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Opinion: “Conor McGregor was NEVER going to fight Michael Chandler… and Uncle Dana knew that!”

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We’re 5 weeks into The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) and despite Conor McGregor’s prospects being 0-5 against Michael Chandler’s veterans, ‘The Notorious’ continues to be himself, cocky and confident. Perhaps giving viewers a preview of what’s to come when McGregor steps into the cage with Chandler, we are still no closer to a date for their eventual fight.

The heat has certainly increased between the two coaches as the season progresses, with McGregor even giving fans a breakdown of how he’s going to overcome Chandler. In a short clip from TUF, McGregor explained to his coaching team how “he’ll pin him and rifle him down”, but many fans have come to the same conclusion; the Irishman is, and was, never going to fight in 2023.

Whilst that may be incredibly pessimistic, to assume McGregor signed on the dotted line for something he never intended on doing, there are some potential explanations.

The former UFC champ champ has been out since 2021, following his defeat to Dustin Poirier. The fight itself was followed by the recovery from the fractured fibula and tibia that he obtained in their third meeting at UFC 264. So how do you get his name and brands, ‘Proper 12’ and ‘McGregor Fast’, back on fans’ minds? Well you make him a coach on season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter, of course! Needless to say, Conor McGregor never truly disappears, his antics on his social media keeps him firmly in our minds. Not forgetting his wife’s bizarre neck stroking antics at UFC 285, which definitely had people talking. But since it was announced that Conor would be one of the coaches on TUF, he’s certainly been a big talking point in the world of MMA.

This isn’t the first time this has happened either, during the wait for his eventual meeting with Jose Aldo, McGregor coached a season alongside Urijah Faber. Keeping him in the spotlight without a fight was a no brainer for the UFC, the main difference being that the first time around, it was made clear that McGregor and Faber would not be fighting at the end of the season.

With each episode, Conor’s bravado never dwindles and we remember why we love, or loathe, the Irishman. His confidence of finishing Chandler is unfaltering. But if Conor wants to rifle down Michael Chandler, he’d actually have to be in the USADA testing pool to be able to achieve that.

As you’re probably aware, every active UFC fighter has to be in the testing pool for 6 months toand return 2 negative tests before they can put even a toe into the Octagon. So in order for Conor to be cleared to fight in 2023, he needed to enter the testing pool, at the very latest, 16th June. It is now July and Conor isn’t in the pool or anywhere closer to being so.

Of course it’s Conor and he’s a beneficiary of the ‘Dana White privilege’, where exceptions are made and the lines are blurred. So it is entirely possible we see McGregor step foot in the cage in 2023, if Uncle Dana wants to bend the rules. Meanwhile, Michael Chandler is waiting patiently for a date, sitting on the sidelines to try and secure the biggest fight of his career to date, which could end up slipping away from him the longer this wait goes on.

Who knows?

Let us know what you think. Do we see Conor McGregor return to the cage in 2023? Or has this all just been a stunt to boost the ratings of TUF?

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Paul Hughes Gets New Opponent as Oduwole Out

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Cage Warriors – Europe’s Leading MMA Organisation – have today announced a change in the scheduled opponent for Irish superstar Paul Hughes at Cage Warriors 170. 

An injury occurring just days after he signed to fight Hughes has forced Yemi Oduwole out of the contest. 

The promotion wishes him a speedy return to full health. 

CW officials have moved quickly to secure a suitable replacement, today confirming that Hughes will remain on the Saturday, April 6th bill, now facing off with Edgar ‘Smooth’ Escarrega. 

The bout will feature on the main card of CW 170 at Dublin’s iconic RDS, and air live on UFC Fight Pass and international broadcast partners. 

The 29-year-old Escarrega, who hails from the port city of Ensenada in Baja California, Mexico, brings an impressive 12-3-1 record to the contest. 

The Victory Fight Club man – who is a striker by trade – is unbeaten in his last six contests, and from twelve victories has a total of five KOs, two submissions and five points wins to his name. 

“From Mexico to the world, here I come!” said Escarrega, when signing on the dotted line for what is undoubtedly the biggest opportunity of his professional career. 

Hughes, from County Derry, is widely considered to be on the cusp of signing with the UFC following a series of impressive performances in the famous yellow gloves of Cage Warriors. 

‘Big News’ recently vacated his featherweight title, moving up to the 155lb division to stop top contender Jan Quaeyhaegens in the first round. 

Also scheduled for the CW 170 card, Dublin’s James ‘Jimbo Slice’ Sheehan contests the vacant welterweight title with Switzerland’s Daniel Konrad, with Ger Harris, Solomon Simon, Decky McAleenan, Taka Mhandu and more set to feature. 

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“I Should Get The Shot” – Jacob Smith Wants World Title Fight If He Bests Denis Puric At ONE Fight Night 21

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Fiery flyweight Muay Thai star Jacob Smith enjoyed a triumphant return to ONE Championship last December at ONE Fight Night 17 after 18 months on the sidelines. 

The Scouse striker knocked out Walter Goncalves to gain momentum in the world’s largest martial arts organization, and he plans to add to it next month.

Smith returns to action against Bosnian-Canadian powerhouse Denis Puric at ONE Fight Night 21: Eersel vs. Nicolas on Saturday, 6th April, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s historic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium. 

Fans anticipate a thunderous clash, as they are both known to finish fights. Smith feels he knows what to expect from Puric, and he plans to give him an unwelcome gift for his birthday. 

“I’m either going to stop him with the knee or stop him with an elbow. I feel like the first round is going to be quite fiery. But if he decides to rush me too early, he’s going to walk into some big shots, so I could just finish him in round one,” he said. 

“But I’m sure I’m fighting him on his 39th birthday. So, unfortunately, my birthday present is going to be me knocking him out.”

When Jacob Smith debuted in ONE Championship at May 2022’s ONE 157, he battled ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon across three rounds of hard-hitting action. 

He came up short that night via unanimous decision, and a series of injuries forced him to take time away from action afterward. But that gap seemed to have allowed him level up his skill set. 

Smith came back stronger than ever, and his first-round finish of Goncalves last December pegged him as one to watch. The #2-ranked flyweight Muay Thai contender is hoping to score back-to-back wins against Puric next month, and he knows exactly what he wants if he’s successful.

“My goal is to be ONE Championship Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion, and fingers crossed by the end of the year that comes through,” Smith said. 

“Rodtang is the champion, and Superlek is number one. After beating Walter, I’m now number two. Rodtang and Superlek are probably going fight each other again soon. Then I should get the shot at the winner after I beat Puric.”

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UFC Vegas 89 – Results | Ribas vs Namajunas

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Live from the Apex, UFC Vegas 89 saw former strawweight Rose Namajunas make her second appearance at flyweight against contender Amanda Ribas.

Note: any point deductions will be denoted by an asterisk and explained at the bottom of the page.

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Main card (2am GMT – TNT Sports)

Rose Namajunas defeats (#8) Amanda Ribas via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) – flyweight bout

Karl Williams defeats Justin Tafa via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) – heavyweight bout

Edmen Shahbazyan defeats AJ Dobson via knockout (punches – 4:43 – R1) – middleweight bout

Payton Talbott defeats Cameron Saaiman via TKO (punches – 0:21 – R2) – bantamweight bout

Youssef Zalal defeats Billy Quarantillo via submission (rear-naked-choke – 1:50 – R2) – featherweight bout

Fernando Padilla defeats Luis Pajuelo via submission (brabo choke – 2:45 – R1) – featherweight bout

Prelims (11pm GMT – TNT Sports/UFC Fight Pass)

Trey Ogden defeats Kurt Holobaugh via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – lightweight bout

Julian Erosa defeats Ricardo Ramos via submission (guillotine – 2:15 – R1) – featherweights bout

Miles John defeats Cody Gibson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – bantamweight bout

Jarno Errens defeats Steve Nguyen via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – featherweight bout

Darya Zheleznyakova defeats Monsterrat Rendon via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – bantamweight bout

Andre Lima defeats Igor Severino via disqualification (biting – 2:52 – R2) – flyweight bout

Mick Parkin defeats Mohammed Usman via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – heavyweight bout

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