Tag: Conor McGregor

Ali Abdelaziz on potential Nurmagomedov-McGregor rematch: ‘Conor’s not on our radar’

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz says Conor McGregor isn’t a factor in his client’s future fighting plans.

[autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] may be targeting a rematch with Khabib Nurmagomedov later in 2020 – and Dana White may be on board with the idea – but it seems [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag]’s camp aren’t interested in facing the man “The Eagle” finished at UFC 229 last year.

Speaking to TMZ Sports, Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz said he understood why the UFC president is linking McGregor with a potential rematch for the UFC lightweight title, but also stated that the Irishman wasn’t in the Russian champion’s immediate plans.

“Listen, Dana’s the greatest promoter in history (and) I respect the man very much,” he said. “He has to make people care about Conor. And by mentioning Khabib’s name, he is making Conor more relevant. It’s OK. He promote, can do whatever. Khabib has a plan, Dana has a plan, sometimes we’ll get upset, sometimes we’ll agree. But business moves on.

“But Conor’s not on our radar. He might lose to “Cowboy” as far as I understand. I think he might lose.”

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Abdelaziz also said he was unimpressed by recent photos showing McGregor in excellent shape ahead of his UFC 246 return against Donald Cerrone on Jan. 18, and said that all the pre-fight talk from the Irishman’s camp should be taken with a pinch of salt ahead of the fight.

“Listen, his coaches before the fight (with Nurmagomedov) said: ‘He’s ready, he’s gonna knock Khabib out inside three rounds, he’s never been in better shape.’ And after that, they said: they had a horrible camp, his food was like a balloon. They’re liars.

“He looks like a blew-out balloon. He’s a bodybuilder. That’s what I think. He’s getting no love from us.”

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And with Abdelaziz stating that McGregor wasn’t in position to challenge his client later this year, he suggested another one of his fighting stable was a more worthy contender to Nurmagomedov’s UFC lightweight crown.

“What about guys like Justin Gaethje?” he suggested. “He’s been winning and knocking people out. Logically, he is (the next top contender). He’s ranked number three. Number two, Dustin Poirier, fought for the title. That’s the only fight that makes sense for him, for his career, to fight the champion.”

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Gaethje has made no secret of his desire to face McGregor inside the octagon, but Abdelaziz says the UFC has made a wise move by keeping the Irish superstar well away from the former WSOF champion and his hard-nosed, come-forward fighting style.

“Listen, Conor does not want to have to do anything with Gaethje,” he said. “We understand, like I said, Gaethje takes a lot of people into deep water. We understand Conor is a quitter – he quit when he was in deep water. The UFC made the right choice not to (have Conor) fight Gaethje, because he would have beat his ass. Simple.”

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Kamaru Usman warns Conor McGregor against 170-pound title tilt: ‘That dream can turn into a Nightmare fast’

UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman warned Conor McGregor against challenging him for the 170-pound title, saying he’d turn the Dubiner’s dream into a nightmare.

[autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag]’s recent interview may have put the MMA world on notice for his imminent return, but one current UFC champion isn’t too impressed.

In a wide-ranging interview with his site The Mac Life, McGregor touched on a number of talking points ahead of his return to the octagon against Donald Cerrone in a welterweight bout at UFC 246. And his stated intention to go for the UFC’s 170-pound title drew comment from the man who currently holds the strap, [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag].

“I like that welterweight title fight,” McGregor said. “I’d like to look at that. I’d like to look at Kamaru Usman. I’d like to look at Colby (Covington). I’m open to it all at 170… I want the gold. I’m after the gold, 155 (or) 170. They’re the belts I’m chasing now.”

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Usman stopped rival Covington in the final minute of the final round at UFC 245 to cement his position as the UFC’s premier 170-pound fighter. And, perhaps unsurprisingly, McGregor’s comments prompted a response from “The Nigerian Nightmare”, who warned the returning Irishman to be careful what he wished for, while also predicting defeat for the Dubliner against Cerrone on Jan. 18.

My man @TheNotoriousMMA please just go in there and take your L from cowboy. Don’t even dream of this WW strap because that dream can turn into a Nightmare fast.

McGregor returns to action against Cerrone in the welterweight main event at UFC 246, while Usman’s next move is less certain as he recovers from his five-round war with Covington at UFC 245, though “BMF” champ Masvidal and in-form Brit Leon Edwards currently look well placed to get the next shot at Usman’s title later this year.

Conor McGregor: Justin Gaethje is on ‘the list,’ maybe he’s next

Conor McGregor says Justin Gaethje is on “the list.”

[autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] is on “the list.”

Ahead of his Jan. 18 return against Donald Cerrone at UFC 246, [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] has his sights set on a potential follow-up opponent.

Over the past few months, Gaethje (21-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) and McGregor (21-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) have traded barbs on social media and through interviews. The two fighters were even linked to a potential matchup this past summer, which fell through due to McGregor’s arrest.

In his first interview since his comeback was made official, McGregor said Gaethje is on his “list.”

“He is on the list,” McGregor told TheMacLife.com. “Maybe I will face him next. Maybe I’ll face him next. He has it coming to him. I laugh at how Justin has … he’s a funny guy.

“He’s been taking it very to heart. I know the feeling when you do that. Maybe I’ll get through Donald and I’ll have a quick turnaround against Justin. Maybe that’s what will happen. But Justin is on the list, no doubt.”

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Gaethje has voiced his displeasure with the UFC’s apparent lightweight divisional roadmap at the moment. It appears when it comes to the title picture, he’s the odd man out.

UFC president Dana White recently said he might rematch Khabib Nurmagomedov against McGregor if they both win their upcoming matchups. He also criticized Gaethje for not taking fights offered to him.

Thursday, Gaethje revealed he was offered Charles Oliveira and Dan Hooker. He turned both down. Gaethje said he was confused about the UFC president’s planning.

“He has people above him telling him to put the fight together,” Gaethje said. “This is the fight that’s going to make the most money. I’m sure, just looking from the outside in. So I’m guessing why he’s saying those things. I don’t think he’s actually trying to make me me look bad.

“I’ve done everything that man could ever want from a fighter or an employee or someone that he pays money to watch. So I don’t think it’s necessarily anything personal against me, I think it’s people above him telling him they have to make that fight no matter what.”

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UFC 246 takes place Jan. 18 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.

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Conor McGregor prefers UFC titles over ‘BMF,’ looking at Kamaru Usman, Jorge Masvidal and more

Conor McGregor on ‘BMF’ title: “It’s not the best looking one, right? I don’t really care about that one.”

[autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] isn’t moving to 170 pounds solely to face any one opponent.

He’s doing it for himself, McGregor (21-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) said in his first interview since his UFC 246 comeback was made official.

McGregor told “The MacLife” his shift to welterweight is for his own interests. However, he also likes some of the matchups the weight shift will open up potential for.

A potential matchup against “BMF” winner [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag] interests McGregor, but so does a crack at the UFC welterweight title and its current owner, [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag]. Additionally, McGregor named [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] as a potential opponent at 170 pounds.

“Yeah, I’d face Jorge,” McGregor said. “I’m not going to 170 just for Jorge. He hasn’t got really anything. I wasn’t really that happy how that ‘Bad Mother(expletive)’ thing ended. I think it’s unfinished. In my opinion, that bout is unfinished. It was only getting into a good bout. I believe we were robbed of Rounds 4 and 5 in that bout.

“But I like that welterweight title fight (at UFC 245). I’d like to look at that. I’d like to look at Kamaru Usman. I’d like to look at Colby. I’m open to it all at 170.”

Despite seemingly having become larger than MMA itself sometimes, McGregor is still enthralled by title belts. UFC president Dana White recently said McGregor wants a crack at Masvidal’s “BMF” title, but the Irishman said he prefers gold over silver.

“That ‘Bad Mother(expletive)’ belt is a silver one,” McGregor said. “(The ‘BMF’ title) is not the best looking one, right? I don’t really care about that one. I want the gold. I’m after the gold, 155 (or) 170. They’re the belts I’m chasing now.”

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How does McGregor think he’ll stack up against the upper echelon of the UFC’s welterweight division? The former dual champion thinks revamped commitment to his craft will be what he needs to make an impact.

“A lot of people forget about my skill base,” McGregor said. “I’m going to go in there and remind them. I don’t feel these people are my level when I’m committed. I have not been committed in a while, up until about a year ago (when) I really started committing myself. I look forward to going back and showcasing my skills to the people.”

McGregor returns to action at UFC 246 against Donald Cerrone in the welterweight main event. UFC 246 takes place Jan. 18 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.

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Conor McGregor maps out ‘2020 season,’ plans on reminding everyone he’s on top

Conor McGregor is declaring UFC 246 the start of his “2020 season.”

[autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] isn’t viewing his comeback as a single event, but rather a series of them.

The former dual champion isn’t solely driven by his upcoming UFC 246 return against Donald Cerrone. Instead, McGregor (21-4 MMA, 9-2) is motivated by a “2020 season.”

In his first interview since his comeback was made official, McGregor (21-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) laid out his upcoming plans.

“For me, I’m back in my old frame of mind,” McGregor told TheMacLife.com. “I just want consistency. I just want competition. It’s what I look to do – to be in that healthy state of mind, and my body, also. That’s it. So whoever, wherever … I have many shapes, many styles that I’m assessing from afar. But they’re all just blank faces.”

McGregor revealed he’s made mental and physical adjustments ahead of his return. In a sense, the mental adjustments can be more aptly qualified as reversions. According to McGregor, his UFC 229 camp was poor and ultimately resulted in a loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov. That’s changed. Fighting, he said, once again is his sole focus.

“That last camp was horrendous,” McGregor said. “I have no one to blame but myself. I did blame myself, and I did make the corrections. Thankfully, I have a strong team behind me that are pushing me and guiding me the right way. I’m guiding myself – (that’s) the main thing. I’m listening to myself and doing the work I know I need to do.

“Fighting is always close in my mind now. And I know I’ve got many businesses and these types of things that are driving at the minute. But fighting is my bread and butter, and that’s what I’m focused on.”

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In addition to focusing on self-improvement, McGregor has decided to remove himself from the “politics” of MMA. He’s going to let the UFC decide whom he fights and take it from there.

“I put it in the UFC’s hands,” McGregor said. “I do not care. I am back. I am back to who I am. I look forward to showcasing that on Jan. 18. Whoever is after that, it does not matter. I’ll be ready. This is the beginning of my 2020 season.”

For his 2020 season opener, McGregor chose welterweight because that’s his walk-around weight. Post-fight, he plans on cutting weight in anticipation of an April fight with either Nurmagomedov or Tony Ferguson if one of them pulls out of UFC 249.

The April 18 booking in Brooklyn, N.Y., is the fifth time Nurmagomedov and Ferguson have been matched up, so McGregor likes the chances he’ll have the opportunity to step in.

“I’ll cut weight to (lightweight), and then likely something will happen there,” McGregor said. “I’ll be likely to slide in there for that belt. I’ll just have a solid camp at 170 with no weight cut – a good fight … It’ll take me into the year. I’m looking into this as a season. This is the beginning of the season.”

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Upon the conclusion of the “2020 season,” McGregor thinks he’ll be on top. In actuality, McGregor said he’s never left the top. This season, he’s simply focused on reminding those who have forgotten where he sits.

“I look forward to getting that competition under my belt – get that sharpness back,” McGregor said. “I’m going to put on a beautiful display on Jan. 18, get my fans excited, and get the forgetful MMA industry (excited). It’s such a forgetful game. One guy can have a win or two wins and they’re on top of the world. Then a guy can have a loss and he’s at the bottom.

“I’m going to remind everyone, then continue to climb, continue to get my sharpness and build on it – see where it goes. ”

UFC 246 takes place Jan. 18 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.

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Conor McGregor: Khabib Nurmagomedov scared to rematch, thinks he was winning at UFC 229

Conor McGregor: “I just smell (expletive). That’s all it is. He’s afraid, and that’s it.”

[autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] may have lost the first battle against [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag], but the former UFC champion thinks the war is far from over.

In his first interview since his UFC 246 comeback was made official, McGregor (21-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) told TheMacLife.com he thinks Nurmagomedov is scared of a potential rematch.

“(Nurmagomedov) is trembling,” McGregor said. “That man is trembling. He doesn’t want it. He doesn’t want it. You get it. He’s trying not to lose it again … I just smell (expletive). That’s all it is. He’s afraid, and that’s it. Everyone wants it. The boss wants it – Dana (White) wants it. We all want it. He can run, but he cannot hide. I look forward to it.”

The two fighters squared off in October 2018 at UFC 229, where Nurmagomedov (28-0 MMA, 12-0 UFC) submitted McGregor in the fourth round. The finish was quickly put on the back burner when Nurmagomedov jumped into the crowd and initiated a post-fight melee with McGregor’s corner.

Up until the finish, McGregor thinks he was winning the majority of the fight. The Irishman pointed to a statistical advantage in the striking department and said Nurmagomedov hadn’t done much with his takedowns prior to the finishing sequence.

“In my mind, I won Round 1,” McGregor said. “I outstruck him 3-1. OK, he had position on that mat – but I outstruck him 3-1. What did he do in the first round? Second round, look at the lackadaisical approach I had to him. He was just running around the outside of the cage. He got that lucky shot and had a great second round. What happened after that? I was winning the third round, (and) even in the opening exchanges in the fourth round. I was winning the fourth round up until that trip.”

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Another factor that led to his defeat, McGregor said, was a poor training camp. McGregor pointed at himself and blamed his disrespect toward those around him for his UFC 229 demise.

“That (loss) was after a horrendous camp where I was so disrespectful to the people that believe in me,” McGregor said. “I was disrespectful to my team with my lack of commitment, and I still went out and done that.

“Then, I also landed a blow on his blood brother and his cousin, so we’re happy with it. It’ll come back to him. Like I said, he can run but he can’t hide … No, no, no: It’s far from (over).”

McGregor returns to action at UFC 246 against Donald Cerrone in a welterweight main event. UFC 246 takes place Jan. 18 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.

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Darren Till: Cerrone’s camp has a lot more to worry about than just McGregor’s left hand

Darren Till thinks Donald Cerrone’s camp has a lot more to be concerned with than just Conor McGregor’s left hand.

As a southpaw, himself, [autotag]Darren Till[/autotag] thinks there’s a lot that comes along with a powerful left hand.

[autotag]Donald Cerrone[/autotag]’s head coach Jafari Vanier came out and said that Cerrone only really has to worry about [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag]’s left hand in their UFC 246 matchup, and Till thinks they are gravely mistaken.

He took to Twitter to explain how Cerrone has to worry about everything that comes with that left hand, that McGregor has used to take out the likes of Jose Aldo and Dustin Poirier.

“I can not (expletive) wait for Conor X Cowboy next week. Feels like the old Conor is back. Both are right up for this, Cowboys camp have more to be concerned with than just Conor’s left hand though. As a southpaw, it’s not the left hand. It’s the set ups from the left hand, the spinning kicks, the faints, the angles, etc…It all draws you onto the left hand. Also that’s just not what he brings! You don’t beat who he beat by just having a left hand. If I would of taken my own advice above against Masvidal rather than just coming out to try and steamroll him. But he done me fair and good! Anyways let’s see a (expletive) tear up next week! I’ve got Conor by first round TKO, feel like the occasion may just be too much for Cowboy! But that’s just my opinion, Cowboys been around a lot longer than me and knows a hell of a lot more…”

 

From one southpaw to the other, Till, who holds a win over Cerrone, sparking him a left elbow in the first round that spelled the beginning of the end, is picking McGregor via first-round finish.

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Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather: Almost $500,000 per punch landed in 2010s

Floyd Mayweather made $499,181.67 for every punch he landed in the 2010s, according to Forbes and CompuBox.

Floyd Mayweather was an economical puncher – in more ways than one.

Forbes reported that “Money” was the world’s highest paid athlete of the 2010s, earning $915 million in 10 fights during the decade. In those fights, according to CompuBox, he landed 1,833 punches (of 4,270 thrown).

Dan Canobbio of CompuBox did the math: That’s $499,181.67 for every punch landed ($214,285.71 for every punch thrown).

That’s making the most out of your punches.

By comparison, according to the Census Bureau, the median American household income in 2018 was $63,179 – or 13 percent of what Mayweather made for landing a shot in the 2010s.

Of course, we shouldn’t begrudge Mayweather his fortune. Millions wanted to see him fight and he delivered. His fights against Manny Pacquiao and Conor McGregor alone generated  more than 9 million combined pay-per-view buys.

But almost half a million dollars for every punch landed?

Donald Cerrone happy Conor McGregor asked for welterweight fight at UFC 246: ‘Now we get to go in there and have fun’

Donald Cerrone talks the advantages of having his UFC 246 fight vs. Conor McGregor at 170 pounds.

[autotag]Donald Cerrone[/autotag] likes the idea of fighting [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] at 170 pounds.

Cerrone (36-13 MMA, 23-10 UFC) will headline UFC 246 when he takes on McGregor (21-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) on Jan. 18 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in a welterweight bout. And Cerrone admitted he’s glad to not have to drain himself in the weeks leading up to the fight.

“He just took the edge off,” said Cerrone in his documentary series ‘More than a Cowboy’. “A lot of cutting that weight… Making it to fight week is just battling the weight cut, but now we get to go in there and have fun. Oh man. Thank you!”

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Cerrone had a solid run at welterweight, going 6-4, taking out the likes of Alex Oliveira, Matt Brown, and Mike Perry.

But the former UFC lightweight title challenger made the drop back down to 155 pounds and has been competing at that weight for each of his past four fights.

He was all set to cut down to lightweight once again, until McGregor requested for the fight to be at welterweight.

“That was Conor’s idea,” Cerrone said. “We were already gearing up, trying to get down towards 155 and he said let’s do it at ’70 and I was like ‘done, OK’. It never mattered to me, weight never mattered to me either.

“The only problem me fighting at… when I was up at ’70, are those guys are big. Big, big. I’m like 177 right now, 178 and that’s like eating whatever I want. I think he wants to enjoy the holidays with his family and eat and drink, get in there and have fun, so I don’t blame him. Why not?”

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UFC 246 free fight: Conor McGregor earns champ-champ status after brutalizing Eddie Alavarez

Champ-champ status is almost mundane now, but Conor McGregor becoming the first in the UFC to do it remains a legendary moment.

[autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] will forever be known as the first fighter in UFC history to hold two weight-class championships simultaneously.

At UFC 205, McGregor took on then-UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez. Under the bright lights of New York’s Madison Square Garden, in the company’s first event in the big city after New York state dropped its longstanding MMA ban, McGregor put on a striking clinic.

Competing at 155 pounds for the first time under the UFC’s banner, McGregor, who was at the time the reigning UFC featherweight champ,  knocked down Alvarez six times. Midway through the second, McGregor landed a lightning-fast four-punch combination.

When Alvarez hit the ground, McGregor pounced on the downed champion and finished the fight with punches at 3:04 of Round 2.

The image of McGregor atop the cage at MSG, flaunting his two titles to the delight of the crowd, is an image that will likely live on forever. Equally as legendary was his infamous phrase on the microphone post-fight.

“Surprise, surprise, the king is back,” McGregor yelled into the microphone. The phrase was a play on Nate Diaz’s signature “I’m not surprised mother (expletive)” line from UFC 196.

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McGregor returns to action for the first time since October 2018 when he takes on Donald Cerrone in the UFC 246 headliner. The event takes place Saturday, Jan. 17 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It will stream live on pay-per-view after prelims air on ESPN.

Relive Conor McGregor’s calculated belt-clinching beatdown of Eddie Alvarez from UFC 205 in the video above.

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