Tag: UFC 257

Callout Collection: Who UFC 257 winners want next – and how likely they’ll get them

Michael Chandler and Julianna Pena were among those who name-dropped their preferred next opponents at UFC 257 in Abu Dhabi.

Earning wins in the UFC is certainly no easy task, but what comes next is often even more important: the post-fight callout.

So, after Saturday’s UFC 257 event in Abu Dhabi, who took advantage of their time on the mic?

See below for this week’s Callout Collection – and just how realistic each one is.

Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier shared a classy backstage exchange after UFC 257

“You broke my leg, you (expletive).”

In his first UFC bout in a year, Conor McGregor lost Saturday’s UFC 257 fight against Dustin Poirier by way of a second-round knockout at Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.

As the fight progressed, the 32-year-old Poirier did a number on McGregor’s leg with the low leg kicks. That damage built up to the second-round KO, and McGregor was visibly limping after the fight.

But despite the disappointing loss, McGregor went out of his way to show his respect to Poirier. Videos from early Sunday morning captured a backstage exchange between McGregor and Poirier. We can hear as McGregor compliments Poirier for, uh, breaking his leg. The two then went on to discuss key parts of their own fight.

Just as McGregor was gracious in his post-fight interview, that respect seemed to carry on behind the scenes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BGHXXFAXp0&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=USATODAYSports

Conor McGregor opens as slight favorite for potential Dustin Poirier trilogy fight

Hours after Conor McGregor lost to Dustin Poirier at UFC 257, the Irish star opened as the betting favorite for a potential trilogy fight.

Less than 24 hours after [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] was knocked out in his rematch against [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] at UFC 257, the Irish star has opened as the betting favorite for a potential trilogy matchup.

In odds released by online sportsbook BetOnline.ag, McGregor (22-5 MMA, 10-3 UFC) opened as a slight favorite at -140. That means a $100 winning bet on McGregor would return $71.42 (in addition to the initial wager).

The comeback on Poirier (27-6 MMA, 19-5 UFC) is +120. That means a $100 winning bet on Poirier would return $120.00 (in addition to the initial wager).

The fight needs to take place in 2021 in order for action to occur. Both men expressed interest in a trilogy fight in their respective UFC 257 post-fight news conferences.

Ahead of the two fighters’ first meeting at UFC 178 in 2013, McGregor opened as an underdog at +195, with Poirier a favorite at -225. However, the line flipped. Closing odds had McGregor at -276 and Poirier at +159.

Before the rematch at UFC 257 on Saturday, McGregor opened at -175, with Poirier at +150. By the line’s close, McGregor grew to a -283 favorite against underdog Poirier, who was +275.

The data for UFC 178 and UFC 257 above, averages across major online sportsbooks, was calculated and tracked by gambling-line database BestFightOdds.

UFC 257 took place Saturday at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The main card streamed on ESPN+ pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.

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Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Dustin Poirier after UFC 257 win?

See whom Dustin Poirier should fight next after his victory over Conor McGregor in the UFC 257 headliner.

(ALSO SEE: Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Conor McGregor after UFC 257 loss?)

[autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] added a feat to his resume that can never be taken away Saturday when he handed Conor McGregor his first knockout loss in MMA to close out the UFC 257 main event.

Poirier (27-6 MMA, 19-5 UFC), a former interim lightweight champion, put together a brilliant strategy to set up a second-round TKO of McGregor (22-5 MMA, 10-3 UFC) at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. With the performance, he avenged a key career loss to McGregor and proved he’s likely the top fighter in his division with Khabib Nurmagomedov absent from the scene.

Moments don’t get much bigger in the fight game than what Poirier accomplished at UFC 257. So how does he proceed going forward? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on his future coming out of his victory in the rematch with McGregor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMBDWCwD6Qg

Floyd Mayweather thinks there’s a double standard for ‘Con Artist McLoser’ Conor McGregor

Does Floyd Mayweather have a point?

Floyd Mayweather reveled in Conor McGregor’s TKO defeat at UFC 257, and seemed to feel the hype surrounding McGregor is undue.

Dustin Poirier defeated McGregor (22-5 MMA, 10-3 UFC) in the main event on “UFC Fight Island.” It was an ugly outing for McGregor, who has lost three of his last six UFC fights. So Mayweather took the opportunity to trash the man he called “Con Artist McLoser,” McGregor, at a low moment.

Mayweather reposted another user’s Instagram post which said: “Why is @floydmayweather hated for the way he carries himself but @thenotoriousmma is loved for the same way he carries himself?” Mayweather then shared his own thoughts in response.

“I seen this post and my take on it is that the world knows Con Artist McLoser can steal everything from me and be loved but I’m hated,” Mayweather wrote. “That just lets you all know that racism still exists. Just know, that bum will never be me or be on my level. I’m just built different, my mindset is on another planet, my skills are second to none, I’m a natural-born winner and yes I talk a lot of trash, but every time I back it up! This is what they hate.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKa91IqFzot/?utm_source=ig_embed

Mayweather defeated McGregor in the 10th round in their boxing match in 2017. It was McGregor’s only boxing match of his career and the final boxing match of Mayweather’s career.

“Connor (sic) cannot even win in his own sport,” he said. “But talking about coming back to boxing to fight Pacquiao. Nobody wants to see that, it’s like my leftovers eating leftovers.”

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Floyd Mayweather calls Conor McGregor ‘McLoser’ after UFC loss

Floyd Mayweather called Conor McGregor ‘McLoser’ after the Irishman’s loss to Dustin Poirier in UFC 257.

Floyd Mayweather got in one more shot at Conor McGregor after Dustin Poirier was finished with the Irishman in UFC 257 on Saturday night.

Mayweather, who stopped McGregor in their 2017 crossover fight, shared an Instagram post by the YouTube channel RingIQ TV that raised the question: Why is Mayweather loathed and McGregor loved even though they carry themselves in similar manner?

And then Mayweather went off on IG:

“I seen this post and my take on it is that the world knows Con Artist McLoser (McGregor) can steal everything from me and be loved but I’m hated. That just lets you all know that racism still exist.

“Just know, that bum will never be me or be on my level. I’m just built different, my mindset is on another planet, my skills are second to none, I’m a natural born winner and yes I talk a lot of trash, but every time I back it up.

‘This is what they hate. It’s sad that you can be a poor black kid from the ghetto that has dealt with racism your whole life and work extremely hard to put yourself and your family in a better position, and most of the hate come from my own people.

“Connor cannot even win in his own sport, but talking about coming back to boxing to fight [Manny] Pacquiao. Nobody wants to see that, it’s like my leftovers eating leftovers.”

McGregor, who was knocked out by Poirier in the second round, reportedly is in talks to face Pacquiao this year.

Floyd Mayweather calls Conor McGregor ‘McLoser’ after UFC loss

Floyd Mayweather called Conor McGregor ‘McLoser’ after the Irishman’s loss to Dustin Poirier in UFC 257.

Floyd Mayweather got in one more shot at Conor McGregor after Dustin Poirier was finished with the Irishman in UFC 257 on Saturday night.

Mayweather, who stopped McGregor in their 2017 crossover fight, shared an Instagram post by the YouTube channel RingIQ TV that raised the question: Why is Mayweather loathed and McGregor loved even though they carry themselves in similar manner?

And then Mayweather went off on IG:

“I seen this post and my take on it is that the world knows Con Artist McLoser (McGregor) can steal everything from me and be loved but I’m hated. That just lets you all know that racism still exist.

“Just know, that bum will never be me or be on my level. I’m just built different, my mindset is on another planet, my skills are second to none, I’m a natural born winner and yes I talk a lot of trash, but every time I back it up.

‘This is what they hate. It’s sad that you can be a poor black kid from the ghetto that has dealt with racism your whole life and work extremely hard to put yourself and your family in a better position, and most of the hate come from my own people.

“Connor cannot even win in his own sport, but talking about coming back to boxing to fight [Manny] Pacquiao. Nobody wants to see that, it’s like my leftovers eating leftovers.”

McGregor, who was knocked out by Poirier in the second round, reportedly is in talks to face Pacquiao this year.

UFC 257 reaction: Dustin Poirier TKOs Conor McGregor, Michael Chandler wins debut

Dustin Poirier handed Conor McGregor his first knockout loss in MMA at #UFC257 and Michael Chandler made a memorable debut vs. Dan Hooker. Recap the action from Abu Dhabi with MMA Junkie’s John Morgan and Mike Bohn.

Dustin Poirier handed Conor McGregor his first knockout loss in MMA at #UFC257 and Michael Chandler made a memorable debut vs. Dan Hooker. Recap the action from Abu Dhabi with MMA Junkie’s John Morgan and Mike Bohn.

Conor McGregor sorts through emotions of UFC 257 knockout loss: ‘It’s hard to take’

A visibly emotional Conor McGregor was candid about what went wrong in his rematch with Dustin Poirier.

[autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] was on stage in front of reporters Saturday, a situation he’s become well accustomed to at this point in his career. Unlike every other MMA post-fight news conference he’s attended, however, something was different.

Familiar with discussing knockout victories, McGregor (22-5 MMA, 10-3 UFC) opened up about his first knockout loss – a second-round TKO from strikes suffered to Dustin Poirier in the UFC 257 main event.

With a mix of emotions ranging from disappointment to numb to happy, McGregor sifted through his feelings and what went wrong in the fight.

“It’s heart breaking, John,” McGregor said when answering MMA Junkie’s John Morgan. “It’s hard to take. The highest highs and the lowest lows in this game.”

All pre-fight technical analysis and breakdowns were irrelevant when the two fighters stepped in the cage at UFC 257. Leg kicks became a major storyline in the fight. Despite McGregor’s best poker face, Poirier continued to pepper his opponent’s lead leg until the Irishman was seriously compromised.

“My leg is completely dead,” McGregor said. “Even though I felt like I was checking them, it was just sinking into the muscle in the front of the leg, and it was badly compromised. It was like an American football in my suit at the minute, so it is what it is.”

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Besides leg kicks, McGregor pointed to inactivity as a contributing factor to his performance. UFC 257 was McGregor’s first competition in 12 months and only his second in 29 months.

“It’s the whole shebang, but I have no excuses here. It was a phenomenal performance by Dustin. I don’t know what to say,” McGregor said. “I’m going to go back. I’m going to chill out. I’ll watch the full fight and get a better grasp on it. The leg was compromised. I was rushing the shots a little bit, and I didn’t adjust. That’s that. It’s a bitter pill to swallow. I don’t even know if I’m that upset. I don’t know what to say.”

Following the conclusion of the UFC 257 main card, UFC president Dana White predicted McGregor will follow one of two paths: motivating himself to come back strong or walking away from MMA altogether. McGregor indicated the latter is not in his plans.

“I’ll certainly regroup,” McGregor said. “I’ll regroup. I’ll pick myself off the floor and go again. That’s it. Styles make fights. There’s many great stylistic fights out there. Myself and Dustin are one-and-one. Myself and Nate are one-and-one. There are many good matchups for me. I’ll adopt a different approach for the trilogy. … I have a lot more weapons I didn’t get to show. It wasn’t my night. It wasn’t a great night. Again, no excuses. Hats off. (I’ll) regroup and pick myself up. I look forward to going back now and seeing the kids and just taking the licks.”

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Reflecting on his UFC 257 experience, competing on “Fight Island,” and returning to competition, McGregor found some silver linings between disappointment and defeat.

“I got to come out here and do this fight here in the Middle East, put on a show for the people,” McGregor said. “I’ve done my best. Things don’t go your way at times. Well, pick yourself up and carry on. I’ve got a lot of good things going on in my life, so I just keep my head high. That’s it. Take the shots, take the licks, and just keep on going.”

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