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UFC CEO, Dana White has revealed that while he has yet to nail down a date for a rescheduled fight between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler, himself, fans and broadcast partners, ESPN would “love” to see the clash take place before the end of this annum.

McGregor, a former two-weight champion, marked three years away from the Octagon earlier this month, seeing his most recent fight coming in the form of a first round doctor’s stoppage TKO loss to common-foe, Dustin Poirier back at UFC 264.

And booked to headline UFC 303 at the end of last month during International Fight Week, Conor McGregor confirmed his withdrawal from a fight with Missouri veteran, Chandler, citing a fractured toe on his left foot in the process.

However, remaining hopeful of rebooking a fight with the former three-time Bellator MMA champion before the close of the annum, over the course of the weekend, McGregor confirmed he had held positive talks with White, and assured Chandler he would be fighting him before the curtain closes on 2024.

Dana White confident of booking Conor McGregor x Michael Chandler this year

And amid links to a potential showdown on December 14. in the main event of UFC 310 in Las Vegas, McGregor’s comeback fight is yet to be nailed down as of yet, according to promotional leader, White, who remains optimistic of securing a date this annum for the Dubliner’s return.

“Yeah, that’s the fight that needs to happen,” Dana White said during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. “Every – we’ve been waiting for it, it’s an awesome fight, it’s a fun fight. And yeah, as I’m sitting here right here right now, no, I don’t have a date for it or a plan or anything like that.”

“Obviously, me, the fans, and ESPN would love it [the fight] to happen in ‘24,” White continued. “We’ll see what happens.”

Do you want to see Conor McGregor take on Michael Chandler before the end of 2024?

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UFC CEO, Dana White has tonight offered his support to former United States president, Donald Trump after the latter was the subject of an assassination attempt over the course of the weekend whilst taking part in an election rally in Pennsylvania.

Trump, a former United States President who is the presumptive Republican candidate this year in a bid to begin a second reign against the incumbent, Joe Biden, was the subject of an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania – after he was struck in his right ear by shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was subsequently shot and killed by a member of the Secret Server Counter Sniper team, after killing Corey Comperatore, a rally attendee.

Offering his immediate support to the former United States president, the above-mentioned White was one of a host of prominent mixed martial arts community who rallied around Trump.

“I’m on a plane right now flying to Italy and my phone has been blowing up with text messages from people informing me @realdonaldtrump was shot,” Dana White posted on Instagram. “I am absolutely sick to my stomach and in complete shock. I still don’t know how bad it is or if he’s okay. But @mickmaynard2 just sent me this picture and I’m praying President Trump is 100% healthy.”

Dana White offers support to Donald Trump once more

“This image perfectly reflects EXACTLY the man I know Donald Trump to be,” Dana White continued. “He is the toughest, most resilient, AMERICAN BAD ASS on this planet. I hope the weak coward that show him gets what he deserves, and I can’t WAIT to stand up on that stage with him on Thursday and introduce him at the Republican National Convention and tell the WORLD exactly the character of the friend and man I KNOW!!”

White, who is set to introduce Trump later this week at the Republican National Convention, has echoed those sentiments once more today whilst speaking on the Pat McAfee Show, claiming the former President was the “ultimate American badass”.

“He is one of the toughest, most resilient human beings I have ever met in my life,” White said. “And let me tell you what, everyone wants to act like a tough guy, well, when the sh*t goes down, you find out who tough guys are and who tough guys are not. This guy is the legitimate, ultimate American badass of all-time.”

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Former interim lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier has once more been urged to make one final Octagon walk in an overdue grudge fight against former promotional star, Nate Diaz – time time from his fellow Lafayette star, former UFC champion, Daniel Cormier.

Poirier, a former interim lightweight champion, headlined UFC 302 back in May most recently, suffering a fifth round submission defeat to pound-for-pound number one, Islam Makhachev in the pair’s undisputed lightweight title fight.

Succumbing to a final frame D’Arce choke submission, Poirier had claimed following his loss to the Russian how he had likely made his final walk to the Octagon, amid continued speculation regarding his future in combat sports.

However, earlier this month, Poirier played up his chances of making a final walk to the Octagon, before last week offering an optimistic outlook, claiming it’s likely he will fight inside the UFC again. 

Dustin Poirier urged to fight Nate Diaz in final UFC walk

And amid links to a slew of fights against the likes of former three-time opponent, Conor McGregor, as well as two-fight rival, Justin Gaethje, Louisiana striker, Poirier has been urged to pursue a grudge fight with the above-mentioned, Diaz once more.

“I think he (Dustin Poirier) should fight and I think he should fight only the big fights,” Daniel Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “I think if the Nate Diaz fight is possible, make it happen.”

“There are three guys now that Dustin Poirier spoke about in a week and Dustin Poirier and those three guys are all massive fights,” Cormier explained. “The types of fights that Poirier said he would come back for. Dustin Poirier’s fighting again. It’s just a matter of when and who.”

Initially scheduled to fight Diaz back in 2018 at Madison Square Garden, Poirier and the Stockton native failed to ever share the Octagon, with both parties blaming each other for the bout’s ultimate fall to the wayside.

Would you like to see Dustin Poirier fight Nate Diaz in the future?

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Belal Muhammad wants Sean Strickland to put his money where his mouth is.

Last week, Strickland found himself in a war of words with ex-Navy SEAL David Goggins. The fitness guru and ultramarathon runner issued a challenge to the former UFC middleweight champion — three days of training for three rounds of sparring.

It sounded like a solid deal, especially after all the trash Strickland had talked about Navy SEALs not being able to hang with him in the gym. However, ‘Tarzan’ backed down pretty quickly, apologizing to Goggins and explaining that he was just “bored and angry” while waiting around for his next UFC title shot.

On the other hand, top-ranked welterweight contender Belal Muhammad believes Strickland showed the world exactly who he is by tucking his tail and running.

“I wouldn’t call it a beef. That’s what Sean is, right? He’s a troll,” Muhammad told The Schmo. “Nobody cares what he says anymore because he doesn’t have the belt anymore. So now he’s just starting to attack all these other guys, people with bigger followings and things like that, just to get attention.

“I knew what he was from the beginning, he’s fake, he’s not this tough guy that he says he is, not this crazy guy that he says he is. He’s just doing stuff for clout. I mean if he’s a man, you challenged David Goggins, do David Goggins’ workout, let’s see if you can push through. Let’s see how big your heart is” (h/t Sherdog).

Belal Muhammad closes in on first UFC title fight

Muhammad will attempt to cash in on his first UFC title fight on July 27 when he heads to Manchester for a main event matchup with reigning welterweight world champion Leon Edwards. The fight has been a long time coming for ‘Remember The Name’ who is sitting on a nine-fight win streak, his last victory coming against Gilbert Burns all the way back in May 2023.

In December, ‘Rocky’ successfully defended his title for the second time with a decisive decision victory over Colby Covington at UFC 296.

Edwards and Muhammad previously met at a Fight Night event in 2021, but the bout came to an end 18 seconds into the second round when Edwards inadvertently poked ‘Bully B’ in the eye. With him unable to continue, the fight was declared a no-contest.

More than three years later, they’ll run it back in the UFC 304 headliner with the 170-pound crown hanging in the balance.

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Abubakar Nurmagomedov, the cousin of Octagon icon Khabib Nurmagomedov, gifted his coach Javier Mendez a well-thought-out piece of memorabilia to commemorate the legendary trainer’s success as both a fighter and a developer of world champions.

Abubakar, who has competed under both the PFL and UFC banners, recently presented Mendez with an engraved knife that was meant to pay tribute to Mendez’s successful combat sports career as well as his role in shaping some of the fight game’s biggest stars over the years.

Today I have a gift. I wouldn’t say it’s ‘Wow’ but I think he will like it. It’s a knife with Javier’s face, our coach, engraved on it. Abubakar Nurmagomedov said in a video on Khabib’s YouTube channel, which you can watch below.

Khabib’s Team Pays Tribue to Javier Mendez’s status as a legendary fighter and trainer

The knife itself had an image of Mendez engraved on it along with the ISKA world champion belt he won in the early 90s.

Nurmagomedov also had Mendez’s many champions engraved on it including Daniel Cormier, Cain Velasquez, and Luke Rockhold.

After his own illustrious career in combat sports came to a close, Mendez began his journey as a trainer, coaching a slew of superstars to fame, fortune, and world titles. Aside from the names mentioned above, Mendez has also worked with the likes of Frank Shamrock, BJ Penn, Cung Le, Josh Thomson, Islam Makhachev, and Usman Nurmagomedov.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Javier Mendez (@akajav)

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Ahead of September’s Noche UFC card at the Las Vegas Sphere, fans appear to have had two significant fights on the card leaked overnight during the promotion’s broadcast for their return to Denver, Colorado.

Slated to take over the Las Vegas Sphere in September for a Riyadh Season sponsored, Noche UFC card, promotional CEO, Dana White has claimed the event which comes as the organization’s second iteration of the card, would once again tribute to combat sports culture in Mexico.

Noche UFC sees Topuria vs. Holloway, O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili leaked

And while the likes of undisputed flyweight champion, Alexa Grasso and former champion, Valentina Shevchenko – who serve as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 32 have been linked with another showdown in ‘Sin City’, last night’s French-Canadian broadcast for UFC Denver confirmed two title fights for the event.

In an apparent leaking of information, the broadcast revealed undisputed featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria would feature against former champion, Max Holloway in a title grudge fight at Noche UFC – before also revealing bantamweight kingpin, Sean O’Malley – fresh from his ESPY victory, would be taking on Merab Dvalishvili. 

Sharing a distinct rivalry since their respective title fight victories this annum, Topuria and Holloway will lock horns at Noche UFC according to the promotion’s broadcast, at least – with the two battling it out on social media over the course of this month in a bid to land a date for their featherweight title affair.

As for O’Malley, the Montana native is expected to face the sternest challenge to his undisputed bantamweight crown to date following his April win over Marlon Vera – preparing to take on streaking Georgian ace, Dvalishvili. 

The addition of that championship fight doubleheader would also put the brakes on a linked comeback for Conor McGregor on the same card in a welterweight reworked fight with Michael Chandler – who overnight then confirmed he would most definitely fight the MIssouri veteran before the close of 2024. 

What are your thoughts on the apparent leaking of the Noche UFC card?

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Staking his claim for the next challenge to the light heavyweight throne, Russian contender, Magomed Ankalaev claims the UFC are targeting a fight between himself and the incumbent titleholder, Alex Pereira, revealing he’s just waiting for the Brazilian to ink his bout agreement.

Ankalaev, the current number two ranked light heavyweight challenger, has been vocal in his pursuit of a grudge fight with former two-division champion, Pereira since the Brazilian’s dominant title defense at UFC 303 at the end of last month.

Laying waste to the returning former champion, Jiri Prochazka – for the second time since November, no less, Sao Paulo finisher, Pereira launched a stunning second round high-kick – felling the Czech Republic star with another brutal knockout.

And receiving a slew of call outs in the immediate aftermath of his win, Pereira was warned by the above-mentioned, Ankalaev that if he shares the Octagon with him, he will most definitely be finished with strikes.

Magomed Ankalaev claims Alex Pereira title fight in the works

Providing an update on his own return to action, Ankalaev claims talks are underway with UFC brass for a title charge against Pereira – who confirmed this week how he plans to make a comeback to defend his crown in December.

“I believe that’s the next one,” Magomed Ankalaev told TMZ Sports of a fight with Alex Pereira. “It’s been a long time in the making, we’re waiting for contracts to be signed, and I think there is no way he escapes this one. I think we’re going to face each other. As of now, it’s in deep negotiations, it’s really up to Pereira to confirm it.”

“…Yes, he’s been impressive but I think it’s gonna be a relatively easy fight for me,” Magomed Ankalaev explained. “Yes, he went up in the weight class and he beat two impressive strikers, but that’s all he had to face so far. I think he didn’t have any serious grappler opponents, and he’s gonna have a hard time dealing with me.”

Who do you pick to win in a future title clash: Alex Pereira or Magomed Ankalaev?

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Amid continued speculation over his continuance in mixed martial arts, former interim lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier has revealed he had requested a release from his UFC contract amid a spat back in 2019.

Poirier, a former interim lightweight champion, most recently headlined UFC 302 back in May, unsuccessfully challenging for the undisputed title for a third time in a D’Arce choke submission loss to Islam Makhachev.

And weighing up his immediate fighting future in the time since his submission defeat to the pound-for-pound number one, Lafayette veteran, Poirier has since claimed he would likely make one final walk to the Octagon.

Linked with a potential trilogy rubber match with fellow former interim champion, Justin Gaethje subsequently – as well as an overdue meeting with ex-UFC star, Nate Diaz, Poirier also drew three-time foe, Conor McGregor into another spat on social media this week.

Dustin Poirier reveals 2019 spat with UFC officials

And often sharing a vociferous relationship with the UFC in recent years especially, Poirier – who was embroiled in a saga regarding his status on a March fight with Benoit Saint-Denis, revealed he sought his release from his contract back in 2019.

“I’ve had to fight and push back with everything I’ve ever got from the UFC,” Dustin Poirier told MMA Fighting. “It’s been a war zone behind the scenes every contract, every fight. Probably when I was asking to be released, before I fought Max (Holloway) in 2019 in Atlanta. I don’t remember exactly but they were offering fights that I didn’t want.”

“I don’t know exactly but i was asking to be released then,” Dustin Poirier explained. “I ended up getting the Max fight, so it worked out. Yeah, and the people they were offering me, where my contract was – I don’t remember exactly but that was the closest I was to being [finished].”

Who do you want to see Dustin Poirier fight in a UFC return?

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Former two-time bantamweight champion, T.J. Dillashaw has ripped into the title aspirations of veteran light heavyweight contender, Anthony Smith, claiming the Nebraska veteran will never land himself a championship under the banner of the UFC.

Dillashaw, a former two-time undisputed bantamweight titleholder, himself called time on his storied mixed martial arts career back in 2022, dropping a second round TKO loss to fellow former divisional champion, Aljamain Sterling in a dominant defeat in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

As for Smith, the former title challenger at 205lbs failed to mount the challenge of Georgian contender, Roman Dolidze in their short-notice clash at UFC 303 at the end of last month, rebounding to the losing enclosure in a unanimous decision loss.

T.J. Dillashaw doubts Anthony Smith ever lands UFC gold

Sharing his thoughts on the much-scrutinized championship aspirations of veteran perennial contender, Smith, Angels Camp veteran, Dillashaw claimed the former would never touch UFC gold, before speculating he always “gives up” on himself.

“No, never,” T.J. Dillashaw replied on the JAXXON Podcast when asked if Anthony Smith could become champion. “Dude, he’s just not good enough. Okay, so, he gives up. Did he give himself that nickname [Lionheart] or what? He gives up in there.”

“The second round [at UFC 303], he doesn’t even try to f*cking stand up,” T.J. Dillashaw explained. “Roman’s (Dolidze) on his back, he doesn’t even try to stand up. I don’t give a sh*t, I’m fighting until I die, dog. I’m fighting with one arm, I’m doing whatever I can.”

And providing an update on his own fighting future amid links to a potential return from injury to make one final title siege, Dillashaw confirmed he would not be making a comeback to the UFC, amid complications from multiple shoulder surgeries. 

“I can’t even raise my arm up in the air yet,” T.J. Dillashaw explained. “I don’t ever know if my shoulder is ever going to be the same again. It’s f*cking depressing. As a competitor, you have to be delusionally optimistic, but that’s also what got me in this position, too. It’s just gotten worse and worse from each surgery.”

Would you have liked to see T.J. Dillashaw make one final UFC run?

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Mark Coleman is back in the hospital.

The UFC legend recently revealed in a post on Instagram that he would be spending some time in a Columbus, Ohio hospital to deal with a septic infection in his replacement hip.

“Back in the hospital again,” Coleman said. “My hip is septically infected. They were going to do emergency surgery today, but I’m on blood thinners, so they’re going to have to wait until Monday. So I’m going to hang out here for the weekend. All’s going to be fine.”

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons:

“It is difficult for the immune system to attack bacteria that make it to these implants. Bacteria like to stick to metal. Since the metal implant does not receive any blood flow, our immune system has a hard time identifying the bacteria, so it does not know how to respond and kill it. If bacteria gain access to the implants, they may multiply and result in a joint infection.

“Despite antibiotics and preventive treatments, patients with infected joint replacements often require surgery to cure the infection” (h/t MMA Fighting).

Mark Coleman back in the hospital four months after saving his parents in Devastating house fire

In March, the 59-year-old Hall of Famer courageously ran back into his childhood home outside of Toledo after it was engulfed in flames in the middle of the night to save his parents. ‘The Hammer’ suffered smoke inhalation after running back inside the house to try and save his dog once his parents were carried to safety.

Coleman spent the next few days fighting for his life with his two daughters by his bedside.

Fortunately, he made a full recovery and has since appeared at multiple UFC events, including the promotion’s landmark UFC 300 card in Las Vegas when he wrapped the BMF belt around the waist of Max Holloway following his buzzer-beating knockout of Justin Gaethje.

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