Spinning Back Clique: Conor McGregor vs. Kamaru Usman, potential of Paddy Pimblett, more

Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.

This week, our panel Nolan King, Matthew Wells, and Brian “Goze” Garcia discuss these five topics with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia:

• Conor McGregor is making headlines again, this time for daring to say he wants to conquer a third weight class by moving up to welterweight to fight Kamaru Usman for the title. Not only did the former champ-champ say he wanted the fight, he believes he will knock out Usman, just like he did Jose Aldo and Eddie Alvarez at featherweight and lightweight. Has McGregor lost his mind? Is there a scenario in which we could see McGregor vs. Usman?
• Paddy Pimblett recorded his second UFC victory by tapping Kazula Vargas at the incredible UFC Fight Night 204 in London. Many fighters left an impression on Saturday, but Pimblett stood out among the rest, drawing comparisons to McGregor’s early UFC days. UFC president Dana White believes he’s the real deal. Is he right? Are the comparisons to McGregor too much?
• The heavyweight division appears to have a new name among the elite as Tom Aspinall made it look easy against Alexander Volkov, by submitting him in the first round of London’s main event. With Francis Ngannou on the shelf for potentially nine months after surgery, Jon Jones’ pending heavyweight debut, and Tai Tuivasa’s surge to the top, where does Aspinall fit in the picture? Let’s play matchmaker and sort out the top of the heavyweight division.
• Nate Diaz is ready to fight, but the UFC has not been quick to find an opponent. He has been vocal about wanting to fight Dustin Poirier, but he also threw out another curveball by stating he wants to fight in Hawaii under the Bellator banner alongside teammate Yancy Medeiros. What is going on with Diaz and what does his future hold?
• At ONE X, former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson will take on Rodtang Jitmuangnon in a hybrid MMA/Muay Thai rules bout. What does Johnson have to do in this fight to be successful? Is it enough for him to just make it to the MMA round, or could he surprise in the Muay Thai ruleset?

“Spinning Back Clique” is released each Tuesday on MMA Junkie’s YouTube channel. You can watch the full episode in the video above.