Georges St-Pierre opens up on why he won't come out of retirement for a fight with Kamaru Usman and much more — Fightful has all the latest MMA news from around the world in one article.
Georges St-Pierre not "motivated" for Kamaru Usman fight
Georges St-Pierre has poured cold water on any suggestion he should come out of retirement and face Kamaru Usman after his dismantling of Gilbert Burns at UFC 258. St-Pierre has been the name on the lips of pundits and fans alike after Kamaru Usman defeated Burns, leaving a shortage of new and fresh opposition to challenge him. This has prompted the MMA community to urge "Rush" out of his retirement but according to the man himself, Usman will need to get competition elsewhere.
“To go back and give three months of my life in a training camp to get a win over Kamaru Usman doesn’t get me motivated. I don’t think there’s anything that would get me motivated to go back to competition now. I’m not sure. Try to put yourself in my shoes and try to come back. First, if I come back to fight Kamaru Usman, I would literally have to leave the country," St-Pierre said to JD Bunkis and Ben Ennis on “The Good Show” on Sportsnet 590 The Fan (h/t BJPenn.com). "I would have to bring my coaches somewhere, find a base camp, fly in training partners to get ready for Usman. But leaving my home, I don’t want to do it. I’m healthy, I’m wealthy. It’s not appealing to me to lose three months of my life, the stress, to try and get a win over Usman. As time passed by, it’s getting less and less appealing. And I don’t think there’s anybody now that would make me come back. I’m good. I will always train and be in shape."
Dana White made comments comparing Usman and St-Pierre and said that it won't be long until fans see Usman as a potential GOAT and surpassing the Canadians legacy.
“He just broke his record tonight. If you look at what he just did, he broke his record tonight for consecutive wins (in the welterweight division), and if this guy keeps rolling, if Usman can keep doing what he’s doing, he’s going to go down as the greatest welterweight ever," White claimed to the media (h/t MMA Junkie). "Fact. Just look at who he’s fought and who he has to fight here in the future, it’s undeniable that this guy will go down as the best welterweight. The question is, where will he go down in the history of the sport?”
Gilbert Burns looks to Robbie Lawlor as inspiration after loss
Gilbert Burns was the unfortunate loser in UFC 258's main event and he is looking to bounce back from his disappointment. Burns started the contest strong but having dropped Kamaru Usman early on he seemed to lose focus and the champion took over from there. Burns is looking to use Robbie Lawlor as a guide on his road to redemption as he looks to earn another shot at the title.
“I just want to do like Robbie Lawler. He was the only guy, if I’m not wrong, that lost to Johny Hendricks, and then he just got right back, got a couple wins, fought again, and became a champion. And that’s exactly what I’m gonna do," Burns said to the media (h/t CDN MMA News). "I hope I don’t get a crazy suspension, and then get back, rest, stay with my family a little bit, and I want to fight as quick as I can. I know I can do it. It was almost done, but I cannot make those mistakes to become a champion.”
Alexander Volkov explains why he was starstruck being in the cage with Alistair Overeem
Alexander Volkov has taken to his social media to reflect on his victory over veteran Alistair Overeem at UFC Vegas 18. Volkov was respectful and full of praise to Overeem and even called it an honor to share the Octagon with him.
“I was honored to share the octagon with @alistairovereem At that very moment I thought: “Am I really here right now, Overeem is opposite me and I will fight with him?!” 10 years ago when I just started organizing my first professional fights, I would never have believed it. I have never been physically gifted, I don’t have an outstanding talent for learning everything very quickly, and I have not been “led” by the “right” opponents during my career. My place in this sport is especially valuable to me now because it is given to me with great effort and discipline. And I believe that I can never surprise you all again, even if everything is against me!”
Beneil Daruish believes he can beat Khabib Nurmagomedov
Beneil Dariush has been in the UFC since 2014 but he has started gaining momentum in recent fights, as he is currently on a six-fight win streak and most recently defeated Diego Ferreira via split decision at UFC Vegas 18. Dariush was vocal after the fight about his desire to get matched up with a top-five opponent and he believes he can aim even higher and become the one to defeat Khabib Nurmagomedov.
“Khabib would be the (dream) fight. I think fighting the greatest lightweight of all time is the ideal option. I think that would be cool. I think that would be really cool. I think Khabib is the best lightweight ever, and I think it’d be really cool to fight him,” Dariush said to TMZ Sports (h/t BJPenn.com). "I think I have the well-rounded skillset to pull it off. I think I have good wrestling, I think I have good jit-jitsu. I think most of the guys that Khabib has fought don’t have high-level jiu-jitsu, especially off their backs. And only a few of them had decent wrestling, and I think I have both of those. And on top of that, when it comes to striking, I think I have the advantage in the striking, too. It’d be a fun fight! I think it’d be more competitive than any fight he’s had.”
Dana White claims only casual fans don't rate Kamaur Usman
Dana White was full of praise for Kamaru Usman after UFC 258 and claimed that at this point if you don't know how good the Nigerian is that you are a casual MMA fan. Despite his dominance in the Octagon, Usman's name isn't considered a top draw for the UFC and White believes that is through no fault of the champions.
“For anybody to say that Usman’s not (the real deal), you don’t know anything about fighting,” White said (h/t CDN MMA News). “And that’s OK. Maybe you just jump in and you like to watch it because it’s the thing to do, and Conor’s fighting, or this guy’s fighting. But if you know anything about fighting and you don’t think that Usman is, you really don’t know anything about fighting.”
Andre Galvao wants $1 million to face Gordon Ryan but he isn’t getting it
Andre Galvao has seemingly priced himself out of a match with Gordon Ryan. Galvao called out Ryan but demanded a fee of $1 million. However, it seems like this beef may never be settled on the mats as ADCC head organizer Mo Jassim publicly stated that a purse of that size was impossible, as it is greater than the revenue even a fully sold-out event would generate.
Marina Rodriguez eyes Yan Xiaonan and Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Marina Rodriguez defeated Amanda Ribas back at UFC 258 by KO and announced herself to anyone who wasn't aware of her prior to her win. Rodriguez already knows who she'd like to face next on her quest to become strawweight champion.
“I have an order of my favourites to fight next. In first place, I really want to fight Yan Xiaonan who’s third in the division. I think that would be a really nice fight. In the second spot, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, which is a fight that definitely needs to happen. I imagine it won’t be the next fight or the one after that, but that will be a fight the audience will love to see because it’s two fighters who love to strike," Rodriguez said to SCMP. "But above all, it’s two fighters who aren’t afraid to strike and throw heavy strikes. So maybe I need one more fight in the top five to get a title shot, but who knows if a title shot won’t be against Joanna Jedrzejczyk herself.”
Cage Warriors reveal 2021 schedule
Cage Warriors is planning a big year, with as many as 17 events planned for their 2021 schedule. MMA Junkie is reporting the following schedule:
The schedule kicks off with a confirmed “Trilogy” series in London, with Cage Warriors 120, 121, and 122, set to run on consecutive nights from Mar. 18-20. The promotion will return to the English capital twice more for government-approved “Trilogy” events in June and September/October. But the organization also revealed plans to host additional events in a variety of locations throughout the year.
Talks are underway for Cage Warriors to host its first show on U.S. soil, with an event provisionally planned for June 4 in California, while another groundbreaking event, in Paris, France, is penciled in for July 3. Both events are subject to state/government approval.
Another planned show will see the promotion cross the Irish Sea for a July 31 event in either Dublin, Ireland or Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Further event dates in October and November are also in the pipeline, with the promotion planning to round off its 2021 schedule with a final three-night “Trilogy” event in December at a location to be confirmed.
All events will be streamed on UFC Fight Pass.
Cage Warriors’ provisional 2021 event calendar includes:
Mar. 18-20: “Trilogy” events, London, England June 4: California (pending confirmation) June 17, 18, 19: “Trilogy” events, London, England July 3: Paris, France (pending confirmation) July 31: Dublin, Ireland or Belfast, Northern Ireland (pending confirmation) Sep. 30-Oct. 2: “Trilogy” events, London, England October: Planned event (date/venue TBC) November: Planned event (date/venue TBC) December: “Trilogy” events (date/location TBC)
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