Another weird and wonderful week in the world of MMA. Highlights include Conor McGregor asking to fight for a non-existent title and now Max Holloway’s hilarious response…
This weekend’s UFC 222 originally featured an exciting featherweight title tilt in the main event. Defending champion Max Holloway was supposed to face the always game Frankie Edgar in a clash fans were itching to see.
Unfortunately, it didn’t pan out as Holloway was pulled from the fight and the promotion hurried to find a replacement. Turning out quite well, streaking prospect Brian Ortega was inserted as substitute for ‘Blessed,’ thus saving the card.
But the news about UFC 222’s main event was far from over, as Conor McGregor decided to chime in with some intriguing claims. ‘The Notorious’ said he was ready to step in for Holloway against Edgar.
Adding to his statement, the Irishman revealed he asked the promotion to make a 165-pound belt on the line for a scrap with ‘The Answer’ this weekend.
Edgar’s Camp Called BS & Now Holloway Does Too
I put my name forward to step in at UFC 222 to face Frankie Edgar when Max Holloway pulled out, but I was told there wasn’t enough time to generate the money that the UFC would need.
I was excited about bouncing in last minute and taking out the final featherweight, without all the rest of the stuff that comes with this game. Conor McGregor
That was the statement released on McGregor’s social media. Edgar’s team was quick to jump all over ‘The Notorious’ for his claims:
Now, the injured Holloway responds with a classic troll of his Irish rival:
One more update @arielhelwani. After I was pulled from 222, I offered to amputate my leg and fight for a 115lb belt against DJ. It was very very close. Plans were in place. But I was told there wasn’t enough time.
Stay blessed,
The DEFENDING Champ (no need TM what he can't claim) https://t.co/iFCB2NcHFA— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) February 27, 2018
One more update
@arielhelwani. After I was pulled from 222, I offered to amputate my leg and fight for a 115lb belt against DJ. It was very very close. Plans were in place. But I was told there wasn’t enough time. Stay blessed, The DEFENDING Champ (no need TM what he can’t claim)
Widely known as the GOAT, undefeated (400-0 with 400 first round KO’s) Artem Lobov threw down a statement from his mountain shattered opponent’s skulls. Here’s what McGregor’s SBG teammate told MMAFighting.com:
According to Lobov, Team McGregor was “ready to go.”
“(It was) very close (to happening)…very, very close,” Lobov told Ariel Helwani on the latest episode of The MMA Hour, “It was real, 100 percent. Conor was ready to go, we were gathering the troops already, we were ready to go.”
“We were planning what we were going to do; we were just going to fly out to Vegas straightaway to do a short little camp. Plans were in place and everything — everything was ready to go,” he explained.
“Conor wanted to fight. I was talking to him the whole time and he was ready to go and show the world what he can do.”
Well, whatever the case actually is, McGregor will not be fighting at UFC 222. The fact he claims a 165-pound bout was what he wanted for his return bout doesn’t give much credence to him ever fighting at 145 or even 155 pounds again, but who knows.
