Before UFC 249 played out, Eddie Alvarez said he thought Justin Gaethje would need to implement a ground game against Conor McGregor because ‘I was able to catch him’.

Dana White says clip of Last Week Tonight host John Oliver criticising UFC 249 and ‘Fight Island’ is the ‘perfect example of how you can control the narrative’.

Eddie Bravo says Tony Ferguson fighting Conor McGregor ‘makes most sense’, and reveals ‘El Cucuy’ is already training again after brutal UFC 249 war with Justin Gaethje.

Eddie Bravo reveals he ‘froze’ when entering the Octagon to give Tony Ferguson advice before fifth round against Justin Gaethje, and says throwing in towel ‘crossed my mind’.

Justin Gaethje took inspiration from Bruce Lee’s famous ‘be water’ motto as he tried to stay emotionless at UFC 249 against Tony Ferguson – ‘you can’t be swayed by anything’.

Tony Ferguson tells Khabib Nurmagomedov to ‘keep training for the real finale’ as he returns show of respect to UFC lightweight champion after shock loss to Justin Gaethje.

UFC interim lightweight champ Justin Gaethje shuts down Conor McGregor’s demands for fight, telling him ‘Dustin Poirier’s sitting there ready to go like I was for three years’.

Conor McGregor says Paradigm Sports Management would be ‘embarrassed’ to represent Tony Ferguson after he was ‘fumbling over his feet like a buffoon’ in Justin Gaethje loss.

Dominick Cruz says Jeremy Stephens told him he had to carry UFC referee Keith Peterson back up to his room before because ‘he’s so hammered’ as he doubles down on criticism.

Henry Cejudo posts picture of himself sleeping with UFC belts and customised pillows adorned by faces of Demetrious Johnson, TJ Dillashaw and Dominick Cruz after shock retirement.

UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic insists he is going to fight Daniel Cormier for a third time as contender Francis Ngannou knocks on the door for a title shot.

Khabib Nurmagomedov and manager Ali Abdelaziz return fire on social media after Conor McGregor calls the UFC lightweight champion ‘an embarrassment to real fighting’.

Conor McGregor taunts Tony Ferguson after TKO loss to Justin Gaethje, saying his preparation for fight was ‘embarrassing’ and Dustin Poirier would do the same to him.

Conor McGregor tries to goad new UFC interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje into fighting him next instead of Khabib Nurmagomedov, tweeting ‘I’m going to butcher you’.

Daniel Cormier says that if Stipe Miocic won’t fight, the UFC needs to match him up with Francis Ngannou for the heavyweight title – ‘it’s a simple as that’.

Justin Gaethje isn’t entertaining a fight with Conor McGregor any time soon, but says ‘I’ll go to Ireland and do what I gotta do’ after he gets done with Khabib Nurmagomedov.

UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov tells Tony Ferguson to keep his ‘head up’ before warning new interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje ‘I will never fall’.

Tony Ferguson posts a video strutting to Midas Touch in his gown and drip, and shows off his broken orbital bone in hospital bed selfie with his wife after UFC 249 heartbreak.

MMA fighters required to sign waiver that states they can lose money if they criticise or state the company lacks appropriate health and safety measures.

Dana White plays down fears of coronavirus transmission after infected Jacare Souza was filmed mingling with fighters at UFC 249 hotel in Jacksonville, Florida.

UFC president Dana White feels Tony Ferguson looked ‘off’ and ‘slow’ in his TKO defeat by Justin Gaethje, and he may have been affected by cutting weight twice in a month.

Dominick Cruz lashes out at referee Keith Peterson after controversial stoppage in his bantamweight title fight against Henry Cejudo, saying ‘I wish they drug tested’ official.

A taped message from Trump was played during ESPN’s broadcast of the UFC 249 undercard from a fan-free arena in Jacksonville.

Justin Gaethje turns the UFC lightweight division on its head with a fifth-round TKO of Tony Ferguson, and says ‘I want the real belt’ as he challenges Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Henry Cejudo defends his bantamweight title with controversial second-round stoppage of former champion Dominick Cruz, then announces ‘I’m done with the sport’.

Calvin Kattar admits he was upset Jeremy Stephens showed up 4.5 pounds overweight for their UFC 249 bout but says ‘it’s tough not to show respect after an exchange like that’.

A quick night’s work for Francis Ngannou as he blasts out unbeaten challenger Jairzinho Rozenstruik to lay claim to a UFC heavyweight title shot.

Aleksei Oleinik cherishes split decision win against former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum in Florida – ‘if you want to be a legend you have to fight with legends’.

Uneventful bout goes the distance with former NFL star Greg Hardy getting the nod from the judges against Yorgan de Castro.