This is The A-Side Live Chat on MMA Fighting.
Today on the show, we’ll talk last week’s Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor UFC 229 press conference in New York and the fallout from everything that was said. Will anything that happened in the presser manifest itself in the city? Did McGregor go too far with some of his geo-political statements? Was Nurmagomedov affected?
We’ll also discuss UFC 230 and the situation surrounding its main event. Dustin Poirier and Nate Diaz want to fight each other in the headliner for a new 165-pound UFC title, but the UFC is apparently saying no. If not Diaz vs. Poirier, then what is the main event? With tickets going on sale this week, when will we find out?
In addition, Jon Jones got his 15-month suspension in his USADA case last week. There was some controversy following that announcement, because of a reduction Jones got in that suspension due to his cooperating in a separate case or cases. What exactly is this “snitching” business about? Was the 15-month suspension fair? Does USADA deserve some criticism in this whole deal?
We will also speak about what is one of the biggest Bellator cards in history, headlined by a middleweight title fight between champion Gegard Mousasi and welterweight champ Rory MacDonald. Marc is in San Jose for Bellator 206, which takes place Saturday. Is this the best Bellator has ever offered? What is there to make of Quinton Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva? What else on the card is there to look out for?
If there’s time, we can chat about the big Rizin card coming up this weekend, headlined by a kickboxing match between Kyoji Horiguchi and Tenshin Nasukawa. UFC Sao Paulo was last weekend, with Thiago Santos winning a gutty bout against Eryk Anders. We can chat about that card as well.
There is plenty to talk about, so join us to discuss all of the above and much more. All is up for discussion. The chat will start at our time of 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT.
As always, we’ll post the video window as the event draws near and answer any questions you might have if you post them in the comments below. For the comments you deem the most deserving, please click the “rec” button. Comments in green will get first priority.
Please link this page and use the hashtags #theaside or #chatwrappers on Twitter when you’re watching to tell everyone you’re taking part with us.
An audio-only version of the podcast can be found on MMA Fighting’s official Soundcloud.
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