MMA Fighting: All Posts by MMA Fighting Staffhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52789/mma_minimal_navy..jpg2024-03-27T18:00:00-04:00https://www.mmafighting.com/authors/mma-fighting-staff/rss2024-03-27T18:00:00-04:002024-03-27T18:00:00-04:00UFC vet Antonio McKee on antitrust lawsuit outcome: ‘Only person that won here was the attorneys’
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<p id="OnOmDR">MMA pioneer <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/351/antonio-mckee">Antonio McKee</a> is not encouraged by the result of the UFC antitrust lawsuit.</p>
<p id="CpZkcS">Earlier this month, more than 10 years of work culminated when the UFC’s parent company <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/3/20/24106823/ufc-reaches-settlement-to-close-out-antitrust-lawsuits-promotion-agrees-to-pay-out-335-million">reached a proposed $335 million settlement</a> to resolve a pair of antitrust lawsuits that threatened to change the very fabric of the sport. The news signaled a premature end to a story that had the potential to be one of the biggest of 2024, and reaction to it has been decidedly mixed, with many fighters calling the outcome <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/3/20/24106922/huge-victory-for-ufc-fighters-react-to-ufcs-335-million-settlement-on-antitrust-lawsuits">an outright win for the UFC</a>.</p>
<p id="rHm3gU">McKee has been involved in the fight game from both a competition and coaching standpoint since making his professional debut in 1999, and he sees things the same.</p>
<p id="N6SVks">“You know what? It’s great, but they shouldn’t have settled, and it does nothing,” McKee said Wednesday on <em>The MMA Hour</em>.</p>
<p id="5qm56m">“What’s changed? Nothing’s changed. So I basically have seen a bunch of attorneys sell out.”</p>
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<aside id="z3QJA6"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"‘What kind of check?’: Fighter confusion, fear, and curiosity meet $335 million UFC class-action settlement ","url":"https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/3/21/24106970/what-kind-of-check-fighter-confusion-fear-and-curiosity-meet-335-million-ufc-class-action-settlement"},{"title":"UFC class action attorney details next steps in settlement ","url":"https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/3/20/24106978/ufc-class-action-attorney-details-next-steps-in-settlement"},{"title":"‘Huge victory for UFC’: Fighters react to UFC’s $335 million settlement on antitrust lawsuits ","url":"https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/3/20/24106922/huge-victory-for-ufc-fighters-react-to-ufcs-335-million-settlement-on-antitrust-lawsuits"}]}'></div></aside><p id="gu5dM1">For now, many questions remain unanswered regarding how the $335 million settlement will be divided up. The two lawsuits covered fighters who competed in UFC between 2010 and 2017 (Le et al. vs. Zuffa) and 2017 to present (Johnson vs. Zuffa), and represented an estimated total of between 1,200 to 1,400 athletes. If Judge Richard Boulware approves the settlement terms, attorneys representing the fighters are expected to ask for a portion of the $335 million, which could total up to around 33 percent (or more than $110 million). The rest will be allocated to the athletes in some capacity, although details remain up in the air.</p>
<p id="sIx4UB">The initial antitrust lawsuit was filed in 2014 for the purpose of combating an alleged UFC scheme “to acquire and maintain monopsony power in the market for elite professional MMA fighter services” through exclusive contracts, coercion, and acquisitions that eliminated potential competitors, among other factors. Plaintiffs spoke often over the past 10 years about their ultimate goal being to reshape the sport into a more athlete-friendly business environment.</p>
<p id="QfPoh3">McKee, 54, competed for a variety of promotions over the course of his 20-year athletic career, making pit stops in the UFC, Bellator, WSOF, IFL, K-1, and more. </p>
<p id="RPqEzB">The veteran fighter and father to former Bellator champion <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/3240/a-j-mckee">A.J. McKee</a> believes the plaintiffs failed in their goals.</p>
<p id="SszjdB">“The attorneys took most of that money,” McKee said. “I was in on the original lawsuit, I still have the the paperworks, and the way the percentages are split, the only person that won here was the attorneys. Smart move on to UFC to settle.”</p>
https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/3/27/24113823/ufc-vet-antonio-mckee-on-antitrust-lawsuit-outcome-only-person-that-won-here-was-the-attorneysMMA Fighting Staff2024-03-26T13:30:00-04:002024-03-26T13:30:00-04:00UFC 100: Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir 2 live stream watch party
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<p id="npkusf">MMA Fighting has a live stream watch party for <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fight-card/52/ufc-100">UFC 100</a>, which took place July 11, 2009 for at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas as we take a look back at a historic pay-per-view event on the road to <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fight-card/1438/ufc-300">UFC 300</a> on April 13. In the main event, <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/27/brock-lesnar">Brock Lesnar</a> puts his newly won UFC heavyweight title on the line for the first time against the first man to ever defeat him in MMA, <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/28/frank-mir">Frank Mir</a>.</p>
<p id="NsZICV">Join MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck and E. Casey Leydon, along with other special guests to watch along with the memorable UFC 100 main card. </p>
<p id="pE0IvP">In the co-main event, <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/123/georges-st-pierre">Georges St-Pierre</a> — one of the all-time greats — defends his welterweight title against <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/104/thiago-alves">Thiago Alves</a>. </p>
<p id="2gepXS">UFC 100 also features a middleweight bout between coaches of <em>The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom</em> — one that created one of the promotion’s most iconic moments — as <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/88/dan-henderson">Dan Henderson</a> takes on <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/84/michael-bisping">Michael Bisping</a>, while the main card opens with another 185-pound tilt between <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/81/yoshihiro-akiyama">Yoshihiro Akiyama</a> and <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/495/alan-belcher">Alan Belcher</a>.</p>
<p id="XbjjaQ">Watch MMA Fighting’s UFC 100 Watch Party at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.</p>
https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/3/26/24112378/ufc-100-brock-lesnar-vs-frank-mir-2-live-stream-watch-partyMMA Fighting Staff2024-03-24T12:00:00-04:002024-03-24T12:00:00-04:00‘Disappointed’ Donn Davis reacts to Kayla Harrison leaving PFL, says planned fights were ‘bigger than’ anything in UFC
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<p id="CYdqmz"><a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/4121/kayla-harrison">Kayla Harrison</a>, arguably the longtime face of the Professional Fighters League, is now in the UFC, and while PFL co-founder Donn Davis wishes she was still on the roster, the believes the promotion will be just fine without her.</p>
<p id="LCCMVS">Following Harrison’s win over <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/3173/aspen-ladd">Aspen Ladd</a> at the PFL World Championships event this past November, Davis believed Harrison still had one fight left on her PFL deal, but then she ended up signing with the UFC and will face <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/2173/holly-holm">Holly Holm</a> at <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fight-card/1438/ufc-300">UFC 300</a> on April 13. When asked what happened with the situation, Davis gave his honest response.</p>
<p id="X2meJo">“I don’t know,” Davis said on The MMA Hour. “And I talked to Kayla, and I believe Kayla and I have a very good relationship, and I don’t know [what happened]. So I can only speculate and I don’t really like to speculate about things that are about other people.</p>
<p id="z80rnl">“So one, I don’t know, and two, I’m disappointed. So I think – unlike Dana [White] when he talks about other fighters, tends to be negative if they leave, tends to be negative if they don’t do what UFC wants them to do – here, I’m disappointed. PFL, in six years, has never lost a fighter, and remember, in year one and year two and year three, PFL was not a strong company. We’re a new company, so there were many reasons for fighters to leave and they never did. Now, did we release up fighters? Yes. Did we upgrade fighters? Yes, because we were always getting better. Never had a fighter leave, so this is the first time in six years.</p>
<p id="HJktHo">“And ironically, PFL had never been stronger and the matchups we had for Kayla Harrison, were better than the matchups she was going to get at UFC. She was going to fight <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/593/cris-cyborg">Cris Cyborg</a>, which I believe is the biggest fight available in the women’s division possible. It’s a legacy, career statement fight for her. [Then] Larisa Pacheco, who beat her fair and square. So Kayla’s, call it next two to three fights at PFL are harder than they are at UFC, are bigger than they are at UFC. So I don’t know. I really can’t explain her motivations for leaving, and I was disappointed.”</p>
<p id="d9qhbr">Harrison competed 16 times for the promotion — which was originally World Series of Fighting before transitioning to the PFL — along with one fight for Invicta, winning all but one — a decision loss to Pacheco at the PFL World Championships in November 2022. Additionally, it seemed that a fight with Cyborg with inevitable after the PFL absorbed Bellator this past November.</p>
<p id="R9FnNL">Unfortunately, that fight may never happen, and Davis admits that he is sad about that — or not having any fight involving Harrison in his promotion. But in the end, Davis feels the PFL will march forward without her with great success. </p>
<p id="h4ceKj">“That being said, because PFL has never been stronger – 80 fighters ranked in the top-25, 33 fighters ranked in the top-15 – we’re fine,” Davis explained. “It’s almost like when people post about UFC, they’re always fine if Connor’s not fighting this year or something like that. So our brand, our ratings, our financials, zero impact to Kayla not being here. </p>
<p id="ehywSM">“But personally, I don’t like when any fighter leaves. So I wish she was here.”</p>
https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/3/24/24107114/disappointed-donn-davis-reacts-to-kayla-harrison-leaving-pfl-says-planned-fights-bigger-than-ufcMMA Fighting Staff2024-03-24T11:00:00-04:002024-03-24T11:00:00-04:00Sean O’Malley’s coach admits Merab Dvalishvili is ‘scary’ opponent: ‘There’s ways for us to lose’
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<p id="QT7ZAi">All signs continue to point toward <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/4140/sean-o-malley">Sean O’Malley</a> vs. <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/4276/merab-dvalishvili">Merab Dvalishvili</a> being the UFC’s next bantamweight title fight.</p>
<p id="RcmtG2">That’s according to O’Malley’s longtime coach, <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/1834/tim-welch">Tim Welch</a>.</p>
<p id="LmmIgN">“I just feel like there’s a good chance he’s next,” Welch said on <em>The MMA Hour</em>. “Who else would there be? <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/4356/cory-sandhagen">Cory Sandhagen</a>? Probably a little too soon for <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/5480/ilia-topuria">Ilia Topuria</a>. But it’s going to be up to the UFC, but there’s probably the highest chance that it’s going to be Merab next.</p>
<p id="sMWQmM">“I think it’s fair. We’ve got to get through this guy. He’s earned it, 10-fight win streak. Don’t want to make him keep fighting. Yeah, I think it’s fair.”</p>
<p id="OQjMRG">O’Malley, 29, made the first successful defense of his UFC bantamweight title earlier this month at <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fight-card/1437/ufc-299-o-malley-vs-vera">UFC 299</a> with a five-round rout of <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/3088/marlon-vera">Marlon Vera</a>.</p>
<p id="ZXF47C">Dvalishvili, 33, moved into a tie for the longest win streak in UFC bantamweight history when he outclassed <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/2186/henry-cejudo">Henry Cejudo</a> to pick up his 10th straight victory at <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fight-card/1433/ufc-298-volkanovski-vs-topuria">UFC 298</a>. Dvalishvili has also notched wins over <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/4437/petr-yan">Petr Yan</a>, <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/7/jose-aldo">Jose Aldo</a>, and <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/1463/marlon-moraes">Marlon Moraes</a> over that run.</p>
<p id="DQzG2Z">O’Malley initially called out UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria following his revenge win over Vera, however he pivoted in the days after UFC 299 and instead posted on social media <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/3/15/24102272/sean-omalley-calls-for-merab-dvalishvili-next-teases-2025-will-be-legendary-dvalishvili-responds">that he wants Dvalishvili next</a>. In that same message, O’Malley wrote that “2025 will be legendary” — a comment which drew frustration from both Dvalishvili and some fans who assumed that O’Malley intended to sideline himself for the rest of 2024. </p>
<p id="vja9JA">Speaking on <em>The MMA Hour</em>, Welch clarified that the 2025 comment was actually just a bit of playful ribbing — “Just get the little guy flustered up a little bit more,” he said — and that O’Malley is actually targeting a return sometime between September to November this year. Welch also acknowledged that he is more nervous to face Dvalishvili than he was for Vera.</p>
<p id="iT93Mp">“Merab is just an animal,” Welch said. “Anyone who’s on a 10-fight win streak too, they have a certain sense of confidence to them, which is scary in itself, and his cardio is freakishly [good]. It’s so scary. His five-round cardio is so scary, but I know also he’s never faced anybody like Sean and it’s going to be a big cage, and I’m really excited. There’s definitely ways for us to win. There’s ways for us to lose the fight, too. If we show up not on that night — Sean shows up every time, but Merab is a problem. He really is. But there’s ways for us to win.”</p>
<p id="jrQTzB">That being said, Welch doesn’t believe Dvalishvili represents the toughest test in UFC bantamweight division. That test, he said, already occurred against the man from whom O’Malley stole the belt with a brutal second-round knockout: <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/1528/aljamain-sterling">Aljamain Sterling</a>.</p>
<p id="hPRLsj">“I think he was the biggest one,” Welch said. “He was just such a large guy, so lengthy, expert back-taker. He’s not really the type to get on top and really beat your ass. He’s going to pass your guard, he’s going to force you try to stand up — now he’s on your back for the rest of the round. Super strong, physical. I think Aljo was the most dangerous fight for us.</p>
<p id="0RoGzM">“Just the funkiness of Aljo and the length of him and what he’s good at. Merab’s up there though, Merab’s a huge problem. Like, he’s a scary, scary guy, and it’s perfect because it’s going to get Sean super excited for the fight and the challenge and just to shut everybody up again.”</p>
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https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/3/24/24109102/sean-omalleys-coach-admits-merab-dvalishvili-is-scary-opponent-theres-ways-for-us-to-loseMMA Fighting Staff2024-03-24T09:00:00-04:002024-03-24T09:00:00-04:00Conor McGregor eager for more Hollywood opportunities: ‘Think about the movies that you can make around me’
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<img alt="“Road House” New York Premiere" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xnS6EWiQ9CtmJYYEsya-zNdvslQ=/0x0:4614x3076/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73229246/2097990820.0.jpg" />
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<p id="65FqNv"><a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/1859/conor-mcgregor">Conor McGregor</a> may have been bitten by the acting bug.</p>
<p id="WGRafa">The former two-division UFC champion recently made his big-screen debut opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in the Hollywood remake of <em>Road House</em>, which released exclusively to Amazon Prime Video streaming on March 21. In the film, McGregor plays an over-exaggerated version of himself as the sneering antagonist Knox. McGregor’s performance has <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/3/22/24107854/road-house-review-conor-mcgregor-steals-show-but-remake-fails-to-live-up-to-original-film-in-any-way">received generally positive reviews</a> and “The Notorious” very much enjoyed the process.</p>
<p id="PHRI6r">“It was meant to be only five weeks, but when I got there and they were looking what they were seeing, the character started growing legs and arms, and then it just grew and the part grew,” McGregor said this past week on <em>The MMA Hour</em>. “They liked what they got, or what they were getting, and I was just doing what I was told. People think I just was playing myself — they were guiding me and I was giving them what they were asking for. For me, I felt like I gave them loads of versions. </p>
<aside id="le63nv"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Conor McGregor says UFC return is finally set: ‘This summer, the Mac is back’ ","url":"https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/3/20/24107171/conor-mcgregor-says-ufc-return-is-finally-set-this-summer-the-mac-is-back"},{"title":"Conor McGregor reacts to Nate Diaz’s message of solidarity: ‘That’s a real fighting man’ ","url":"https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/3/22/24108161/conor-mcgregor-reacts-to-nate-diazs-message-of-solidarity-thats-a-real-fighting-man"}]}'></div></aside><p id="X6cxRL">“I was giving them multiple options, and I feel some of them they could probably pick better ones. You get me? I gave them loads of takes and I was probably hoping that maybe they could’ve veered the character a different way, but they wanted the character the way they wanted. They’re very, very happy with what they got. I gave them what they asked and I added my little splash. I am who I am — I’m show business, yeah?”</p>
<p id="2L3b0b">McGregor, 35, told MMA Fighting that his long-discussed but oft-delayed comeback fight against <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/455/michael-chandler">Michael Chandler</a> is <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/3/20/24107171/conor-mcgregor-says-ufc-return-is-finally-set-this-summer-the-mac-is-back">finally set to happen in the summer</a>, but declined to reveal whether his previously declared date of June 29 remains the official target for the bout, stating that he’ll instead allow UFC to make the announcement. McGregor noted that details such as rounds and weight class also have yet to be determined, however he holds out hope that his return serves as the first of what could a two-fight year for him in 2024.</p>
<p id="2Iijgb">McGregor currently has two bouts remaining on his UFC deal, and hinted at the idea that his interest in pursuing further acting opportunities could create a unique — and challenging — dilemma for the UFC once the time arrives to negotiate a new contract. </p>
<p id="IKrKo8">“We have to talk,” McGregor said. “That’s what I’m saying — I don’t know and I don’t know whether they know what to come at me with. What can you come at me with? Hollywood now is lined up. I actually can play loads of roles. Think of the amount of movies I could do? </p>
<p id="lgl9nm">“There’s Arnold Schwarzenegger and then there’s Sylvester Stallone and then all these guys, and they have all these great movies made around them. Think about the movies that you can make around me. You know what I mean? That could be written around me. And don’t think [UFC executives] don’t know that. Don’t think they don’t know that this is all going on as well. So I don’t know what they’re going to come out me with. Like I said, Lorenzo [Fertitta] probably would’ve came after me already.”</p>
<p id="jV4beS">“I really actually feel I could play any role,” McGregor later added. “And I almost, when I watch the movie and what way they chose to portray me as the character, and certain ways and takes they used, I knew where they were going — it almost made me [think], because I would’ve probably preferred other ones. You get me? And it probably made me a bit more eager to do another one. I actually felt like, you know what? I’d love to do another one now because we can do better, and I can also do something way different.</p>
<p id="74wsMs">“So I was kind of getting excited about that and it’s nice to feel a bit of excitement. And then, a couple of days later, boom, top-10 highest paid actors of 2023 — [Adam] Sandler, Margot Robbie and all them. And I was like, [I better] start cracking away at that one as well. Ari Emanuel was on the phone to me, you know I have a great relationship with Ari, and these guys have big things planned. And I’m excited and we’re all excited, and let’s rock on.”</p>
<p id="7JO2e6">Despite his excitement revolving around the <em>Road House</em> release and his star turn on the silver screen, McGregor assured that MMA will always remain his primary passion.</p>
<p id="ItNgor">The fight game lives within him, he said, and that will never change.</p>
<p id="iXXYDc">“It’s my life, it’s what I love to do. Look at it. I’m doing this forever,” McGregor said. “I’m going to do this forever. I’ll be recalibrating my competition. </p>
<p id="EtPBdM">“I actually related with when <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/6491/mike-tyson">Mike Tyson</a> fought <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/1133/roy-jones">Roy Jones</a> Jr. — he was retired for so, so long, and he was asked in an interview around the Roy Jones Jr. fight, ‘What do you think Cus D’amato would say to you, Mike, now that you’re coming back after all these years?’ And you know what he said? He said, ‘Cus D’amato would say, what took you so long?’ And that made me f****** — I got goose pimples all over my body.”</p>
https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/3/24/24109330/conor-mcgregor-eager-more-hollywood-opportunities-think-about-the-movies-that-you-can-make-around-meMMA Fighting Staff2024-03-23T10:00:00-04:002024-03-23T10:00:00-04:00Chito Vera reacts to Cory Sandhagen’s criticism of his loss to Sean O’Malley: ‘You look like a f****** idiot’
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<figcaption>Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="GUs5gA"><a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/3088/marlon-vera">Marlon Vera</a> is not a fan of <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/4356/cory-sandhagen">Cory Sandhagen</a>’s breakdown of his <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fight-card/1437/ufc-299-o-malley-vs-vera">UFC 299</a> loss to <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/4140/sean-o-malley">Sean O’Malley</a>.</p>
<p id="CHydIT">After Vera fell short in his first bid to win the UFC bantamweight title, Sandhagen was quite critical of his past opponent’s performance, going as far to say that Vera “obviously had <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/3/13/24099575/cory-sandhagen-chito-vera-had-no-business-being-in-the-cage-with-sean-omalley-at-ufc-299">no business being in the cage</a> with O’Malley.” </p>
<p id="d4IQRl">As expected, “Chito” had some things to say about it, essentially letting Sandhagen know that he shouldn’t quit his day job.</p>
<p id="58trX5">“It didn’t bother me, like in a way that [affected] me,” Vera said on <a href="https://youtube.com/live/QP49_PFXqFI?feature=share"><em>The MMA Hour</em></a>. “But I’m like, ‘Dude, I just fought. Dude, it didn’t [go] my way, and you make your whole f****** douchebag YouTube videos?’ I mean, dude, stick to fighting. </p>
<p id="paMUOK">“You’re not a f****** influencer. You look like a f****** idiot, but I get it. … Everybody wants to do the [podcasts], and now we see ... they become like school teachers now.”</p>
<p id="BP97KQ">Vera lumped Sandhagen in with fellow bantamweight <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/2186/henry-cejudo">Henry Cejudo</a>, who also does breakdowns of fights and storylines on his own YouTube channel. Sandhagen defeated Vera via split decision in their main event matchup at <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fight-card/1366/ufc-san-antonio-vera-vs-sandhagen">UFC San Antonio</a> in March 2023. </p>
<p id="95tbzn">As far as where Vera goes from his loss to O’Malley, he’s open to facing anybody the UFC presents to him, but he does hope to return at the promotion’s annual trip to Madison Square Garden, which typically takes place in November. </p>
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https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/3/23/24105999/chito-vera-reacts-to-cory-sandhagens-criticism-of-his-loss-to-sean-omalley-you-look-like-a-f-idiotMMA Fighting Staff2024-03-22T09:00:00-04:002024-03-22T09:00:00-04:00Conor McGregor reacts to Nate Diaz’s message of solidarity: ‘That’s a real fighting man’
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<img alt="UFC 202: Diaz v McGregor 2" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7T32u0zxe6-kwlHB8qFaCKefxfw=/0x0:4499x2999/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73225423/593263368.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="QW3lvg"><a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/1859/conor-mcgregor">Conor McGregor</a> appreciated the support of an old rival in his pursuit of a UFC return.</p>
<p id="HM0yGG">This past Sunday, <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/365/nate-diaz">Nate Diaz</a> extended a surprising St. Patrick’s Day olive branch to McGregor when he <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/3/17/24103939/nate-diaz-sends-message-of-solidarity-to-conor-mcgregor-free-conor">tweeted out a message of solidarity</a> for the former two-division UFC champion. In response to McGregor’s mounting frustrations with the lack of news regarding his comeback fight, Diaz called upon the UFC to “free Conor” and expressed empathy for the Irishman’s plight. Considering that he and Diaz share one of the most storied rivalries in MMA history, McGregor didn’t expect to find his old foe in his corner, but he welcomed it.</p>
<p id="EcemHn">“Nate is great. When you share back-to-back knocks — we had real, real fights. That’s a real fighting man, the two brothers are real fighting men,” McGregor said on <em>The MMA Hour</em>. </p>
<p id="hhTyQZ">“I always had the highest respect for the two lads, and f***, I was a fan of the lad. I was a fan of them, and then I got to share the octagon with them — we had wars, we boxed each other around. And I appreciate it, appreciate [the support]. I wish him well, always. I’ll always wish to see past opponents and future opponents — potential future opponents again — to see them do well. And what a monumental moment that will be, when we get that [trilogy fight] done. So I’m excited for it.”</p>
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<p id="p4KNIo">McGregor, 35, and Diaz, 38, infamously fought twice in 2016, with Diaz winning the first bout via rear-naked choke as a short-notice replacement and McGregor claiming the rematch by majority decision. Eight years later, both fights — at <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fight-card/759/ufc-196-conor-mcgregor-nate-diaz">UFC 196</a> and <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fight-card/812/ufc-202">UFC 202</a> respectively — remain two of the highest-selling pay-per-views in MMA history.</p>
<p id="F4JLYz">Diaz’s message on St. Patrick’s Day echoed McGregor’s recent frustrations over his inability to get a date officially on the books for his UFC return. Diaz found himself in a similar situation at the end of his own UFC run — with only one fight remaining on his contract, Diaz ultimately had to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zqyee9QZXm0&t=2s&ab_channel=MMAFightingonSBN">publicly go to war with the promotion</a> in order to land his <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fight-card/1324/ufc-279-diaz-vs-ferguson">UFC 279</a> swan song and become a free agent. McGregor currently has two fights left on his UFC deal, and Diaz couldn’t help but notice the similarities in the two situations between rivals.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">This was me for years before Conor even got here they want u to die before u get out these contracts it’s up to u to make something pop no one gonna help you but you<br>Free Conor it’s at pattys day in this bitch ☘️ <a href="https://t.co/X4WQVNV79X">pic.twitter.com/X4WQVNV79X</a></p>— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) <a href="https://twitter.com/NateDiaz209/status/1769401168093175969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2024</a>
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<p id="BrbRYL">“This was me for years before Conor even got here. They want [you] to die before [you] get out these contracts. It’s up to you to make something pop. No one gonna help you but you.</p>
<p id="tBJVz1">“Free Conor, it’s [St.] Patty’s Day in this b****.”</p>
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<p id="vXACvG">McGregor’s fortunes appear to have changed in recent days, however. “The Notorious” told MMA Fighting’s <em>The MMA Hour</em> on Wednesday that he <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/3/20/24107171/conor-mcgregor-says-ufc-return-is-finally-set-this-summer-the-mac-is-back">finally has a summer date set for his UFC return</a> against <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/455/michael-chandler">Michael Chandler</a>. McGregor said the fight is just step one of a two-step plan that he hopes will allow him to compete twice in 2024, with the second bout targeted for the UFC’s debut trip to The Sphere in Las Vegas on Sept. 14 for <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fight-card/1450/ufc-306">UFC 306</a>.</p>
<p id="E7cuap">McGregor previously suggested that the long-awaited trilogy match between he and Diaz serve as the headliner for UFC 306, however UFC CEO <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/2230/dana-white">Dana White</a> quickly nixed that idea.</p>
<p id="VbzrEh">McGregor isn’t quite sure why.</p>
<p id="vo9BwK">“The cold water, [White threw] cold water it instantly,” McGregor said. “That’s huge. That, to me, has The Sphere written all over it. Mexican Independence Day. Nate Diaz is an American Mexican and a beloved fighter and a real fighter. Now, he’s hard to deal with with the lads [UFC executives], and I don’t know all the ins and outs, to be honest — and I know the lads are hard to deal with also. So I think it’d be amazing and it would suit me lovely — the date in summer and into September, I believe I get my two fights in this year.”</p>
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https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/3/22/24108161/conor-mcgregor-reacts-to-nate-diazs-message-of-solidarity-thats-a-real-fighting-manMMA Fighting Staff2024-03-21T14:00:00-04:002024-03-21T14:00:00-04:00Donn Davis believes UFC antitrust lawsuit settlement proves ‘it’s the best time in the market’ for fighters
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<img alt="FRA-PFL-MMA-MEN-WELTERWEIGHT-ABDOURAGUIMOV-GRANT" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ncgQMlrG0G-aEK6nZ_Slqy23MlQ=/94x0:4647x3035/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73223701/2060596364.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="jl8GjC">Donn Davis has some thoughts on the <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/3/20/24106823/ufc-reaches-settlement-to-close-out-antitrust-lawsuits-promotion-agrees-to-pay-out-335-million">UFC reaching an agreement</a> to settle two antitrust lawsuits for $335 million.</p>
<p id="I0ZXDJ">News of the settlements broke Wednesday after a disclosure was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by TKO Group Holdings, which is the UFC’s parent company. Pending a sign-off from Judge Richard Boulware, who has been overseeing the case, the lawsuits will not go to trial.</p>
<p id="QOHV00">The PFL co-founder was asked about the development just hours later and his first thoughts were something he’s been telling the MMA community all along.</p>
<p id="ZeL4Nc">“My main thought is what I’ve been consistent saying: If you’re a top fighter, or you’re an emerging star, it’s the best time in the market for you,” Davis said on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWihMnb2o6U"><em>The MMA Hour</em></a>. “You used to have one option really at the premium level, and with the PFL, you have two. The difference between two [options] and one [option] is much more than one.</p>
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<p id="ta1zNo">“For all of you who have ever had a job offer, having two job offers versus one job offer is all the difference in the world.”</p>
<p id="r3uJtk">Since PFL absorbed Bellator MMA into one big promotion, Davis has made headlines for his belief that PFL is now positioned as a future “co-leader” in MMA alongside the UFC.</p>
<p id="MNAdwG">While PFL has a lot of work to do to catch up to the powerhouse that is UFC, Davis sends a confident message to fighters that if you’re a name in the sport looking to get what you feel you are worth, you don’t have to fight for the UFC in order to make that happen.</p>
<p id="hTIEVz">“To me, the biggest difference is not the antitrust lawsuit,” Davis said. “The biggest difference is the emergence of PFL to be a premium option on a global scale with the same distribution, the same ability to pay, the same great option for you.</p>
<p id="8rZROy">“That’s made the most difference for fighters, I believe. But obviously, it’s a good outcome for fighters [on Wednesday]. But I believe PFL being on level for fighters as UFC has made the most difference in the last three or four years.”</p>
https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/3/21/24107070/donn-davis-believes-ufc-antitrust-lawsuit-settlement-ensures-its-best-time-in-market-for-fightersMMA Fighting Staff2024-03-20T16:01:49-04:002024-03-20T16:01:49-04:00Donn Davis: Francis Ngannou makes PFL debut ‘no later’ than September at Saudi Arabia PPV
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<img alt="2023 PFL 5" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kZdni8Qd_X1Z6OgQw2HfD2bDLrI=/0x0:8640x5760/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73221652/1258763124.5.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="PWOYSY"><a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/3362/francis-ngannou">Francis Ngannou</a> will make his Professional Fighters League debut in 2024, and it could happen as early as the summer, according to PFL co-founder Donn Davis.</p>
<p id="zZ5wTf">Ngannou was recently viciously knocked out by <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/6465/anthony-joshua">Anthony Joshua</a> in his second pro boxing match earlier this month in Saudi Arabia. After taking lineal heavyweight champion <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/6477/tyson-fury">Tyson Fury</a> to the limit in his boxing debut this past October, the MMA future of the former UFC heavyweight champion, who signed with PFL as a free agent in 2023, was unknown, especially if he had a competitive contest or even picked up a win over Joshua. </p>
<p id="tRKx0D">Davis was well aware of that, and while watching Ngannou lose was tough, the result now leads Davis to believe Ngannou’s return to MMA will happen within the next six months. </p>
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<p id="mPbgAb">“People asked me before the fight [with Joshua] when I was interviewed, you know, ‘Who do I think will win? Who would I want to win?’ And I obviously root for Francis all the time,” Davis said on <em>The MMA Hour</em>. “He’s our partner and I truly do [root for him to win his boxing matches], but he would not have fought in MMA until the first quarter of 2025 [if he won]. We talked to him about that, and I was very vocal about that, that he would have absolutely fought, but it would have been December at the earliest, more likely February of 2025.</p>
<p id="9vsVei">“So he was locked in, but he would have then gone ahead [to] fight Fury, as we all said, had he won this fight. So it would have delayed [his PFL debut]. So I’m rooting for Francis all the time, but now he’s coming back early. Will it be as early as July? Maybe. Will it be as late as September? No later. But you’ll see Francis now in 2024, in PFL, against ‘La Problemo’ [<a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/5641/renan-ferreira">Renan Ferreira</a>] in what I believe is going to be the fight I’m looking forward to the most in the heavyweight division of all of MMA.”</p>
<p id="KhaEpj">Ferreira earned the right to welcome Ngannou to the PFL cage following his blistering 21-second knockout of <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/39/ryan-bader">Ryan Bader</a> in the main event of the <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fight-card/1442/pfl-vs-bellator">PFL vs. Bellator</a> champs card in February — a performance that Davis described as “frightening.”</p>
<p id="1Lsr8s">While details are still fluid in regards to when Ngannou’s first PFL bout will take place, Davis says the card will feature other compelling matchups that will be worth the price of admission to both ticket purchasers and those who order it at home. </p>
<p id="QSvWe1">“That will be a pay-per-view fight,” Davis explained. “That [event] will also have <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/593/cris-cyborg">Cris Cyborg</a> against <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/2977/larissa-pacheco">Larissa Pacheco</a> as the co-main fight. That [card] will also have Cedric Doumbe against somebody we’ll announce. So that [fight card] is going to be big just because of Francis, but that fight [card] will have other very compelling matchups on it.</p>
<p id="9FlRWz">“That fight card will take place in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, but the details in terms of the full card, the details in terms of the month and the timing, we won’t announce that for about two more months.”</p>
https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/3/20/24107030/donn-davis-francis-ngannou-pfl-debut-no-later-than-september-pay-per-view-event-saudi-arabiaMMA Fighting Staff2024-03-20T12:00:00-04:002024-03-20T12:00:00-04:00UFC 300 poster revealed ahead of historic event
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<img alt="UFC 295: Prochazka v Pereira" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/YDy5NdYpxUb6DYsxP9i4PG7iWeo=/0x0:5616x3744/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73220702/1788804691.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="k3K1Kd">The poster for the highly anticipated <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fight-card/1438/ufc-300">UFC 300</a> event has been revealed. </p>
<p id="yZZqhn">In the main event of the historic card, which is set for April 13 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/5800/alex-pereira">Alex Pereira</a> will defend his light heavyweight title for the first time against former champion <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/5050/jamahal-hill">Jamahal Hill</a>. </p>
<p id="KVXH7h">Typically, UFC posters feature, at least, the main event competitors, but the UFC 300 poster is more about the accomplishment, and the event as a whole rather than individual competitors, as you can see below.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Your official <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC300?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC300</a> poster!<br><br>We're counting down to April 13!! <a href="https://t.co/Io03nFcKJy">pic.twitter.com/Io03nFcKJy</a></p>— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) <a href="https://twitter.com/UFCEurope/status/1770402736032333905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2024</a>
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<p id="0OTrgH">In the co-main event, <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/4539/zhang-weili">Zhang Weili</a> will defend her strawweight title against <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/4274/yan-xiaonan">Yan Xiaonan</a> in the first all-Chinese championship bout in UFC history. Prior to that, former interim lightweight champion <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/1526/justin-gaethje">Justin Gaethje</a> will put his “BMF” title on the line against fellow fan-friendly competitor, and former featherweight titleholder <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/1541/max-holloway">Max Holloway</a>.</p>
<p id="Zz7WDd">Check out the full UFC 300 lineup below. </p>
<p id="vJiWXF"><strong>Main Card (10 p.m. ET, ESPN+ PPV)</strong></p>
<p id="CoI2Hv">Alex Pereira vs. Jamahal Hill — UFC light heavyweight title fight</p>
<p id="8vX40R"><a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/4539/zhang-weili">Zhang Weili</a> vs. <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/4274/yan-xiaonan">Yan Xiaonan</a> — UFC strawweight title fight</p>
<p id="qqDcka"><a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/1526/justin-gaethje">Justin Gaethje</a> vs. <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/1541/max-holloway">Max Holloway</a> — BMF title fight</p>
<p id="jeBGYq"><a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/175/charles-oliveira">Charles Oliveira</a> vs. <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/4890/arman-tsarukyan">Arman Tsarukyan</a></p>
<p id="4lHMMK"><a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/5988/bo-nickal">Bo Nickal</a> vs. <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/5440/cody-brundage">Cody Brundage</a></p>
<p id="7A9ErC"><strong>Preliminary Card (8 p.m. ET, ESPN and ESPN+)</strong></p>
<p id="NkDyWN"><a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/3464/jiri-prochazka">Jiri Prochazka</a> vs. <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/4120/aleksandar-rakic">Aleksandar Rakic</a></p>
<p id="haXHqL"><a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/1528/aljamain-sterling">Aljamain Sterling</a> vs. <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/4139/calvin-kattar">Calvin Kattar</a></p>
<p id="uq02Eu"><a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/4121/kayla-harrison">Kayla Harrison</a> vs. <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/2173/holly-holm">Holly Holm</a></p>
<p id="8Ep2sR"><a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/4684/sodiq-yusuff">Sodiq Yusuff</a> vs. <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/6254/diego-lopez">Diego Lopes</a></p>
<p id="eNnMML"><strong>Early Preliminary Card (6 p.m. ET, ESPN+)</strong></p>
<p id="98YjfJ"><a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/3144/renato-carneiro">Renato Moicano</a> vs. <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/3582/jalin-turner">Jalin Turner</a></p>
<p id="4lGaz7"><a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/2360/jessica-andrade">Jessica Andrade</a> vs. <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/4591/marina-rodriguez">Marina Rodriguez</a></p>
<p id="oMcvUE"><a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/153/jim-miller">Jim Miller</a> vs. <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/1095/bobby-green">Bobby Green</a></p>
<p id="Aal7Lc"><a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/3121/cody-garbrandt">Cody Garbrandt</a> vs. <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/4188/deiveson-figueiredo">Deiveson Figueiredo</a></p>
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https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/3/20/24106740/ufc-300-poster-revealed-ahead-of-historic-eventMMA Fighting Staff