Dana White has revealed that Georges St-Pierre and Khabib Numrmagomedov can fight under one condition and more — Fightful Fix has you covered with all the news in the combat sports world.
Dana White Says Georges St-Pierre And Khabib Nurmagomedov can fight
Dana White has never been too sure about Khabib Nurmagomedov and Georges St-Pierre fighting but has now revealed what would need to happen for him to book that bout. St-Pierre and "The Eagle" have both been vocal about wanting to fight one another, with GSP recently saying the potential fight "freaking excites me". Nurmagomedov has regularly said that the fight was his father's dream fight and if White wants him to return, he may have to grant his wish.
“I don’t know,” White to Farah Hannoun of UFC Arabia (h/t BJPenn.com). “I think that if he wanted to fight Georges St-Pierre, you have him give up the title, and him and Georges St-Pierre fight.”
حديث في كثير من الأمور الهامة قبل انطلاق منافسات جزيرة النزال..
— UFC Arabia (@UFCarabia) January 15, 2021
Dana White في لقاء خاص#UFCFightisland #UFC257#InAbudhabi
لمشاهدة النزالات مباشرة وحصرياً حمل تطبيق #UFCArabiahttps://t.co/pPGyDVrSKN pic.twitter.com/r9itLJVigM
Conor McGregor accuses Khabib Nurmagomedov of trying to "scurry away" from rematch
Conor McGregor has reignited the war of words with long time rival Khabib Nurmagomedov. McGregor was speaking in preparation for his UFC 257 fight vs. Dustin Poirier and claimed that Nurmagomedov is trying to "scurry away" from fights, including a rematch with "The Notorious".
How you could walk away at this stage is baffling to me, but each to their own. There’s so many fights out there. Even to carry on around the Tony (Ferguson) situation – I don’t care about nothing. You’re scheduled to fight a man, no matter what, fights must take place," McGregor said to Oscar Willis of TheMacLife.com (h/t MMA Junkie). "You can’t just scurry away from bouts. It’s been the hallmark of his approach. I was not surprised to see him walk away or scurry away, I should say, so it is what it is. We carry on.”
Dana White reveals the winner of Max Holloway vs. Calvin Kattar could earn the next title shot
Dana White has added an extra incentive to UFC Fight Island 7 and its main event by saying the winner of Max Holloway vs. Calvin Kattar is potentially next in line for a featherweight championship match. Holloway has already lost to Alexander Volanovski twice but White has revealed that a win would put him back in contention, and the same goes for Kattar should he defeat the former champion.
“I think your back’s always against the wall when you’re the champion or the No. 1 contender. I mean, you’re the two guys that everybody coming for. I know that Max feels like he won that last fight (with Volkanovski at UFC 251), and a lot of other people think he did, too," admitted White (h/t BJPenn.com). "So he’s gotta go out there tomorrow night and put a stamp on this thing and show everybody that he is the No. 1 guy in the world and he’s ready to fight Volkanovski again. (As for Kattar) a win over Max puts him in a really good position. So yeah, if he beats Max, he’s probably next in line.”
Michael Chandler "would love" Nate Diaz fight
Michael Chandler has added his name to the list of fighters eager to welcome Nate Diaz back to the Octagon. Conor McGregor and Paul Felder have called for fights with the Stockton native ever since Dana White revealed that the UFC is working on a Diaz fight, and UFC newcomer Chandler would relish the opportunity to welcome Diaz back.
“There’s no doubt I would pick Nate Diaz up (and) slam him on his neck,” Chandler said, (h/t BJPenn.com) “That long, skinny, fat body, he’s out of shape, he hasn’t really fought much in the last few years. So I’d be down with that. Midwest boy from High Ridge, Missouri, fighting the kid from Lodi, California, I would love that. So we shall see.”
Boxing star Ryan Garcia eyes MMA fight with Conor McGregor
Ryan Garcia is still at the beginning of his career but has some lofty ambitions before he hangs up his gloves. Garcia has revealed that he intends to box until he is 26 and then transition to MMA and fight Conor McGregor. Garcia was speaking on "The Rich Eisen Show"
“You know what I’m willing to do, and I really haven’t said this out loud. What I plan to do is, say at 26 I’m done retired and boxing is all good. You know what I’ll do? If they say, ‘Okay, you’ve beaten everybody in the ring, right?’ But somebody goes, ‘This ain’t real fighting. Real fighting is legs, you know, choking, submission, all that. Guess what I’ll do? I’ll go prove to them that I’m the best fighter all around in the world. I’m talking about hands, I’m talking about wrestling," said Garcia (h/t BJPenn.com). "I will go to MMA to prove a point that God is greatest and I’ll go beat whoever in MMA that they say I won’t beat. If it has to be Conor McGregor, I will. And I’m not saying this to get money. I don’t care about money. I’m saying this because that’s just how I feel.”
WBC lightweight interim champ @KingRyanG has said he wants to retire by 26 but told us if he does keep fighting it'll be in the octagon... really.
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) January 14, 2021
LISTEN:#UFC @danawhite @oscardelahoya @canelo @ufc #boxing pic.twitter.com/tqIOqAexp6
Jon Anik believes Khabib Nurmagomedov returns if someone defeats Islam Makhachev
Jon Anik has a theory on how we could see Khabib Nurmagomedov return to the Octagon. Anik was speaking to the media on Fight Island and believes that Nurmagomedov could be goaded to return if someone defeats his protege Islam Makhachev. Makhachev is highly rated by "The Eagle" and Eagle MMA, and Anik believes that Nurmagomedov would be enticed to come back if someone manages to defeat him.
“Here’s the one thing that I’ve been throwing out there. Islam Makhachev is the equalizer in all of this. If one of these UFC lightweights can beat Islam Makhachev, who Khabib and Eagles MMA believe is going to be the next UFC lightweight champion, if Drew Dober or one of these guys can beat Islam, then I think Khabib would probably want to fight that guy," said Anik (h/t middleeasy). "I don’t think Khabib can scratch that competitive itch by coaching or doing a grappling competition. So I do think eventually we will see him back, but in the next twelve months I don’t think you’re going to see him.”
UFC release two statements informing of two fighters who have violated anti-doping policy
Eduarda Neves Santanna and Vinicius Moreira Castro have both violated UFC's anti-doping policy. On Santanna, the UFC released the following statement.
USADA announced today that Eduarda Neves Santanna, of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has received a one-year sanction for a violation of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy.
Neves Santanna, 23, tested positive for LGD-4033 and its metabolite dihydroxy-LGD-4033 as the result of a urine sample collected out-of-competition on January 10, 2020. LGD-4033 is a non-Specified Substance in the class of Anabolic Agents and is prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy and UFC Prohibited List.
This case was resolved under the revised UFC Anti-Doping Policy and Prohibited List, announced on January 14, 2021. The UFC Prohibited List establishes a default one-year sanction for positive tests involving Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs), like LGD-4033, that are detected and reported at urinary concentrations within an established range. The revised Policy accounts for cases involving athletes who have been truthful and fully cooperated with USADA’s investigative process, tested supplement products and are still unable to conclusively establish the source of their positive test. In these cases, ingestion from a contaminated product cannot be ruled out as SARMs have commonly been found as declared and undeclared ingredients in many dietary supplements.
Neves Santanna’s one-year period of ineligibility began on January 10, 2020, the date her positive sample was collected.
The UFC also released the following statement on Vinicius Moreira Castro.
USADA announced today that Vinicius Moreira Castro, of Distrito Federal, Brasilia, Brazil, has received a public warning for a violation of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy.
Moreira Castro, 31, tested positive for anastrozole as the result of a urine sample collected out-of-competition on September 25, 2020. Anastrozole is a Specified Substance in the class of Hormone and Metabolic Modulators and is prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy and UFC Prohibited List.
Following notification of his positive test, Castro provided an open container of a compounded supplement he was using prior to his positive test for analysis at a WADA-accredited laboratory. Although no prohibited substances were listed on the supplement label, the analysis revealed a low level of anastrozole in the product. Because the product was not a Certified Supplement, Castro faces a violation.
This case was resolved under the revised UFC Anti-Doping Policy announced on January 14, 2021. Under the revised Policy, USADA may consider in the resolution of the case – along with other factors – whether an athlete’s exposure to a prohibited substance had or likely had a performance enhancing benefit.
USADA conducts the year-round, independent anti-doping program for all UFC athletes. USADA is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental agency whose sole mission is to preserve the integrity of competition, inspire true sport, and protect the rights of clean athletes. In an effort to aid UFC athletes, as well as their support team members, in understanding the rules applicable to them, USADA provides comprehensive instruction on the UFC Anti-Doping Program website (https://UFC.USADA.org) regarding the testing process and prohibited substances, how to obtain permission to use a necessary medication, and the risks and dangers of taking supplements, as well as performance-enhancing and recreational drugs.
Aljamain Sterling opens up on why Petr Yan may have withdrawn from UFC 256
Aljamain Sterling has speculated on reasons why Petr Yan withdrew from their scheduled fight at UFC 256. Yan withdrew from UFC 256 and didn't disclose any reasons publically as to why. Sterling has now teased Yan on the many different excuses that were given and doesn't believe them in the slightest, during an interview with James Lynch of "Fanatics View"
“There’s no real reasoning to what happened,” Sterling began in an interview with James Lynch. “First, we were told he was injured. Then, next thing you know, this guy’s posting videos of him working out. I’m like, OK, that’s clearly not what it is. And then, I hear there’s personal issues. I heard his newborn son had COVID or something like that. That wasn’t what the situation was, at least from what I’ve heard. And then the other one was the visa issue, which he posted a video of him being ‘cleared’ for his visa," said Yan (h/t CDN MMA News). "So I’m like, in my head, it’s only a couple things. I’m not trying to poke any fingers, but maybe there’s a little cycling thing going on over there and maybe he missed a time slot. I think that’s how that stuff works to get off and be cleared in time. Or, maybe he didn’t feel like he had adequate enough training for this particular fight style and matchup.”
Santiago Ponzinibbio reveals "my doctor said I could never fight again"
Santiago Ponzinibbio will return to the Octagon at UFC Fight Island 7 but ahead of his comeback, he has revealed he may never have fought again. Ponzinibbio will take on Li Jingliang and will be looking to extend his 7 fight win streak, even though he hasn't fought since a win over Neil Magny two years ago and has now revealed that doctors warned his career may have been over.
“In 2020 I worked really hard to become the athlete I used to be again,” Ponzinibbio said (h/t MMA Mania). “The infection left me with many side effects. At one point, my doctor said I could never fight again in my life. Then he said my knee could have been ruined forever because I was in so much pain. I had to deal with all of that mentally.”
Alessio Di Chirico "not impressed" by Joaquin Buckley's surge
Alessio Di Chirico isn't taking Joaquin Buckley for granted and respects him as a fighter, but he isn't "impressed" by the rise of Buckley following his sensational KO. Di Chirico and Buckely will face off at UFC Fight Island 7, and he is looking forward to fighting "a very good fighter" in Buckley.
“Oh man, I’m not impressed by his surge,” Di Chirico said (h/t MMAFighting). “He did an impressive KO so it’s right he went viral. I was disappointed and sorry for Impa. I knew him in Vegas and he was sweet. I’m sure he’ll be back. There was some genius behind that kick. Well done."
Mounir Lazzez ready to compete in three divisions
Mounir Lazzez is eager to impress on Fight Island and has a plan to raise his reputation in the UFC. Lazzez will take a play from Khamzat Chimaev's playbook by asking for a fight in short notice in "lightweight, welterweight or middleweight". Lazzez will face off vs. Warrley Alves and should he finish Alves early, he intends to ask for a quick turnaround on Fight Island.
“If I finish Alves early in this fight, I will ask Dana to give me a fight after three days. If there’s anyone at lightweight, welterweight, or middleweight, for real, I mean it," said Lazzez (h/t MMA Junkie). "I can make lightweight now for this fight. I can fight in welterweight. I can fight in middleweight. This is what martial arts is about. I’m not here just (to) give me four months, give me two months to fight. I’m ready anytime, anywhere, and I mean it.”
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