UFC News: Conor McGregor not returning, Dana White’s big Nate Diaz claim, Rockhold talks
UFC NEWS - Express Sport brings you the latest headlines from the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Nate Diaz celebrates his UFC 196 victory over Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor won’t return to the UFC
UFC lightweight title contender Khabib Nurmagomedov reckons mixed martial arts fans have seen the last of Conor McGregor.
“When was the last time Conor competed in MMA? I forget about this,” Nurmagomedov told TMZ. “He’s a boxing guy now.
“He’s (better off) to stay in boxing, because you have to compete in MMA, like wrestling, grappling, conditioning (for) 25 minutes, it’s different.”
“When (is he coming back)?” he continued. “They’re talking about (another) Floyd Mayweather fight. I don’t know, I don’t think he’s gonna come back.”
We’ve been offering him fights
Dana White hits out at Nate Diaz
UFC president Dana White has once again accused Nate Diaz of turning down the promotion’s fight offers.
“We’ve been offering him fights. Guys just don’t come out and say, ‘Yeah, I want fights’ and we don’t react
"We've been hitting him up since the last time he fought [UFC 202], offering him fights, and he's not interested in fighting,"
When asked to give his thoughts on Diaz’s Instagram post, White said: “I don’t know why he’s saying it.”
Despite seeing Diaz turn down every fight offer that's come his way, White believes he'd take a rubber match with McGregor in a heartbeat.
“I don’t know,” White told TMZ. “I don’t even know what fight he wants.
"Obviously, I think if Conor was available he’d take that fight for sure. It’s a big money fight.”
Van Damme HEADKICKS UFC World Champion
Luke Rockhold intrigued by Alexander Gustafsson fight
Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold has admitted the prospect of fighting Alexander Gustafsson at 205lbs interests him.
"
Luke Rockhold looks on before his UFC 221 bout with Yoel Romero
"I like that matchup. I like every matchup at 205. There's a lot of interesting things there, and I'm not coming to play around."
Rockhold is willing to stay in the middleweight division, if a rubber match with Michael Bisping comes to fruition.
"I'm not too excited about making that weight cut again," Rockhold told ESPN. "I just don't feel nearly as strong, powerful, quick. It takes a lot out of me.
"Pretty much Bisping is the only reason I would torture myself to get back there. That's a loss that doesn't sit well with me.
“I know the UFC is very interested in that fight and will pursue it on their end. If he doesn't accept it, there's no reason for me to stay at 185."