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• Conor McGregor to make his long-awaited return to UFC on June 29

  Conor McGregor will make his long-awaited return to UFC on June 29 after nearly three years out.

  Dana White confirmed that the former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion will fight Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June.

  McGregor – who has 22 wins and six UFC defeats – has not competed in the UFC since July 2021 when he sustained a horrific leg break against Dustin Poirier, who he had previously fought and lost to six months earlier.

  Speaking about the fight, White said on Saturday that McGregor’s return had been “all about timing”.

  “There’s all kinds of things that go on behind the scenes and it’s all about timing. Chandler’s been ready but Conor hasn’t been ready,” White said.

  “We talked about this in one of the press conferences recently, he had a lot of obligations that he had to deal with.

  “What you don’t want him doing is accepting a fight when he’s got a ton of obligations and he can’t train 100 per cent for a fight, so here we are tonight.”

• Dana White awards first ‘Bite of the Night’ bonus in UFC history after Vegas 89

  UFC Vegas 89 was overshadowed after Igor Severino bit Andre Lima on the arm during their flyweight contest.

  Severino was disqualified for biting in the second round of their preliminary card bout at UFC Apex in Nevada between the previously-undefeated fighters.

  UFC president Dana White later claimed Severino would be released from UFC for the bite and doubled the bonus money of mixed martial artist Lima.

  The disqualification of Severino by referee Chris Tognoni ensured Lima won the contest and claimed the first ‘Bite of the Night’ bonus in UFC history after scenes reminiscent of Mike Tyson biting Evander Holyfield’s ear at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in 1997.

  Lima, who let out a yell after the incident, uploaded pictures of the bite and got a tattoo around the teeth marks on his bicep with the phrase, “I got f****** bit bonus”, hours after his victory.

  UFC president White said on his Instagram story: “I was going to give him 25k. Now I’m giving him 50k. This is awesome.”

  While Lima wrote on Instagram: “It was so insane I had to make it permanent. A debut to remember. Thanks boss Dana White! Ready for many more.”

• ‘Historic’ night predicted as Mixed Martial Arts heads for Saudi Arabia

  Professional Fighters League founder Donn Davis has predicted a “historic” night ahead of the first Mixed Martial Arts event to take place in Saudi Arabia.

  PFL’s title holders go up against belt holders from Bellator in a never-seen-before night of champions in Riyadh on Saturday.

  This comes after the PFL acquired Bellator in November 2023.

  Davis is relishing the opportunity of becoming the first MMA promotion to tie a deal with the sovereign state in a sold out event.

  Speaking to the PA news agency, Davis said: “It’s historic. It’s the first-ever MMA event to take place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and we get to be a part of something historic in sport.

  “I think Saudi Arabia is the future of combat sports.

  “We’re a company of yes and there is another company out there who is the company of no and they can do what they want. We try to do things different and put the fans first.

  “It’s a big deal, this is our first primetime event and media deal on ESPN. Acquiring Bellator has also been a big deal and now this is a big step in us becoming a co-leader in MMA and we’re excited for Saturday.

  “This is a collaboration between our partners in Saudi Arabia and us at the PFL.”

  The inaugural event will feature the likes of PFL’s Ray Cooper III, Thiago Santos and Clay Collard as well as Bellator’s Patricio Pitbull, Yoel Romero, Ryan Bader and Johnny Eblen.

  Davis compared the format to an NBA All-Star game, insisting PFL’s putting the fans first mindset helped create the idea.
  
  “We wanted to do the first event in Saudi but only if it was a great big event,” Davis added.

  “We came up with an idea which has never been done before in combat sports. Champions against champions. PFL v Bellator.

  “It’s like an All-Stars game which has real stakes where the players and athletes really care.

  “We have big prize money with an extra belt where there’s a ring inside the belt. This is a big card with 12 current or former champions, six ultra champion bouts, this has never been done before.
  
  “People are asking what if all the Bellator fighters win? Then they all win. We try and do things the fans want to see.”

  PFL have worked alongside Saudi adviser Turki Alalshikh, who has helped put on major boxing events including the likes of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.

  When asked about his experience of working with leading figures in Saudi, Davis said: “Everybody here. Turki, the minister of sport (Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal), the PIF team, they all want to win and excel and that is the shared value. It’s been a pleasure.”