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Arman Tsarukyan praises Conor McGregor as a ‘GOAT in our sport’ but his career is over: ‘I feel like Conor is done’

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Arman Tsarukyan praises Conor McGregor as a ‘GOAT in our sport’ but his career is over: ‘I feel like Conor is done’

Conor McGregor has faced a mountain of criticism after his comeback to the UFC following a five year layoff ended with a devastating knee injury just 66 seconds into the fight.

Ever since UFC 329 ended, McGregor has stated rather emphatically that he plans to compete again, although there are more than a few skeptics doubting that he'll ever make another return to action. For his part, top ranked UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan obviously understands McGregor's desire but he just doesn't see how or why the former two-division UFC champion would fight again.

Add to that, Tsarukyan actually praised McGregor for everything he's already accomplished in the sport so a comeback at this stage just doesn't make much sense to him.

“Conor, unfortunately he got [an] injury during the fight or maybe before the fight and he couldn't perform very well,†Tsarukyan told MMA Fighting ahead of RAF 11. “I feel like Conor is done. He's got to just focus on his business. He did a lot for this sport, for the UFC especially, and he's like a GOAT in our sport. Because of him, a lot of people are watching the UFC.

“He changed the game but time to leave. Or UFC got to give him easy fights, not like Holloway or someone.â€

Of course, McGregor already said he wants a third fight with Holloway when he's recovered from the upcoming surgery on his knee but there's no telling if or when that might happen.

Whether McGregor ever fights again or not really doesn't affect Tsarukyan because he's not chasing that kind of matchup but rather he's steadfast in his pursuit to become UFC lightweight champion.

By all accounts, Tsarukyan should be considered the No. 1 contender at 155 pounds but he's yet to compete in a title fight in the UFC. In his only opportunity, Tsarukyan suffered a freak fight week injury that knocked him out of a scheduled bout against then champion Islam Makhachev.

But with Justin Gaethje now reigning over the division, Tsarukyan would love the chance to challenge for that belt, although it doesn't sound like that's what the UFC has planned for him next.

“UFC's got to give me a fight,†Tsarukyan said. “That's why I'm flying to Vegas and they have a date, I have a name, we've just go to confirm on Monday. I'm ready to rock ‘n' roll. It's going to be a good fight, exciting fight and the best place to fight for me.â€

Tsarukyan wouldn't tease his potential opponent or when he'll fight again but it appears his time away from the UFC is about to come to an end.

Whether the title shot is next or not, Tsarukyan made it clear that remains his sole objective in the UFC and he plans on wrapping gold around his waist — hopefully sooner than later.

“I want to be a champion at 155 and I want to defend that belt as much as possible,†Tsarukyan said. “My goal is to be the best ever lightweight. I'm not looking to go up or down. I feel like I can be the best, I just don't want to be a UFC champion. I want to be the best UFC champion in lightweight division ever.â€

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MMA

Morning Report | Paddy Pimblett: Movsar Evloev ‘quit’ in loss to Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 333

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Morning Report | Paddy Pimblett: Movsar Evloev ‘quit’ in loss to Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 333

Movsar Evloev, 20-0 no longer. But apparently, his UFC 333 loss to Alexander Volkanovski is deeper than that.

The top featherweight contender updated his Instagram bio following his disappointing knockout defeat at the hands of Volkanovski, but not to 20-1.

Instead, Evloev is now “0-1,” signaling a new beginning, perhaps? At 32, Evloev is not a young man in the 145-pound division, but perhaps there’s still room for him to grow and even if he can’t beat Volkanovski, can he hang around long enough for Volkanovski to exit and then step into his place as a future champion?

What do you all think of Evloev’s profile tweak?

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Aaron Pico admits he was fighting too out of control before UFC 333

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Aaron Pico admits he was fighting 'too out of control' before UFC 333
Aaron
Pico is learning to be more patient inside the Octagon.

Pico (14-5) is scheduled to face Losene
Keita (17-2) at
UFC 333 on Oct. 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Ahead of the
matchup, the former Bellator
fighter said he wants to gain experience rather than rush to
finish.

Aaron Pico explains new fighting mentality ahead of Losene
Keita matchup at UFC 333

Pico was knocked out in his UFC debut last year before earning his
first promotional victory against Patricio
Freire. He said he has since adopted a “beginner
mentality.â€

Pico, who has finished 11 of his 14 professional victories, has
worked with coach Roberto Barreiro to develop a more measured
approach. Instead of trying to end fights as quickly as possible,
he now wants to settle into the action.

“When I say I needed to be humbled, it’s not in the fact that I
walked or carried myself… I needed to humble myself in the way that
I was fighting,†Pico said at the UFC 333 media day. “I was
fighting just too out of control. When I would go do a fight, the
mindset was to get this thing over. I just want to go in there, do
what I have to do, get the win and go home. I've really worked with
coach Roberto Barreiro a lot in Morocco to switch the mindset a
little bit. Now I want to enjoy and cook the fight.â€

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UFC fighter explains nose-picking moment before Dana White handshake

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UFC fighter explains nose-picking moment before Dana White handshake
Mandel
Nallo says his nose-picking gesture at the ceremonial weigh-ins
for the
Ultimate Fighting Championship's recent event in Edmonton,
Alberta, was a message to his children.

Nallo stopped Nate
Landwehr at
UFC Edmonton on Oct. 17. Before the bout, however, the Canadian
lightweight drew attention by conspicuously picking his nose
onstage. He has since explained the gesture.

Mandel Nallo says his sons inspired UFC Edmonton nose-picking
gesture before Dana White’s handshake offer

Nallo said his sons suggested the gesture as a way to acknowledge
them while they watched. That created an awkward moment when UFC
CEO Dana
White extended his hand before Nallo's faceoff with Landwehr.
Speaking to Ariel Helwani, Nallo explained that refusing the
handshake might have looked disrespectful.

“I have two boys; they’re 5 and 7… I wanted to notify them that I
knew they were watching,†Nallo said. “So I told them, ‘What’s
something I can do so that you guys can see that I know you’re
watching?' They told me, ‘Pick your nose.' I’m a committed nose
picker. I’m not gonna half-*ss it. I’m not gonna pretend. So, I
went up there and that was for them. I’m right-handed. I’m gonna go
up there with my right hand, and then [Dana White] extends his arm
out to you. You don’t have time to explain what just happened. So I
did a finger point so that there was no contact. There was no
disrespect. It was kind of like a ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm' moment. I
got this booger in my hand, but if I go, ‘I don’t want to shake
your hand,' then I look even worse. I just had to roll with
it.â€

Nallo also said his sons don't know what he does for a living.
Although they train jiu-jitsu, he said they are unaware of how
violent MMA can be.

Nallo (15-4, 1 NC) earned his UFC contract on
Dana White's Contender Series last year but lost his
promotional debut to Jai Herbert
by technical knockout earlier this year. The 37-year-old has never
had a professional fight decided by the judges.

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