MMA News Roundup: Francis Ngannou vs. Tyson Fury Officially Announced; Conor McGregor Is at 0–7 on TUF 31; Ilia Topuria Sees Alexander Volkanovski as an “Easy Fight”

The past 24 hours in the world of mixed martial arts have been filled with thrilling stories that have captivated fans and pundits alike. The highly-anticipated matchup between Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury has been officially announced, igniting excitement and anticipation among MMA enthusiasts. In another twist, Conor McGregor‘s fortunes have taken a drastic turn for the worse. With an abysmal 0-7 record on TUF 31, the Irishman’s current form has left fans shocked and questioning his coaching abilities. Additionally, rising star Ilia Topuria has stirred up controversy by boldly claiming that he views Alexander Volkanovski as an “easy fight”. Without further ado, let’s jump right into it.

Francis Ngannou vs. Tyson Fury is finally official

Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou will lock horns on October 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The bout will follow boxing rules and take place in a regulation boxing ring with three judges scoring using the 10-point must system. While some details are still unknown, such as the number of rounds and the impact on their professional records, both fighters are enthusiastic about the match.

Ariel Helwani put out the news on his Twitter:

‘The Gypsy King’ aims to prove himself as the greatest fighter of his generation, while ‘The Predator’ sees it as an opportunity to solidify his position in the boxing realm as well. Fury received special permission to fight Ngannou as no official challenger was available.

Read more: Francis Ngannou Takes a Jibe at Dana White for “Gimmick” Fight Comment Amid Tyson Fury Fight Announcement

Recent updates indicate that it will not be an exhibition bout, but it remains unclear if it will count toward the fighters’ official records.

Conor McGregor is on a historic losing streak at TUF 31

In episode 7 of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ 31, Michael Chandler’s team secured another victory, bringing their scoreline to 7-0 and setting the stage for complete domination. Meanwhile, Conor McGregor’s team is yet to register a single win. The most recent match saw Jason Knight from Chandler’s team quickly submit Landon Quinones from McGregor’s team in the first round.

The Irishman’s coaching record has taken a hit, and only one fighter, Rico DiSciullo, remains to represent Team McGregor. Week eight is crucial for McGregor’s team to avoid a complete sweep by Team Chandler. The ongoing dominance of Team Chandler has left McGregor’s team in agony and ‘The Notorious’ is visibly disappointed.

Ilia Topuria doesn’t view Alexander Volkanovski as a challenge

Ilia Topuria expressed his belief that he would easily defeat Alexander Volkanovski, the current 145 lbs champion. He stated that as he moves up in the rankings, his fights would become easier, particularly when facing technical and predictable fighters. Despite Volkanovski’s recent victory over Yair Rodriguez, Topuria was unimpressed and confidently predicted a first-round knockout against the champion.

Speaking with MMA Hour, Topuria said Volkanovski did nothing special and performed as expected.

Talking about taking Volkanovski as an opponent, he added, “For me, it’s going to be easy fight… Every time I move up in the rankings, every fight is going to be more easy for me. And why? Why, because it’s more easy to have a game plan against guys who are like, more technical than fight with someone who’s unpredictable.”

Many have underestimated the Australian and paid a steep price for it. Will Topuria join them? Or will be finally be the one to dethrone ‘The Great’? Only time will tell.

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