MMA News Roundup: Joe Rogan replaced for UFC 284, Gordon Ryan makes "slave" joke at LeBron James, Conor McGregor's return potential location revealed
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 Gordon Ryan making fun of LeBron James, potential locations for Conor McGregor's return, and more.
#3. Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier won't commentate at UFC 284
The second UFC pay-per-view of the year will miss veteran commentators Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier from the desk. Instead, the broadcasting roster will have former champions Michael Bisping and Dominick Cruz on color commentary duty.
Rogan's busy schedule stacked with podcasting, standup comedy, and other engagements has often caused him to skip overseas events. With UFC 284 taking place in Perth, Australia, it is no surprise that the JRE host will be sitting this one out.
Joining Bisping and Cruz will be Jon Anik on play-by-play duty. This will be the first time the Fight Night trio of Bisping, Cruz, and Anik will call a pay-per-view together. Megan Olivi will be on roving reporter duty.
MMA Fighting was the first to report the news.
#2. BJJ legend Gordon Ryan takes a jibe at LeBron James' historic record
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James created history earlier this week in a match against Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite losing, James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record of the highest NBA career points in history.
The bucket.
The celebration.
The record.
LeBron James is the all-time NBA #ScoringKing https://t.co/GJihlPZBQ6
The NBA legend celebrated the feat by posing with a banner that read "38,390," the number of career points James currently has to his name. Jiu-jitsu maestro and ADCC champion Gordon Ryan took this opportunity to call James out on labor exploitation:
"I must be late to the party. What is this? Is it the number of slaves he has manufacturing his sponsored gear while he complains about equality? Asking for a friend."
James has been called out before for his association with Nike, who are constantly criticized for allegedly using Chinese sweatshops to manufacture their products. Colby Covington, who himself is a controversial figure, has slammed James on the same matter in the past.
#1. Dana White names potential location for Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler
Conor McGregor's return to the octagon will inevitably be the biggest UFC event of 2023.
In a recent interview with Fanatics View, the promotion's president Dana White shared some insight into which venue would likely have the honor of hosting the pay-per-view.
White threw in the names of Madison Square Garden in New York, MGM Grand and T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, AT&T Stadium in Texas, and even London as possible venues.
Read the quotes and watch the interview here.
The UFC has confirmed nothing about the Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler fight so far, other than the fact that they will fight each other at the end of The Ultimate Fighter season.