American mixed martial arts veteran, expert and analyst Chel Sonnen is confident that the UFC management will not create a new weight class up to 165 pounds for the fight between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler, which will be held on June 29 at UFC 303.
The idea was previously floated by the promotion's former two-weight champion Daniel Cormier.
"There's no need for a 165-pound division. The commission won't agree to it. Yeah and the UFC won't want to do it. Plus, Chandler and McGregor have already lost more fights than I have in my entire career. So if anyone is worthy of fighting for the mythical belt, it's yours truly," Sonnen said on his YouTube channel.
Sean O'Malley, UFC lightweight champion, doesn't rule out that undefeated welterweight Movsar Yevloev could be the next opponent for Aljamain Sterling, the promotion's former featherweight champion.
"Aljo won by a boring decision, so who will be his opponent in the welterweight division now? How about Diego Lopez? Although I think they'll give him Movsar Yevloev," O'Malley said on his YouTube channel.
It's worth noting that Sterling made his debut in the welterweight division on April 14 at the UFC 300th anniversary event, beating Kelvin Kattar by judge's decision. Yevloev had time to react to that win by challenging Aljamain. According to Movsar, he and Sterling, being two grapplers, will show a great fight.
UFC heavyweight Sergey Pavlovic talked about his severe injuries that he suffered during his fighting career. According to the fighter, the most severe injury was a cruciate ligament tear.
"My nose was broken, but nothing like that. Tore cruciate ligaments. It took two years to recover. It was a tough injury, tough recovery. It turned out that I started squatting early, I had to straighten it out. Anyway, I think I might be a rehabber by now. It's all good now, thank God, everything's fine. That was the biggest injury. Really unpleasant," - said Pavlovich on the channel Ruslan Gumilev in YouTube.
We will remind, earlier Sergey Pavlovich called his confrontation with Derrick Lewis the bloodiest fight in the UFC.
Asu Almabaev, the fighter of the lightest division of the UFC, learned the date of the next fight and the name of the opponent. The representative of Kazakhstan will meet American Jose Johnson in the octagon on June 15.
"This is the next opponent, fighters from the top 10 and 15 refused, with this guy we will fight in the octagon. The main thing is that there is a fight and a country that supports me, the preparation is at its level, thank God," wrote Asu on his social networks.
It should be noted that the upcoming fight will be the third for Asu Almabaev in the UFC. Earlier he won an early decision over Odie Osborne, and also won a unanimous decision over CJ Vergara.
Francis Ngannou, former UFC heavyweight champion and current PFL fighter, has spoken out about his future in mixed martial arts.
"Right now, I don't know what to answer that question for you. I have a great desire to do boxing. I have to make a name for myself in this sport. I believe this sport owes me a debt. My last fight in boxing didn't go the way I wanted it to. So I want to come back and rehabilitate myself. I have to get my respect back. And in MMA, I have all that. That's why I don't know what to tell you. Maybe I will fight in MMA before returning to the ring," Ngannou stated.
We will remind, in his last fight Ngannou lost by knockout to Anthony Joshua.
Sergey Pavlovich, UFC heavyweight, named his bloodiest fight in the promotion. In Sergey's opinion, it was the fight with Derrick Lewis.
"Probably the bloodiest fight turned out to be with Derrick Lewis. I didn't even realize how it happened. I think when he was hitting the side kick, did a cross-section. You can see it in the photo there - bloody face. It's okay, it's pretty. I didn't feel it during the fight. But you can refer it to bloody fights, because there is blood on the face," - said Pavlovic in a recent interview.
Recall, his next fight Pavlovic will hold against Alexander Volkov. The fight will take place on June 22 in Saudi Arabia.
Kamaru Usman, former UFC welterweight champion, has spoken out about Jake Paul's chances in MMA rules bouts against Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz. Kamaru noted that he wouldn't be surprised to see Jake win those confrontations.
"Honestly, it's a time where anything can happen. I don't really know what to think. To say that Jake doesn't have a chance is complete nonsense. Everyone has a chance. Like I said, the world has been turned upside down. It's not all that unrealistic. Everything can happen," - stated the fighter.
Recall, earlier Jake Paul called a whole list of MMA fighters, who, according to him, refuse to fight with him.
UFC On ESPN 55 will take place on the night of April 28 in Las Vegas, headlined by a bout between Mateus Nicolau and Alex Perez. In the co-main event, Uzbek Bogdan Guskov will face Ryan Spann in the octagon. Here is the full card of the upcoming tournament:
Main card:
Ryan Sp ann - Bogdan Guskov.
Ariani Lipsky vs. Karin Silva.
Austin Lane, Jonatha Diniz.
Jonathan Pierce - David Onama
Tim Means - Uroš Medić
Advance card:
Rani Yahya - Victor Henry
Austin Hubbard, Michal Figlak.
Dontale Mays, Caio Machado.
Marnick Mann for Kathleen Souza.
James Llontop - Chris Padilla
Ivana Petrovic - Na Liang
Gabriel Benitez - Maheshate Haysaer
Renowned American mixed martial arts veteran, commentator and analyst Daniel Cormier believes that the UFC title in the under 165lbs division should be on the line for the upcoming fight between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler.
"Now the rumors have resurfaced again that McGregor and Chandler will fight at interim featherweight to 165 pounds. If true, I think it's a good reason to kick off a new division by putting a new category title on the line. It will draw even more attention to their fight.
Conor McGregor is the name. And Michael Chandler... He will just be in the right place at the right time and in the right place and get a chance to win the belt in the super lightweight division," - quotes Cormier BJ Penn.
Recall that the Irishman and the American will fight on June 29 at UFC 300 in Las Vegas, USA.
Head coach of AKA Hall Javier Mendes does not hide that he was pleased with the defeat of Justin Gaethje in the fight with Max Holloway. According to the specialist, the former interim UFC lightweight champion posed the greatest threat to his charge, the holder of a full title in the same division Islam Makhachev.
"For me, the most dangerous opponent stylistically is Justin Gaethje. It's because of his wrestling skills and well placed striking. He's really good. That's the truth.
Everyone has a different skill set. I think he's the biggest threat to us. But now, Justin will probably never be the center of attention for us again. So there's no need to discuss him as a potential threat anymore," MMA News quoted the specialist as saying.
