Ex-UFC champ gives "depressing" injury update, Dustin Poirier on Conor McGregor's toe break, Francis Ngannou's new role: MMA News Roundup
A former UFC champion has provided a rather grim update on his future in the sport. Elsewhere, Dustin Poirier gave his candid reaction to Conor McGregor pulling out of the Michael Chandler fight owing to a broken toe.
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T.J. Dillashaw shares update on shoulder injury: "It's f***ing depressing"
T.J. Dillashaw is not too hopeful about competing in MMA ever again.
In a recent conversation on JAXXON PODCAST, the former two-time UFC bantamweight champion said despite being "delusionally optimistic", his shoulder injury has only gotten worse with every surgery:
"I don’t even know if my shoulder is ever going to be the same again. It’s f*cking depressing... I had a massive surgery. I went to the world’s best specialist, and it’s like he’s never seen anything like it. It looked like a bomb went off in there... I was forced out of the sport, and it sucks."
Dillashaw sustained the injury after going into the title fight against Aljamain Sterling with a dislocated shoulder.
Dustin Poirier reacts to Conor McGregor pulling out over a "pinky toe"
Dustin Poirier believes a broken toe was not a good enough reason for Conor McGregor to pull out of UFC 303. However, he is ready to give his former rival the due respect and not assume the magnitude of the injury.
Speaking with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, 'The Diamond' said:
"Dude, a pinky toe? It's like, I've fought with so much injuries... A pinky toe doesn't seem like a reason to pull out of a fight, you know? But also I don't know - like giving him his respect, I also don't know the severity of it."
Poirier added:
"Did he damage ligaments? Is it his muscle in his foot? You know, there's a lot of stuff going on inside of a foot. There's a lot of small bones so I don't know. If it's just a pinky toe, I think that's kind of, you know, not a reason to pull out of a fight."
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Francis Ngannou to spearhead UFC Africa
The PFL has beaten the UFC in regards to bringing MMA to Africa.
On Wednesday, the promotion officially announced PFL Africa. The regional league is expected to launch in the second quarter of 2025. Francis Ngannou will serve as the chairman of PFL Africa.
In a statement, the former UFC heavyweight champion expressed his feelings on his new role:
"I am excited and honored to serve as Chairman of PFL Africa, a league that will shape the very foundation of African MMA. As we have seen, there is a great wealth of talent in Africa just waiting to be given a global stage. I am so very proud to give back to my homeland and to provide great content to a region with such a passionate and diverse fan base." [H/t MMA Fighting]
PFL Africa will use the promotion's usual trademark format, which includes a regular season, playoffs, and divisional season championship.
Here's a glimpse at what to expect from PFL Africa: