When Conor McGregor pushed for a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather Jr., almost no one believed it would come to fruition. But it did.

McGregor may have lost the bout, but he won big in his career with a $100 million payday and a huge boost to his popularity. He’s slated to headline UFC 257 in January, but has been teasing a return to the boxing ring opposite Manny Pacquiao.

While UFC president Dana White was on board for the Mayweather fight, he isn’t currently inclined to see McGregor return to competing under the Marquess of Queensbury rules anytime soon.

“The way that this kid is right now mentally, physically, emotionally, I mean this kid is on and ready to fight. I would love to see him focused on what he can do here at the UFC,” White told ESPN’s Brett Okamoto.

“Whether it’s take another shot at that title against Khabib (Nurmagomedov) or fight for the title against somebody else if Khabib retires and defend that title.”

Khabib currently holds the UFC lightweight championship, but announced his retirement following his last fight. White, however, is holding out hope that he can convince Khabib to fight at least one more time.

If McGregor defeats Poirier at UFC 257, White is hopeful that he can set up a rematch with Khabib instead of dipping his toes back into the circus-like atmosphere that surrounded the Mayweather bout.

A boxing match is always there for Conor McGregor

“A boxing match with any of these guys, that kind of stuff is always going to be there. You are the absolute best in the world right now in MMA and the timing is right now. Not getting any younger. I’d love to see him go for it here over the next year. If he wants to fight one of these boxing guys, do that next year. That fight’s always going to be there,” said White, who doesn’t discount what McGregor accomplished simply by luring Mayweather into a fight.

“That was the perfect storm. It all sort of came together perfectly with Floyd. It was fun. It was a fun thing to do but sort of a one and done for me,” he continued.

“I told you guys a few weeks ago at the fight, there’s a lot of fights out there that could be made. I get it, that could make money. You’ve got people running around talking stuff all the time. It’s not really what I do. Poirier vs. McGregor, that’s what I do.”

UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor 2 is the promotion’s first pay-per-view event of 2021, taking place on Jan. 24 in Abu Dhabi (Jan. 23 in the United States). Will it also be the beginning of McGregor’s return to MMA glory or will it simply serve as a launching pad back into boxing?

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Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/dana-white-hopes-to-keep-conor-mcgregor-out-of-the-boxing-ring-in-2021

Viral sensation Oumar Kane (1-0), better known as “Reug Reug,” makes his ONE Championship debut later this month.

Promotion officials recently announced that the massive Senegalese wrestler will face Cameroonian heavyweight Alain Ngalani (4-5) at “ONE Championship 127: Unbreakable II,” which streams on B/R Live via tape delay on Jan. 29 from Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Kane made his pro debut in December 2019 for ARES FC as a complete unknown on the global scene but made an immediate impact with his sheer show of power and wrestling acumen.

Welcome to Reug Reug Airlines ✈️#ARES1 pic.twitter.com/IvaJxfUFBe

— ares_fighting (@ares_fighting) December 14, 2019

He was expected to return to action this past April at ARES FC 2, but the ongoing global pandemic forced a scratch of that event, and the 28-year-old “Reug Reug” now debuts under the ONE Championship banner.

Meanwhile, the 45-year-old Ngalani is a lifelong martial artist with multiple black belts in traditional striking arts. While he’s had mixed results as a mixed-martial-artist, he’s certainly capable of the spectacular, debuting as a pro with a 31-second knockout win and later earning a victory in just 11 seconds. However, he’s struggled to find consistency, alternating wins and losses in his past seven appearances, dating back to 2014.

Alain Ngalani

The night’s main event also takes place in the heavyweight division with Italy’s Mauro Cerilli (13-4) taking on Russia Abdulbasir Vagabov (10-2).

Additional ONE Championship 127 bouts are expected to be announced shortly.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/reug-reug-oumar-kane-alain-ngalani-one-championship-127-unbreakable-2

The rescheduled bantamweight matchup between Umar Nurmagomedov and Sergey Morozov will take place three days earlier than initially expected.

Originally booked for the UFC 257 card on Jan. 23, the octagon newcomers will now square off at UFC on ESPN 20 on Jan. 20, which takes place on “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi.

A person with knowledge of the matchup recently informed MMA Junkie of the change but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Reporter Igor Lazorin was the first to report the news.

Nurmagomedov (12-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has seen three UFC bookings fall through ahead of his promotional debut. He was scheduled to make his first octagon appearance against Hunter Azure at UFC 249 this past April, but the event was postponed due to restrictions around the COVID-19 pandemic. He was then set to face Nathaniel Wood at this past July’s UFC on ESPN 14 but withdrew due to the death of his uncle and coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, following complications from COVID-19.

His latest attempt to make his promotional debut also fell through when he was forced to withdraw just one week out from his matchup against Morozov at October’s UFC 254 due to a staph infection.

Winner of his past five in a row, Morozov (16-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) hasn’t competed since October 2019, when he defended his M-1 Global bantamweight title with a unanimous decision win over Josh Rettinghouse.

With the change, the updated lineup for UFC on ESPN 20 includes:

MAIN CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 12 p.m. ET)

• Michael Chiesa vs. Neil Magny
• Warlley Alves vs. Mounir Lazzez
• Vinicius Moreira vs. Ike Villanueva
• Viviane Araujo vs. Roxanne Modafferi
• Lerone Murphy vs. Douglas Silva de Andrade

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 9 a.m. ET)

• Gaetano Pirrello vs. Ricky Simon
• Zarrukh Adashev vs. Su Mudaerji
• Dalcha Lungiambula vs. Markus Perez
• Francisco Figueredo vs. Jerome Rivera
• Mike Davis vs. Mason Jones
• Tyson Nam vs. Matt Schnell
• Manon Fiorot vs. Victoria Leonardo
• Sergey Morozov vs. Umar Nurmagomedov

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/umar-nurmagomedov-sergey-morozov-ufc-on-espn-20-january-20

Amanda Ribas is looking to steal the show Jan. 23.

Ribas (10-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) faces Marina Rodriguez at UFC 257 on “Fight Island,” which is headlined by the highly anticipated rematch between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier.

In a card stacked with some of the sport’s most notable names, Ribas is gunning for a standout performance. But in order to do so, she has to get through a durable Rodriguez (13-1-2 MMA, 2-1-2 UFC), who’s only lost once in her career – a split decision to former UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza.

“I hope it happens really fast with a great submission or a great knockout because I like fast fights – but she’s really tough,” Ribas told MMA Junkie.

Prior to drawing Rodriguez, Ribas was scheduled to face Esparza. That fight fell though, and so, too, did a new matchup with Michelle Waterson. Rodriguez may not be as highly ranked as those two opponents, but Ribas thinks with a dominant performance, she can jump to title contention.

“I hope so, because I was supposed to fight Carla, and I don’t know what happened,” Ribas said. “I was supposed to fight Michelle, and they’re both really good in the rankings. So if I was supposed to fight against her, maybe if I do a great fight against Marina, I can go up in the rankings and maybe fight for the title.”

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/ufc-257-amanda-ribas-quick-finish-vs-marina-rodriguez-title-contention

Marcelo Rojo feels it’s time for the big leagues.

The veteran Argentine fighter wants to test himself among the very best and take on UFC opposition. Rojo (16-6 MMA), who competes at bantamweight, is one of the most seasoned Hispanic fighters outside the UFC.

With more than 20 professional fights, Rojo has competed in Combate Americas, ACB and was also a cast member of Season 3 of “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America,” where he competed at lightweight – two weight classes above his natural weight. Rojo made it to the semifinals, but lost to current UFC fighter Claudio Puelles.

Rojo is a free agent and is hoping to get signed by the UFC

“I left Combate Americas,” Rojo said in Spanish on Hablemos MMA. “My contract finished and I didn’t renew with them. I want to make the jump. I want to fight in the best promotions of the world, so it’s time to test that out.

“That chapter in Combate Americas is over and I want to compete in the UFC. I think I have everything to do it. I work with a great team, I train daily, and I’m not missing anything to be UFC ready. I want that opportunity and we’re working hard for it.”

Since leaving “TUF: Latin America” in 2016, Rojo switched camps to Entram gym in Tijuana, Mexico, training alongside UFC’s Brandon Moreno and Jose Quinonez. He went 6-2 for Combate Americas with all victories coming by stoppage.

Rojo is working on getting his work visa in the United States so he can hopefully sign with the UFC or be able to compete in U.S. promotions with visibility. He hopes to get his work visa in February.

“I have no problem fighting elsewhere,” Rojo said. “I need to hear out offers, see what’s most beneficial for me, and compete. I want to fight in the U.S. because the pay is better and the experience is much better for the future – because I do believe I can fight with the best, so let’s do it.”

“Pitbull” wants to compete at bantamweight, but has no problem taking fights at featherweight. Rojo thinks he’s UFC ready and is confident he can hang with some of the best at 135 pounds right from the start.

“The sport is very big now and it’s beautiful and all, but for me it’s still a fight,” Rojo said. “I’ve fought all my life and I feel very comfortable in that chaos. I hit very hard for the weight class, so I have no problem fighting anybody.

“I’m sure I can get in some tough battles, but that’s what every fighter wants, so your level can go up. But in the top 10, top 15 of the UFC, I feel very comfortable.”

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/marcelo-rojo-wants-ufc-shot-i-can-fight-best-mma-free-agent