MMA News Roundup: Mark Coleman Breaks Silence After Recovery, Conor McGregor Is Ready for KSI, Islam Makhachev Says He’s Forced to Fight Dustin Poirier

The MMA world has been buzzing with several high-profile stories recently. In this edition of the MMA roundup, let’s take a look at what transpired. The first update concerns UFC legend, Mark Coleman and his status after he was hospitalized due to his heroic actions during a blaze at his home. Conor McGregor also caused an uproar in the MMA community when he recently made a bold claim about his involvement in influencer boxing. And Islam Makhachev has revealed why he is ready to take on Dustin Poirier for the UFC lightweight championship!

Mark Coleman makes a ‘miraculous’ recovery 

UFC legend Mark Coleman’s family faced a tragic incident as the UFC legend was hospitalized after heroically saving his parents from a fire at their home on March 12th. According to reports, Coleman’s dog alerted him to the blaze and while trying to go back to the house to rescue the beloved pet, Coleman suffered from smoke inhalation and had to be airlifted to the hospital.

He was placed in a medically induced coma as doctors worked on treating the damage he had sustained to his lungs. And in a recent update, his family has indicated that ‘The Hammer’ is now conscious and responsive.

In a post shared from his Instagram account by his daughter, Kenzie, she stated, “Update: This is Kenzie. God is good. Miracles do happen. Our dad is breathing on his own. We still have a long road ahead of us but we are truly thankful. We want to thank you all for the love and support from the bottom of our hearts.”

While Coleman’s recovery journey is far from over, his family remains thankful for the progress made thus far. The update serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of community support during challenging times.

KSI and other influencers may entice Conor McGregor to the boxing ring 

Conor McGregor, the Irish MMA star, might be changing his mind about fighting ‘YouTube’ boxers. Previously, McGregor had refused offers to become a part of the ‘influencer boxing’ scene like former UFC fighters Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren.

But in a recent interview, McGregor was asked if he would be open to facing KSI, the popular British YouTuber/musician and boxer. He stated, “Yeah, the YouTuber nerds – I would consider that a nixer, a side-job. If I was to pick one out of them, KSI has a big name in the UK. I’m sure at some stage we’ll go through all of these guys. Fury called me out the other day, he beat Jake and he fought KSI. I’m open for it.”

His comments indicate that KSI’s popularity in the UK may entice McGregor to step into the boxing ring against him. However, with his UFC return still unconfirmed, it remains to be seen when and if the proposed matchup will occur.

Read More: Conor McGregor Alleges Dana White & UFC Stopped Him From Returning in Early 2024

But his statement has also caused a massive uproar in the MMA fandom online who weren’t pleased with the Irishman’s intentions to step into the ‘influencer boxing’ arena!

Dustin Poirier’s fight materialized because of this reason, or at least that’s what Islam Makhachev believes

Islam Makhachev may be taking on Dustin Poirier for the lightweight championship soon, but that wasn’t his original plan. After a jaw-dropping win over Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299, Poirier has found himself in the mix for a shot at the Dagestani champion’s 155 lbs title.

But in a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Makhachev stated, “I know Dustin does not deserve the title fight, but we don’t have any option right now.” He further went on to explain that he was originally aiming for a return to competition in early 2024. But complications resulting from a “small injury” derailed his plans.

He revealed, “Maybe someone will be ready, but I have to fight. I don’t care. I am healthy now, I am training every day, and I need someone.”, indicating that Poirier may be the only option in the division who can match Makhachev’s proposed timeline for a fight in June. His comment about a lack of options may refer to the fact that the upcoming UFC 300 card will feature top lightweight contenders like Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, and Arman Tsarukyan. 

This means that ‘The Diamond’ may get another shot at redemption against the Dagestani camp after he lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242 in 2019 when he attempted to unify his interim lightweight title against the undisputed champion, ‘The Eagle’.

Do you think Dustin Poirier will finally be able to capture the elusive undisputed title from Islam Makhachev? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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