MMA News Roundup: Conor McGregor Receives High Praise From Gordon Ryan; Jorge Masvidal Takes Dana White’s Side Amongst Fans’ Backlash; Islam Makhachev Predicts Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje Fight

In the dynamic world of mixed martial arts, the past 24 hours have witnessed a flurry of intriguing developments. From the BJJ GOAT Gordon Ryan commending the benevolent act of UFC superstar Conor McGregor to the retired UFC fighter Jorge Masvidal standing by Dana White in the face of criticism, the MMA community has been buzzing with appreciation and controversy. Furthermore, we delve into Islam Makhachev‘s intriguing choice for the BMF title ahead of the impending clash between Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje.

So tighten your gloves and brace yourself for a round-up that will knock your socks off as we dive into the best news from the last 24 hours, where fighters have left no stone unturned in their quest for glory.

Conor McGregor receives praise from Gordon Ryan

During the filming of TUF 31, the UFC’s ‘poster boy’, Conor McGregor, crossed paths with a gifted young fan who skillfully crafted action figures. Astonished by the fan’s artistry, ‘The Notorious’ couldn’t resist the allure and purchased action figures depicting none other than himself, all from the talented fan. In a grand gesture, McGregor generously paid the young fan a substantial sum of $1200, leaving no doubt about his appreciation for the craftsmanship.

This act of appreciation did not go unnoticed, as it reverberated through the martial arts community, catching the attention of BJJ legend Gordon Ryan. Like a hawk spotting its prey, Ryan stumbled upon the viral clip and was left awestruck. Unable to contain his admiration, Ryan seized the digital stage of Instagram, sharing his thoughts on his Instagram story, proclaiming, “Say what you want, this dude changed the sport and is giving back left and right.” And this fact is undeniable among the mixed martial arts enthusiasts.

Dana White gets strong backing from Jorge Masvidal

UFC President Dana White has constantly faced criticism from fighters regarding their pay, with some expressing dissatisfaction. However, former BMF champion Jorge Masvidal believes that White’s approach is fair.

During a recent interview, Masvidal weighed in on the subject, stating, “When I decided like this is what I’m gonna do for the rest of my life, was to get the biggest paychecks possible per fight or to fight the baddest motherf*****s in the world. Like that’s it. Like I don’t want no in-between like if it’s fighting some bum dude and I’m not getting paid – it’s cool man. I just train. I’ll say to myself. Now if Imma fight either a badass or get paid, sign me up all day.”

Read More: Amidst the Uncertainty Surrounding Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC Return, Jorge Masvidal Grabs a $100 Million for His Gamebred FC

Masvidal revealed that his largest payday for a single fight was around $5 million. Further adding to his statement, the retired UFC fighter said, “The UFC takes care of us to an extent with Medicals, right? So if anything happens to you at the fight or in preparation for the fight, we’re very well taken care of. And even after the fight; in the gym. Anything that happens in the gym related, we’re very well taken care of. But, we don’t have like insurance aside of that like a dental plan. But anything that happens related to fighting or training, they take full care of it.”

Islam Makhachev picks the BMF between Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje

In the upcoming UFC 291, Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier will compete for the BMF belt, creating anticipation and discussions among MMA fans worldwide. During a conversation with Daniel Cormier, Islam Makhachev confidently predicted Poirier as the winner and provided his reasoning.

The Dagestani fighter openly shared his opinion on the fight during his recent appearance on Cormier’s YouTube talk show. He firmly believed that Poirier would defeat Gaethje with ease.

The reigning UFC middleweight kingpin said, “What Gaethje have for Poirier? Nothing! Poirier have good boxing. Better than Gaethje. And that’s it.” According to Makhachev, Poirier’s boxing abilities would be the decisive factor leading him to victory over Gaethje.

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