The last time Conor McGregor waltzed to the Octagon without an official ranking adorning his name came opposite Max Holloway in 2013, just the Irishman’s second fight in the promotion.
For eight years McGregor floated around the featherweight, then lightweight top fifteen, regardless of who or how often he fought.
However, following a recent update to the official UFC rankings, the “Notorious” one now finds himself among the unwashed masses of the unranked for the first time in close to a decade; his name replaced by the newly ranked Grant Dawson after a recent win in November.
Is it the end of an era? That still remains to be seen. McGregor’s currently exempt from USADA testing (likely due to the recovery process following his leg break at UFC 264), meaning once he re-enters the testing pool he’ll need to wait a further six months before returning to action (discounting any sort of exemption from the UFC). And despite looking to be in the shape of his life of late, his recent record inside the Octagon is certainly nothing to write home about – his only win in the last six years came opposite an aging Donald Cerrone in 2020.
If and when McGregor returns, he’ll re-enter the sport in the latter half of his 30s – and in a division stacked with some of the most talented and powerful young prospects the sport has ever seen, Father Time may prove to be the superstar’s toughest opponent to date.
The AllStar MMA roundup
- The AllStar MMA Picks Show: UFC Vegas 66
The best of the rest
- Ukraine sanctions former UFC champ for supporting Russia’s invasion – BloodyElbow.com
- James Krause, Darrick Minner suspensions extended by Nevada Athletic Commission – MMAJunkie.com
- Raufeon Stots reacts to controversial 50-45 scorecard at Bellator 289, wants judge Douglas Crosby banned from his fights – MMAFighting.com
- Glover Teixeira ‘definitely’ won’t retire with UFC 283 title win over Jamahal Hill – MMAFighting.com
- Sean O’Malley advises Paddy Pimblett ‘to dial in, not get fat as f*ck’ after UFC 282 – MMAJunkie.com
The soapbox
The current lay of the UFC bantamweight landscape:
(This was a good line by Henry)
Moicano is at peace:
Diego Sanchez books his next BKFC bout:
Gordon Ryan wrestling The Mountain:
Chris Weidman has no trouble putting people on the spot:
Muhammad Mokaev goes off on Dillon Danis:
Life after fighting for Jessica Eye:
Jared Gordon back to work:
The morning view
The AllStar’s new Picks and Predictions show kicks off:
Tsuyoshi Sudario previews his Rizin 40 bout opposite Australian prospect Junior Tafa:
Dana White recaps 2022 with Brett Okamoto:
Rehash the best finishes in UFC title fights from 2022:
Done Deals
Thursday
- Cody Garbrandt to face Julio Arce at UFC 285 on March 4th (per Marcel Dorff)
Wednesday
- Mateus Mendonça to fight Javid Basharat at UFC Vegas 67 on January 14th (per AG Fight)
- Joel Álvarez to fight Zubaira Tukhugov at UFC 284 on February 11th (per Eurosport News)
Tuesday:
- Erick Gonzalez to fight Darrius Flowers at UFC Vegas 68 on February 25th (per MMA Island)
- Daniel Marcos to fight Saimon Oliveira at UFC 283 on January 21st (per Giano Alva
Monday:
- Glover Teixeira will fight Jamahal Hill at UFC 283 on January 21st (per Dana White)
- Viviane Araújo to fight Amanda Ribas at UFC 285 on March 4th (per Dana De Ferro MMA)
UFC Roster Watch
Fighters removed this week:
- Benito Lopez
- Dalcha Lungiambula
Fighters Added this week:
- Bobby Green (suspension ended)
- Alessandro Costa
Credit to UFC Roster Watch
On this day in MMA…
On the 15th of December, 2019, the UFC’s lauded seven-year deal with the FOX network drew to a close, culminating with UFC on Fox 31: Lee vs Iaquinta 2 at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The broadcasting deal, which brought the UFC into the broader public scope when it became the first network to air an MMA event on terrestrial television (aside from a single bout in 2002), saw the promotion gain traction at a breakneck speed. The UFC had nearly doubled its output during those seven years, putting on a total of 3,168 fights in that time (in comparison to the 1,772 fights in the 16 years prior to the deal) and adding an extra five weight classes (including the then-new women divisions) during their tenure.
The card itself featured a highlight reel body punch TKO for Edson Barboza over Dan Hooker, a submission of the night bonus awarded to future lightweight champion Charles Oliveira for his first-round rear-naked choke over Jim Miller, a fight of the night between Joaquim Silva and Jared Gordon, and ended with a unanimous decision victory in favor of Al Iaquinta ion the headline event opposite Kevin Lee.
The card concluded the promotions operations for the year, and the following January 2019, the UFC would begin its current deal with ESPN.
