MMA News Roundup: Conor McGregor announces business milestone, UFC fan pens touching letter to Dana White, Javier Mendez disapproves of Islam Makhachev's P4P ranking
Welcome to today's edition of Sportskeeda's daily MMA News Roundup, where we present the biggest UFC updates and other stories from the world of mixed martial arts.
In today's issue, we talk about a UFC fan writing a heartfelt message to Dana White, coach Javier Mendez's take on Islam Makhachev's pound-for-pound ranking, and more.
#3. Conor McGregor shares business milestone amid suffering losses
Conor McGregor took to social media to announce an "incredible" milestone in his business collaboration with e-commerce giant Amazon. The UFC fighter shared a screenshot of his TIDL Plant-Powered Cryotherapy Spray making it into the top-10 bestsellers for joint and pain relief medications on Amazon's website.
The Irishman further remarked that his business relationship with Amazon was "developing very interestingly."
As McGregor celebrated the achievement on Instagram, his media company and hospitality business seemingly took a hit. McGregor Sports and Entertainment Ltd. quadrapuled their debts in the past year by €27.3m, per Independent.ie, while his Dublin pub Black Forge Inn reported losses of €1.136m in 2022.
#2. UFC fan pens heartwarning note to Dana White
An ardent fan took to Reddit to express gratitude towards Dana White for inviting him to UFC 281.
The Reddit user who calls himself Jason revealed that he has been battling with stage 4 rectal cancer for seven years and "fought like hell" to make it to the pay-per-view event.
"Dana [White] invited me to UFC 281 but I wasn’t sure if I would be able to make it due to my health declining FAST due to stage 4 cancer. I fought like hell, made it, and it was the best day of my life," he wrote.
The fan got to rub shoulders with the likes of Mike Tyson, Halle Berry, Lupita Nyong'o, and Jake Gyllenhaal at the event. He admitted that he enjoyed the affair immensely, even though he was gutted for Israel Adesanya's loss.
He went on to profusely thank Dana White for giving him a reason to "stay alive" and be around for Thanksgiving this year.
"My family wouldn’t have had me around for thanksgiving if it wasn’t for Dana inviting me to 281 and me fighting like hell to still be alive. In a life full of pain and misery, that day overshadowed them all and put a smile on my face the whole time... Thank you so much Dana White and the UFC. You make dreams come true, and give us the best entertainment on the planet," he wrote.
He also spoke about another young man like him at the event, who unfortunately passed away a few days later. Dana White had posted about him on his Instagram after his passing.
Read Jason's full message here.
#1. Coach Javier Mendez doesn't approve of Islam Makhachev's P4P ranking
Javier Mendez always likes to keep it real about MMA, even when it comes to his own students.
Speaking with Danny Segura of MMA Junkie in a Spanish language interview, Mendez said that he feels the No. 2 pound-for-pound ranking was awarded to Islam Makhachev way too soon. He clarified that he certainly believes Makhachev is worthy of the rank, but he disapproves of it being given on the basis of one championship fight.
"I know he’s good, and I believe he’s No. 1. I do believe that. But to give him that spot of No. 2 pound-for-pound in just one fight... No, I don’t like that. It was done too quickly."
From not being on the list at all, Makhachev entered at No. 2 on the P4P rankings after beating Charles Oliveira for the lightweight belt at UFC 280.
Mendez believes Makhachev needs to lap the division like Alexander Volkanovski, the No. 1-ranked P4P fighter, has done at featherweight.