Greg Hardy’s wish granted, booked for UFC 264 fight vs. Tai Tuivasa

Greg Hardy has been granted his wish for a matchup with Tai Tuivasa.

[autotag]Greg Hardy[/autotag] has been granted his wish for a matchup with [autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag].

The heavyweight powerhouses will meet at UFC 264 on July 10, a person with knowledge of the booking told MMA Junkie on Tuesday. The person requested anonymity because the UFC has yet to make an official announcement.

Hardy (7-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) and Tuivasa (11-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) faced different fates in their most recent outings. In December, Hardy lost to Marcin Tybura by second-round TKO. The stoppage came after a successful first round for Hardy, who struggled to escape Tybura’s clutches when the fight hit the mat in Round 2. It was Hardy’s first career stoppage loss and snapped a two-fight winning streak.

As for Tuivasa, he’s riding a two-fight winning streak. The back-to-back victories came on the heels of a three-fight winning streak. The first leg occurred when Tuivasa knocked out Stefan Struve in October.

Tuivasa most recently competed March 20 at UFC on ESPN 21 where he quickly defeated promotional newcomer Harry Hunsucker by TKO in 49 seconds. Tuivasa’s original opponent Don’Tale Mayes withdrew from the fight days prior to the event.

UFC 264 does not have an official location or venue. UFC president Dana White recently said he’s hopeful the event will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with fans in attendance.

The latest UFC 264 lineup now includes:

  • Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor
  • Gilbert Burns vs. Stephen Thompson
  • Jessica Eye vs. Jennifer Maia
  • Greg Hardy vs. Tai Tuivasa

[vertical-gallery id=402287]

Conor McGregor to Dustin Poirier: ‘I’ll be in the middle from the very go’ at UFC 264

The banter heats up between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier now that their trilogy is set for this summer.

Wherever [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] wants to throw down in the opening seconds of their trilogy fight, [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] says he’ll be ready for it.

On Tuesday, McGregor (22-5 MMA, 10-3 UFC) proclaimed as much in a brief back-and-forth exchange with Poirier (27-6 MMA, 20-6 UFC) on Twitter. The online spat was initiated when Poirier told McGregor he’ll meet him in the center of the cage July 10.

The two fighters are expected to face off in the headliner of UFC 264 on July 10. With their series tied at one win apiece, the trilogy will settle the score.

“I never slack, I’ll meet you in the middle of the octagon July 10th,” Poirier wrote when he quoted a McGregor tweet about the Irishman’s work ethic.

In response, McGregor quoted Poirier’s tweet and challenged “The Diamond” to do just that: meet him in the middle. Whether he strikes or shoots in the opening exchange will be up to Poirier, but McGregor voiced confidence in whatever decision Poirier makes.

“Good to hear Dustin, I hope so,” McGregor wrote. “As last time you backed up and shot inside the first 30 seconds. I’ll be in the middle from the very go if you want it. You know that. I’ll be ready for the tactics this time too tho. See you in there.”

Poirier rides a two-fight winning streak into the matchup with one of the victories being a second-round knockout of McGregor this past January at UFC 257.

As for McGregor, he’s lost three of his most recent six fights and has only fought three times in MMA since November 2016. He defeated Poirier by first-round knockout when the pair first met at UFC 178 in September 2014.

UFC 264 takes place July 10 at a yet-to-be-announced location and venue. The main card is expected to stream on ESPN+ pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.

Video: Will Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor 3 outcome be similar to rematch?

It’s on Conor McGregor to show Dustin Poirier something different six months removed from being finished in their rematch.

The trilogy is set: [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] and [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] will run it back for a third time on July 10 at UFC 264.

This past January, Poirier won by second-round TKO to avenge a 2014 first-round TKO loss to McGregor at UFC 178. Between their first fight (at featherweight) and rematch, more than six years elapsed. This time for the trilogy, it will have been be a short six months since they threw down at UFC 257.

Can McGregor show Poirier anything different in that time span, or should we expect to see a similar result for this third go-round? John Morgan, Mike Bohn, Danny Segura, and Brian “Goze” Garcia weighed in during this week’s edition of “Spinning Back Clique.”

[lawrence-related id=599671,594262]

You can watch their discussion in the video above, as well as the full episode below.

https://youtu.be/NijdP7eIe7I

Conor McGregor says UFC 264 trilogy vs. Dustin Poirier set: ‘Adjust and absolutely f**king destroy!’

The UFC hasn’t made a formal announcement yet, but it looks like the summer’s hottest ticket is set.

[mm-video type=video id=01f1nwrx6nbn64vqfj playlist_id=01eqvpne7c1q486dvv player_id=01eqvpqbw4ymnv0rjh image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01f1nwrx6nbn64vqfj/01f1nwrx6nbn64vqfj-3c77aa60edb5034336b42302b528cc7e.jpg]

The UFC hasn’t made a formal announcement yet, but it looks like the summer’s hottest ticket is set.

The expected trilogy fight between [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] and [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] is a done deal, according to McGregor. The former two-division champion on Saturday posted on Instagram that his rematch with Poirier has been booked. Poirier signed his half of the bout agreement Friday.

“The fight is booked! July 10th you’re gonna see what the Mac is about. Adjust and absolutely fucking destroy! #BilliStrut,” McGregor posted.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNM73RaJIY0/

The fight is expected to headline UFC 264, which UFC president Dana White has said could take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. In the pandemic era, all of the UFC’s events in Las Vegas so far have taken place at the UFC Apex.

Poirier (27-6 MMA, 19-5 UFC) reportedly decided to go after a third fight with McGregor (22-5 MMA, 10-3 UFC) rather than fight for the vacant lightweight title after Khabib Nurmagomedov retired.

Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira will fight for that belt next month at UFC 262, and the Poirier-McGregor winner could be next in line for the winner and new champion.

After McGregor picked up a first-round knockout of Poirier in their first matchup at UFC 178 in September 2014, Poirier evened the score in the rematch with a second-round TKO at UFC 257 in January.

[listicle id=559354]

[listicle id=583189]

[vertical-gallery id=399968]

Gilbert Burns vs. Stephen Thompson booked for UFC 264 in July

A marquee welterweight matchup will go down this summer when former title challengers Gilbert Burns and Stephen Thompson meet at UFC 264.

A marquee welterweight matchup will go down this summer when former title challengers [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag] and [autotag]Stephen Thompson[/autotag] meet at UFC 264.

Burns (19-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) and Thompson (16-4-1 MMA, 11-4-1 UFC) have verbally agreed to the bout, UFC president Dana White told broadcast partner ESPN on Friday.

UFC 264 takes place July 10 and airs on pay-per-view following prelims likely to air on ESPN and stream on ESPN+. No official date or venue has been announced, but White recently said the promotion is targeting T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Burns, No. 4 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie welterweight rankings, will attempt to rebound from his title-fight loss to Kamaru Usman at UFC 258 in February. The result snapped a six-fight winning streak.

No. 5-ranked Thompson, meanwhile, will attempt to continue his climb back to a crack at the belt after two failed bids earlier in his career. “Wonderboy” is currently riding a two-fight winning streak against Vicente Luque and Geoff Neal.

With the addition, the UFC 264 lineup now includes:

  • Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor
  • Gilbert Burns vs. Stephen Thompson
  • Jessica Eye vs. Jennifer Maia

[vertical-gallery id=579363]

[vertical-gallery id=322839]

Dustin Poirier signs contract for UFC 264 trilogy fight vs. Conor McGregor

The expected trilogy fight between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor appears to be at least halfway home.

[mm-video type=video id=01f1nwrx6nbn64vqfj playlist_id=01eqvpne7c1q486dvv player_id=01eqvpqbw4ymnv0rjh image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01f1nwrx6nbn64vqfj/01f1nwrx6nbn64vqfj-3c77aa60edb5034336b42302b528cc7e.jpg]

The expected trilogy fight between [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] and [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] appears to be at least halfway home.

A person with knowledge of the booking Friday told MMA Junkie that Poirier (27-6 MMA, 19-5 UFC) has signed his share of the bout agreement for a third fight with McGregor (22-5 MMA, 10-3 UFC), expected to headline UFC 264 on July 10. That news first was reported in a tweet from Ariel Helwani with UFC broadcast partner ESPN. The person asked to remain anonymous since the UFC has not yet made a formal announcement.

The person said McGregor has not yet signed a contract, but has verbally agreed to the fight – which for several weeks now has seen its stars aligning for the trilogy fight to take place.

UFC president Dana White recently said the fight is targeted for UFC 264 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Poirier reportedly decided to go after a third fight with McGregor rather than fight for the vacant lightweight title after Khabib Nurmagomedov retired.

Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira will fight for that belt next month at UFC 262, and the Poirier-McGregor winner could be next in line for the winner and new champion.

After McGregor picked up a first-round knockout of Poirier in their first matchup at UFC 178 in September 2014, Poirier evened the score in the rematch with a second-round TKO at UFC 257 in January.

[listicle id=583189]

[vertical-gallery id=399968]

Dana White targets Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor trilogy for UFC 264; Poirier reacts

All signs point to the trilogy bout between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor taking place at UFC 264 in July.

[mm-video type=video id=01f1nwrx6nbn64vqfj playlist_id=01eqvpne7c1q486dvv player_id=01eqvpqbw4ymnv0rjh image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01f1nwrx6nbn64vqfj/01f1nwrx6nbn64vqfj-3c77aa60edb5034336b42302b528cc7e.jpg]

LAS VEGAS – All signs point to the trilogy bout between [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] and [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] taking place at UFC 264 this summer.

UFC president Dana White has said for several weeks that the plan is to book the rubber match between Poirier (27-6 MMA, 19-5 UFC) and McGregor (22-5 MMA, 10-3 UFC) next. Saturday, he provided additional details, including a timeline, location and potential venue for the marquee lightweight matchup.

According to White, the fight is targeted to go down at UFC 264, which is tentatively slated to take place July 10 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

“That’s the plan,” White told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at the UFC 260 post-fight press conference. “I hope so (that it’s Poirier vs. McGregor 3). We all hope so.”

Poirier, who chose to pursue another clash with McGregor rather than fight for the vacant lightweight title in the aftermath of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement, appears to be completely on board with the potential date. At least according to his post on social media, which included the date with an emoji of a diamond – his nickname – but no other information (via Twitter):

After McGregor scored a first-round knockout of Poirier in their initial meeting at UFC 178 in September 2014, “The Diamond” earned his revenge in the rematch when he TKO’d McGregor at UFC 257 in January.

Nothing is official at this point, but things appear to be moving in the right direction for the definitive clash in the series to be finalized for the UFC’s July pay-per-view that’s routinely one of the promotion’s biggest events of each calendar year.

[listicle id=583189]

[vertical-gallery id=399968]