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The UFC announced their much-awaited return to Macau and some of the top fights that will feature on the card. Elsewhere, Ilia Topuria shared why he is no longer interested in a fight with Conor McGregor.
Sportskeeda MMA is back with today's News Roundup, where you can read about the top combat sports news of the day.
UFC Macau date, venue, main event announced
The UFC is finally set to return to Macau, China for the first time in over a decade on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. The Fight Night event will take place at the Galaxy Arena. The main card is expected to kick off at around 7 PM local time, which in the North American time zone is 4 AM PST/ 7 AM EST. U.K. audience can catch the start of the main card at noon BST.
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UFC announced on social media on Wednesday that a bantamweight potential title eliminator between Deiveson Figueiredo and Petr Yan will serve as the main event of the evening.
Elsewhere on the card, Chinese star Yan Xiaonan will face Brazil's Tabatha Ricci in a women's strawweight clash. Light heavyweights Volkan Oezdemir and Carlos Ulberg will also clash heads.
The card will feature upcoming Chinese fighters like Wang Cong, Song Kenan, and Zhang Mingyang as well.
Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker go back-and-forth over rematch
Nearing the end of his UFC career, Dustin Poirier has been calling for a trilogy fight with Justin Gaethje to settle scores.
Jumping at this opportunity, Dan Hooker called for a rematch of their 2020 clash in which 'The Diamond' emerged victorious after a five-round war.
Poirier replied:
"You don't really want that @danthehangman"
Hooker retorted with a five-word tweet:
"Who you trying to fool."
The two lightweights have left things at that at the time of writing this article, but both Gaethje and Hooker will prove to be explosive matchups for Poirier if he wishes to ride off into the sunset.
Ilia Topuria has lost respect for "idol" Conor McGregor
Ilia Topuria had expressed interest in fighting Conor McGregor after becoming the featherweight champion. However, he is now no longer interested in the matchup, even if it takes place at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain.
Speaking with Ibai Llanos, 'El Matador' said that while McGregor was an idol for him at a young age, he has now lost all respect for the Irishman due to his recent antics:
"No, I wouldn't like to fight McGregor anywhere... He is not the same McGregor who moved the masses. He is a McGregor who represents alcohol and drugs more than sport."
Topuria continued:
"I was inspired by Conor. I admired him when I was little. I and many people I know wanted to follow in his footsteps because he was an example of faith, that everything can be achieved with work, perseverance, and effort. He has lost that because he has betrayed the values that have brought him there. An idol has left us." [H/t: Eldesmarque]
Topuria is set to defend his featherweight belt next against Max Holloway at UFC 308. McGregor, meanwhile, has said he's returning in 2025 and wishes to try out bare-knuckle boxing once his UFC contract is over.
