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After Conor McGregor rematch with Nate Diaz by majority decision at UFC 202, the main question from everyone was what would be next for the featherweight champion. Perhaps sensing this, McGregor cryptically said "there's a lot of options," some even outside of MMA, and that "shit's about to hit the fan."
Well it could be that old Mystic Mac has returned, because the man is certainly not running out of choices. Nate Diaz wanted a trilogy fight (and McGregor made some points about it being possible as well), though now he maybe doesn't care. Lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez is chomping at the bit to fight McGregor. Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been making overtures for a boxing match with McGregor. So has Amir Khan, though he is (allegedly) willing to fight McGregor in MMA too. Not to mention McGregor's brewing feud with the entirety of the the world of professional wrestling. And of course, there is the case of Jose Aldo.
So why not add to the pile? Speaking with FightHub TV yesterday, boxing's lineal middleweight champion and professional avoider of Gennady Golovkin, Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, added his name to the list of people ready to throw hands with McGregor.
"If he wants to try out boxing, then anytime he wants. If he wants to come over to this side of the world and try boxing, anytime he wants, to see that it's not as easy as he thinks," Alvarez said.
Funnily enough, this all started with Canelo being relatively respectful to McGregor, saying that he believed the rematch with Diaz would be different this time if McGregor took things more seriously. But then McGregor stirred the pot during the pre-fight build up to UFC 202, lamenting the era of fighters "cherry picking" opponents and specifically citing Canelo who voluntarily vacated his WBC middleweight title instead of fighting his mandatory challenger, WBA and IBF middleweight champion Gennady "GGG" Golovkin. Afterwards, Canelo responded that McGregor "gasses after two rounds" and picked Diaz to win the rematch. And now here we are, with another million dollar option for Conor McGregor.
Maybe Canelo wants to do what Diaz failed to do the second time around. Or maybe he just wants any excuse not to fight GGG. Maybe we'll see in the future. Of course, after knocking out Amir Khan, he also challenged Golovkin and that hasn't come to fruition despite competing in the same sport, at the same weight class, and everyone wanting that fight to happen, so don't hold your breath.
Saul "Canelo" Alvarez takes on WBO junior middleweight champion Liam Smith on Sept. 17. Conor McGregor does not yet have his next fight lined up.
MUST-READ STORIES
I'll miss the jokes. Joe Silva is retiring from the UFC.
Bargaining. Georges St-Pierre responded to criticism coming from UFC President Dana White.
He ain't even alive. Nate Diaz is in no hurry to fight Conor McGregor for a third time because he "beat him twice."
Lawler? Donald Cerrone teases an epic fight for himself at UFC 205.
EXTRA CREDIT READING
Nothing today folks.
MEDIA STEW
DJ is going to smash the winner of TUF 24. I wish he'd go to 135 where there are much more fun fights for him.
Can anyone who has ever been connected with TAM talk trash even a little bit?
Smilin' Sam is a good character.
Lauzon's vlog for last weekend. The pre-fight talk with Big John was interesting to me.
LISTEN UP
Heavy Hands
Press Row.
MMA Mad w/ Norman Parke
TWEETS
Bellator has enough people that Rory could fight for a few years in interesting bouts.
their r some exciting possible matchups for me in bellator at 170/185lbs and some ballzy 155ers that wanna jump up in weight
— Rory MacDonald (@rory_macdonald) August 31, 2016
Neither of these really fall in that camp though.
.... @team_manhoef , @bensonhenderson ,and more
— Rory MacDonald (@rory_macdonald) August 31, 2016
ppl sayin bellator doesnt have world class fighters reminds me of the time strikeforce fighters had the same stigma dont be fooled by a logo
— Rory MacDonald (@rory_macdonald) September 1, 2016
if u forgot strikeforce fighters came over and took many belts in ufc.
— Rory MacDonald (@rory_macdonald) September 1, 2016
i keep hearing ppl saying ill have easy compeition in bellator, well i just dont see it that way, check out the names i listed earlier
— Rory MacDonald (@rory_macdonald) September 1, 2016
that being said.. i wont be playing any games with these fighters ill be coming for their blood and the money
— Rory MacDonald (@rory_macdonald) September 1, 2016
Conor McGregor, MMA's Dan Bilzerian.
You need people like me. pic.twitter.com/8yQZI3mAcD
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) August 31, 2016
That's not a good thing.
Some people play the bad guy
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) August 31, 2016
I am the bad guy in real life #Mexico #cuba https://t.co/f3sedu61m2
Gotta respect Pettis for jumping right in the thick of it, but man he's gonna get whooped.
@BlessedMMA NYC ???
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) September 1, 2016
Also have to respect Holloway being willing to fight anyone despite having a rock solid claim to a title shot.
@Showtimepettis if I don't get @josealdojunior you're the next in line #alliseeisgold https://t.co/qnQ6d6poJk
— Jerome-Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) September 1, 2016
Campaigning.
Fedor vs. Vovchanchyn incoming.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Derrick Lewis (16-4-0) vs. Marcin Tybura (14-2-0); UFC Fight Night 97, October 15.
Kelvin Gastelum (12-2-0) vs. Jorge Masvidal (30-11-0); UFC Fight Night 98, November 5.
Diego Sanchez (26-9-0) vs. Marcin Held (22-4-0); UFC Fight Night 98, November 5.
Benson Henderson (24-6-0) vs. Michael Chandler (15-3-0); Bellator 163, November 19.
TODAY IN MMA HISTORY
1995: Bas Rutten submitted Minoru Suzuki with a guillotine choke to become the King of Pancrase.
2012: "Sport killer" became part of the MMA lexicon. The ill-fated UFC 151: Jones vs. Henderson was supposed to happen on this day, but was sadly derailed by the first ever UFC murder when Jones' coach Greg Jackson killed the event, according to Dana White. Henderson had to withdraw from the bout due to a knee injury and Jones, with the advice of his coaches, decided not to accept a short notice replacement opponent, resulting in the card's cancellation.
FINAL THOUGHTS
For those unaware of boxing, let me lay some basic dynamics of the GGG-Canelo stuff. Canelo is the lineal middleweight champion (160 pounds) but he fought several of his last fights at the catchweight of 155 lbs. (which isn't an actual boxing weight class) because #reasons. GGG has been obliterating everyone at middleweight and it finally came time for Canelo to pay the iron price. Instead, he vacated his belt and blamed it on being unable to come to an agreement on the weight to fight at since GGG wanted to fight at 160 lbs., you know, the actual weight class that exists. It is all the more unfortunate because Canelo has got a reputation for fighting smaller guys to his own advantage. Oh and, though this isn't 100 percent confirmable, Canelo rehydrates himself back up to around 175 for fight night and Golovkin usually weighs about the same so, the weight stuff really makes it look like Canelo, who is 26, is just trying to avoid GGG who is 34.
To be clear, I don't think Canelo is actually ducking Triple G because mostly I don't think fighters are scared of opponents. But I am 100% certain that his team is ducking out of Golovkin, because they have the leverage to do so and it makes sense. Why risk taking that L to a guy who isn't enormously popular when instead you can make millions fighting the Liam Smiths of the world? Pretty Boy Floyd showed them the playbook, they're just running the plays. Eventually that fight will happen but, like Mayweather-Pacquiao, it'll be several years past its sell by date.
Oh and honestly, I really hope McGregor actually will box one of these guys. He gets a massive payday, and I would love it if for no other reason than the James Toney argument. He goes over there, gets thrashed, and now we never have to talk about MMA fighters going into boxing ever again. Wins all around (except for McGregor who will take an L but will also make more money than in any of his MMA fights so really, that's a win).
That's all for today folks. Sorry there was a lot of boxing talk for those of you not interested. Have a good one and see you tomorrow.
If you find something you'd like to see in the Morning Report, just hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew and let me know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting because we post dope things and you should enjoy them.
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