Tag: UFC 303

Charles Oliveira willing to be backup for Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler – under one condition

Charles Oliveira offered his services to be the backup for Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler.

[autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] offered his services to be the backup for [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag].

McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) returns from an almost three-year layoff to face Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) in the UFC 303 headliner June 29 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).

Oliveira (34-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC) sees a reserve role as a win-win situation for him, but if it’s McGregor that he gets an opportunity to face, his offer comes with a stipulation.

“Stop talking about 170 and Conor McGregor,” Oliveira said through an interpreter during a UFC 301 media scrum (h/t MMA Fighting). “I offered myself to be the alternate for that fight, and obviously, I’m down for that. I’d make some money if I don’t fight, and if I do fight, then awesome.

“The only condition is if I were to fight McGregor, then I’d have to re-negotiate that (contract) before. Once I said that, everyone started talking about me and moving to 170, but that’s not exactly what it is.”

Oliveira already holds a win over Chandler, finishing him by second-round TKO in their vacant lightweight title fight in May 2021. The former lightweight champion is coming off a narrow loss to Arman Tsarukyan in their No. 1 contender bout at UFC 300. Prior to that, he finished Beneil Dariush by first-round TKO at UFC 289.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 303.

Chael Sonnen: Conor McGregor a better fighter than Michael Chandler but not a better competitor

Chael Sonnen sees Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler each holding an advantage over the other.

[autotag]Chael Sonnen[/autotag] sees [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] and [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] each holding an advantage over the other.

McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) returns from an almost three-year layoff to face Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) in the UFC 303 main event June 29 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).

Sonnen gives McGregor the edge in skills over Chandler.

“I think Conor McGregor is the better fighter,” Sonnen said on his ESPN show “Good Guy/Bad Guy” with Daniel Cormier. “I think Conor McGregor is quicker, he’s a little bit longer, he’s got a much more awkward style. Chandler is more straightforward.”

Many questioned McGregor’s motivation during his time off as he made his acting debut in the movie “Road House,” which was released March 21 on Prime Video. McGregor was also actively promoting his alcohol brands, Forged Irish Stout and Proper No. Twelve, before fully jumping into training camp mode.

Chandler, on the other hand, appeared to be non-stop training since his submission loss to Dustin Poirier in November 2022. Therein lies the difference for Sonnen.

“But I don’t know that I can say that Conor McGregor is a better competitor,” Sonnen said. “I really don’t know that I can say that. I don’t know that he’s got his eye on the ball, and he’s got the eye of the tiger.

“Now it is one of those things where it’s a little bit of speculation, right? A guy returning from a layoff is very hard, particularly to go into five rounds, a guy returning with a leg injury and going into five rounds.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 303.

Colby Covington confirms summer return, says Ian Machado Garry ‘has to show me he’s serious’

Colby Covington suggests Ian Machado Garry is the one that’s not serious about fighting him.

[autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] suggests [autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] is the one that’s not serious about fighting him.

Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) and Garry (14-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) have gone back-and-forth about potentially facing each other, but a matchup is yet to materialize.

However, Garry has a different side to the story. The undefeated fighter hinted at a fight offer against Covington from the UFC, but claims it’s Covington who won’t sign the contract. Covington says the plan is to return at UFC 303 on June 29.

“I’m going to fight this summer for sure. Someone’s going to get fought,” Covington said on the “Twins Pod.” “They’re trying to figure out who the biggest name and the best business that we can do for the UFC. International Fight Week is like their big event in the summer that the UFC does.

“They have a big festival all week, big events they set up, and it’s capped off by this big pay-per-view on Saturday. So I think that’s when they’re planning for me is International Fight Week. (We’re) just trying to figure out who who’s going to be the guy.”

Garry called out Covington after defeating Geoff Neal at UFC 298 in February. Covington eventually responded, but said he’d only fight Garry if he met three stipulations. Covington and Garry were going to share the stage for the UFC 296 pre-fight press conference this past December, but Garry no showed and later withdrew from his fight against Vicente Luque due to a battle with pneumonia.

“There’s this kid that’s been calling me out,” Covington said. “This kid, Ian Garry, he’s a nobody. I gave him some stipulations and said, ‘Hey man, if you want to fight me, you have to show me you’re serious about business,’ because when I do business, I’m serious about it. I show up to every fight. I’ve never pulled out of one fight. I’ve been injured, I’ve been sick, but I always show up and do my business because I love the UFC as the greatest organization in the world.

“So he has to show me he’s serious. He was supposed to be on my last event in the press conference. He pulls out the day of the press conference because he knew I was going to be on stage, and we’re going to have some beef. So that shows me that he’s not serious.”

At UFC 296, Covington lost to welterweight champion Leon Edwards by unanimous decision. The former multiple-time title challenger is eager to run things back with Edwards after breaking his foot early in their fight.

“I’ve got unfinished business with my last fight, Leon Edwards, the guy that has the title right now,” Covington said. “I broke my foot in the first five seconds of the fight. I threw a kick. It broke in three different places. So that wasn’t me that night. So whoever I have to go through to get that fight (is what I want).”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 303.

‘LokDog’ Vinicius Oliveira gets Ricky Simon in first fight since UFC Knockout of the Year candidate

Vinicius Oliveira made quite the first UFC impression and now he fights Ricky Simon on the Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler undercard.

[autotag]Vinicius Oliveira[/autotag] pulled off an all-time knockout in his UFC debut and the performance has earned him a big-name opponent for his second promotional outing.

“LokDog” will take on [autotag]Ricky Simon[/autotag] in a three-round bantamweight bout at UFC 303, the promotion’s June 29 pay-per-view event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The card is headlined by Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler.

Two people with knowledge of the matchup recently informed MMA Junkie of the booking but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Ag. Fight first reported the news.

Oliveira (20-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) bludgeoned fellow debutant Bernardo Sopaj with a flying knee in March. The win was his third in a row and first since he brutally knocked out Victor Madrigal on Dana White’s Contender Series to earn his UFC deal. Since his promotional debut, Oliveira has repeatedly called for a fight vs. top contender Umar Nurmagomedov.

Simon (20-5 MMA, 8-4 UFC) aims to snap a two-fight losing skid after defeats to Song Yadong and Mario Bautista. Prior to the consecutive losses, Simon was on a five-fight winning streak that included victories over Raphael Assuncao and Jack Shore among others.

With the addition, the UFC 303 lineup currently includes:

  • Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler
  • Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree
  • Andre Fili vs. Cub Swanson
  • Gillian Robertson vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez
  • Carlos Hernandez vs. Rei Tsuruya
  • Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Joe Pyfer
  • Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Macy Chiasson
  • Vinicius Oliveira vs. Ricky Simon

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 303.

Arman Tsarukyan: Michael Chandler ‘never uses his brain,’ has to knock out Conor McGregor early to win

Arman Tsarukyan thinks Michael Chandler’s thirst for war will likely cost him against Conor McGregor.

[autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag]’s thirst for war will likely cost him against [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag].

Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) welcomes McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) back in a welterweight bout, which headlines UFC 303 June 29 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). McGregor will return from an almost three-year long layoff after breaking his leg in July 2021.

Chandler’s two most recent losses came to Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje. Chandler had his moments, but was ultimately outlasted in all-out wars. Tsarukyan expects the same approach from him against McGregor.

“He never uses his brain,” Tsarukyan said on the “Believe You Me” podcast. “He always fights for the fans. He’s going to try to knock him out because he’s so dangerous in the first round. He can finish Conor in the first round.

“If it’s going to be second round or third round, he’s going to lose the fight. He has to knock him out in the first round or he’s going to lose that fight. I feel like Conor, his conditioning is better and he’s smarter than Chandler.”

Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) and Chandler have recently gone back-and-forth. Chandler criticized Tsarukyan’s decision to turn down a short-notice title fight against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 on June 1, and Tsarukyan fired back. Tsarukyan defeated former champion Charles Oliveira two weeks ago at UFC 300 to cement himself as No. 1 contender.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 303.

Ketlen Vieira claims she was offered Kayla Harrison for UFC 303: ‘She has to stop running’

According to Ketlen Vieira, the UFC wants her to face Kayla Harrison at UFC 303.

According to [autotag]Ketlen Vieira[/autotag], the UFC wants her to face [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] at UFC 303.

Vieira (14-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC), who’s currently No. 2 in the UFC’s women’s bantamweight rankings, claims the promotion offered her Harrison for June 29 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The Brazilian says she accepted, but has yet to hear back from Harrison’s side.

“She might be the shiny new toy, but just like any toy, she needs to be played with and tested,” Vieira told MMA Mania on Harrison through an interpreter. “Even Julianna Peña – she hasn’t fought for two years. She isn’t deserving of the title shot. I was offered the (Harrison) fight for June 29. I said yes, and then they still didn’t give it to me. I’m not happy at all.”

Vieira is accusing Harrison (17-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) of ducking her. Harrison ran through Holly Holm in her promotional debut at UFC 300, and called for either a title shot or an interim title fight vs. Peña if champion Raquel Pennington isn’t healthy.

“It seems that Kayla is just not taking the fight,” Vieira said. “If the UFC offered the fight, the UFC wants the fight. It’s just Kayla not taking it. In the UFC, there’s only great athletes and if she thinks she’s going to say no to this fight and take an easier fight, there’s no easy fights. We’re all very good athletes. She has to stop running and take the fight and sign the contract.”

Vieira just wants to get closer to the title. Although Harrison is ranked below her, she’s aware of how big a win would be over the two-time Olympic gold medalist judoka.

“My name’s not Germaine (de Randamie) or Julianna Peña, so I don’t pick fights,” Vieira said. “At the same time, I know that I need to go up. I’m going to take any fight that’s going to get me to the belt because I know I deserve that belt. I want that belt. Kayla, even though she’s someone that’s starting (in UFC), it would be a big fight that would bring me the attention and get me to that belt.

“I’m looking to (fight) ranked fighters, increase my ranking, and I have been cleared for that date. I said yes to that fight, so I’m ready to fight around that date. But I want a fight that’s going to take me to the belt, which is what I deserve.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 303.

Michael Bisping warns Michael Chandler not to underestimate Conor McGregor: ‘Can’t be drunk on your own ego’

Michael Bisping points out a red flag in recent remarks Michael Chandler made about Conor McGregor.

[autotag]Michael Bisping[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] would be making a grave mistake by underestimating [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag].

Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) welcomes McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) back in a welterweight bout, which headlines UFC 303 June 29 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).

McGregor hasn’t competed since suffering a gruesome broken leg in July 2021, which makes Chandler think he likely won’t be the same fighter. While Bisping thinks Chandler could be right, he urges him not to think like that.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, he just said ‘I don’t need to get into a fight with a guy that’s got a bigger rifle than me,’ and then he goes on to say, ‘I think I hit harder,'” Bisping said on his YouTube channel. “So which is it? You cannot be drunk on your own ego. Michael Chandler is an entertainer, whether it’s in the ring, whether it’s in the post-fight interviews, the fights themselves, the man is a born entertainer.

“This man should be out there in the WWE, the UFC, whichever promotion he chooses. The man is explosive every single time he fights. He’s phenomenal. Win or lose, he shows up. Against Justin Gaethje, against Dustin Poirier – two of the best fights the UFC has ever put on. So, I can’t wait for this fight, but he has to respect what McGregor is going to do and the threat that’s coming back at him.”

McGregor will look to rebound from back-to-back stoppage losses to Dustin Poirier. He hasn’t won a fight since knocking out Donald Cerrone in January 2020. Meanwhile, Chandler will also aim to return to the win column after getting submitted by Poirier in November 2022.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 303.

Title or not, Jamahal Hill says Alex Pereira rematch has to happen

Jamahal Hill is eager to run things back with UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

[autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag] is eager to run things back with UFC light heavyweight champion [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag].

Hill (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) was knocked out by Pereira in Round 1 of their UFC 300 headliner. After an inadvertent low blow by Hill, Pereira waved off referee Herb Dean, who let them continue fighting. Hill was knocked out in the first exchange, and was thrown off a little by the restart.

Whether or not Pereira (10-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) is still champion, Hill’s goal is to rematch “Poatan.”

“Honestly, for me, now it’s not even about the gold strap, it’s about getting back to that fight,” Hill told The Schmo. “I want to fight with Alex again, just because of the narrative surrounding it and everything. I know what I was feeling in there, and I know what type of timing it’s really on whenever we step in there again, so I just want to get to that fight.”

Hill already has his next fight booked. The former champion says he signed to fight Khalil Rountree (13-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) at UFC 303 on June 29 just three days after losing to Pereira.

As for Pereira, the champion expressed interest in a potential move to heavyweight, but has top light heavyweight contenders Jiri Prochazka and Magomed Ankalaev calling him out. Hill isn’t interested in who’s next for Pereira, just as long as he’s in the conversation to fight him again soon.

“I don’t care. All I know is that Jamahal ‘Sweet Dreams’ Hill is in his future – for sure,” Hill said. “Again, I don’t give a sh*t if we’ve got to do it at 205 or heavyweight: he’s got to see me again. That’s the only fight that I care about.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 303.

Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Macy Chiasson added to UFC 303 for International Fight Week

UFC 303 sees the addition of a key women’s bantamweight bout between Mayra Bueno Silva and Macy Chiasson.

The UFC 303 pay-per-view for International Fight Week keeps taking shape.

On Tuesday, the promotion announced the addition of a women’s bantamweight fight between former title challenger [autotag]Mayra Bueno Silva[/autotag] and veteran [autotag]Macy Chiasson[/autotag] for the June 29 event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

UFC 303 will be headlined by the return of superstar Conor McGregor, who takes on former Bellator champion Michael Chandler.

This bout marks the first fight for Bueno Silva (10-3-1 MMA, 5-3-1 UFC) since losing to Raquel Pennington in January for the vacant women’s bantamweight title. Prior to the setback, the Brazilian was on a three-fight winning streak, with a no contest against Holly Holm that was originally a win.

Chiasson (10-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) fought last month, submitting Pannie Kianzad in the first round – a victory that earned her a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus. The victory allowed Chiasson to bounce back from a KO loss to Irene Aldana in 2022.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C6HF-PeRz0I/?igsh=bzYwdHVzZzVxMzF3

With the addition, the UFC 303 lineup includes:

  • Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler
  • Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree
  • Andre Fili vs. Cub Swanson
  • Gillian Robertson vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez
  • Carlos Hernandez vs. Rei Tsuruya
  • Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Joe Pyfer
  • Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Macy Chiasson

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 303.

Why Michael Chandler believes he could ‘absolutely outclass’ Conor McGregor at UFC 303

Michael Chandler doesn’t expect Conor McGregor to be the same fighter he once was after a three-year layoff.

[autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] does not expect [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] to be the same fighter at UFC 303.

Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) welcomes McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) back in a welterweight bout June 29 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). McGregor will return after suffering a horrific leg break in a TKO loss to Poirier in July 2021, and Chandler thinks he’ll be facing a diminished version of him.

“What I need to work on in this fight is to continue to be the best version of myself, maybe a little bit more tactical,” Chandler said on “The Shawn Ryan Show.” “Realizing that I’ve earned this, realize that I am a better fighter, a tougher fighter, and the guy who deserves it more. Whether that be getting in his face, put him up against the cage, picking him up, putting him down, welting his spirit a little bit more, taking the wind out of his sails a little bit more.

“I don’t need to get into a firefight with a guy who has got a bigger rifle than me. I think I hit harder than he does. His time out of the cage has lent itself to his timing not being what it used to be, his movement not being what it used to be, his reflexes not being what they used to be. He’s been out of the cage three years by the time we fight. …Go out there and get the finish and just absolutely outclass and dominate him.”

Chandler will also return from a long layoff. Chandler hasn’t competed since a November 2022 submission loss to Dustin Poirier, and hasn’t won a fight since knocking out Tony Ferguson at UFC 274 in May 2022.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 303.