Dana White Losing UFCs Top Roster
The Ultimate Fighters Championship is losing a significant degree of their top contenders, which comes after Dana White continues to make formidable enemies with the men that made him famous & rich. Stresses associated with being the 1st international sport to resume operations amid the COVID-19 pandemic is starting to affect the UFC President, with hurdles that must be passed including planning five events in thirty days.
None of these venues other than the 1st has supported notable fighters, prompting analysts to question if roster contenders are serious when claiming they’ll retire over financial disputes. Dana White has continuously demanded that his top fights obtain 18% of their standard salaries for competing, meaning individuals like Jon Jones and Conor McGregor wouldn’t receive substantial payments for their services.
The 18% demand follows after Dana White remarked his goal to protect the corporate division while providing executives with their yearly bonuses & stock options. This would come at the livelihood of fighters that’ve made the UFC famous, earning this sporting association hundreds of millions in profits per year. Turning his back against these men & women show the lack of disrespect garnered by Dana White since becoming noteworthy friends with Donald Trump.
Fighters Leaving the UFC
Henry Cejudo was the 1st competitor to announce his retirement from the UFC over financial disputes, which was barely reported & considered inconsequential for the Bantamweight Division. It was when Jon Jones announced his retirement following Dana White’s refusal to negotiate that top contender leaving was taken seriously by analysts. UFC Partners are also concerned, which extends towards the Board of Directors, and overall workforce. The exclusive individual unconcerned with these retirements in Dana White, with his responses, often remarking a “F*** You” attitude towards these men.
The latest fighter to confirm his retirement is Conor McGregor, which came after Dana White continuously requested that the Irishman compete against opponents in higher weight divisions. The UFC President knows fully that McGregor’s body cannot handle the required muscle tone needed to compete in these divisions, allowing Dana White to offer Conor a lower per-fight salary for lightweight opponents. Shady tactics from the UFC President saw his most noteworthy athlete retire from the competitor for the 3rd time. Losing Jorge Masvidal or any other competitors could result in millions of fans leaving the UFC.
Gaethje Versus McGregor is Possible
The Interim Lightweight Championship was acquired by Justin Gaethje earlier in May 2020. Since that victory over Tony Ferguson, Gaethje has become a desirable opponent for those contesting his championship belt. Under this condition of being Interim Champion, it’s expected that he’ll next compete against Khabib Nurmagomedov for the “UFC Lightweight Championship”. However, Justin Gaethje has publicly admitted that he’d rather compete against Conor McGregor before battling it out with Khabib. This follows after McGregor has continually dismissed the skillsets associated with Gaethje, calling him ignorant slurs over social media. Justin believes it’s time for the Irishman to stop talking & take his final leave for Mixed Martial Arts.
These sentiments from Justin Gaethje were remarked through the Joe Rogan Experience Podcast, which is slated to move over to Spotify after being sold for $50 million. Justin Gaethje spoke about his experience at UFC 249, that his skillsets dominated over one of the competitions most dominate fighters. He mentioned how Conor McGregor couldn’t compete against Tony Ferguson, making him wonder why the Irishman believes he’s capable of winning a fight between them. The likelihood of this occurring against Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje is 20/100 with oddsmakers in Las Vegas. Conor should back down before he’s publicly shamed in front of millions for a 3rd time, with the 1st being against Nate Diaz.
When Joe Rogan asked how a fight against Conor McGregor would end for Justin Gaethje, the Interim Champion noted that the Irishman could not beat him under any conditions. That Gaethje will do to McGregor what Conor did to Cerrone. This means a knockout within forty seconds. Justin Gaethje finalized his remarks about Conor McGregor by noting he wants the Irishman to stop talking, that his position in the UFC is pointless now.
McGregor’s Future in the UFC
Conor McGregor hasn’t responded to the claims made by Justin Gaethje. All focus seems centred around Khabib Nurmagomedov for the Irishman, with McGregor desperate to return to championship status. Obtaining a 2nd fight with Khabib wouldn’t prove beneficial for Conor, who was defeated by the Russian MMA Athlete at their previous meeting. Considering that Khabibs skillsets have improved since that fight, McGregor would get dominated for the 2nd time.
McGregor Comes Out Foolish Over Twitter
The Irishman continues to parade himself foolishly and disrespectfully, which is consistent with his personality. Many fighters are publicly shaming Conor McGregor after he claimed himself to be the “Greatest of All Time”. Supports behind the Irishman themselves were conflicted over his sentiments. McGregor might be the UFCs most exciting fighter on their roster, but he’s far from their most significant. Those that previously defeated Conor since 2016 reminded him of his losses.
Conor McGregor believes that he’s the 2nd Greatest of All Time Fighter in history. He argued that his ranking is tied with Anderson Silva, the next GOAT. UFC Competitors like Jon Jones, Nate Diaz, and Khabib Nurmagomedov roasted McGregor for his foolish remarks. The 1st individual to publicly shame Conor was Nate Diaz, where he informed the Irishman that submitting him was easily accomplished.
Diaz noted that he took McGregor faster to the ground than any other opponent he’s competed against. Nate clarified that the numerous punches landed onto McGregor were faster than that of Floyd Mayweather Junior. Statistically, this isn’t incorrect, but the sentiments from Nate were foolish. Conor would ultimately return to fight Diaz again, where the Irishman would become victorious.
Sentiments from Khabib
Khabib Nurmagomedov replied to the GOAT List issued by Conor McGregor. The Irishman believes that Khabib isn’t ranked in the top ten, even though Nurmagomedov stands at 28-0. This record is considerably better than Conor’s and shows that COVID-19 is returning the Irish Native to his delusional self.
Nurmagomedov remarked that Conor hasn’t even defended his championship titles, that he tapped out in all three standard divisions of the UFC. Sentiments from Khabib clarified that McGregor declined fines fights from multiple fighters, showing that the argument doesn’t matter, but money does. Khabib ended his statements to Conor by noting he’s the “Greatest UFC Troll of All Time”.
It should be mentioned that these arguments are typically pointless and don’t hold value towards the MMA Community. What holds validity is statistics, which show Jon Jones as the UFCs Greatest of All Time.
Arizona and Vegas Competing for UFCs Next Venue
The President of the Ultimate Fighting Competition, Dana White, has confirmed that their next venue will be held in either Las Vegas or Arizona. Plans to return fight promotions to Las Vegas have been prevalent since the COVID-19 Pandemic forced the UFC into submission. There’s a substantial chance that Dana White won’t achieve his desire of returning to Las Vegas yet, with the Nevada Gaming Commission and State Government has not lifted restrictions on entertainment venues. This will prompt the UFC to return to Arizona, the nearby brother to Nevada. They’ve already confirmed that Dana White’s fighting competition is permitted.
This follows after Donald Trump allowed State Governments to lift their respective social distancing measures, enabling economies across the country to resume operations. There are notable concerns regarding this decision amid American civilians and fighters in the UFC. Both groups are worried that by restarting State economies, the rate of infections will skyrocket and prompt an increased percentage of that respective individual contracting the virus.
Every time Dana White has been questioned on his protection measures for fighters, anger towards these reporters has continuously grown more violent. Tyrants from Dana White have concerned competitors in the UFC, with those individuals refusing to compete. The UFC President’s response was releasing that fighter from their contract. There haven’t been any punishments against Dana White for his ignorant behaviour & unsafe conditions for employees, which were proven amidst the last three UFC events.
No Punishments for Dana White
There were on-site personnel wearing protective face equipment and others that weren’t. Individual staff sanitized their hands regularly, while others were seen refusing the opportunity. This revealed that the sanitation measures enforced under social distancing protocols aren’t being followed. There won’t be any federal punishments ensued onto Dana White for breaking these protocols, which complies with his close friendship to Donald Trump.
Countless sports institutions across America have received an influx of fines for trying to restart operations, while Dana White has received continuous congratulations from Dana White. For someone who claims to be a man of the people, Dana White has continuously shown a high degree of ignorance in 2019 and 2020.
Joe Rogan Reverts Social Distancing Remarks
Supporters behind Joe Rogan were disappointed with the infamous commentator went against his previous statements to Dana White. Rogan first emphasized that he would commentate UFC 249 under any conditions, believing the UFC President to be foolish to not obeying social distancing. Being aware of the impending backlash against him, Rogan wouldn’t announce that he’d be commentating UFC 249 on May 9th. This would mark the 1st time that UFC fanatics have seen their favourite commentator since the sport was shut down in early March.
Rogan believed that it’d be inevitable for some fighters or personnel to have the virus; this was his first mindset. Joe would look foolish and prove himself correct when it was confirmed that Ronaldo Souza had contracted COVID-19. His presence at UFC 249 means that all individuals at this Pay-Per-View could contract the virus, including Joe Rogan. Ronaldo Souza wouldn’t be permitted to fight Uriah Hall after testing positive for COVID-19, with his cornerman also contracting the virus.
Commentating Issues
Joe Rogan, Jon Anik, and Daniel Cormier were all tested upon their arrival. This extended to all filming and organizing personnel. All three commentators would test negative for the virus, which allowed for Rogan to interview fighters after winning their respective fights in the Octagon. This went against everything that Joe Rogan had previously remarked less than one month ago. When Rogan wasn’t permitted to sit beside his fellow commentators, the podcasters mentioned several times that he was displeased for having to remove himself from these men. Considering that the UFC allowed Rogan to interview fighters but not commentate with his co-hosts, the anger is somewhat justified. It still doesn’t excuse the remarks made and then reverted by Rogan.
Those filming on-site saw Dana White shoot Joe Rogan multiple looks for his remarks, clearly displeased with how the commentator reacted. This follows after the two men have clashed numerous times, with some suggesting they enter the Octagon and settle their differences the UFC way. Considering that Rogan is more significant than most UFC fighters, Dana White wouldn’t have a single chance of winning.
Dustin Poirier on Prolonged Layoff
Fanatics behind the Ultimate Fighter’s Championship were surprised to hear from a notable legend after a prolonged period away from the spotlight. Dustin Poirier engaged with fans through social media, taking questions and providing respective answers. These answers revealed that Dustin had learned an extensive amount of MMA knowledge during his time away, with the former champion indicating that he won’t compete against Nate Diaz.
Dustin Poirier hasn’t appeared in the UFC Octagon since September 2019 at UFC 242. This matchup was against Khabib Nurmagomedov, where the former champion ultimately was defeated by the Russian. Some speculated that this loss would mark the end of Poirier’s career, which notably wasn’t right after Dana White revealed he’d battle Dan Hooker at UFC San Diego. Dustin Poirier ultimately couldn’t compete at this venue, which was cancelled amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Unlike other fights that were cancelled because of COVID-19, Dustin’s matchup hasn’t been rescheduled. It’s now speculated he’ll compete against another opponent when the opportunity is right.
The Social Media Q&A
Twitter has become the highlight point of interaction with fans for Dustin Poirier. Weekly he’ll hold Question & Answering sessions through the platform, allowing fans and reporters to learn new details about the prized fighter. One fanatic would inevitably question Poirier on the existence of another Nate Diaz fight, which Dustin promptly replied wasn’t possible. The two men were supposed to engage in combat at UFC 230, which ultimately didn’t happen because of personal issues revolving around Nate Diaz.
This cancellation in November 2018 prompted UFC organizers to create another fight between the two men, which ultimately never occurred. It’s believed the two men couldn’t assess the financial terms being offered by the UFC, with Nate demanding Poirier lose a percentage of his payment and forfeit it towards the Diaz Camp. No fighter would ever agree to such outlandish terms, prompting the matchup to be impossible. It should be mentioned Nate Diaz retired after being knocked out by Jorge Masvidal during UFC 244. The chances of him returning are conditional on a substantial contract to fight Conor McGregor, with the UFC most likely unwilling to pay Diaz the millions associated with fighting the Irishman.
UFCs Fight Island Details Revealed
The Ultimate Fighter’s Championship is continuously being rescheduled or reformatted amidst the coronavirus, which follows after Dana White has become desperate to resume octagon matches. The latest updates provided by UFCs President indicate that Fight Island is near completion, with two octagons being manufactured for public appearance. One will be located within an indoor facility, while the other is being built on the islands tropical beach.
Continued updates from Dana White is a specific strategy, which is imposed to keep supporters excited. The UFC President hasn’t had any choice since the April 18th PPV between Tony Ferguson, and Khabib Nurmagomedov was altered drastically. Khabib 1st wasn’t capable of competing after Russia locked down all variations of travelling. Justin Gaethje was the replacement for Nurmagomedov, with his bout against Tony Ferguson being cancelled last minute. This hasn’t stopped either fight or Dana White, with their rescheduled match confirmed earlier this week. Justin Gaethje and Tony Ferguson will fight on May 9th in Florida. This is because Fight Island’s construction won’t enter completion phases for another month.
Justin Gaethje and Tony Ferguson were forced to reschedule after Disney Executives demanded that Dana White cancel this venue. The UFC President was forced to listen, with Disney owning ESPN. Considering all UFC Fights are held through ESPN, losing these broadcasting rights would be more detrimental than cancelling the April 18th venue. Disney Executives couldn’t convince Dana White to postponement the competition entirely, with the President adamant they’ll be the 1st sport to return in America. This statement is the core reason that fight island was purchased by Dana White, with this location slated to host all future UFC venues after completion.
ESPN Interview
Dana White spoke with ESPN Reporters regarding UFCs Fight Island. He mentioned that their nearing completion, with international fights slated to begin in June. American UFC Fights will commence on May 9th, with an additional three broadcasting coming by May 23rd. June will mark the date when weekly fights are held again, with international competitors slated to compete against notable athletes like Justin Gaethje and Conor McGregor. However, these two will fight before any other competitors are announced.
Valentina Shevchenko Talks Fight Island
The Ultimate Fighters Championship has become divided amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, with fighters like Khabib Nurmagomedov supporting the postponements of fights until social distancing worldwide is lifted. Other individuals like Valentina Shevchenko concede that the UFC shouldn’t back down during this pandemic, that it’ll make the MMA sport look weak. Her sentiments on the UFCs state follow after Valentina Shevchenko was questioned on her next octagon opponent. The Flyweight Champion remarked that her next bout would be held at “UFCs Fight Island”, which Shevchenko was supported since Dana White announced the new format last month.
Valentina Shevchenko maintains her training regiment in Las Vegas, with her living quarters located nearby the strip. This champion has grown accustomed to warm environments with her fighting styles, now avoiding cold locations in which she originated. It’s not surprising that Shevchenko would support the UFCs Fight Island, with her social media accounts displaying a woman that admires travelling. This extends primarily towards tropical destinations, with Fight Island rumoured to be located in the Caribbean.
Valentina’s History
The 2020 Flyweight Champion was born and initially trained in Kyrgyzstani, allowing her capabilities to outweigh her competition. No female opponent has rivalled Shevchenko since her admittance into the Ultimate Fighter’s Championship. She’s now considered to have superior skillsets than Ronda Rousey, the former queen of the UFC. It’ll be interesting if Valentina Shevchenko can maintain this status after tearing her MCL at her last PPV Event. Most MMA analysts were shocked when Shevchenko still won her fight, even with a torn MCL.
It’s expected that Valentina Shevchenko will compete against Joanne Calderwood with her next fight. The Flyweight Champion believes it’ll take place by August 25th to 30th, with Fight Island being considered for the PPV Venue. It’d enable for both Shevchenko and Calderwood to receive a resting period immediately after their bout. Valentina expressed that Fight Island is perfect for UFC competitors, as the facilities are being manufactured exclusively for their sport. This’ll make it easier for opponents to train and complete their requirements for competing in the Octagon. We’ll keep our readers informed in Valentina Shevchenko becomes confirmed for the UFCs Fight Island.
Tony Ferguson Still Cutting Weight in Hopes of UFC 249 Becoming a Go
Once again, the anticipated fight between Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov has been postponed after the UFC cancelled the event that was slated to take place on the 18th of April.
This is the fourth time the two were set to do battle only to watch the event slip away due to injuries sustained from other fights. However, this time, it was related to Khabib Nurmagomedov inability to leave Russia amid the countries response to COVID-19 and locking down all travel outside of the country.
Previously, even as late as last week UFC President, Dana White was adamant that UFC 249 would not be cancelled albeit without fans in attendance. However, he abruptly changed position after California Senator Diane Feinstein expressed concerns that going ahead with the event would be in direct violation of the state’s order to distance from others and not participate in any group events.
According to a Saturday post by Ferguson on Twitter, the UFC lightweight former interim champion stated that it is his intention to weigh in on Friday at 155 pounds. The Twitter post read; “Still Working, Going to Make Weight By Friday” #ChampionshipWeight 155lbs. It’s A TUF Thing. Champ Shit Only #ufc249. Keep Grindin’ Crew”
Ferguson had hoped to see the fight go ahead, but with opponent Khabib Nurmagomedov unable to leave his home country, it saw the Russian removed from the main card and replaced with Justin Gaethje, which for many is not his equal but now that is a dead deal as well with 249 being cancelled outright.
Commenting on the announcement, a disappointed Ferguson, who had been training aggressively in preparation for the fight against Nurmagomedov and then adjusting his style to accommodate Gaethje as a replacement, said; “Oh wow, Oh, well. I’m still going to train. I’m sure it’s for a good reason. Let’s be real. I got to keep the faith.”
Ferguson has not fought since the summer of 2019 during UFC 238 when he defeated Donald Cerrone. However, he has yet to enter the cage since the later part of 2018 and was anticipating a big return with hopes of a victory over Nurmagomedov
UFC President, Dana White was keen to keep things as they were with UFC 249 and had confirmed that the fight would go ahead at the Tachi Palace Resort Casino but that fans would not be in attendance.
However, being that ESPN broadcasts all UGC fight nights, its owners Disney opted to put a stop to the proceedings and orders halt the planning of the event even though it was to be fought behind closed doors.
White commented that he wants to see fighting resume as soon as possible and has arranged for fights to take place on a private island. The UFC will flaunt the bout as “Fight Island” with expectations being that it will happen within the next month after the island is prepared. Commenting, White said; “I’m telling all my guys not to worry because ‘Fight Island’ is gonna happen. All the infrastructure is being built right now and getting put in place.”
Tony Ferguson Reacts to Nurmagomedov Cancelling
Khabib Nurmagomedov is under fire for being unable to compete at UFC 249. The champion announced that quarantine measures throughout Russia are forcing him to remain within the country’s borders. This has prompted Tony Ferguson to state that Khabib should be stripped of his championship status. It’s the standard move whenever a champion is unable to defend their title. Ferguson was supported to compete against Khabib and is upset that his championship shot is over. When questioned by ESPN Reporters, Ferguson expressed that he understands the unique conditions Khabib faces, but rules are rules, and they must be followed.
Ferguson mentioned that Khabib Nurmagomedov was provided with the opportunity to remain in the United States. After denying this offer, the Heavy Lightweight Champion travelled to Abu Dhabi. This would’ve enabled him to compete in America or the Middle East for the UFC 249 Pay-Per-View. Khabib refused to prolong his stay in Abu Dhabi and returned to Dagestan, Russia. It’s because of these decisions that Khabib couldn’t compete, meaning it’s directly his fault for being unable to defend the title. Word from Dana White on this matter hasn’t been provided, with UFC Analysts claiming that Championship Rules will be altered for the unique conditions surrounding Khabib.
The UFC President is Lying
Dana White has faced numerous issues with his upcoming Pay-Per-View. He’s continually demanded that UFC 249 will take place, regardless of the coronavirus pandemic. Event organizers began working against Dana White, with the slated location in Brooklyn informing the UFC President that they won’t host UFC 249. It forced White to locate a new venue within a short period, which he claims has been found. Dana White hasn’t revealed details on the latest location. It’s led many to believe he’s lying about a newly found venue location.
Ferguson’s Upset
Tony Ferguson is angered and upset over this situation. Both men have been slated to compete against each other five times since 2015, with every bout never seeing fruition. The fact that Khabib Nurmagomedov backed down from this fight by unexpectedly travelling against the wishes of UFC Executives is more than reason enough for Ferguson to request the stripping of Champion Status. It’s now expected that Tony will compete against Jorge Masvidal or Justin Gaethje at UFC 249.