UFC bans comments during live stream, veteran fighters don’t believe reason behind Khamzat Chimaev’s lack of weight, Conor McGregor’s trainer ‘kicked’ out of T-Mobile Arena (September 11, 2022)
Welcome to today’s edition of Sportskeeda’s daily MMA news digest, where we feature the biggest UFC updates and other stories from the world of mixed martial arts.
In the latest issue, we talk about the UFC brass who saved the day after the weight loss debacle, Dana White being accused of “scripting” this week’s events, and more.
#3 UFC restricts comments in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II
While half the world mourns the passing of Queen Elizabeth II of England, the other half reminds everyone of the misdeeds of the British Royal Family over the years.
The second half was reflected in Saturday’s UFC 279, when the jumbotron displayed a photo of the queen along with her birth and death years. Instead of showing respect to the recently deceased monarch, the crowd of 18,000 at the T-Mobile Arena booed and chanted “USA, USA”.
Here’s a video of the crowd’s response:
To avoid similar backlash online, the UFC restricted comments when it posted the same Queen graphic on its social media platforms.
Although fans couldn’t comment directly, they shared the tweet with hilarious responses.
Read more tweets here.
Dana White was among several MMA personalities who paid tribute to the death of Queen Elizabeth II last Thursday at Balmoral. She was 96 at the time of her death.
#2 Veterans aren’t buying Khamzat Chimaev’s story of a doctor stopping his weight loss
After Khamzat Chimaev missed the welterweight bar by 7.5lbs, Dana White has revealed doctors told him not to lose weight as he was cramping and locked up due to dehydration. He further added that “unlike ten years ago”, the UFC now appoints doctors to oversee fighters’ weight cuts and intervene in the event of bad cuts.
Chimaev said the same thing in Saturday’s octagon interview with Joe Rogan after he dominantly submitted Kevin Holland. Just like on the day of the weigh-ins, Chimaev was unfazed by the lack of weight despite Rogan repeatedly pressing the issue.
Watch the interview below:
However, several fighters did not believe the story and expressed doubts that a doctor ordered Chimaev to stop losing weight.
Ben Askren noted that he was never monitored by a medical professional during his weight cuts. Chase Hooper participated, implying that “Borz” might have intentionally called a doctor to avoid losing weight.
Neil Magny also made a similar statement.
Former UFC fighter Corey Anderson reminded fans of when the promotion pushed Apsen Ladd to fight despite passing out on the scales.
In previous cases of medics interfering with a fighter’s weight cut, Khabib Nurmagomedov was arrested and hospitalized after suffering a bad cut before one of Tony Ferguson’s many scheduled fights.
#1 Conor McGregor’s coach John Kavanagh has asked to leave the MGM Grand Arena
Longtime trainer and close friend of Conor McGregor John Kavanagh was at UFC 279 this Saturday to corner Johnny Walker in his fight against Ion Cutelabe.
Shortly after the fight, where Walker took the win with a first-round submission, Kavanagh took to Twitter to share that he and his entire team had been “expelled” by the UFC. There were no tickets for them to sit in the crowd, nor were they allowed to stay backstage.
Walker was seen walking without shoes and still in his Venum shorts in a photo posted by Kavanagh.
Kavanagh then posted a video after reaching the front of their hotel in Las Vegas:
When asked about it at the press conference, Dana White felt it was part of COVID-19 protocols.
“I guess since COVID they started this thing where they get the fighters out of here. I don’t know why that happened or what happened. I mean, we don’t throw Johnny Walker in the streets without shoes, I’m sure.”
After a reporter pointed out that there was video of Walker on the street still in his sparring gear, White joked that “it’s tough out here.”
Watch the video below:
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