Tag: UFC 303

Chael Sonnen rejects Daniel Cormier’s idea of Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler for UFC 165-pound title

Chael Sonnen has a number of reasons why he’s not on board with Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler being for a 165-pound title.

[autotag]Chael Sonnen[/autotag] is not on board with [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] having a 165-pound championship on the line.

Cormier advocated for the UFC to introduce a 165-pound weight class through a title fight between McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) and Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC), who square off in a welterweight bout June 29 at UFC 303 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) in Las Vegas.

Chandler mentioned that idea during an interview with The MacLife, and Cormier is all in.

“I believe that if they’re going to do a 165-pound division, it should have a name attached to the weight class that is so big that it draws people’s attention, Conor McGregor being that name,” Cormier said on his ESPN show “Good Guy/Bad Guy” with Chael Sonnen. “Michael Chandler, on the other hand, will benefit from being in the right place at the right time, where these guys would then fight for the super lightweight championship of the world, because that’s what I believe it is.”

Sonnen, however, isn’t a as enthusiastic as Cormier and doesn’t see a 165-pound division happening.

“This is not accurate; it’s entertaining,” Sonnen said. “There is no need for a 165-pound title, for one. Part two, the commission does not sanction 165-pound fights. Part three, the UFC does not contest a 165-pound division.

“Part four, these guys combined are coming off of more losses than I’ve had in my entire career. So, if anybody is coming back to fight for a mythical belt, it will be yours truly.”

[lawrence-related id=2712630,2735177,2734991,2734928]

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

John Kavanagh: Conor McGregor’s ‘technique is as sharp as ever’ ahead of UFC 303

John Kavanagh assures that Conor McGregor’s focus on fighting has never wavered.

John Kavanagh assures that [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag]’s focus on fighting has never wavered.

McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) returns from an almost three-year long layoff against Michael Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) in a welterweight bout at UFC 303 June 29 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).

Outside of rehabilitating his broken leg, McGregor has kept busy with numerous things – including his acting debut in the movie “Road House,” which was released March 21 on Prime Video. Kavanagh likes what he sees out of his star student as he preps for his highly anticipated comeback.

“He’s looking super slick,” Kavanagh told Severe MMA. “There is fighters that when they’re not fighting … it starts becoming a job, and it’s hard to keep the level of intensity. Even if it’s not physical, the level of mental intensity of always be thinking about training, always thinking about sequences, always thinking about techniques. That’s something Conor’s had naturally his whole career.

“So even though when there were times where he’s filming and he’s doing this, he’s doing that, we’re still always having conversations back and forward, whereas some fighters are like, ‘If I’m not fighting, I don’t even want to look at shows. I’ll just get ready when there’s a fight coming up.’ He’s come back on the mats as sharp as ever. Of course, we’ve got to get the rounds in and get the conditioning up so as to be ready for competition, but his technique is as sharp as ever.”

Despite the outside distractions, Kavanagh says McGregor has been thinking about fighting throughout his entire layoff.

“Let’s say he has 20 different areas that he needs to focus on – martial arts will always be No. 1 because he really enjoys it,” Kavanagh said. “It’s the most fun. Going through the paperwork on a really long complicated property deal, probably not the most exciting thing in the world. But for martial arts, I feel I have a trump card. I can always send him a highlight, send him a technique, talk about a guy in here, and I’ll always pop to the top of the list.

“So I don’t feel I have to compete with those things. Conor’s very good at compartmentalization. Training is realistically maybe two one-hour sessions a day. There’s plenty of other time in the day where he can be focused on other areas. So when you’re in here, you’re on for the hour, you’re on for the 90 minutes, and then when you’re gone, you’re on for whatever it is you’re doing out there.”

Kavanagh thinks the Chandler fight resembles the one they prepared for against Chad Mendes, where McGregor ended up winning by Round 2 TKO to capture the interim featherweight title.

“I see similarities to the Mendes fight,” Kavanagh said. “I’d be surprised if it can go two rounds. I’d be surprised. He just hits too hard, he’s too sharp. Is there going to be scrappiness, and a few takedowns and stuff? Maybe. But every round starts on the feet, and his ability to get back there is underestimated. I’d be surprised if we see two rounds.”

[lawrence-related id=2735177,2734991,2734986,2728126]

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

Jamahal Hill books quick turnaround for UFC 303, faces Khalil Rountree

Six days after UFC 300, Jamahal Hill is back on the books.

Six days after UFC 300, [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag] has his next fight on the books.

Hill (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) will face [autotag]Khalil Rountree[/autotag] (13-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) on June 29 at UFC 303, the promotion announced Friday. The event takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and is headlined by Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler.

A former UFC light heavyweight champion, Hill, during his April 13 bout vs. Alex Pereira, looked to regain championship status he vacated. However, the current champion Pereira ended the attempt with a first-round knockout. The loss snapped a five-fight winning streak for Hill.

Rountree rides a five-fight winning streak into the showdown with Hill. Four of the five fights were finishes, including a third-round TKO of Anthony Smith in his most recent outing in December.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C59s5tfOT6e/?igsh=Yzd2bmZ2aWl2MWhx

The current 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

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

Video: Relive all of Conor McGregor’s octagon wins in full before UFC 303 return

Ahead of Conor McGregor’s highly anticipated return vs. Michael Chandler at UFC 303, the promotion has released a full fight video of all of his octagon wins.

Ahead of [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag]’s highly anticipated return vs. Michael Chandler at UFC 303, the promotion has released a full fight video of all of his octagon wins.

After nearly three years away from competition, the former featherweight and lightweight titleholder McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) will take on Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) in a five-round welterweight bout on June 29 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).

Although recent years haven’t been kind to McGregor in terms of his results, many of his victories still stand the test of time. From his 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo to his dazzling finish of Jose Aldo and epic rematch with Nate Diaz, “The Notorious” has offered many memorable moments.

Watch the video above to relive each of McGregor’s 10 UFC wins spanning from his debut vs. Marcus Brimage in April 2013 to his most recent finish of Donald Cerrone in January 2020.

[lawrence-related id=2734928,2734874,2734579]

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

Michael Chandler: ‘Beatdown of biblical proportions’ will retire Conor McGregor at UFC 303

Michael Chandler thinks there’s a strong chance Conor McGregor’s final act in MMA will come at UFC 303.

[autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] thinks there’s a strong chance [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag]’s final act in MMA will come at UFC 303.

After more than a year of waiting, Chandler’s (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) dream fight with McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) finally has a date and location. He will welcome the most famous fighter in the sport’s history back to the octagon in the welterweight main event of the June 29 card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).

Although many people cast doubt that McGregor would compete again after suffering a serious broken leg in his July 2021 trilogy-bout loss to Dustin Poirier, the fight is now official. “The Notorious” will make his highly anticipated comeback against former three-time Bellator champ Chandler, who intends on making the Irishman pay for the long wait.

Chandler thinks the matchup is going to be one of the biggest in UFC history, and it’s on that platform where he intends to send his strongest message and end McGregor’s career.

“This is going to be the biggest fight of the last five years,” Chandler said in a recent Instagram Q&A. “This will be the biggest fight since Conor vs. Khabib (Nurmagomedov). I don’t say that because Conor’s opponent is just as big as Khabib, who was the biggest Muslim athlete on the planet, undefeated, championship fight. But there’s something special about this one. On June 29, you have to buy the pay-per-view, and you have to buy the pay-per-view because there’s a chance this is the greatest comeback in combat sports history by the sport’s biggest star. That’s why you have to buy the pay-per-view.

“Or the other option, the more likely option, is I absolutely molly wop this dude and put a beatdown of biblical proportions on him, and this is the last time you ever see Conor McGregor compete inside the octagon. So either way, you have to tune in on June 29. UFC 303 is going to be the most-viewed and the biggest pay-per-view that we have ever seen for a multitude of reasons.”

[lawrence-related id=2734783,2734770,2734579]

Since the build toward the fight with McGregor first began with the pair serving as coaches on Season 31 of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series, Chandler has been consistent in his prediction. He has repeatedly stated that he thinks he puts McGregor away in the second round of the five-round fight.

It’s one thing to think about the fight when it’s not yet set, though. Now that he has a date and location, Chandler’s visions are only getting stronger, and carry a more ferocious zest.

“My Mystic Mike prediction is I finish him in the second round,” Chandler said. “Get him on his heels in the first round, make him second-guess himself in the first round, make him realize, ‘Dang, I probably should have just stayed rich and stayed out of the fight game.’ And I will start planting those seeds of doubts in the first round. By the end of the first round he will go back to his bench and go back to his corner huffing and puffing and realize that he’s about to meet his demise.

“He’s going to start looking for the exit signs and I’m going to usher him right to it. I might even hold his hand on the way to the exit sign. I might even give him a little tap on the tush on the way outside of the exit signs. That’s the plan. In the second round: KO, TKO or I take his back, and I absolutely steal his soul through his esophagus.”

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

UFC 303 adds Joe Pyfer vs. Marc-Andre Barriault to International Fight Week lineup

UFC 303, the International Fight Week event headlined by Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler, continues to fill.

The annual pay-per-view lineup for International Fight Week is filling up slowly but surely.

The most recent addition to UFC 303 is a middleweight bout between [autotag]Joe Pyfer[/autotag] and [autotag]Marc-Andre Barriault[/autotag], the promotion announced Wednesday. The event takes place June 29 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and is headlined by Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler.

Pyfer (12-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC) aims to rebound from his first promotional loss. He earned a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022 and became one of the show’s most well known products partially due to White’s “Be Joe Pyfer” post-fight speech. Pyfer defeated Alen Amedovski, Gerald Meerschaert and Abdul Razak Alhassan before he lost a unanimous decision to Jack Hermansson in his first promotional main event in February.

Barriault (16-7 MMA, 5-6 UFC) looks to bounce back into the win column after a split decision loss to Chris Curtis in January. The defeat snapped a two-fight skid that consisted of wins over Julian Marquez and Eryk Anders.

With the addition, the UFC 303 lineup includes:

  • Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler
  • Andre Fili vs. Cub Swanson
  • Gillian Robertson vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez
  • Carlos Hernandez vs. Rei Tsuruya
  • Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Joe Pyfer

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

Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler: Odds and what to know ahead of UFC 303 headliner

The long and winding road to booking Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler has finally come to an end. Here’s what you need to know.

The long and winding road to booking a highly anticipated fight between [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] and [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] finally came to an end after UFC CEO Dana White announced that McGregor vs. Chandler will culminate International Fight Week by headlining UFC 303 this summer in Las Vegas.

Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler preview

A showdown between former UFC two-division champion McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) and former Bellator lightweight champion Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) has been expected ever since they served as opposing coaches on Season 31 of “The Ultimate Fighter” last year. But it’s been a waiting game to finally get the fight done as McGregor recovered from a broken leg, exited the UFC’s drug-testing program and then re-entered it, and filmed a “Road House” remake with co-star Jake Gyllenhaal.

All the while, Chandler has been patiently awaiting his big-money fight, having not competed since a November 2022 submission loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 281. It’s been even longer for McGregor, who hasn’t fought since a July 2021 injury TKO loss to Poirier after breaking his leg in the first round.

Both McGregor, 35, and Chandler, 37, have been losers in three of their past four octagon appearances. With their fight being contested at welterweight, it’s hard to say what a win could do for either man in that division, although McGregor is just looking for the biggest fights possible with two bouts left on his UFC contract.

Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler preliminary odds

Accord to preliminary odds on FanDuel, the fight is practically a pick ’em, with McGregor listed at -122 and Chandler -104.

How to watch Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler at UFC 303

  • When: Saturday, June 29, 2024
  • Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
  • Streaming: ESPN+ pay-per-view

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

Andre Fili vs. Cub Swanson joins UFC 303 lineup on June 29

Featherweight veterans Andre Fili and Cub Swanson will throw down at UFC 303 this summer.

Featherweight veterans will throw down at UFC 303 this summer as [autotag]Andre Fili[/autotag] is set to meet [autotag]Cub Swanson[/autotag] on June 29 during International Fight Week at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie following an initial report from Fili’s management, Iridium Sports Agency.

Fili (23-11 MMA, 12-10 UFC), 33, has split his past four octagon appearances. After a first-round TKO finish of Lucas Almeida at UFC 296, the Team Alpha Male fighter stepped in on short notice against Dan Ige at UFC Fight Night 236 in February. He lost the fight by knockout in the first round.

Swanson (29-13 MMA, 14-9 UFC) snapped his four-fight losing skid by winning four of his past six. After a failed attempt at bantamweight against Jonathan Martinez, Swanson returned to featherweight this past August when he edged out Hakeem Dawodu in a close decision win.

With the addition, the current UFC 300 lineup includes:

  • Cody Durden vs. Carlos Hernandez
  • Andre Fili vs. Cub Swanson

UFC 303, UFC 306 dates and locations announced

The UFC made two more pay-per-view events official Saturday as the 2024 calendar continues to fill.

As UFC Fight Night 237 rolled on Saturday from Mexico City, the promotion announced two upcoming pay-per-views for 2024. Both cards will take place in Las Vegas, but at different venues.

UFC 303 will take place June 29 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, as the pinnacle of the 12th Annual International Fight Week. UFC 306 is also set. That will be the highly-anticipated Noche UFC event Sept. 14 at Sphere.

No bouts have been announced or reported for either card. White said details about the promotion’s first (and potentially only) Sphere event will be revealed in the coming weeks.

With the additions, the UFC pay-per-view dates and locations are as follows: