This Saturday, April 7 (8:00 PM ET), UFC 223 will decide the new lightweight champion, which was in the hands of Conor McGregor, in the star fight that will star Khabib Nurmagomedov and Al Iaquinta in the octagon of Barclays Center.
The UFC 223 has been the most eventful event in the history of the company by unexpected events that happened outside the octagon. But, finally, President Dana White confirmed that, despite everything, the real UFC action will continue this Saturday, April 8 (8:00 PM ET) in the octagon of the Barclays Center in New York. Khabib Nurmagomedov and Al Iaquinta will fight in the main event and they will do it for the lightweight belt that a couple of days ago was stripped from Conor McGregor, who has just left prison on bail of $50,000.
As you remember, UFC 223 started with the announcement of the fight between Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov. The winner could challenge Conor McGregor for the lightweight belt. However, Ferguson was injured four days before the event and everyone suggested that McGregor was going to take his place.
None of this happened. It is not known if it was decided by Dana White or by Conor McGregor himself. UFC chose Max Holloway (current featherweight champion UFC) to fight against Russian Khabib Nurmagomedov when he should have the Irish, according to company rules of Mixed Martial Arts.
Given this fact, Dana White decided to strip Conor McGregor of the belt, since he had not defended it for more than 500 days. His last fight was against Eddie Alvarez in 2016.
In a UFC 223 event in Barclays Center, New York, a group with Conor McGregor attacked the bus where Khabib Nurmagomedov and other UFC fighters were.
Conor McGregor wanted to settle accounts with Khabib Nurmagomedov after the battle of insults that both starred in recent weeks through their social networks. In the unfortunate scene, McGregor was observed throwing a metal ladder, a chair, and a trash can very violently on the bus.
Some fighters who were inside the vehicle ended up with injuries and for this reason, they were forced to cancel their fights at UFC 223: Alex Caceres vs. Artem Lobov, Anthony Pettis vs. Michael Chiesa and Ray Borg vs. the Mexican Brandon Moreno.
After this, Conor McGregor surrendered to the police and spent the night in prison. After paying bail, he must answer his defense during a trial to be held between June 14 and 15. Will he be at UFC 223? Possibly, no. Although there is already talk of a possible dismissal.
Returning to the fight of UFC 223, the New York Athletic Commission prevented Max Holloway from being the rival of Khabib Nurmagomedov, as he would have to make a very drastic weight change and feared for his health.
Then, the UFC chose Anthony Pettis as successor to Max Holloway. However, another stone in the road, although it gave the right weight, this one wanted to charge more prize and fight for the belt. The "no" of Dana White was not expected and soon Paul Felder was called to face the Russian.
Everything was fine, but Paul Felder's team did not agree and decided not to accept the offer to fight in UFC 223.
Finally, Al Iaquinta offered to save the stellar fight and, thus, he will do it before Khabib Nurmagomedov. For this case, Dana White made it official that the fight will be for the lightweight belt.
On the other hand, another fight that promises to take the night will be starring Rose Namajunas, a friend of Valentina Shevchenko, against Joanna Jedrzejczyk for the female straw weight belt.
You can watch the preliminary bouts on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes (Sportsnet 360 in Canada). To stream UFC 223 online on your computers or mobile devices, you can go to UFC.TV, YouTube or U-Verse, among others.
The UFC 223 has been the most eventful event in the history of the company by unexpected events that happened outside the octagon. But, finally, President Dana White confirmed that, despite everything, the real UFC action will continue this Saturday, April 8 (8:00 PM ET) in the octagon of the Barclays Center in New York. Khabib Nurmagomedov and Al Iaquinta will fight in the main event and they will do it for the lightweight belt that a couple of days ago was stripped from Conor McGregor, who has just left prison on bail of $50,000.
As you remember, UFC 223 started with the announcement of the fight between Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov. The winner could challenge Conor McGregor for the lightweight belt. However, Ferguson was injured four days before the event and everyone suggested that McGregor was going to take his place.
None of this happened. It is not known if it was decided by Dana White or by Conor McGregor himself. UFC chose Max Holloway (current featherweight champion UFC) to fight against Russian Khabib Nurmagomedov when he should have the Irish, according to company rules of Mixed Martial Arts.
Given this fact, Dana White decided to strip Conor McGregor of the belt, since he had not defended it for more than 500 days. His last fight was against Eddie Alvarez in 2016.
In a UFC 223 event in Barclays Center, New York, a group with Conor McGregor attacked the bus where Khabib Nurmagomedov and other UFC fighters were.
Conor McGregor wanted to settle accounts with Khabib Nurmagomedov after the battle of insults that both starred in recent weeks through their social networks. In the unfortunate scene, McGregor was observed throwing a metal ladder, a chair, and a trash can very violently on the bus.
Some fighters who were inside the vehicle ended up with injuries and for this reason, they were forced to cancel their fights at UFC 223: Alex Caceres vs. Artem Lobov, Anthony Pettis vs. Michael Chiesa and Ray Borg vs. the Mexican Brandon Moreno.
After this, Conor McGregor surrendered to the police and spent the night in prison. After paying bail, he must answer his defense during a trial to be held between June 14 and 15. Will he be at UFC 223? Possibly, no. Although there is already talk of a possible dismissal.
Returning to the fight of UFC 223, the New York Athletic Commission prevented Max Holloway from being the rival of Khabib Nurmagomedov, as he would have to make a very drastic weight change and feared for his health.
Then, the UFC chose Anthony Pettis as successor to Max Holloway. However, another stone in the road, although it gave the right weight, this one wanted to charge more prize and fight for the belt. The "no" of Dana White was not expected and soon Paul Felder was called to face the Russian.
Everything was fine, but Paul Felder's team did not agree and decided not to accept the offer to fight in UFC 223.
Finally, Al Iaquinta offered to save the stellar fight and, thus, he will do it before Khabib Nurmagomedov. For this case, Dana White made it official that the fight will be for the lightweight belt.
On the other hand, another fight that promises to take the night will be starring Rose Namajunas, a friend of Valentina Shevchenko, against Joanna Jedrzejczyk for the female straw weight belt.
You can watch the preliminary bouts on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes (Sportsnet 360 in Canada). To stream UFC 223 online on your computers or mobile devices, you can go to UFC.TV, YouTube or U-Verse, among others.