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At last, Conor McGregor seemingly has a date for his UFC return.

Speaking Wednesday on The MMA Hour, McGregor stated that he and the UFC have formally agreed on plans for his long-discussed but oft-delayed comeback fight.

“The call has been made and we’re a go,” McGregor said on The MMA Hour.

“This means this summer, the Mac is back. So with I’m happy with my time I’ve got in the lead-up to it, I’m happy with where I’m at, and everything just works out in God’s name. And I’m ecstatic where I’m at. I’ve got great news the other day.”

McGregor, 35, has been linked to a return bout against Michael Chandler since coaching on The Ultimate Fighter 31 in early 2023. After a long, drawn-out saga, the former two-division champ announced the matchup on New Year’s Eve for June 29 at the UFC’s annual International Fight Week pay-per-view. UFC CEO Dana White subsequently denied those claims, however, and maintained that there was nothing on the books. White reiterated that sentiment several times in recent months, stating that he did not know when — or if — McGregor would return, citing McGregor’s wealth as a complicating factor in the situation.

McGregor has not competed since suffering a broken leg in his July 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier, but has repeatedly voiced his displeasure about not being booked by the UFC.

McGregor on Wednesday declined to reveal whether June 29 remains the date and instead said he’d allow UFC to announce the details. Other specifics such as rounds and weight class have also not been determined, McGregor said, but “The Notorious” still holds out hope that his comeback only serves as the first step of a two-fight year for him in 2024.

“Look at Anthony Joshua right now, with consistency. I was watching ringside, I watched — boom, boom, boom, sharper each time,” McGregor said. “Look at [Joseph] Parker … amazing warrior of a man, amazing boxer, look at him — boom, boom, boom. Consistency breeds quality. So I’m coming in here, years out of the game.

“Now I’m sparring and fighting and I feel good and sharp, but I’m going to have to get my in-league sharpness, and that’s going to have to come through the things. So the weight has no been discussed. I know I had that little buzz — I haven’t discussed the weight. To be honest, I haven’t jumped on weigh-in scales since the [Dustin Poirier] fight, the last fight. Since I weighed in on the last one, I have not touched the scales, not once. So I don’t even [know], I’ll have to go through all that. And then rounds, maybe I might say them, ‘Look, I’m just going three rounds, lads, for this one, and I want to just wet my beak.’

“Because I’ll do three three rounds really nicely now. And rather than pushing through to get to five — it’s just, I feel if I push right now to walk toward five full fitness rounds, I feel like the first three rounds wouldn’t be as sharp as I could get them. So I’d rather sharpen the blade of three, and go in nice and sharp and fresh, get the feel, get the fight. Chandler is going to come for it, Chandler is going to come at me, he’s going to want to try and engage and come at me. He’s going to have to, and that’s his style. So I think three is a lovely one.”

McGregor is currently promoting his role in the upcoming Road House remake alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, which premieres exclusively on Amazon Prime on March 21, but vowed to turn his full focus to preparing for his UFC return as soon as the press tour ends.

“I can’t act the bollocks now,” McGregor said. “That’s the thing. [Before this] you’re f****** flat out and I’m doing these camps, but nothing’s really there, so it’s kind of like the old temptation — my lovely Proper 12 Irish whiskey, my lovely port stout, my lovely penchant for a bit of madness and a bit of nice music in my ears and dancing and all the rest of it. And now I have to tighten up. I’m going in there, the man’s going to trying to be swinging bombs at me, so it’s great for me. It’s great for me and I’m excited and I can’t wait. Like I said, I got the sparring going straightaway, felt nice, trained today, and onwards we go.”

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Despite venting his frustration on more than one occasion, Conor McGregor insists that there is no beef between himself and the UFC.

During a recent interview with ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, the former two-division champion revealed that his quote-unquote “greatest comeback in combat sports history” is set to go down this summer. The news was a welcome change for fight fans after the last few months have seen McGregor tear into his employer on more than one occasion, accusing them of dragging their feet when it comes to locking down a return date.

Expanding on his comments during Tuesday’s episode of The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, McGregor made it clear that there is no tension between himself and the UFC, despite what the tabloids often claim.

“People want to make a beef with it,” McGregor said. “There’s no beef. I’m happy where I’m at and I’m delighted where I’m at. Let’s go. I feel I’m in a great place.”

Conor McGregor addresses his contract status with the uFC

With that said, McGregor made it clear that his future with the promotion is undeniably uncertain. At this point, the Irishman is believed to have no more than two fights left on his contract.

As much as he’d love to stay with the UFC, McGregor is not sure if the promotion can offer him anything, from a financial perspective, that would entice him to stay on board.

“There’s been no talks, not an iota of a talk,” McGregor said of his contract status. “Usually Lorenzo [Fertitta, former UFC co-owner] would have had something tasty on my plate a while ago. Lorenzo would have re-signed me two fights ago. There’s no talks. Maybe I just don’t know. I know they know I’m up [for renewal] but what way do you approach it? I’m a billionaire, I’m Mr. B, Mr. Coupla-Bs. In what way do you come to me to keep me tight? I could just ride the wave and then I dunno after that.”

Making his promotional debut in 2013, McGregor has 14 total fights inside the Octagon, going 10-4 in the process. His most notable victories came against Jose Aldo to win the UFC featherweight title at UFC 194 and a win against Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205, becoming the first-ever simultaneous two-division champion in promotional history.

McGregor is responsible for eight of the 10 highest-grossing pay-per-views in UFC history with the top earner being his intense clash with UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229. It is the first and only PPV event to eclipse two million buys in its 30+ year history.

“That’s my catalog, my library,” McGregor continued. “The UFC is what made me, and gave me this, I love the company with all my being. It’s the best, most iconic fighting organization that’s ever been, and I’m all over it and I f*cking love that. I love every fighter, every card, every show, and everyone backstage. I’d love to carry it on. I hope.”

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From his first moments in the spotlight until now, Tito Ortiz has remained a controversial figure who speaks his mind no matter the consequences.

His brash personality oftentimes got him into hot water during his heights in the UFC but that didn’t alter who Ortiz was in front of the camera. Now, years after his fighting career has ended, the 49-year-old continues to be his bold self and that was on full display when he made an appearance on Jesse Waters Primetime on FOX News.

While sitting down with Jesse Watters, Tito Ortiz gave his opinion on Joe Biden’s attempt to gain more support from the Hispanic citizens of the United States.

“Pandering at its worst. It’s pretty embarrassing what they’re trying to do,” Ortiz said. “I’ve watched this over the last three and a half years, and it’s just, how much more can our country take before people stand up?”

“All the Latino friends that I have, everyone that’s been waiting in line to get across the border. It’s no longer Mexicans that are trying to get across the border. It’s everybody from every other country.”

“I feel bad for our country right now. People need to stand up and make their votes be heard. If their votes aren’t going to be heard, I don’t know what’s going to happen next for our country.”

“And it’s really hard for me because being a blue-collared man with three boys and the future of them, I got to make sure that I stand up and let my voice be heard.”

Joe Biden has made a plea to Latino voters in hopes of gaining their support once again. The President attributes his success over Donald Trump back in 2020 to his Hispanic fanbase, as reported by MSN.

Despite Biden’s claims, reports suggest that just 36% of Hispanic adults approve of his performance in the White House. That number is  less than the 38% of U.S. adults who endorse his work, though that has decreased since Biden was elected.

Continuing in his conversation with Jesse Watters, Tito Ortiz sided with Donald Trump and detailed where his relationship with the former President originally began.

“When I lived in Huntington Beach, California, I had five businesses. You’ve got to understand, I’ve known Donald Trump since 2000.”

“I fought at his Casino at the Trump Taj Mahal, I worked on the Celebrity Apprentice with him. And to see what type of businessman he was, what type of father he was, what type of patriot he is for this country, for a billionaire to step up for this country, willing to risk everything to protect this country, my hat’s off to him. I will support him until he’s no longer around.”

“I think there’s a lot of Latinos that feel the same way because they come to this country to make sure we have our faith, we have our family, and we have our freedom.”

“These are the things that this country cannot lose. If we lose that, there’s no turning back and people need to understand that now, this is our time to take back America, because we cannot lose it.”

Ortiz then shared his dismay at the illegal immigrants who are being allowed to enter the country and break the law.

“For the future of our children, for all the futures of everybody [who] does want to come across the border legally. Because, once again, it’s not just Mexicans that are coming across the border, people need to understand that.”

“There’s children trafficking, there’s drugs that are coming across. All the cartels are doing the things that the American people don’t like.”

“You can see all across the border, in Texas, Arizona, California. It’s a shambles of what the border patrol can’t take care of and it’s because of the legislations and the policies that the Biden regime is doing right now.”

Related: Tito Ortiz’ home burglarized and ‘ransacked,’ Ortiz blames ‘Joe Biden’s America’

Tito Ortiz later opened up on how he has struggled following the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s sad for this country. I hope that people listen to me, as a blue-collared man [who] has to relocate here in Florida, open my own business—Tito’s Cantina Tequila Bar & Grille—here in Cape Coral, to redo the American Dream because I lost everything after 2020.”

“And it’s hard for me because I’m still trying to take care of my children as a blue-collared man…. But at the same time, people, we need to come together. We need to make sure that we make America great again because it’s very, very important.”

As the interview was coming to an end, Ortiz praised the state of Florida and shed some light on his feud with the state of California.

“There’s no woke agenda here in Florida. It’s wonderful, I love it. I’m thankful for the Politicians who have stepped up to protect this State and I wish other States would step up and do the same thing too.”

“Other sanctuary States, they need to understand. I see a lot of people who come down from up north. Down here in Florida to get away from that and they’re like, ‘Tito, we’re losing our cities, we’re losing our State.’ And I’m like, ‘You guys need to vote the right way instead of running away from it.'”

“I had to, I had no choice because, when I was on City Council, when I was Mayor of Pro Tem, they were destroying me. Once again, I’m a blue-collar guy, I’m not a billionaire… I can’t lose everything and they were trying to destroy my name when I was on City Council.”

“So, that’s why I walked away. That’s why I stepped away. I want to give the future of my children a great future, and that’s why I’m here in Florida doing this.”

Tito Ortiz UNLOADS on FOX News “I Lost Everything” pic.twitter.com/nr5zX7MbXm

— MMAWeekly (@MMAWeeklycom) March 21, 2024

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For the second week in a row, the UFC is back in the world’s most famous APEX.

After the entirely forgettable UFC Vegas 88, the world’s leading MMA promotion returns to its home base for UFC Vegas 89 as the company continues the march onward towards UFC 300. But it’s not just UFC this weekend as Bellator makes its long-awaited return under new ownership, with Bellator Belfast, and of course the No Bets Barred boys are here with a full breakdown of this MMA doubleheader.

Conner Burks and Jed Meshew open the show lamenting the state of APEX cards and the negative effect they have on the bank account, before diving into UFC Vegas 89 and Bellator Belfast. Can Rose Namajunas insert herself into the flyweight title picture on Saturday? Is it Jeremy Kennedy’s time to shine against Patricio Pitbull? And how many gimmick parlays is too many gimmick parlays for one weekend? All this and more are discussed on this week’s episode.

Tune in for episode 82 of No Bets Barred.

New episodes of the No Bets Barred podcast drop every Wednesday and are available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever else you find your favorite podcasts. The latest episode can be heard below.

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LOS ANGELES – An intense Mike Perry gave his best mean-mug to fellow headliner Thiago Alves following the kickoff press conference for BKFC Knucklemania 4 in Los Angeles.

Headliners posed for cameras following a presser lead by TV personality and fight fan Mario Lopes. Earlier BKFC press conference staredowns have ended in brawls, but Wednesday’s presser attended by MMA Fighting ended without issue.

BKFC Knucklemania 4 takes place April 27 at Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The event streams live via internet pay-per-view on the promotion’s app and several online partners including FITE TV.

Check out the full staredowns above.

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The feud between former middleweight champion Sean Strickland and undefeated welterweight Ian Garry picked up steam on Wednesday.  

Garry’s wife, Layla Machado-Garry, posted a video earlier in the day addressing some of the allegations Strickland made against her and her husband back in December. 

In response, Strickland released a video of his own and accused Machado-Garry of tarnishing her husband’s name.   

“Alright succubus, I’ll give you what you want.  You talk about me, I’ll give what you want, attention. I don’t want to call you by your name because if we know anything about demons, the moment you start using their name it gives them power and that’s all you want right, power and attention. When you post a picture – This is why you talk about me – when you post a picture and you get those fake f**king plastic titties in that tiny little dress and you realize, I’m an old lady, nobody wants to see me half naked in a dress. You think to yourself, how can I get the attention that I want? How can I get what I want? You talk about me, you bring my f**king name up,” Strickland said in his video response.

“You’ve never done anything.  You’ve never accomplished anything. The only thing that you’ve done is to seduce famous men,” Strickland continued.  “Let me tell you why you are such a despicable person. Everybody is gone and went and forgot about this.  We’ve accepted you, as disgusting as that may seem, and you bring this back up and tarnish your husband’s name just because that little insecure, succubus demon inside you wants attention.  Whatever succubus cave you came from, just go back to it.”  

Sean Strickland responds to Ian Machado Garry’s wife Layla 😬 #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/xqPV4SZGHa

— bjpenndotcom (@bjpenndotcom) March 20, 2024

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| BJPenn.com