This week has been full of ups and downs for the UFC and for the fans as well. It was supposed to be a great week as the MMA world would have finally witnessed a dream fight between Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov. However, after a couple of pull-outs “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov will now be facing Al Iaquinta this weekend for the undisputed UFC lightweight title in the main-event for UFC 223. The other major news story has been about Conor McGregor and how around thirty of his accomplices sneaked in the Barclays Centre and terrorised everyone by their hooliganism. “Mysitc Mac” was later arrested, though, if certain reports are to be believed then McGregor was on the verge of signing a new contract with the UFC prior to his arrest.
The Russian was scheduled to face “El Cucuy” in the main-event of UFC 223. However, Ferguson was forced to pull out due to an injury. Max Holloway then replaced Ferguson, but he was later pulled out by the NYSAC. Anthony Pettis was then the next in line to have a title match against Khabib. However, he asked too much money and the UFC simply refused to pay him such an astronomical amount. Thus, in the end, ‘Raging’ Al Iaquinta stepped in to face the Dagestani.
Earlier this week, a backstage video had surfaced, in which Nurmagomedov and his team can be seen confronting McGregor’s close friend and fellow Russian, Artem Lobov. The video ended with Khabib slapping Lobov for trash talking about him.
McGregor was allegedly supposed to fly in to New York City to sort out and sign a new UFC contract. However, Nurmagomedov’s altercation with Lobov outraged McGregor and he stormed in the Barclay’s centre looking for Khabib.
MMA Fighting first reported that, according to certain UFC sources, the promotion was on the verge of agreeing a new deal with “The Notorious”. They also claimed that the UFC wanted to announce McGregor’s new deal on the UFC 25 year anniversary press conference. There was also a plan, when Ferguson pulled out, to pull Khabib out of the card as well and have him face McGregor later this year. However, the UFC decided to go against this plan.
It is still to been whether McGregor has completely jeopardized his deal with the UFC or not.
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