UFC News

Cody Garbrandt, TJ Dillashaw
Conor McGregor

Cody Garbrandt defends Conor McGregor against online backlash, praises Dustin Poirier

Adam Martin - January 24, 2021

Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt defended Conor McGregor against online backlash after a KO loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 257. McGregor was brutally knocked out by Poirier in the main event of UFC 257 in the second round. McGregor started off the fight strong in the first round, but Poirier kept landing low kicks that hurt McGregor and greatly impacted his mobility. Poirier was able to take advantage of his wobbly opponent and box him up on the feet and knock him out in devastating fashion for the biggest win of his career to date. Not to mention, Poirier also avenged his prior loss.

Floyd Mayweather, Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor

Floyd Mayweather roasts "bum" Conor McGregor after KO loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 257

Adam Martin - January 24, 2021

Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather trashed former opponent Conor McGregor after getting knocked out at UFC 257, calling him a “bum.” McGregor was brutally knocked out in the second round of his UFC 257 main event fight with Poirier on Saturday night. After starting off strong in the first round, McGregor’s mobility was compromised in the second round from low kicks by Poirier, and he was soon stopped and finished with strikes. Since losing, we have seen a number of McGregor’s rivals like Jake Paul and Patricio Pitbull talking smack to the Irishman, and now Mayweather has joined in.

Michael Chandler
Michael Chandler

Michael Chandler issues statement following KO win over Dan Hooker at UFC 257

Adam Martin - January 24, 2021

UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler released a statement following his first-round knockout win over Dan Hooker at UFC 257. Chandler is the former three-time Bellator lightweight champion who signed a big-money contract with the UFC last summer. After serving as the backup at UFC 254 this past October, Chandler finally made his official Octagon at UFC 257 on Saturday night, picking up a brutal first-round KO win over Dan Hooker. Following the victory, Chandler took to his social media to release a lengthy statement. Check out what “Iron” wrote on his Instagram below.

Conor McGregor, UFC 257
Dustin Poirier

Conor McGregor opens as betting favorite for trilogy with Dustin Poirier

Adam Martin - January 24, 2021

UFC superstar Conor McGregor has opened up as the betting favorite for a potential trilogy bout against rival Dustin Poirier. McGregor suffered a brutal knockout loss at the hands of Poirier at UFC 257 on Saturday night. After a strong start in the first round for the Irishman, his mobility in the second round became compromised due to Poirier landing calf kicks that really slowed him down. Poirier was then able to catch McGregor on the chin, drop him, and finish him off with strikes. After losing by knockout to McGregor back at UFC 178, Poirier returned the favor with his career-best win.

Nate Diaz, Miami Herald
Dustin Poirier

Nate Diaz reacts to Dustin Poirier defeating Conor McGregor at UFC 257

Christopher Taylor - January 24, 2021

Nate Diaz clearly tuned in to watch Conor McGregor square off with Dustin Poirier for a second time in the main event of UFC 257. The highly anticipated lightweight headliner served as a rematch, as Poirier and McGregor had previously squared off in a featherweight bout in 2014. That September night in Las Vegas, ‘Notorious’ emerged victorious by way of first-round TKO.

Amanda Ribas
UFC

Amanda Ribas releases statement following KO loss to Marina Rodriguez

Adam Martin - January 24, 2021

UFC women’s strawweight contender Amanda Ribas issued a statement following her vicious knockout loss to Marina Rodriguez at UFC 257. Ribas was quickly emerging as a title contender in the UFC women’s strawweight division after winning her first four fights in the Octagon, including notable wins over the likes of Mackenzie Dern and Paige VanZant. She was then matched up against a top-10 opponent in Rodriguez in the opening main card fight at UFC 257. Had Ribas defeated Rodriguez, it seems likely that the UFC would have fast-tracked the Brazilian prospect up to the title picture.

Dustin Poirier, UFC
Dustin Poirier

Video | Dustin Poirier, Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler cross paths backstage after UFC 257

Adam D Martin - January 24, 2021

Watch UFC lightweight stars Dustin Poirier, Conor McGregor, and Michael Chandler cross paths backstage after Saturday night’s UFC 257 event. Poirier stopped McGregor via second-round TKO in the UFC 257 main event, while Chandler finished Dan Hooker in the first round in the co-main event. Following the event, all three men ran into each other backstage. Take a look at two videos of the lightweights meeting below (h/t Chamatkar Sandhu).

Michael Chandler, Conor McGregor
Michael Chandler

Michael Chandler issues bold prediction for potential Khabib Nurmagomedov title fight

Adam D Martin - January 24, 2021

Michael Chandler issued a bold prediction for a potential title fight matchup with UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. Chandler knocked out Dan Hooker in the first round in what was an absolutely devastating fashion to mark a brilliant UFC debut for the former Bellator champion. Chandler came into the bout as the underdog but he proved the oddsmakers wrong when he KOed Hooker. It’s a massive win for “Iron” in his UFC debut and it’s the quality victory that could potentially earn him a title fight against Nurmagomedov if the champ decides to come out of retirement.

Patricio Freire, Bellator, Josh Thomson
Patricio "Pitbull" Freire

Patricio Pitbull trashes Michael Chandler following his UFC 257 win over Dan Hooker

Adam D Martin - January 24, 2021

Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull trashed former rival Michael Chandler following his UFC 257 first-round knockout win over Dan Hooker. Pitbull and Chandler met in Bellator back in June 2019, with Pitbull scoring an upset when he knocked Chandler out in the first round to win the Bellator lightweight title. Both Pitbull and Chandler are universally regarded as the two best home-grown Bellator fighters of all time, but Chandler finally made the move to the big show when he decided to sign with the UFC in 2020. He made his promotional debut at UFC 257, knocking Hooker out in the first round.

Dana White, UFC, Tony Ferguson, Jon Jones, UFC on ESPN 12
Khabib Nurmagomedov

Dana White shares most likely scenario if Khabib Nurmagomedov vacates his lightweight title

Adam D Martin - January 24, 2021

UFC president Dana White shared the most likely scenario that would happen if UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov vacates his belt. On Saturday night at UFC 257, Dustin Poirier knocked out Conor McGregor in brutal fashion in the second round to pick up a massive upset win. As well, Michael Chandler had an incredible UFC debut in the co-main event when he knocked out Octagon veteran Dan Hooker. Along with Charles Oliveira, these are the fighters who are currently vying for a fight with Nurmagomedov. But the opportunity to fight the champ might not come if he vacates his title.

Khamzat Chimaev, Conor McGregor
Khamzat Chimaev

Khamzat Chimaev takes aim at Conor McGregor following UFC 257 loss to Dustin Poirier

Adam D Martin - January 24, 2021

UFC welterweight Khamzat Chimaev took aim at promotional superstar Conor McGregor following his UFC 257 knockout loss to Dustin Poirier. Chimaev was one of a number of fighters who took a shot at McGregor following his surprising knockout defeat at UFC 257. McGregor had a fast start to the contest, winning the first round on all three judges’ scorecards, but the second round was a much different story as he was stopped by strikes. Following the bout, Chimaev took to Twitter to take a shot at McGregor after Poirier TKO’d him. Take a look at what Chimaev wrote on his social media.

Conor McGregor
Dustin Poirier

Conor McGregor issues statement after TKO loss to Dustin Poirier, teases trilogy

Adam D Martin - January 24, 2021

UFC superstar Conor McGregor issued a statement following his TKO loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 257, teasing a trilogy bout between the two. Poirier shocked the sporting world on Saturday night at UFC 257, when he brutally knocked McGregor out in the second round of their blockbuster pay-per-view main event. McGregor started off strong in the first round, landing a number of significant strikes, but he began to fade in the second round and Poirier took advantage, eventually catching the Irishman clean across the chin, and then raining down strikes until the referee was forced to stop the bout.

Justin Gaethje
Dustin Poirier

Justin Gaethje reacts to Dustin Poirier's upset win over Conor McGregor

Christopher Taylor - January 24, 2021

Former interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje has reacted after Dustin Poirier upset Conor McGregor with a second round TKO at UFC 257. McGregor and Poirier collided for a second time in the headliner of tonight’s pay-per-view event from Abu Dhabi. The pair had first met at UFC 178 in September of 2014, with ‘Notorious’ emerging victorious by way of first round TKO.

Dana White, UFC 249
Dana White

Dana White reacts after Dustin Poirier stops Conor McGregor at UFC 257

Christopher Taylor - January 23, 2021

Dana White was in attendance to watch Conor McGregor square off with Dustin Poirier for a second time in the main event of UFC 257. The highly anticipated lightweight headliner served as a rematch, as Poirier and McGregor had previously squared off in a featherweight bout in 2014. That September night in Las Vegas, ‘Notorious’ emerged victorious by way of first round TKO and became Dana White’s marquee star.

Dana White
Dana White

Dana White reacts after Michael Chandler KO's Dan Hooker in his debut at UFC 257

Christopher Taylor - January 23, 2021

Dana White was on hand to watch his newest signee Michael Chandler make his Octagon debut against Dan Hooker at UFC 257. Chandler (22-5 MMA) was making his UFC debut after scoring back-to-back knockouts in his most recent Bellator appearances. In his most previous effort back in August, Michael needed just over two minutes to finish former UFC champion Benson Henderson.

Michael Chandler, Daniel Cormier
Michael Chandler

UFC 257 Bonus Report: Michael Chandler pockets $50k for KO of Dan Hooker

Christopher Taylor - January 23, 2021

The Octagon remained on Fight Island for tonight’s UFC 257 event, an eleven-bout fight card headlined by Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier. The highly anticipated lightweight rematch proved to be a story of two rounds. Conor McGregor got off to a good start in the opening round but the tide quickly turned in favor of Dustin Poirier in round two. ‘The Diamond’ would eventually unload a plethora of punches on the Irish star causing him to hit the canvas. From there, Poirier put McGregor away with ground and pound.

Dustin Poirier, Tony Ferguson
Dustin Poirier

Tony Ferguson reacts to 'McGregor vs. Poirier 2' at UFC 257

Chris Taylor - January 23, 2021

Tony Ferguson obviously tuned in to watch Conor McGregor square off with Dustin Poirier for a second time at UFC 257. The highly anticipated lightweight headliner served as a rematch, as Poirier and McGregor had previously squared off in a featherweight bout in 2014. That September evening in Las Vegas, the Irishman emerged victorious by way of first round TKO.

Khabib Nurmagomedov, UFC rankings
Dustin Poirier

Khabib Nurmagomedov reacts after Dustin Poirier stops Conor McGregor at UFC 257

Christopher Taylor - January 23, 2021

Khabib Nurmagomedov clearly tuned in to watch Conor McGregor square off with Dustin Poirier for a second time at UFC 257. The highly anticipated lightweight headliner served as a rematch, as Poirier and McGregor had previously squared off in a featherweight bout in 2014. That September evening in Las Vegas, the Irishman emerged victorious by way of first round TKO.