UFC 257 Countdown features the return of “Notorious,” as former two-weight UFC champion Conor McGregor prepares to take on former interim champ Dustin Poirier, who seeks vengeance, in a rematch six years removed from their first contest.

The two first fought at UFC 178 in September 2014. McGregor stopped Poirier in the first round, but both men are different fighters than they were in 2014.

UFC 257 is the first pay-per-view event for the fight promotion this year. It’s the final of three events in eight days at the newly built Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

TRENDING UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor will determine Khabib Nurmagomedov’s fighting future

(Courtesy of UFC)

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/ufc-257-countdown-dustin-poirier-vs-conor-mcgregor-2

Conor McGregor thinks there’s a lot more to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement.

The former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion questions Nurmagomedov’s decision to walk away from the sport and says a lot has to do with avoiding a potential rematch between the two.

Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA, 13-0 UFC) hung up his gloves after defending his belt against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in October. “The Eagle” cited a promise made to his mother to stop fighting following the death of his father, coach and mentor Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, earlier in 2020, as the reason he was no longer going to continue in MMA.

McGregor (22-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) thinks there’s more to that decision.

“I think he’s afraid to fight me, that’s for damn sure,” McGregor told ESPN. “I don’t blame him. I know exactly what to face. I fought the best of him that night and he fought the worst of me that night. He knows it, I know it, his team knows it.

“I have the answer to destroy that man. He can pull the wool over people’s eyes only for so long, but it is what it is. I know there’s surrounding things regarding the family. If he’s retired then that’s it I wish him well. But I am who I am and I’m at the top and time will show.”

McGregor returns to the octagon Saturday against Dustin Poirier in a lightweight bout. The rematch headlines UFC 257 in Abu Dhabi.

McGregor and Nurmagomedov fought in 2018 at UFC 229. Nurmagomedov submitted the Irishman in the fourth round in a dominant showing. Right after the bout, a brawl erupted between the two teams that resulted in multiple suspensions.

McGregor doesn’t understand Nurmagomedov’s decision to retire from MMA. Even if it’s not for a rematch against him, McGregor thinks there are many challenges left at 155 pounds.

“I think his hand is showing he’s not a true fighter, in my opinion,” McGregor said. “I mean how could you retire? How could you walk away? There’s so many fights to be had.

“Think of (Nate) Diaz, (Tony) Ferguson, there’s (Charles) Oliveira, the rematch with me. I think it’s just preposterous to walk away. Not only did he (expletive) on the bus, I think he (expletive) on the chips, also. I think he showed his hand, but then at the same time, there’s family issues. So it is what it is. All the best.”

Nurmagomedov told UFC president Dana White he could be interested in coming back to the sport depending on what happens in the lightweight bouts going down at UFC 257. Apart from McGregor vs. Poirier 2, former Bellator champion Michael Chandler makes his UFC debut against Dan Hooker. There’s also top contender Charles Oliveira who’s coming off a dominant win against Tony Ferguson.

McGregor wants the Nurmagomedov rematch, but he’s not losing any sleep over it.

“I’m here for it. I would like it,” McGregor said. “But if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. I wonder what he’s going to say. Like I said, he can only pull wool over someone’s eyes for so long.”

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/conor-mcgregor-says-khabib-nurmagomedov-avoiding-rematch-afraid-to-fight-me-ufc-257

Carlos Condit, remarkably, is on a winning streak for the first time since February 2012 after beating Matt Brown in their long-awaited welterweight clash. And for him, it couldn’t come at a better time.

Condit’s (32-13 MMA, 9-9 UFC) unanimous decision win over Brown marked the final fight on his current UFC contract, sending him into free agency with some momentum and confidence about the future. The question now, is, will he remain with the promotion as he moves into the twilight stage of his career?

The situation feels a lot similar to what we just witness with Anthony Pettis a few weeks ago. A former WEC and UFC (albeit interim) champion who has had his fair share of ups and downs inside the octagon closes out his deal with back-to-back wins. Given his name value and fighting style, there are a lot of organizations that would be a good fit for “The Natural Born Killer,” and perhaps with some more beneficial matchmaking for this stage of his career.

The matchup with Brown was the perfect pairing, as it saw Condit meet another man who is in a similar spot in his career. It’s only a matter of time until Condit gets matched up against a young, hungry killer, though, and that’s where the consideration of his future needs to come into play.

If you look at the 170-pound divisions in Bellator, PFL and even ONE Championship, there could be some real tough fights for Condit there as well. He’s not the type who would be chasing a layup, so it could ultimately come down to who is willing to cough up the most dough for his services.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-on-abc-1-thoughts-analysis-takeaways-max-holloway-reaction-mind-blowing-performance

Matt Brown didn’t like the way his fight was scored Saturday.

The longtime UFC fighter thought he did enough to outpoint Carlos Condit in the UFC on ABC 1 co-main event in Abu Dhabi. Brown (22-18 MMA, 15-12 UFC) lost a unanimous decision to Condit with 30-27 scores on all three judges’ scorecards.

Brown said he thought it was a close fight and at the very least thinks the scoring should’ve reflected that, even if the end result would’ve been the same.

“30-27 is ridiculous,” Brown wrote on Twitter. “I won the first round 100% he won the second for sure and the third is really close but I ended on top. Should have got the decision imo (in my opinion) but if he got it based on just the third round I wouldn’t be mad. (explicit) judges.

“Thanks for all the love and support (and the occasional hate) I’m still getting better and stronger every day and I will learn and grow from this! Hope you all enjoyed the show!”

30-27 is ridiculous. I won the first round 100% he won the second for sure and the third is really close but I ended on top. Should have got the decision imo but if he got it based on just the third round I wouldn’t be mad. Fucking judges

— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) January 17, 2021

Thanks for all the love and support (and the occasional hate) I’m still getting better and stronger every day and I will learn and grow from this! Hope you all enjoyed the show!

— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) January 17, 2021

Brown did have a good first round and managed to stay on top for a good portion of the round while landing ground and pound on Condit.

The 40-year-old competitor is now on a two-fight losing skid after a two-fight winning streak.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/matt-brown-unhappy-ridiculous-scoring-loss-carlos-condit-ufc-on-abc-1