ABU DHABI –  UFC president Dana White doesn’t expect his upcoming meeting with UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov to be complicated.

According to White, his pitch to get Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA, 13-0 UFC) to return to fighting will be quick. He’s not anticipating an argument, nor is he going to beg Nurmagomedov to do something he doesn’t want to.

“It’s going to be a five-minute conversation,” White told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “It’s yes or no. It’s yes or no.”

The last time Nurmagomedov spoke with White about fighting was right after his UFC 254 submission win over Justin Gaethje – and his subsequent in-cage retirement speech.

In White’s eyes, Nurmagomedov was caught up in the emotion of the moment. Now that the dust has settled, the UFC boss is confident Nurmagomedov will choose to fight again.

“When I left Abu Dhabi last time, and he and I were texting, we went back and forth on why I think he should keep fighting,” White said. “He was super emotional coming out of that fight. He’s had time now to rest, think about it, (and) all the other things. This is going to be a five-minute conversation. … I think he’ll fight, but we’ll see. It’s not going to be an argument or a lengthy conversation. It’s going to be a ‘yes’ or ‘no.’”

Nurmagomedov, 32, sits one fight away from a perfect 30-0 record. White has indicated he wants Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor to be the milestone 30th attempt, should the Irishman beat Dustin Poirier at UFC 257.

The UFC’s third stint on “Fight Island” kicks off Saturday with UFC on ABC 1, headlined by featherweights Max Holloway and Calvin Kattar. On Wednesday, Jan. 20, UFC on ESPN 20 takes place with a welterweight main event between Michael Chiesa and Neil Magny.

The three-event stretch concludes Saturday, Jan. 23 with UFC 257 and a pay-per-view headliner rematch between McGregor and Poirier.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/ufc-news-dana-white-meeting-khabib-nurmagomedov-yes-or-no-retirement

ABU DHABI – UFC president Dana White is a promoter, yes, but he’s a fight fan, too.

With UFC 257 and the rematch between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier right around the corner, White is excited by what he’s seen and heard from both main event competitors.

According to White, McGregor is extremely motivated entering UFC 257. White indicated McGregor hasn’t always had that throughout the span of his career.

“It’s one thing to have Conor back,” White told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “It’s another thing to have Conor back. This is the motivated (Conor). When Conor is like he is right now, you’re guaranteed for (something).”

The motivation comes from inactivity, White presumes. McGregor has competed only once since October 2018. His time away from competition has made him hungrier for a return, according to White.

“I think (the) time off is what’s given him this,” White said. “He’s as famous as famous can be. You said he’s got all the money in the world. There’s a lot of things that drive you crazy about this sport. It gets you to a point where you’re just like, ‘I don’t want anything to do with this right now.’ Once you get away from it for a while, you start to remember all of the things that you love about it.

“I can imagine, for a fighter, I couldn’t speak on that side, (about) the level of training that they do and fight week and all the things that go into it, but I think you start to miss it. I think that’s where he was. I’ve seen it happen with so many other guys, too. I think that’s his motivation right now.”

While the spotlight largely falls on McGregor when he fights, regardless of opponent, White isn’t counting out Poirier. When McGregor and Poirier fought at UFC 187 in September 2013, the Irishman knocked out the American in the first round. Seven years later, Poirier thinks he’s a much different, more evolved – and his boss believes him.

“I just saw a thing with Poirier yesterday where Poirier is like, ‘Let me tell you what. If you think that I’m the same guy that fought Conor last time, you’re out of your mind. You’re going to see a war.’ I believe every word of it,” White said. “This is the right fight at the right time for both of these guys and I think it’s going to be fun.”

UFC 257 takes place Saturday, Jan. 23 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The main card streams on pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/ufc-257-dana-white-conor-mcgregor-dustin-poirier-motivated-revitalized

It has been more than six years since Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor last fought.

McGregor has gone on to become a two-division UFC champion and have his first professional boxing match against Floyd Mayweather, one of the greatest boxers of all time.

Poirier has also gone on to become a UFC champion. Both have fought an lost to current UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Poirier and McGregor will rematch in the UFC 257 main event on Jan. 24 in Abu Dhabi (Jan. 23 in the United States).

UFC commentator Dan Hardy breaks down the Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor UFC 257 headlining rematch in The War Room.

(Video courtesy of Full Reptile)

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Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/conor-mcgregor-vs-dustin-poirier-war-room-preview

The UFC is hoping that the third time’s a charm by booking Leon Edwards vs. Khamzat Chimaev to headline a UFC Fight Night on March 13.

MMAWeekly.com confirmed the rebooking of the bout, which was first reported by MMA Junkie citing UFC president Dana White.

It marks the third time that UFC officials have attempted to make the fight happen.

Edwards vs. Chimaev was first scheduled to headline a UFC Fight Night on Dec. 19, the promotion’s final event of 2020. As much of 2020 was clouded by COVID-19, so has been this bout.

The Dec. 12 date was nixed after both fighters tested positive for COVID-19. It was then rescheduled to headline a UFC Fight Night on Jan. 20 in Abu Dhabi.

That date was then cast aside because Chimaev was still suffering lingering effects from having COVID-19.

UFC officials are hopeful that the bout can now take place on March 13, as White confirmed Edwards vs. Chimaev would headline the unannounced UFC Fight Night fight.

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Edwards is trying to get back in action after spending all of 2020 and half of 2019 on the sidelines. If the March 13 bout comes to fruition, it will have been just a few months shy of two years since Edwards last fought.

Chimaev, however, emerged as one of the UFC’s brightest new stars in 2020. He won all of his first three UFC bouts by way of knockout or submission.

Had the bout with Edwards happened and he won, Chimaev may have taken honors as the top Breakout Fighter of 2020, but fell just shy.

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/leon-edwards-vs-khamzat-chimaev-rebooked-for-ufc-fight-night-in-march

Manny Pacquiao has hinted at a plan for this year, which might be the last of his career.

The 42-year-old future Hall of Famer wants to fight MMA star Conor McGregor and possibly Errol Spence Jr. or Terence Crawford, according to a report published by the Filipino outlet BusinessMirror.

Pacquiao, 42, hasn’t fought since he outpointed Keith Thurman to win a welterweight title in August 2019.

“They’re my options, but right now I want to experience fighting an MMA (mixed martial artist),” said Pacquiao, referring to McGregor. “I will also donate a big portion of my income to Filipino COVID-19 victims.”

Pacquiao would be an underdog against Spence, a fellow 147-pound titleholder. However, he evidently saw at least one vulnerability in the Dallas fighter’s victory over Danny Garcia last month, his first fight since a horrific car accident in 2019.

“Spence is slower than Thurman but it’s going to be a good fight,” Pacquiao said.

Said Sean Gibbons, MP Promotions President: “I think Spence lost a step from the accident. It’s a difficult fight but I think, yes [Pacquiao would defeat Spence].”

McGregor, scheduled to face Dustin Poirier in UFC 257 on Jan. 23, has fought once as a boxer. He was stopped by Floyd Mayweather in the 10th round in 2017.

Article source: https://boxingjunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/manny-pacquiao-wants-to-fight-conor-mcgregor-possibly-errol-spence-jr