UFC News: McGregor vs. Diaz Trilogy, Strickland on Jones, and Major Fighter Updates

Gordon Ryan on Grappling Styles

• 💡 Gordon Ryan believes Khabib Nurmagomedov and Khamzat Chimaev would struggle in ADCC Submission Fighting due to their MMA-focused grappling.
• 🎯 Their style prioritizes control, pressure, and damage within MMA rules, rather than point scoring or pure submission hunting required for ADCC.
• 🧠 Ryan emphasized that their grappling is highly effective for MMA, designed to wear opponents out and land ground and pound, not to be the best isolated grapplers.

Islam Makhachev's Welterweight Transition

• 🚀 Islam Makhachev is enjoying his move to welterweight (170 lbs), finding weight cuts and training smoother than at lightweight.
• ✅ He has no plans to return to 155 lbs and is focused on his legacy, having achieved financial security.
• 🏆 Makhachev considers winning the lightweight title against Charles Oliveira his most emotional career moment, unmatched even by becoming a double champion.
• 🏠 He expressed strong interest in fighting on the White House card, calling it a "once-in-a-lifetime moment."

Charles Oliveira's Mysterious Injury

• ⚠️ Coach Diego Lima revisited Charles Oliveira's 2015 injury against Max Holloway, which remains unexplained despite being officially listed as an esophagus tear.
• 🏥 Oliveira experienced partial paralysis, and doctors could not identify the exact cause, leading to a scary and undiagnosed hospitalization.
• ✨ This career-threatening obstacle was overcome by Oliveira, who later became one of the UFC's most dangerous finishers, silencing doubters.

Sean Strickland's Feud with Jon Jones

• 💬 Sean Strickland recounted a tense backstage encounter with Jon Jones and his brothers, describing it as hostile.
• 🥊 Strickland criticized Jones's "fake Christian" persona, pointing to past DUIs and domestic violence allegations as evidence of hypocrisy.
• 🎭 While acknowledging Jones's exceptional physical fighting skills, Strickland views him as a villain who avoids accountability.

Key Fighter Updates & Comebacks

• 📈 Robert Whittaker is "90% sure" he will move to light heavyweight (205 lbs) in 2026 due to the difficulty of cutting to 185 lbs.
• 🎯 Nate Diaz announced comeback plans, seeking a trilogy fight with Conor McGregor, and also mentioned Dustin Poirier and Mike Perry, expressing interest in the White House card.
• 🤝 Joaquin Buckley wants a grappling-heavy challenge from Eastern Europe, specifically mentioning Yaroslav Amosov, and also aims for the White House card.
• 🏀 NBA star Jaylen Brown has discussed with Dana White the possibility of competing in UFC or boxing after his basketball career, following a family legacy in combat sports.