WHAT A CRAZY WEEK IT HAS BEEN FOR MMA.
I think everyone was shocked by what we saw in the build-up to UFC 223 with Conor McGregor attacking the bus with Khabib Nurmagomedov in. But I am trying to reserve judgement before we really know what happened – if we ever do.
It all clearly stemmed from Khabib and around 20 of his team ambushing his best mate Artem Lobov at the UFC fighter hotel the previous day.
The footage does not look great, Artem is only a small guy and loads of Khabib’s team are surrounding him.
Whatever was said clearly got back to Conor and he felt it was necessary to take action.
We have only seen little clips of what happened -Khabib grabbing Artem and then Conor going mad, so it is a bit of a difficult one to discuss. Some people say he is right and others think we was wrong.
He is only human and that is what humans do when they see a friend or family member in trouble.
Khabib has grabbed Artem when he is all alone and he has about 20 people with him.
MAC BADDIE Conor McGregor poses with boozy criminal pals hours before violent attack
Would he have grabbed him if it was the other way round and Artem had 20 mates there?
I am just hoping it has been staged to make the Khabib fight even more enticing. Him and Khabib need each other now, he has set the tone, that fight now has to happen.
UFC boss Dana White has already been asked about working with Conor again and he hasn’t said no. He knows what Conor is worth and what he brings to the table.
Look what he has done for the sport and the UFC.
Conor makes them so much money that they are always going to let him fight, he will get a slap on the wrist and maybe sued but it just makes that Khabib fight even more exciting.
And judging by that Khabib performance it will be a brilliant fight, the way he left his chin high and unguarded when he was stepping back would be a very dangerous game with Conor. I think he would be put to sleep.
He’s a perfect ten wrestler but strikers like Conor will have a field day with him.
TOP FIGHTERS MISSING WEIGHT IS A JOKE
So many big fights are getting ruined by fighters saying they will make a certain weight and then failing – there really are no excuses.
Fighters who make the weight and fans who pay to watch are missing out, but the bigger picture is the health of some of these guys and I know from painful first-hand experience that it is dangerous trying to leave it too late.
Max Holloway at the weekend you can make an exception for as he took the Khabib fight on just six days’ notice and was then pulled out to let Al Laquinta get his chance – and even he was too heavy to fight for the title – and Khabib has got the nickname Tiramisu because of his past issues with being too heavy.
I have only been in the sport for a year and I have been bang on the weight every time.
For my last three fights I was making weight while filming Geordie Shore – not exactly living like a monk.
If I can make weight in between filming a show like that – six weeks of going out drinking – and then get 10kg off, then I cannot believe fighters at the UFC level cannot do it.
I am lucky that I have a nutritionist but so do most fighters now, they take control and tell you what and when to eat.
For my last camp my nutritionist was taking food off my plate when I wasn’t looking just to get my weight moving.
I think it is a bit of a joke when these big stars fail to make it.
I walk around about 10kg over in between fights.
For my first fight I was 87, then 86 and then I was 85. This camp I have started lighter at 84 but I need to get down to 80kg because I want to fight at 70kg.
If these guys cannot make weight then they need to move up a division. If people are missing fights or – even worse – risking their health, then they need to move up.
For my first fight I lost 6 kg on the morning of the fight and I have never felt worse. You are starving your brain and dehydrating it.
In the lower levels where guys don’t have as much money or support then I can understand mistakes getting made because they are doing it on their own.
But – at that elite level – you should never ever miss weight.
For this camp I discovered a new product called Skinny Sprinkles, it’s a bit like a jelly but fills you up so you don’t feel like eating extra food. It’s helped me with snacking more than anything. I tried it to just see if it worked but the effects have been great. Mixing this with my nutritionist’s diet means I’m on course to hit weight easily.
latest aaron chalmers news
THE ULTIMATE TRAINING CENTRE gym I have been training at in Birmingham has closed down.
The good news is we have moved over to Renegade, which is run by top UFC fighter Tom Breese.
It all happened a bit quick and it was a real shame but myself, my coach and UFC star Leon “Rocky” Edwards and his little brother Fabian, have made a smooth move to Renegade and are all pushing on.
Right now is a really exciting time because we are all in fight camps.
Fans Q&A
WHAT IS YOUR BAMMA FUTURE?
I have left BAMMA, a few things went on, they said they would release me but they haven’t so my solicitor is sorting it out through the courts. It’s a legal issue which is a nightmare but it will not affect my Bellator show. I am focused on the fight and the camp.
WILL UK FANS BE ABLE TO WATCH BELLATOR 200 ON TV?
Normally when Bellator come to the UK fans watching it on TV have to get it on catch-up but we are hoping it is going to be shown on Channel 5.
It’s a bit up-in-the-air but MTV might be showing it as well as they carried Geordie Shore. I am sure fans will be able to catch it live.
WOULD YOU EVER GO TO TRAIN AT CONOR MCGREGOR’S STRAIGHT BLAST GYM IN IRELAND?
My agent is actually in contact with head coach and Conor’s mentor John Kavanagh over there and he has invited us over. It’s only a matter of time. Once I get this fight and this camp over I would love to go over and train with John.
HOW ARE TICKETS SELLING FOR BELLATOR 200?
I am hoping it will be a sell-out and for the card that is on, I imagine it will be.
I spoke to Bellator and sales are up around 40 per cent on the last UK show they did. That was eight weeks out so I fingers cross it is a sell-out.
IS YOUR FUTURE WITH BELLATOR?
There will be more Bellator fights 100 per cent. I cannot really say what because I need to be released first but I am sure there will be more.
I make my Bellator debut on May 25, Rocky has the biggest fight of his career against UFC legend Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone as the main event at a Singapore show in June and Fabs is set for an overdue BAMMA middleweight title shot on May 12. And Yannick Bhaati is headlining KSW in Poland this week.
Rocky is main eventing and that is what he has needed, he has demolished his last five opponents and he deserved someone big.
I think they have given him Cerrone because his main British rival Darren Till has also beaten him and then it sets them up to fight each other.
Fabs is hopefully fighting for the title on May 12 in Dublin, we have just finished a jui jitsu class and he is still hanging around after to work and learn other things. He has a phenomenal record now, 10-0 as an amateur and 4-0 as a pro.
No one can touch him right now and they don’t want to fight him, I can tell you that it is a daunting prospect when you look across the ring and you know you have to spar him.
God knows what it is like when he is hitting you full f***** force!
To purchase tickets for Bellator 200 go to Ticketmaster or The SSE Arena Wembley
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