Morning report: Dana White says UFC 254 is “the greatest fight we’ve ever had”.

On Saturday afternoon, Khabib Nurmagomedov will defend his UFC lightweight title against interim champion Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in Abu Dhabi. The fight represents what many consider Khabib’s most dangerous adversary and as such is one of the most anticipated fights of the year. And it seems the anticipation is paying off for the UFC.

UFC President Dana White announced on Tuesday TMZ Sports Although it’s early days, UFC 254 is currently haunting the biggest event in the history of the sport.

“This thing is off the charts for us right now,” said Dana White. “So, today is Tuesday, it’s the end of Tuesday through Wednesday, on Monday this thing was the biggest fight we’ve ever had.” Not Thursday, not Friday, Monday. “

In recent years, the UFC pay-per-view game has been dominated by Conor McGregor, who is responsible for the FUC’s four best-selling PPVs, including current record holder UFC 229, spearheaded by a light title fight between McGregor and Khabib. But, according to Dana White, there is a chance that Khabib will drop McGregor on top of the mountain if things continue to hold. However, this is a big deal when you factor in the start time for the US event. Contrary to its usual time slot at 10 p.m. ET, UFC 254’s main map starts at 2 p.m. ET, and this change could reduce the total.

“It’s bigger than (UFC 229) right now,” White said. “Will the trend continue? One of the things that is very negative for us is that it is not home in prime time and it is difficult to communicate this to people. “

Even if UFC 254 doesn’t surpass the high heights of UFC 229, the event is still considered the biggest of the year, based on the projections of White and Cement Nurmagomedov as one of the sport’s biggest stars. However, it cannot be long. Should Khabib keep his title this weekend, the champ has hinted that he will only have one more fight before retiring. Should that happen, the UFC would likely want to maximize the financial benefits of the final fight in Khabib’s career. Discussions about the last fight in Khabib’s career revolved around a super fight with Georges St-Pierre, and while Dana White had previously shown some interest in making that fight possible, given the year the UFC was dealing with COVID-19 had, the case, not ready to make definitive statements about the potential to achieve this.

“One of the crazy things about this business is when you asked me eight months ago, ‘What are you guys doing in December? ‘I could tell you exactly what we were going to do, where it would be, etc.,’ White said. “Now I just concentrate on Saturday. Once Saturday is over, we’ll go home on Sunday and find out what’s next.

“I don’t know if APS is an option. I will speak to Chabib. Usually the fight goes on, I give them a couple of weeks to relax and do their thing, and then we’ll get back to them and see what comes next. “

Nurmagomedov has been keenly interested in a fight with St-Pierre for years and, in fact, it was a fight his father wanted him to do. However, the UFC never resigned itself to achieving this, apparently because they had little interest in it and St-Pierre ultimately decided to retire from the sport. Following the death of Khabib’s father and the belief that Khabib is likely to retire soon, Dana White has since shown an interest in doing “something special” for Nurmagomedov’s final fight. A fight with St-Pierre would certainly fall under that definition, but given his previous problems with the confrontation with St-Pierre, Dana White still makes no commitments.

“I’d be interested in talking about it, (but) just because Khabib wants it doesn’t mean a fight can be fought,” White said. “There are just so many things that have to come into play for this fight to take place.”

White is certainly correct in this regard. There are many things that have to happen before a super fight can take place, including Nurmagomedov, who will have to defeat Justin Gaethje on Saturday. But if he does, and the UFC is able to put together a fight between Khabib and GSP, it’s entirely possible that Khabib will be part of the three largest pay-per-views in UFC history.

Easy. Khabib Nurmagomedov reveals his plans for Justin Gaethje at UFC 254: “Make him tired and suffocate him”.

Ifs and buts. Conor McGregor claims he beat Khabib Nurmagomedov by the time it was filed.

Gates. When the backup is off, Michael Chandler aims at Tony Ferguson: “He’s loosened a screw, he’s struggling so, and it’s admirable.”

Believe. Robert Whittaker: “I’m better all along the line” than Jared Cannonier.

Back. PFL announces the launch on April 23 for the next season on ESPN platforms.

USED. UFC heavyweight Chase Sherman was suspended for nine months by the USADA after a failed drug test.

Between the links.

Pros predict Khabib-Gaethje.

UFC 254 timeline.

Embedded 2.

Best flying knees in Bellator history.

Play pool with Khabib.

Khabib’s training camp.

The bash. Interviews with Gegard Mousasi and Nathaniel Wood.

UFC unfiltered. Interviews with Aljamain Sterling, Joaquin Buckley and Javier Mendez.

“A referee saved me from dying so you had more long-term injuries than I did,” is not quite the rebuttal Justin believes.

And the UFC went to all this work to get away from Condom Depot.

What a brand.

Frustration.

Now we know why Dave Rickels isn’t the GOAT. I cannot miss such opportunities.

Speaking of nothing.

This is a good battle poster.

Henry Corrales (17-5) vs. Brandon Girtz (16-9);; Bellator 250, October 29th.

Thanks for reading and see you tomorrow!

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