeavor, bringing his total 2023 take to more than $38 million.

Chief financial officer Andrew Schleimer earned more than $8.7 million, with a $5 million bonus and more than $3.1 million in stock awards.

Also reaping the benefits was WWE President and TKO Group board member Nick Khan who took home more than $32 million in total compensation, which included a $15 million bonus and more than $12 million in stock awards.

TKO Group will likely continue to see its profits skyrocket after the WWE closed a five-year, $10 billion deal to move its flagship show, Monday Night Raw, to Netflix starting in 2025.

The UFC will also return to the negotiating table as its broadcasting deal with ESPN is set to expire at the end of next year.

The initial deal with ESPN was for five years with the the cable sports network paying out $1.5 billion for the rights before being extended for an additional two years. Early reports suggest the UFC could double that amount with its next broadcasting deal after seeing a massive boom in business over the last several years.

Islam Makhachev calls for Leon Edwards title fight after UFC 302: ‘I already gave a chance to fighters at 145’

Slated to headline UFC 302 in June, undisputed lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev is hellbent on challenging for a second…

Slated to headline UFC 302 in June, undisputed lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev is hellbent on challenging for a second title after his comeback this summer, specifically in a showdown with welterweight titleholder, Leon Edwards.

Makhachev, the current lightweight gold holder, is set to make his comeback to the Octagon this summer in New Jersey, taking on former interim champion, Dustin Poirier in the pair’s championship headliner atop UFC 302.

UFC Saudi Arabia postponed until June amid links to Islam Makhachev comeback fight — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

Sidelined since December, Birmingham native, Edwards himself most recently took main event honors at UFC 296, himself turning in a one-sided unanimous decision victory against former interim champion, Colby Covington in the pair’s heated grudge fight.

Islam Makhachev calls for Leon Edwards clash

And forever staking his claim for a siege at a second title belt, Makhachev, the current pound-for-pound number one, claims his decision to welcome title challenges from Alexander Volkanovski in a featherweight rise, should allow him to challenge for welterweight spoils after UFC 302.

Islam Makhachev calls for division move after UFC 302 I've already beat everyone at lightweight — Mandatory Credit: Giuseppe Cacece

“My dream fight: I have to fight in the next division, 170 [pounds],” Islam Makhachev told The New York Post. “I have to fight Leon Edwards. I already gave a chance to fighters at 145 [pounds]. That’s why I need my chance at a second belt. …Honestly, I don’t have any exciting fights, because Dustin (Poirier) has just one-fight win streak.”

“And we have Arman (Tsarukyan), but I already beat this guy,” Islam Makhachev explained. “I don’t have some job in my division, in my opinion, honestly. And I think I have a chance. They have to give me the chance for a second belt because I already beat the old guys.”

Leon Edwards confirms he will fight at UFC 300 I will defend my title in April in Las Vegas — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

Himself linked with a comeback fight at the end of July in Manchester, Edwards has been touted as a shoo-in to feature at UFC 304 in a home soil return – amid links to a title fight rematch with the streaking, Belal Muhammad.

Who wins in a future title ‘super fight’: Leon Edwards or Islam Makhachev?

Chris Weidman unsure of Alex Pereira’s ability to keep UFC title: ‘I see such an opening with the wrestling’

Whilst appearing to sell the majority of the mixed martial arts community on his dominance off the back of…

Whilst appearing to sell the majority of the mixed martial arts community on his dominance off the back of his stunning first round win over Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 earlier this month, Alex Pereira’s apparent wrestling shortcomings have caught the eye of former middleweight kingpin, Chris Weidman.

Pereira, a former undisputed middleweight titleholder and the current undisputed light heavyweight champion, headlined UFC 300 earlier this month in a title fight return against ex-champion, Hill, turning in a dominant first round knockout win over the Illinois native.

Alex Pereira rejects UFC 308 clash with Magomed Ankalaev in Abu Dhabi I want to fight sooner — Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari – Zuffa LLC

As for Weidman, the former middleweight champion returned to the winner’s enclosure for the first time since his gruesome compound leg fracture back in 2021 with a controversial decision win over Bruno Silva at UFC Atlantic City last month.

Chris Weidman admits he’s not sold on Alex Pereira

And linked with a title fight against surging Russian contender, Magomed Ankalaev as well as a heavyweight division leap in his return, Alex Pereira – as per Weidman, is likely there for the taking against a proficient wrestler and grappler, despite his thunderous knockout power.

Chris Weidman lands egregious decision win over Bruno Silva after multiple eye pokes UFC Atlantic City — Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari – Zuffa LLC

“It’s hard for me to get fully behind (Alex) Pereira, because I do see such an opening with the wrestling, and he hasn’t really fought wrestlers who will take advantage of that,” Chris Weidman said during an appearance on Believe You Me. “It’s hard to deal with, but it’s so crazy and it’s such a deficiency in what we’ve seen so far.”

Alex Pereira tipped for success at heavyweight everybody is in trouble against him UFC — Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – USA TODAY Sports

“It’s almost like Ben Askren coming into the UFC and being able to just become a multiple-time champion with no hands [striking],” Weidman explained. “It’s like a striker looking at Ben Askren and thinking, ‘How the hell is this guy the world champion?’ He was able to do it in Bellator, he was able to do it in ONE FC. The guy had an unbelievable MMA career and had no striking at all. It looked awful but he was so good at wrestling he was able to do it.”

Do you agree with Chris Weidman’s take on Alex Pereira’s ability?

Ronda Rousey’s coaching staff blamed for ruining ex-UFC star’s career: ‘They had a Lamborghini and wrecked it’

Former UFC bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey’s team have been hit with the blame for the Riverside native’s career downturn…

Former UFC bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey’s team have been hit with the blame for the Riverside native’s career downturn back in 2015, with veteran coach, Louis Taylor comparing her talents to a “Lamborghini” – which he team eventually “wrecked”.

Dana White trashes Scott Coker in antitrust lawsuit deposition I turned Ronda Rousey into a star UFC

Rousey, the promotion’s inaugural bantamweight champion having struck gold under the banner of the now-defunct, Strikeforce promotion, called time on her decorated career in mixed martial arts after consecutive knockout losses to Amanda Nunes and Holly Holm back in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

Ronda Rousey claims she was destined to lose Holly Holm fight I got touched and my bottom teeth got knocked loose — Mandatory Credit: Pat Scala

Enjoying a stunning unbeaten run up until her title fight with Holm in Australia, Rousey’s dominant reign was ended courtesy of a savage second round high-kick KO loss, before returning the following year in a blistering first round TKO defeat against the above-mentioned Brazilian star, Nunes.

Ronda Rousey described as Lamborghini which had been “wrecked” by coaching staff

Revealing a bleak history of neurological issues as well as consecutive concussions suffered during her tenure with the UFC, which limited her ability to engage with fighters, and ultimately attributed to her decision to call time on her career, Rousey’s coaches did no benefit to her in the long run, according to the previously noted, Taylor.

Ronda Rousey reveals concussion secret let to her exit from the UFC that's why I had to retire — Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari – Zuffa LLC

“Her (Ronda Rousey) coaching is – I would still slap her entire coaching staff – like, bro, they had a Lamborgini and just wrecked it,” Taylor said during an appearance on the Money, Loyalty, Legacy podcast. “But, you know again, if you coaches – and Belal (Muhammaed) will tell you, too, I’m a good friend, ‘cause I’m the one that’s going to tell you you’re f*cking up, you know what I’m saying?”

“There’s not a fight, whether we win or lose, that I’m just like, you did great,” Taylor explained. “No because I’m there to look for the mistakes, I’m there to look for what the next coach is looking for.” (H/T MMA News)

Do you think Ronda Rousey’s coaching staff are to blame for her career downfall?