(Courtesy of UFC)

Find out what Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway said after their five-round war for the interim lightweight title at UFC 236 on Saturday. Poirier defeated Holloway in a fight that earned Fight of the Night honors along with the co-main event between Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum.

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Poirier will next move on to face undefeated lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov to unify the belts sometime later this year.

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/dustin-poirier-tells-khabib-nurmagomedov-get-your-s-together-we-have-a-belt-to-fight-for

On March 20, TJ Dillashaw relinquished his bantamweight title after failing a post-fight drug test following his January 19 loss to Henry Cejudo. On April 9, Dillashaw received a two-year suspension by USADA for testing positive to recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) prior to the bout with Cejudo.

On Friday, UFC president Dana White weighed in on Dillashaw’s suspension, saying, “A two-year suspension is devastating to a career.”

Dillashaw released a statement via Instagram on Friday taking responsibility for the positive test result. He stated that the decision to use EPO was his alone. Following the UFC 236 weigh-ins, White said there’s probably no bigger performance enhancing substance than EPO.

“There’s all kinds of minor things that guys get busted for, for not checking in and telling USADA they’re using it. When you get busted for real performance enhancing drugs, and there probably isn’t a bigger performance enhancing drug than EPO,” he said.

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Dillashaw was expected to rematch Cejudo for the bantamweight title in his next outing. He’ll be 35 years old the next time he’s eligible to compete inside the octagon again.

Though Dillashaw has been considered one of the greatest bantamweights of all time, every achievement he’s had to this point will now come under scrutiny, particularly since USADA has not tested every sample collected for EPO. Not only does Dillashaw face a long road back to the Octagon, he faces a mountain of scrutiny that will be difficult to overcome.

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/dana-white-tj-dillashaws-two-year-suspension-devastating-to-a-career

Though there are some logistics to negotiate, UFC president Dana White is looking for the winner of Saturday’s UFC 236 main event between Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier to fight lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Holloway and Poirier have fought once before with Poirier winning. That was several years ago when they were both much younger. Now, there are higher stakes on the line as Holloway is taking a timeout from defending his UFC featherweight title to face Poirier for the interim lightweight belt.

“(The winner) will be the interim titleholder and the next fight is Khabib,” White told TMZ Sports, adding, “hopefully in September.”

TRENDING Dana White ‘shocked’ that USADA doesn’t test for EPO every single time

Nurmagomedov is currently on the sidelines, sitting out a suspension he received from Nevada for igniting a post-fight brawl at UFC 229 last October. He will be clear of the nine-month suspension on July 6, but has said he doesn’t intend to fight again until the fall.

Dana White on Holloway vs. Poirier and Gastelum vs. Adesanya

(Video courtesy of TMZSports | Viewing may be limited by broadcast rights restrictions)

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/dana-white-eyeing-holloway-vs-poirier-winner-against-khabib-in-september

Following a loss in his UFC debut against Ricky Simon last August, bantamweight Montel Jackson was looking to rebound when he faced Brian Kelleher at UFC 232 in December.

In just over a minute and a half, Jackson was able to secure a choke on Kelleher and pick up his first UFC win via submission with his fourth first round finish in six victories.

“I ended up picking up the victory, but it was bittersweet in the end,” Jackson told MMAWeekly.com. “It just built the fire; getting back in there and practicing.

“It was very important (to not lose a second UFC fight in a row). Wins, that right there validates your preparation and validates your hard work and validates the rout you are taking. Wins are everything.”

Jackson feels like it’s his attention to the details of what he does in a fight that allows him to fix any problems he encounters and come back a better fighter the next time around.

“You can look at the fights and everything and what happened, and you put yourself under the microscope,” said Jackson. “Obviously you can figure out the stuff you did wrong – right away – it’s all about those small details; you try to work the kinks out of that.”

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On Saturday in Atlanta, Ga., Jackson (7-1) will look to pick up his second win in a row when he faces Andre Soukhamthath (13-6) in a preliminary 135-pound bout at UFC 236.

“I’ve got a real competitive attitude,” Jackson said. “I’m always trying to win. Fight, no fight; MMA, no MMA; I’m always trying to win.

“It’s just like usual (game plan): prepare, listen to my coaches, and go out there and do my thing.”

Not one to look beyond what is in front of him, Jackson is focused on April 13 and taking care of business against Soukhamthath.

“I don’t really have goals or anything,” said Jackson. “I just want to go out there and do my best.”

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/ufc-236s-montel-jackson-i-just-want-to-go-out-there-and-do-my-best

(Courtesy of UFC)

On Episode 5 of UFC 236 Embedded, middleweight title contender Kelvin Gastelum takes in the view from his balcony. Opponent Israel Adesanya stays sharp by following his coaches’ instructions in the gym and remembering the drudgery of his desk job.

Featherweight champion Max Holloway receives fashion feedback from heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier. Lightweight title contender Dustin Poirier predicts a Fight of the Night in his UFC 236 main event, then both headliners begin their weight cuts.

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Tune in Saturday, April 13, for UFC 236 full live results, where Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier battle for the next shot at UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. Kelvin Gastelum and Israel Adesanya meet in the UFC 236 co-main event for the interim middleweight title and a chance to unify the belt with champion Robert Whittaker.

UFC 236: Holloway vs. Poirier Betting Lines

As fight time in Atlanta draws nearer, check out the latest UFC 236 betting lines. You never know how things might sway as fans and bettors lay their money down.

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/dustin-poirier-max-holloway-ufc-236-embedded-episode-five