I know ONE is huge in Asia, but are there any other notable fighters there besides Ben Askren?Ex-UFC champ Eddie Alvarez signs with ONE Championship
That's a pretty big coup for ONE, Alvarez can still fight and he's not quite over the hill yet .I was convinced he's go to Bellator. KSW could start signing some ex UFC guys as well before too long.
Bibiano Fernandes is real good( although he's getting up there in age), he's mostly fought in Japan though so more casual fans probably don't know him. Martin Nguyen is good too. A lot of their stuff is on the fight network so I always end up catching some of it every week. The caliber is quite good.I know ONE is huge in Asia, but are there any other notable fighters there besides Ben Askren?
I thought he was going to go to Bellator, too. Maybe he wants to add another organizations championship to his resume.
There is no way GSP would fight as lightweight either. GSP is a big shredded WW. The guy can fight as a MW, I can't imagine him at 155. He would have to lose a significant amount of muscle, dont think he'd want that.From the previous thread:
@DangerDave, there have been a ton of rumors about GSP fighting again. Sure, they could be media driven, but I totally believe he wants to fight again...IF, and only IF, he can find the perfect matchup that would further his 'legacy' and be a fight he has a very good chance at winning. Much like the Bisping fight. If Conor won, I think we absolutely would have seen Conor-GSP. Beating Conor (if he had beat Khabib) is arguably the biggest win he could get in today's UFC and he'd be the first to hold a belt in 3 different weight classes. I also think GSP would be extremely confident in beating Conor because of his wrestling and his striking is better than Khabib. So it checks all the boxes for GSP. Legacy, likely win, and huge payday.
(I know Dana said he wouldn't let GSP fight for the 155lb belt because he would likely vacate, but that fight would have been too huge to not make).
Maybe he's just after a belt..Ex-UFC champ Eddie Alvarez signs with ONE Championship
That's a pretty big coup for One, Alvarez can still fight and he's not quite over the hill yet .I was convinced he's go to Bellator. KSW could start signing some ex UFC guys as well before too long.
I know ONE is huge in Asia, but are there any other notable fighters there besides Ben Askren?
I thought he was going to go to Bellator, too. Maybe he wants to add another organizations championship to his resume.
If he wants to stick to Dana and doesn't care about money then he can just quit now.Khabib is getting Ferguson next and then he's probably gone. That's what I'd do if I were him, there's no better way to stick it to Dana than to deny him of a Conor rematch.
He could do that too, him leaving right now wouldn't surprise me in the slightest.If he wants to stick to Dana and doesn't care about money then he can just quit now.
That is the big rumor. GSP was on Ariel's show just yesterday talking about fighting Khabib. He said he thinks he could make 155lb, but he doesn't think the UFC will offer him the fight because they're afraid he would win and vacate again.There is no way GSP would fight as lightweight either. GSP is a big shredded WW. The guy can fight as a MW, I can't imagine him at 155. He would have to lose a significant amount of muscle, dont think he'd want that.
I think ESPN will provide some boost. At least initially.Maybe he's just after a belt..
That said, Khabib vs Conor was the biggest PPV on record with 2.4M, before that they weren't able to even break the 400K buys in 2018.
2016 was a good year for them, but since then, they haven't been doing all that well.
The UFC as a company had a record year in 2017 but that was only thanks to the money they got from the CM vs FMJ fight, a boxing event.
I don't think they are in any danger but they really could improve their game.
Yeah, I think he wants to fight GSP, but I think he's still under contract with ONE. He's only 34, though. He wouldn't be the first fighter to "retire" and then come back.Askren isn't fighting anymore, it's been a while. He said he'd come out of semi-retirement for a super fight.
I will be severely disappointed if we never get to see Khabib-Tony.Khabib is getting Ferguson next and then he's probably gone. That's what I'd do if I were him, there's no better way to stick it to Dana than to deny him of a Conor rematch.
Yeah, I think he wants to fight GSP, but I think he's still under contract with ONE. He's only 34, though. He wouldn't be the first fighter to "retire" and then come back.
Edit: He fought last in November 2017. So not THAT long ago.
I will be severely disappointed if we never get to see Khabib-Tony.
I don't know that he wants to stick it to Dana as much as Conor. Not ever giving Conor a rematch would probably drive Conor more crazy than if he beat him again.
Semi-retired doesn't mean anything, though. He can hold out for a super fight if he wants, but that's only going to happen if someone can get out of their contract.He's semi retired though. I'd like to see Khabib vs Askren, I would like this a lot
That is the big rumor. GSP was on Ariel's show just yesterday talking about fighting Khabib. He said he thinks he could make 155lb, but he doesn't think the UFC will offer him the fight because they're afraid he would win and vacate again.
I think ESPN will provide some boost. At least initially.
There's certainly not a lot of precedent of guys in their late thirties fighting 20 pounds lighter than they've ever fought before. It's pretty rare. Rashad Evans maybe ? Gilbert Melendez ? They both sucked at the lower class too.I don't see how GSP could drop to 155 without damaging his body. That would be a big mistake imo.
A catch weight, perhaps.
Khabib doesn't seem to be a money guy. He even stated they can keep the purse they're holding from the CM fight, what he cared about was restoring his honor and he feels he did that.Rumor says Khabib turned down $15M offer for the Conor rematch. Wants Tony.
I'm very surprised GSP would be interested. He's usually pretty smart about his fights and body.There's certainly not a lot of precedent of guys in their late thirties fighting 20 pounds lighter than they've ever fought before. It's pretty rare. Rashad Evans maybe ? Gilbert Melendez ? They both sucked at the lower class too.
I'm very surprised GSP would be interested. He's usually pretty smart about his fights and body.
He would lose a lot of the power and strength that gives him an advantage in WW.
And as Serra proved, GSP can make a mistake. So physically speaking, I don't see how he can do this. He used to train where I worked, he's a big guy. There is no way he cuts down to 155 and is in good shape unless the UFC gives him like a year or two to prepare.GSP's the most calculated fighter in all of MMA, if he thinks he can do it, he can imo.
I don't think he's quite as big as you're thinking he is. According to him, he actually hurt his body by putting on weight to move up to 185.I don't see how GSP could drop to 155 without damaging his body. That would be a big mistake imo.
A catch weight, perhaps.
BJ Penn comes to mind. Fought as high as 185 and now fights at 145.There's certainly not a lot of precedent of guys in their late thirties fighting 20 pounds lighter than they've ever fought before. It's pretty rare. Rashad Evans maybe ? Gilbert Melendez ? They both sucked at the lower class too.
Exactly. There was even rumors he was doing a 'test cut' not that long ago to see if he could do it. If true, and he still says he can do it, then I think it's pretty likely he can do it.GSP's the most calculated fighter in all of MMA, if he thinks he can do it, he can imo.