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Dustin Poirier expects UFC 236 fight of the night with Max Holloway

(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.

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

UFC 236’s Montel Jackson: ‘I just want to go out there and do my best’

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.”

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

UFC 236: Holloway vs. Poirier 2 Weigh-in Video

(Courtesy of UFC)

Watch the UFC 236: Holloway vs Poirier 2 Ceremonial Weigh-in LIVE Friday, April 12th at 1:30 p.m. ET / 10:30 a.m. PT on MMAWeekly.com.

UFC 236: Holloway vs. Poirier 2 is topped by an interim lightweight title fight between current featherweight champion Max Holloway and top contender Dustin Poirier. The winner will be crowned the interim titleholder and slotted as the next challenger to lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov when he returns to the cage later this year.

It actually marks the second time the two have fought, although it has been quite a while since they shared the Octagon. Holloway and Poirier last fought more than seven years ago, with Poirier winning. Since that time, Holloway has run away with the UFC featherweight division.

He’s won 13 consecutive fights, become the UFC featherweight champion, and is considered one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

Poirier hasn’t been on quite the streak that Holloway has, but returned to lightweight a few years after defeating Holloway, and is currently on a run of 8-1-1, including three consecutive wins over Anthony Pettis, Justin Gaethje, and Eddie Alvarez to put himself in title contention.

The UFC 236 co-main event pits Kelvin Gastelum against Israel Adesanya for the interim middleweight title with the winner getting a crack at current champion Robert Whittaker.

Gastelum was supposed to have already fought Whittaker for the undisputed middleweight title, but was derailed the day of their fight when Whittaker had to be rushed into an emergency dual surgery because of a hernia and collapsed bowel.

With Whittaker out of action for the next few months, the UFC moved swiftly to put Gastelum in a fight for an interim version of the title.

Adesanya and Anderson Silva stepped up when Whittaker dropped off the bill to give the Australian fans a UFC 234 main event. Though Silva fought a solid fight, Adesanya lived up to his promise leading the next wave of middleweight contenders.

After Adesanya defeated Silva, the UFC matched Gastelum and Adesanya for the belt in the UFC 236 co-main event, which takes place on Saturday in Atlanta.

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.

Where do the UFC 236 betting lines stand following the weigh-ins?

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/ufc-236-holloway-vs-poirier-2-weigh-in-video

Steven Nguyen focused on himself heading into EFC 11 title defense

Since turning pro in April of 2016, featherweight up and comer Steven Nguyen has performed just about as well as anyone could want to.

In five victories, Nguyen has managed to finish all but one his opponents, culminating in picking up an Evolution Fighting Championship 145-pound title.

“Every single fight I’ve evolved,” Nguyen told MMAWeekly.com. “I’ve learned a lot. I’m so much better than I was even just in my last fight.

“I took a little bit of a layoff, pretty much a year, but I’ve trained my ass off. I’ve improved so much that I feel like I’m at that level that I need to be. I’m ready to keep these fights going. Instead of taking these long layoffs, I’m ready to fight back-to-back and get the ball rolling more now.”

Having spent the last year not having to do multiple fight camps has been beneficial according to Nguyen. It’s allowed him to make the improvements in his game that he otherwise can’t during fight camp.

“Because of the off season I get to focus a little bit more on what I need to work on personally, because when I’m training I’m cutting weight, dieting, and drawing game plans out that I have to stick to,” said Nguyen.

“At the end of the day I’m getting better all around when I’m fighting, when in training camp, but when I’m in the off season I get to focus a little bit more on myself and take my time with it and improve my game all the way though.”

On Saturday in Mulvane, Kansas, Nguyen (5-0) will look to defend his title for a second time when he faces Brandon Bailey (3-2) in the 145-pound championship main event of EFC 11.

“I know he’s a legit grappler, and that’s the only thing I really know about him,” Nguyen said of Bailey. “I feel like he’s a tough challenge; he’s a tough guy; but at the end of the day I try not to worry too much about my opponents. I focus on myself.

“I know that I’m better than him everywhere. I’m going to in there and do what I do. I’m going to go in there and try and finish the fight, but at the same time I’ll be ready for a five-round war.”

While Nguyen likes to take things one step at a time, he would like to see himself move up to the next level of his career before 2019 closes out.

“My next fight is always my most important fight, but hopefully this year is the year I make it to the UFC,” said Nguyen.

“I have a great (management) agency and a great team behind me, with them pushing me hard and we keep winning, winning will take care of everything. I’ve just got to keep fighting hard, grinding hard, taking it fight by fight knowing my time will come.”

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/steven-nguyen-focused-on-himself-heading-into-efc-11-title-defense

Conor McGregor reveals he fought Khabib Nurmagomedov on a broken foot

Conor McGregor is no stranger to fighting injured and it turns out the former two-division UFC champion was less than 100-percent yet again for arguably the most important contest of his career.

On Wednesday, McGregor revealed that he walked into his fight against reigning UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov with a broken foot.

According to McGregor, the injury occurred a few weeks out from UFC 229 this past October but it didn’t stop him from stepping into the cage and fighting the ferocious Russian.

“I broke my foot three weeks out from the bout,” McGregor wrote on Twitter. “I still marched forward however, and also landed the final blows of the night. On his blood brother.

“I am happy with how the contest went and the lessons learned. In my fighting and more importantly my preparation. Time will reveal all.”

I broke my foot 3 weeks out from the bout.
I still marched forward however, and also landed the final blows of the night.
On his blood brother.
I am happy with how the contest went and the lessons learned.
In my fighting and more importantly my preparation.
Time will reveal all. https://t.co/VNxbrfk6qx

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 11, 2019

The “final blows” as McGregor describes it references the post fight brawl that broke out seconds after the fight ended with Nurmagomedov leaping into the crowd to go after the Irishman’s teammate, Dillon Danis. McGregor ended up trading punches with two of Nurmagomedov’s teammates Zubaira Tukhugov and Abubakar Nurmagomedov.

The incident cost McGregor a six month suspension and a $50,000 fine while Nurmagomedov was hit with a nine month suspension and a whopping $500,000 fine for his part in instigating the brawl.

McGregor also defended his performance on the ground where Nurmagomedov did the majority of his damage over the course of three-plus rounds before finishing the fight by rear naked choke in the fourth.

Nurmagomedov is best known for his ground game where he has routinely mauled his competition since first joining the UFC roster.

“Very happy with my defense,” McGregor said. “A precarious position with the head pinned against the fence. Every movement must be calculated as any over exertion leaves the guard open and could lead to a finishing blow. None of which came close.

“Zero facial damage taken and I won the next round.”

Very happy with my defense.
A precarious position with the head pinned against the fence. Every movement must be calculated as any over exertion leaves the guard open and could lead to a finishing blow. None of which came close.
Zero facial damage taken and I won the next round. https://t.co/1bcPWNQfRy

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 11, 2019

McGregor was the first fighter in the UFC to earn a round against Nurmagomedov when he won the third round on the judges’ scorecards.

Still the fight came to an end in the fourth round after Nurmagomedov secured yet another takedown and then finished McGregor on the mat.

Judging by McGregor’s latest responses, he’s still contemplating a rematch against Nurmagomedov in the future but what it will take for that to happen remains to be seen. Nurmagomedov is out of action until at least July but most likely won’t return until September.

Upon his return, Nurmagomedov is then expected to face the winner of the UFC 236 interim title fight between Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier.

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/conor-mcgregor-reveals-he-fought-khabib-nurmagomedov-on-a-broken-foot