The MMA Ten keeps you updated on the latest news from the world of the UFC and beyond. This week: Conor wears Build-a-Bear suits, fat-shaming Ronda, GSP is back and much more.
Conor Wears Build-a-Bear Suits
New UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez would love to face Conor McGregor in the cage, but until then he’ll just keep laying on the insults. Appearing on the Breakfast on Broad program, Alvarez ripped into McGregor. “It’s hard to be intimidated by a guy who gets his suits at Build-a-Bear.”
But wait, there’s more. Alvarez also appeared on the Tiki and Tierney show and had this gem: “I don’t know him personally, but thank God he’s good at talking because he can’t fight for s–t.”
That’s hardly true, but Alvarez is trying to get a fight with the winner of the Diaz vs. McGregor rematch. So he spent part of the last week ripping on Conor to build up the hype and get on Conor’s radar. If he can keep coming up with hilarious quips like the Build-a-Bear line, I’m in.
Conor Makes It Rain For Diaz Rematch
Build-a-Bear suits aside, McGregor says he has put everything into this rematch with Diaz — physically, mentally, and financially. McGregor told ESPN he’s spent huge cash in prepping for Nate Diaz.
“With gyms, cars, transport, flights, accommodations — I’d estimate we’re talking a $300,000 camp here. This is a big, big expense — but what I make is big. So, in the bigger picture, it’s rather small.”
If you read into McGregor’s comments, you can see he still rationalizes his loss to Diaz. “It’s nice to have this feeling that the man will show up. The man I’m set to face will be there. So, the preparation has been there.” Nate Diaz took the fight on 11 days notice, but we’re to believe that Conor was the one who was at a disadvantage because he couldn’t prepare for Diaz? That’s a far cry from the guy who said he’d fight anyone, anywhere, weight classes be damned.
Your MMA Meme of the Week
Your MMA Meme of the Week comes from Ray Thomspon, father of UFC welterweight contender Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. He posted a fan-made graphic to show how new champ Tyron Woodley talks out of both sides of his mouth.
Woodley is leaning toward a big money fight with GSP for his first title defense, a title that GSP held for many years. Many fans believe that Thompson should have the next shot at the title, but Woodley has said he’s looking for the biggest payday he can get.
GSP is (Basically) Back
Georges St-Pierre took an important step in making a comeback to the UFC by starting out-of-competition drug testing by USADA. GSP said his management is in negotiation with the UFC and there’s no shortage of names being bandied about for his first fight back. Tyron Woodley, Michael Bisping, and even a rematch with Nick Diaz has been talked about. He’d be up for Diaz, and he says he’d beat him even worse in the rematch.
“I don’t care if it’s the first, or second, or third (fight back). If they want me to fight Nick Diaz it would be my pleasure. I don’t mind, I am not afraid of Nick Diaz, I beat him last time, and I’ll beat even worse. I’ll beat him way worse next time that I’ll fight him. I beat him last time easily, but I was not happy. It’s one of these fights that I’m not happy with. Because I didn’t feel like I gave enough, for different reasons. It left me angry that fight, when I look back at it – maybe I won, but for some reason it left me angry and I feel like I could have done so much better,” GSP told Bloody Elbow.
Who he faces when he comes back is irrelevant right now. The big news here is that a GSP comeback now has a legit timetable. Since he started testing with USADA, a December return is now possible. It’s not uncommon for fighters to retire and come back after healing up both body and soul. But coming back to rule their division again? That’s the real test for GSP. He’s not coming back to make cash and fight the bottom of the roster. He’s coming back for his belt and it will be entertaining to see how it all plays out.
Conor and Nate Agree on Something
We’re just about a week away until the big rematch between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz, and the two have finally found something they can agree on: everyone is on steroids. Diaz has never shied away from that assessment and McGregor concurred on a UFC 202 conference call. “I’m happy to be tested. The boy is not far along — they f—ing all are on steroids. So it is f—ed up. The co-main and main at 200. That’s messed up to me. I don’t know.” If ‘everyone’ is on steroids, they won’t be for long. USADA testing is no joke and they will weed out the fighters that use PEDs. It’s already happening.
Checking In on Nate Diaz
This video was shot before Nate Diaz put the whuppins on Conor McGregor at UFC 196, but we’re guessing this will be his gameplan again for the big UFC 202 rematch.
Diaz said on the UFC 202 conference call that his plan after the rematch is to take big money fights, or not fight at all.
“I’ve fought everybody in the UFC, been fighting forever. So if I’m going fight, it’s going to be for a big-deal fight, not just a fight. I was ahead of everybody as far as a following in the UFC, I was the biggest draw, I was the biggest everything in every weight class. Then Conor came around and he was the biggest draw, he was getting a big push and the UFC was Conor McGregor. So if I’m going to fight somebody it’s going to be a big deal, not just any fight just to fight cause I could make just as much outside the ring as in the ring.”
Julianna Pena Rips Ronda Rousey
Julianna Pena wants a shot at the UFC bantamweight title and she doesn’t want to wait in line behind Ronda Rousey. TMZ caught up with Pena and she ripped into the former champion.
“I think [Rousey] is going to come back before the end of the year. That’s what I’ve been told, that’s what I’ve heard. I’ll believe it when I see it. When she actually signs a contract, on the dotted line, then I’ll be more of a believer. They say she’s coming back, so we’ll see. She’s like the emperor in no clothes. You know what I mean? She’s broken, a little bit. I just think that no one really cares about Ronda Rousey and her fat arms anymore. But I guess some people do. So I guess Amanda Nunes is going to wait around for a title fight, and we’ll see how that goes.”
That’s pretty harsh, but I guess what goes around comes around. Rousey hasn’t exactly been shy in talking trash about her opponents in the past. That comment can actually turn out to be a good one if it makes Rousey so pissed that she wants to get back into the cage. It would be great to see her compete again.
The Evolution of CM Punk
CM Punk will finally make his UFC debut at UFC 203 on Sept. 10 against Mickey Gall. Check out the trailer for The Evolution of Punk, which will air Monday, Aug. 15 on FS1.
https://youtu.be/iaa7rP8pUlc
I still don’t get how a guy with no amateur or pro experience gets approved to fight by a state commission, especially against an opponent who already has pro experience and has fought in the UFC. I suppose that’s not of much importance to people watching at home, but it strikes me as being very odd. Punk remains a heavy underdog with most books placing him at +265 to win.
Kayla Harrison Wins Gold Again, UFC Next?
US judoka Kayla Harrison won her second gold medal by defeating France’s Audrey Tcheumeo Thursday.
“I’m happy, I’m retiring. Two-time Olympic champion. That’s it,” Harrison said in Rio after the win.
Now the speculation continues for Harrison about whether or not she will pursue a MMA career like fellow judo medalist Ronda Rousey. She didn’t give many clues as to what she will do and deflected a question about the UFC possibly offering her a contract.
“I’m sure they were watching. If they weren’t, they missed out,” Harrison said.
Harrison is every bit as dominant as Rousey and more accomplished as an Olympian. Here’s how she captured the gold against Tcheumeo.
Count it! @Judo_Kayla becomes the first American to win two gold medals in #judo. #Rio2016 https://t.co/072IpsJevN https://t.co/ud8SCSNaAH
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 11, 2016
If you’ve followed Rousey’s story at all, you know she was living out of her car with no real job prospects after competing in the Olympics. Harrison has a short window to make some money in MMA, and there’s no place she will earn more than the UFC. The guess here is we’ll see her in the Octagon next year.
The Most Polite Call Out in MMA History
Cub Swanson is coming off a unanimous decision win against Tatsuya Kawajiri. Doo Ho Choi, aka Korean Superboy, is undefeated at 10-0 with eight of those wins ending in knockouts. He recently issued the most respectful call out in MMA history.
If Swanson sees this he has to ask for the fight, right? He asked so nicely!
That’s the MMA Ten for this week. We’ll be back next week with an epic UFC 202 preview.
