UFC

McGregor laments 'inactivity' after Poirier defeat

By Sports Desk January 24, 2021

Conor McGregor lamented his inactivity after being stunned by Dustin Poirier at UFC 257 on Sunday.

The Irishman was knocked out in the second round by Poirier, the man he beat in September 2014, in Abu Dhabi.

But it was McGregor's first fight in 12 months and just his third since the start of 2018.

The former lightweight champion said his lack of competitive action was the difference.

"You know, it's hard to overcome inactivity over long periods of time and that's just it," McGregor said.

"The leg kicks were good, that low calf kick was good, the leg was dead and just wasn't as comfortable as I needed to be.

"It's the inactivity, but Dustin is some fighter and if you're in here, if you put in the time in here, you're going to get cosy in here and that's it.

"I have to dust it off and come back and that's what I will do."

McGregor said he was "gutted" and was keen to fight again this year.

Poirier, meanwhile, believes he is the lightweight champion – if Khabib Nurmagomedov (29-0) is unwilling to come out of retirement.

"I felt like this was a title fight," the American said.

"If Khabib's not coming back, me and Conor are the two best guys, I think this was a title fight. I'm the champion."

Related items

  • Dana White awards first ‘Bite of the Night’ bonus in UFC history after Vegas 89 Dana White awards first ‘Bite of the Night’ bonus in UFC history after Vegas 89

    UFC Vegas 89 was overshadowed after Igor Severino bit Andre Lima on the arm during their flyweight contest.

    Severino was disqualified for biting in the second round of their preliminary card bout at UFC Apex in Nevada between the previously-undefeated fighters.

    UFC president Dana White later claimed Severino would be released from UFC for the bite and doubled the bonus money of mixed martial artist Lima.

    The disqualification of Severino by referee Chris Tognoni ensured Lima won the contest and claimed the first ‘Bite of the Night’ bonus in UFC history after scenes reminiscent of Mike Tyson biting Evander Holyfield’s ear at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in 1997.

    Lima, who let out a yell after the incident, uploaded pictures of the bite and got a tattoo around the teeth marks on his bicep with the phrase, “I got f****** bit bonus”, hours after his victory.

    UFC president White said on his Instagram story: “I was going to give him 25k. Now I’m giving him 50k. This is awesome.”

    While Lima wrote on Instagram: “It was so insane I had to make it permanent. A debut to remember. Thanks boss Dana White! Ready for many more.”

  • Cedric Doumbe-Baki clash ‘the biggest prospect fight in all MMA’ – Dan Hardy Cedric Doumbe-Baki clash ‘the biggest prospect fight in all MMA’ – Dan Hardy

    Former UFC star Dan Hardy has described Cedric Doumbe’s clash with Baysangur ‘Baki’ Chamsoudinov at PFL Paris as the “biggest prospect fight in all of mixed martial arts.”

    The Professional Fighters League returns to the French capital where undefeated duo Doumbe and Baki face off in the welterweight division on Thursday evening.

    The event between the two Frenchmen  at the Accor Arena, for which tickets sold out almost instantly, comes after Doumbe’s impressive first-round victory over Jordan Zebo in September.

    Hardy, now the PFL head of fighter operations, talked up the encounter, comparing poster boy Doumbe to the likes of Jon Jones and Conor McGregor.

    “We’re very fortunate to have Cedric Doumbe and he makes my life very easy,” Hardy told the PA news agency.

    “In terms or marketability and technical ability I don’t think there’s anyone who comes close to Cedric. I have to look at the likes of Jon Jones and Conor McGregor to find someone who has the same impact on the fans.

    “The crowd in September was 90 per cent Doumbe but Baki (Chamsoudinov) this time will have a lot of support as well. He’s undefeated, he has Khamzat Chimaev in his corner, you know what to expect from both of these guys.

    “To me, this is the biggest prospect fight that can be made in all of mixed martial arts right now.

    “We’ve had to reorganise the arena to get more fans in.”

    The Chechen-born Baki boasts a strong wrestling background which will test Doumbe’s stand-up style.

    Hardy believes the fight could prove to be a risky one for 31-year-old Doumbe.

    “Because he’s fighting Baki everyone feels that this is a fight in which he could potentially lose,” he said.

    “Baki could take him down, control him against the fence and make him look like a beginner in MMA. We haven’t had those questions answered in Doumbe’s game yet.

    “It’s a very risky fight for Doumbe. If I was his management then this is not the fight I would of picked for him. Baki’s taken this fight and is probably thinking ‘Doumbe is crazy, he’s a good fighter but he’s not fought anyone like me before’.

    “If I was a cautious matchmaker trying to build Doumbe up then this is not a fight I would make. But I’m a former fighter who is an MMA fan and I want to see this fight.”

    Hardy also sees the reasons why Doumbe would take on the 22-year-old Baki’s challenge.

    “I can’t underestimate a fighter like Doumbe, he knows himself so well,” Hardy said. “He plays the range and psychological game really well and I just wonder if any of the games he’s playing leading into this fight will have any impact on Baki.

    “Cedric has taken this fight because it’s a shortcut to the top. If he gets the win then he can start looking at champions and think ‘I want to fight you’.”

  • ‘Historic’ night predicted as Mixed Martial Arts heads for Saudi Arabia ‘Historic’ night predicted as Mixed Martial Arts heads for Saudi Arabia

    Professional Fighters League founder Donn Davis has predicted a “historic” night ahead of the first Mixed Martial Arts event to take place in Saudi Arabia.

    PFL’s title holders go up against belt holders from Bellator in a never-seen-before night of champions in Riyadh on Saturday.

    This comes after the PFL acquired Bellator in November 2023.

    Davis is relishing the opportunity of becoming the first MMA promotion to tie a deal with the sovereign state in a sold out event.

    Speaking to the PA news agency, Davis said: “It’s historic. It’s the first-ever MMA event to take place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and we get to be a part of something historic in sport.

    “I think Saudi Arabia is the future of combat sports.

    “We’re a company of yes and there is another company out there who is the company of no and they can do what they want. We try to do things different and put the fans first.

    “It’s a big deal, this is our first primetime event and media deal on ESPN. Acquiring Bellator has also been a big deal and now this is a big step in us becoming a co-leader in MMA and we’re excited for Saturday.

    “This is a collaboration between our partners in Saudi Arabia and us at the PFL.”

    The inaugural event will feature the likes of PFL’s Ray Cooper III, Thiago Santos and Clay Collard as well as Bellator’s Patricio Pitbull, Yoel Romero, Ryan Bader and Johnny Eblen.

    Davis compared the format to an NBA All-Star game, insisting PFL’s putting the fans first mindset helped create the idea.

    “We wanted to do the first event in Saudi but only if it was a great big event,” Davis added.

    “We came up with an idea which has never been done before in combat sports. Champions against champions. PFL v Bellator.

    “It’s like an All-Stars game which has real stakes where the players and athletes really care.

    “We have big prize money with an extra belt where there’s a ring inside the belt. This is a big card with 12 current or former champions, six ultra champion bouts, this has never been done before.

    “People are asking what if all the Bellator fighters win? Then they all win. We try and do things the fans want to see.”

    PFL have worked alongside Saudi adviser Turki Alalshikh, who has helped put on major boxing events including the likes of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.

    When asked about his experience of working with leading figures in Saudi, Davis said: “Everybody here. Turki, the minister of sport (Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal), the PIF team, they all want to win and excel and that is the shared value. It’s been a pleasure.”

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.