Conor McGregor failed to show but the UFC 300 press conference did get a surprise guest appearance from another fighter.
‘Notorious’ recently hinted that his comeback fight against Michael Chandler would be officially announced at a press event on Thursday evening.
UFC CEO Dana White started the show by brushing off rumours about an impending update on his biggest star, saying: “Don’t believe everything you read on the internet.”
Still, fans thought that McGregor may make some type of cameo ahead of UFC 300, which takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday – but he didn’t.
Besides White revealing everyone on the card will be competing to win $300,000 in bonus money, it was a fairly uneventful press conference.
However, things changed when the UFC boss invited one final question from the audience and a familiar face stepped up to the mic with a request.
Welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley, who scored one of the most famous knockouts of all time in October 2020, called for White to let him headline an upcoming show in his home city.
He said: “You’re coming back to St. Louis, everybody knows the main event is Derrick Lewis.
“Hey, we love Derrick Lewis, but he doesn’t want to fight five rounds, Dana!
“Come on, switch it up and give your boy ‘New Mansa’ the main event in his hometown. Let’s go!”
White smirked at the request before earning a chorus of laughter from the 26 fighters sitting behind him and a large portion of the fans inside the venue.
He replied: “Thanks for coming out today, you guys.”
White’s brutal snub left Buckley feeling a little humiliated and he let out a laugh before sprinting away from the mic and towards the exit door.
Buckley is fresh off a win over long-time contender Vicente Luque.
The 29-year-old is on a three-fight win streak since dropping down from middleweight to 170lbs, and now he’s ranked #11 in the division reigned over by Leon Edwards.
It seems almost certain that Buckley will get to compete in St. Louis on May 11, but he’s got more work to do before White chooses him to headline over a fan favourite heavyweight like Lewis.
News Summary:
- Conor McGregor is a no-show but another fighter makes surprise appearance at UFC 300 press conference
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