Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For June 4, 2024, we’re taking a look at:
- Poirier and Makhachev both had struggles in camp
- Grasso and Shevchenko have mixed opinions on Noche UFC
- Sonnen suggests replacement opponent if McGregor pulls out
Yves Edwards Says Dustin Poirier Couldn’t Grapple Due To Training Injury Two Weeks Before UFC 302
A lot of fight fans assumed that similar to his fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov, Dustin Poirier would struggle to stop the grappling game of Islam Makhachev at UFC 302.
Though he was submitted in the final round, the takedown and submission defense of the challenger was at least enough to make the fight competitive.
This is only more impressive following some recent comments from a former fighter that had insight into his preparations for Newark.
On SiriuxXM’s MMA Today, Yves Edwards said that Poirier was unable to grapple toward the end of his training camp due to a rib injury.
“The way he performed on Saturday night, that was super impressive to me, and nobody knows this, and he’s probably gonna be like, ‘Man, why’d you put that out there?’ I know [Makhachev] was also not 100 percent. Nobody goes into a fight a 100 percent. But [Poirier] hurt his ribs like two weeks before the fight and hadn’t wrestled or grappled for like two and a half weeks.”
"[Dustin Poirier] hadn't wrestled or grappled for like two and half weeks."@thugjitsumaster reveals an injury that Dustin Poirier suffered in training 2 weeks before #UFC302
Source: MMA Today with @RJcliffordMMA pic.twitter.com/TwpkLddKuP
— MMA on SiriusXM (@MMAonSiriusXM) June 3, 2024
As Edwards stated, the champion wasn’t in his best shape either having confirmed that he suffered a staph infection during his camp that forced him to take a week off.
Alexa Grasso & Valentina Shevchenko Express Different Impressions On Whether UFC 306 Will Be Noche UFC At The Sphere
The trilogy fight between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko was seemingly targeted for UFC 306, which would have been a huge occasion.
After their last fight took place at the very first Noche UFC event, running it back at the first event inside the Sphere made a lot of sense.
However, former champion Valentina Shevchenko made it perfectly clear that after the scorecard controversy last time out, she wasn’t keen on the idea of running it back on this particular showcase.
She expressed in a recent interview ahead of the premiere of their time coaching across from each other on The Ultimate Fighter that the card was no longer being planned around the celebration of Mexican Independence Day.
This was seemingly news to the champion Grasso who said the opposite after being played a clip of Shevchenko’s comments during an interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn.
Alexa Grasso was confused when I played her the clip of Valentina Shevchenko’s comments to me today about UFC 306 at Sphere no longer being Mexican Independence Day themed.
Said she’d be happy to fight Manon Fiorot instead if Shevchenko won’t play ball. https://t.co/sk6N0qaD27
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) June 4, 2024
“Well as I know, it’s gonna be Noche UFC again. I mean, I’ve seen a few interviews from Dana White and he’s saying that it’s a love letter for the Mexican Independence Day, for the Mexican fighters that he has.”
Chael Sonnen Pitches Title Fight For Michael Chandler If Conor McGregor Withdraws From UFC 303
The late-notice cancellation of the UFC 303 press conference has got fight fans worried about whether the main event will go ahead.
For seemingly months on end, there were questions of whether Conor McGregor would ever return to face Michael Chandler or whether that ship was sailing. Everything appeared to be heading in the right direction once the fight was made official for June 29. Now, back-up plans are starting to be questioned.
Chael Sonnen expressed on a recent episode of the Good Guy/Bad Guy show on ESPN MMA that he can’t see McGregor pulling out of the fight no matter what.
He did also add that if “The Notorious” can’t fight, the UFC should have the BMF champion on speed dial ready to save the show.
“One of Conor’s codes is the show must go on… I just don’t believe, a month in advance — whether it’s illness, injury, or any other excuse — that Conor’s gonna be the one that pulls,” Sonnen said. “But I will tell you this, there will be no postponement of this fight. They either fight on the 29th or we move on.
“I believe Conor’s gonna be opposite Michael Chandler. I’m very confident in telling you that,” Sonnen continued. “However, if he’s not, Michael Chandler versus Max Holloway for the BMF is the fight to book.”
Read more on the story here.
For more MMA news, check out:
- UFC Rankings Report: Paulo Costa Falls After UFC 302 Loss, Tom Aspinall Drops Down Pound-For-Pound List
- Robert Whittaker Dismisses Notion Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier Was Close: ‘I Had Him Winning Every Round…’
- Javier Mendez On Khabib Nurmagomedov Getting Them Into Trouble With The Authorities While Cornering At UFC 302: ‘The Commission Kept Yelling At Us!’
