Ah yes, that's a point.
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Ah yes, that's a point.
6/1 second round KO paid for my night out, good man McGregor!
Fantastic card, thoroughly enjoyed all of that. All of the fights were enjoyable. Congrats to McGregor he has the all round package and is a star
Imagine McGregor as part owner of UFC..... feck sake, his arrogance and shot calling would be through the roof! 
Just reading a bunch of idiots claiming McGregor to be the GOAT because he's the first two weight champion. Let's not forget, he talked his way into the first title shot, beating Dennis fecking Siver. fair enough he won it emphatically. He then decisively lost to Nate, then got an undeserving rematch and scraped a decision and then gets the second title shot. If the UFC took this precedence with other fighters, there would be multiple two weight champions. Heck they denied Aldo the chance to fight Pettis for LW title when he was FW champion...
I'm not a McGregor hater, I can't stand him at press conferences but respect him as a fighter and entertainer (when it's not too forced) but some people bang on about him so much, it just irritates me.
Yes he's done a lot but he also got a lot of help from the UFC. Let's not forget that.
I'm not a McGregor hater, I can't stand him at press conferences but respect him as a fighter and entertainer (when it's not too forced) but some people bang on about him so much, it just irritates me.
Yes he's done a lot but he also got a lot of help from the UFC. Let's not forget that.
He's the best.
Amusing to see BT sport apologizing for a few words when they had just shown close up replays of blood pissing out of Weidman's head after it was nearly kneed to the moon.
JJ was absolutely a class apart. You can tell she's a 6 time WC in Muay Thai.Impressed with the way she was continually landing shots when seperating from the clinch. Big hand to Karolina though, she's one hell of a tough fighter, and hardly had a mark on her.
Incredible from Wonderboy, love his style.
Connor was mindblowingly good although Alvarez was a sitting duck.
Incredible from Wonderboy, love his style.
Connor was mindblowingly good although Alvarez was a sitting duck.
An agonizing wait but I finally got chance to watch the card. Don't have the energy for a long post but I just wanted to say it was a fantastic debut event at the garden. Couldn't have asked for more. Seriously unbelievable stuff from Conor, vanquished all remaining doubts for sure. That left hand is freakish, all bets are off when it comes to that thing. You could more or less tell after the first knockdown that Alvarez was going to get finished. I wouldn't be too hard on his performance because he was basically done for already, he could have easily just been finished after the first one landed like Aldo for example. Obviously he became a sitting duck afterwards.
I hope it's Ferguson next, because that just sounds like the most fun ever and the most interesting match up too. Also I was really worried for Weidman for a second there, that KO was vicious, and all that blood, feck me.
Edit: Just seen the press conference bit about Woodley lending his belt for the photo op for Conor. What a legend! I also thought he deserved to get the win 47-46 for what it's worth.
I hope it's Ferguson next, because that just sounds like the most fun ever and the most interesting match up too. Also I was really worried for Weidman for a second there, that KO was vicious, and all that blood, feck me.
Edit: Just seen the press conference bit about Woodley lending his belt for the photo op for Conor. What a legend!
I also thought he deserved to get the win 47-46 for what it's worth.
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He beat Holloway, Brandao, Poirier, Siver and Mendes to get his shot at Aldo. He did a bit more than just talk, he earned the shot by beating most of the top guys in the division.
Just watched the post-fight presser - Conor is very much aware of his worth right now and he's in a stronger position than ever to negotiate about deals and future fights. He's right that he can change the life of an opponent if he gives them the chance to fight against him, at least financially. I think he couldn't give a feck if his next fight is to defend a belt or not. You can criticize him for that, hate him or whatever, but he's a businessman as well as a fighter. He owes the UFC a lot but vica versa as well.
Yes we would like to apologise to any children who stayed up until 5 in the morning watching grown men in their pants punching and kicking the cnut out of each other. We do hope that the copious amounts of head trauma, concussions and blood gashing from their gaping wounds alleviated any of your concerns.
never mind your facts my good man, what did he do when he got the title shot eh? Ok, Ok so he humiliated one of the best pound for pound fighters with a 10 year unbeaten champion. But so what he got lucky...
he let Alvarez throw some free shots and they were swung with vicious intent but the literally bounced off and didn't even move Connors head or take him off balance. I know it was only 2 shots but they put Dos Sanjos away. This guy can take a lick for sure.
In Weidman's case, it seems like he had a new cnut kicked(well, kneed) into the side of his head.
Look, we know the real reason he's getting these shots, talent my arse, he's been supplying Dana with imported proper Irish Taytos.
Yet brock Lesner got a title shot with a 2-1 record in MMA and still nobody ever moaned about that as much as they do with McGregor. Or complain that UFC is all just about the money now etc..
In fact I could find umpteen times were a fighter has received a title shot with a far less impressive run than McGregor
Frankie Edgar for example. Was 6-1 in the UFC with a couple of nice wins. Nearly all decisions. Handed BJ Penn for the title following a win over Matt Veach. I don't remember anyone moaning about this. Then he lost his belt and lost his rematch before moving division and getting an immediate title shot. Again I don't recall any anger about this
And if anyone is arsed I will find more examples just like this
In fact I could find umpteen times were a fighter has received a title shot with a far less impressive run than McGregor
Frankie Edgar for example. Was 6-1 in the UFC with a couple of nice wins. Nearly all decisions. Handed BJ Penn for the title following a win over Matt Veach. I don't remember anyone moaning about this. Then he lost his belt and lost his rematch before moving division and getting an immediate title shot. Again I don't recall any anger about this
And if anyone is arsed I will find more examples just like this
Sorry I meant easy route to title shot against Aldo until Aldo got replaced by mini Mendes. He beat Holloway, pretty unknown quantity then, not as vicious add he is now. Brandao is mediocre. Poirier was a decent win. Siver is a juiced up bumbaclut. that resume doesn't warrant a title shot when you look at other fighters streaks.
Regardless, the fact that Aldo wasnt allowed to fight for two titles but McGregor was says a lot to me...
Nice interview with Eddie after the fight. Hope he can make a good comeback. Will always be a fan personally.
I fooking kneeewit!!
I think CM knocked him down with a right at least once right? He threw a couple of three punch furies that were just a blur and they all landed on a moving target going away from him. Can't believe that shite!
Who else was there he could have fought? Edgar and thats about it, Edgar had a title shot in his featherweight debut the year before did he not, was that earned? So the UFC probably didn't want to push Edgar into the title scene so soon again, they needed another challenger for Aldo who had also recently beat Mendes.
McGregor came into the division, exciting fighter in the ring, entertaining outside it, beat everyone put in front of him. So it made sense to fast track him for the title.
What does it say though?
What it says to me is the UFC were and are probably not too fond of the idea of champions from different weight divisions fighting each other in general. It means one less title fight for them to headline a PPV if two champs are tied up in one fight.
They were never going to bend over backwards to give someone like Aldo the opportunity to win two titles, harsh but i don't blame them. Aldo was a great champion and is a great fighter, but he doesn't speak English or seem willing to learn, doesn't do much to promote his own fights, and continually pulled out of title fights leaving the UFC in the lurch and isn't that active a fighter either he's only had 6 fights in almost the last 4 years. Would he have been active in two divisions defending both belts had he won them, i doubt it.
McGregor on the other hand is pretty much the antithesis of Aldo he's a native English speaker, he promotes fights maybe better than anyone, never pulls out of a fight, and is a very active fighter with 10 UFC fights in just over 3.5 years. He's maybe the biggest star in MMA history so they made an exception for him to give him the chance to hold two titles.
Great card. Greats fights.
Was disappointed with Wonderboy's tactical approach and thought he got discouraged from using his leg length to its full extent throughout the fight because of that lazy kick he threw in the 1st round that caught and led to him taking that pummeling. The decision to go with the hands, in range, to the extent that he did added a tremendous amount of risk that he didn't need to take, and it invited Woodley's speed and explosive bombs that found their mark more often than they had to. It felt to me like Wonderboy got hasty because of the belief he had that he was behind on points after the first.
The fourth round is a story all by itself. I knew a lot about Thompson from a style POV before this fight, but I never knew he had that kind of heart and resilience; he's a true fighter to the core and you don't often get that coupled with such an aesthetically pleasing style. Sage Northcutt in particular should be taking a look at how Wonderboy handled adversity in an unfamiliar and uncomfortable position and taking notes.
The draw was the correct decision as Woodley was surely on a 10-8 for the 4th. He did well in there considering the understandable tentativeness he had with regards to being countered and can take as much from this fight as Wonderboy can both can modify and correct a few things before/if they meet again in March as has been rumoured. Definitely one of the fights of the year, for me.
Khabib vs. Johnson was the second most interesting fight to dissect. Johnson looked really good in there... until Khabib got his hands on him... that guy is a frightening grappler and the way he bound the arm under Johnson and went to work on the other side was both horrible and awesome at the same time. Watching someone get rag-dolled like that, for all their defiance and heart, was just brutal. Basically, Khabib and Maia are the two fighters who once they get their opponent down can do anything they want. You can't even fault the other guy - they're both just that good at what they do that it looks like they're fighting with cheat codes on once things go to ground. Romero is supposedly at that level, but I've yet to see him utterly shut everyone he faces down once his speciality is introduced like these two do. Ronda would be the other one before her loss, actually. Usually when I watch these fights I like to give an armchair view of what could have or should have been done or not as the case may be, but when Khabib gets a hold of someone, I'm at loss to think of what their options are such is his level.
I think Khabib is the guy who the rest of division would rather avoid. He got tagged enough in the first round to give others encouragement that he may be susceptible, but his upside is just massive as his stand-up is more than good enough whilst his grappling is un-contestable. He's the worst guy to prepare for, too, because there's nobody you can get in-camp to replicate what he does.
Conor's got big balls, as he likes to tell the world ( ) but Khabib is definitely not the hornet to provoke until he is unavoidable, i think, although it would be a fascinating contest between the two.
Romero vs. Weidman was surreal to watch. Romero is like a comic book character and every time he explodes into action, it's like he's activated one of his super moves. Bisping wants no part of him.
Conor was brilliant, it has to be said. I've watched that fight 5 times now. The first time being in the moment and the rest for analysis and credit should be given where it's due - that was a performance befitting of MSG. Whatever the critics want to throw at him, it should be acknowledged that he's the real deal now and is controlling these fights just as much inside the ring as he does from a psychological standpoint outside of it.
Even if we allow for the notion that Conor 'got inside Eddie's head' there was more than enough time for Alvarez to adjust in the ring and go to a different plan, but he quickly realised that the proposition was a huge ask and that the theory of doing so is far easier than the task. As much as people think Conor can or should be taken to the ground and mauled, actually getting in and earning the right to do so is a mammoth task with the way Conor controls distance, and his general ring generalship is repeatedly ushering his opponents to where he wants them to go rather than where they would like to do. Eddie couldn't shoot from so far out, but was eating so many punches from the outside and into range that he just couldn't set anything up. Conor's power is quickly established against everyone he fights and you see the visual comprehension of it on the opponent's face the first time they feel the left hand, and from there, they don't to try to get inside so readily again. As much as I think Khabib is a fight to avoid, there's no doubt at all that he could be K.O'd before he even manages to get two hands on Conor, so it's definitely a fight that could go either way.
About this stake thing: how can that be anything but a conflict of interest... unless Conor's looking to retire sometime soon? And if he is looking to retire, then why would the UFC entertain his demands at all, anyway?
UFC 205 could be a landmark for the company because they've now set a tremendous bar for themselves and the fans will be eager for more.
Was disappointed with Wonderboy's tactical approach and thought he got discouraged from using his leg length to its full extent throughout the fight because of that lazy kick he threw in the 1st round that caught and led to him taking that pummeling. The decision to go with the hands, in range, to the extent that he did added a tremendous amount of risk that he didn't need to take, and it invited Woodley's speed and explosive bombs that found their mark more often than they had to. It felt to me like Wonderboy got hasty because of the belief he had that he was behind on points after the first.
The fourth round is a story all by itself. I knew a lot about Thompson from a style POV before this fight, but I never knew he had that kind of heart and resilience; he's a true fighter to the core and you don't often get that coupled with such an aesthetically pleasing style. Sage Northcutt in particular should be taking a look at how Wonderboy handled adversity in an unfamiliar and uncomfortable position and taking notes.
The draw was the correct decision as Woodley was surely on a 10-8 for the 4th. He did well in there considering the understandable tentativeness he had with regards to being countered and can take as much from this fight as Wonderboy can both can modify and correct a few things before/if they meet again in March as has been rumoured. Definitely one of the fights of the year, for me.
Khabib vs. Johnson was the second most interesting fight to dissect. Johnson looked really good in there... until Khabib got his hands on him... that guy is a frightening grappler and the way he bound the arm under Johnson and went to work on the other side was both horrible and awesome at the same time. Watching someone get rag-dolled like that, for all their defiance and heart, was just brutal. Basically, Khabib and Maia are the two fighters who once they get their opponent down can do anything they want. You can't even fault the other guy - they're both just that good at what they do that it looks like they're fighting with cheat codes on once things go to ground. Romero is supposedly at that level, but I've yet to see him utterly shut everyone he faces down once his speciality is introduced like these two do. Ronda would be the other one before her loss, actually. Usually when I watch these fights I like to give an armchair view of what could have or should have been done or not as the case may be, but when Khabib gets a hold of someone, I'm at loss to think of what their options are such is his level.
I think Khabib is the guy who the rest of division would rather avoid. He got tagged enough in the first round to give others encouragement that he may be susceptible, but his upside is just massive as his stand-up is more than good enough whilst his grappling is un-contestable. He's the worst guy to prepare for, too, because there's nobody you can get in-camp to replicate what he does.
Conor's got big balls, as he likes to tell the world (
) but Khabib is definitely not the hornet to provoke until he is unavoidable, i think, although it would be a fascinating contest between the two.Romero vs. Weidman was surreal to watch. Romero is like a comic book character and every time he explodes into action, it's like he's activated one of his super moves. Bisping wants no part of him.
Conor was brilliant, it has to be said. I've watched that fight 5 times now. The first time being in the moment and the rest for analysis and credit should be given where it's due - that was a performance befitting of MSG. Whatever the critics want to throw at him, it should be acknowledged that he's the real deal now and is controlling these fights just as much inside the ring as he does from a psychological standpoint outside of it.
Even if we allow for the notion that Conor 'got inside Eddie's head' there was more than enough time for Alvarez to adjust in the ring and go to a different plan, but he quickly realised that the proposition was a huge ask and that the theory of doing so is far easier than the task. As much as people think Conor can or should be taken to the ground and mauled, actually getting in and earning the right to do so is a mammoth task with the way Conor controls distance, and his general ring generalship is repeatedly ushering his opponents to where he wants them to go rather than where they would like to do. Eddie couldn't shoot from so far out, but was eating so many punches from the outside and into range that he just couldn't set anything up. Conor's power is quickly established against everyone he fights and you see the visual comprehension of it on the opponent's face the first time they feel the left hand, and from there, they don't to try to get inside so readily again. As much as I think Khabib is a fight to avoid, there's no doubt at all that he could be K.O'd before he even manages to get two hands on Conor, so it's definitely a fight that could go either way.
About this stake thing: how can that be anything but a conflict of interest... unless Conor's looking to retire sometime soon? And if he is looking to retire, then why would the UFC entertain his demands at all, anyway?
UFC 205 could be a landmark for the company because they've now set a tremendous bar for themselves and the fans will be eager for more.
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Conor's two fights with Nate have definitely improved him, both tactically as well as in terms of take down defense, which when combined with his already great striking has taken his game to another level. Conor v Ferguson or Conor v Khabib would obviously be two very attractive matchups to consider.
Conor beats Khabib imo. Conor really fecks up wrestlers timing. They can't get within range and use their striking to set up the take down so every fight is fought standing up.
Khabib gets caught too easily, Conor would control distance and tee off on him until he falls.
You need to be a boxer to defeat Conor, he's walking through all these difficult wrestlers and yet struggled to doninate Diaz who loves to keep it standing.
Khabib gets caught too easily, Conor would control distance and tee off on him until he falls.
You need to be a boxer to defeat Conor, he's walking through all these difficult wrestlers and yet struggled to doninate Diaz who loves to keep it standing.
Khabib certainly has a chance but I agree that I can definitely picture Conor tagging him on the way in or at distance if he for some reason tries to stand with him. He needs to time a takedown well and then most importantly finish it in the same round he gets him down. Because every round obviously starts on the feet and the more time he has to spend there the worse his prospects get. At this point though I'd have to perhaps lean towards Conor 60/40 or something like that. Just can't account for that next level ability on the feet anymore. I honestly thought he'd be too one dimensional to beat the top lightweights, but he's shown to be so extraordinarily talented in what he does do that he's really made me have to change my mind on that.
I like the Ferguson match up a lot, he's the boogeyman who keeps on coming, he's unpredictable and a tall lightweight too, so should pose some interesting challenges.
Interesting scorecard.
For me, the question is who can take Conor's punches and return fire relatively unaffected. From there, you have a base for a game plan and lines can be drawn in the sand. Ignoring the fact he has so much scar tissue and bleeds easily, Diaz is well known for his durability and ability to take massive head trauma and keep on going, but even he was wobbled on numerous occasions during their two fights. I'm not sure he'd have the same punch resistance against Conor's shots at 155 as he did in their two heavier encounters whereas it's clear to see Conor's power is probably at its optimal best in this division.
Ferguson has looked incredibly durable and willing to go into vicious exchanges, but the question there is if he has been accurately and powerfully hit with precision strikes to weak points, which is what McGregor brings to the table with his punching. The two of them are rangey, but Conor definitely has more power at full length than Ferguson - his full-lengthed jabs are stunning blows that set-up his finishing hand perfectly, and that's something Ferguson hasn't got in his locker in a direct exchange of blows.
Ferguson has kicks in his arsenal, too. Good kicks at that, and that adds another dynamic to the fight. Aldo was, and could still be the guy who could take Conor's lead leg away, and that would make a huge difference in terms of setting up the boxing. Ferguson doesn't have Aldo's kicking power or lower leg striking, but he definitely has the means to execute a similar tactical plan from the outset, so that would be another interesting thing in a contest between the two of them.
I find Conor's hubris to be what gets him in trouble more than his actual ability to see and avoid strikes. Once he gets the upper-hand in exchanges or lands a wobbler he walks in behind it upright and tall and lets his guard down far too much for my liking. It served him up something rotten in his first encounter with Diaz and was what put him in trouble and had him 'gassed' from that point onward. He did it in their second fight, too and it does seem to be part of his makeup, which could land him in trouble in the future if he doesn't cut it out. It makes me wonder if someone like Ferguson, assuming he can take Conor's shots and return his own, could capitalise more emphatically than Diaz did.
I also think Conor's words about mechanical styles being really easy for him to time and work against was spot on. You need the air of unpredictability, or some kind of genuine surprise ace card of your own to make Conor think about you more than you think about him when he looks to control the octagon and walk down his opponent. Ferguson definitely has that and stylistically, it's a great matchup between them.
If Johnson can wobble Khabib, then Conor can definitely knock him out if he landed with anything like the frequency Johnson did. Conor isn't as fast as Johnson, however, and that was a key factor in Johnson initially landing so many unanswered blows before Khabib could catch his rhythm and time him better. There's a big element of risk for both Khabib and Conor in every exchange and I would not expect Conor to be so bold and daring with his advancing as he has been in, well, all his fights up to this point in time. Difference is Khabib is genuine one-mistake-and-it-could-be-over guy, just like Maia, and that has to be legislated for otherwise it would not be due dilligence. Both fighters demand respect in their specialist field here and I would not be surprised should that fight go either way. Looks like a proper 50/50 to me.
Ultimately, both the UFC and Conor are going to seek the biggest payday from his next fight. Khabib is definitely not that and I'm not sure Ferguson can bring enough to the table in terms of attraction for Conor to risk so much against him. I don't think any of these guys fear each other, but Conor is a business man first and foremost, and I don't see him putting so much on the line for so little return - I wouldn't be surprised if Diaz gets a call for the conclusion of the 'trilogy' at 155... the history is there, the money they can generate is there and I think he's someone who actually got under Conor's skin in the build-ups of their two fights enough for Conor to want another go at him.
I'd love to see Aldo and Conor go at it, but I think that ship has long since sailed and we won't see Conor at 145 again, which makes sense as he can't keep on adding and dropping weight like that if he's serious about fighting in the heavier weight classes.
My bet is Diaz for Conor's next fight unless someone else makes as much financial sense.
Ferguson has looked incredibly durable and willing to go into vicious exchanges, but the question there is if he has been accurately and powerfully hit with precision strikes to weak points, which is what McGregor brings to the table with his punching. The two of them are rangey, but Conor definitely has more power at full length than Ferguson - his full-lengthed jabs are stunning blows that set-up his finishing hand perfectly, and that's something Ferguson hasn't got in his locker in a direct exchange of blows.
Ferguson has kicks in his arsenal, too. Good kicks at that, and that adds another dynamic to the fight. Aldo was, and could still be the guy who could take Conor's lead leg away, and that would make a huge difference in terms of setting up the boxing. Ferguson doesn't have Aldo's kicking power or lower leg striking, but he definitely has the means to execute a similar tactical plan from the outset, so that would be another interesting thing in a contest between the two of them.
I find Conor's hubris to be what gets him in trouble more than his actual ability to see and avoid strikes. Once he gets the upper-hand in exchanges or lands a wobbler he walks in behind it upright and tall and lets his guard down far too much for my liking. It served him up something rotten in his first encounter with Diaz and was what put him in trouble and had him 'gassed' from that point onward. He did it in their second fight, too and it does seem to be part of his makeup, which could land him in trouble in the future if he doesn't cut it out. It makes me wonder if someone like Ferguson, assuming he can take Conor's shots and return his own, could capitalise more emphatically than Diaz did.
I also think Conor's words about mechanical styles being really easy for him to time and work against was spot on. You need the air of unpredictability, or some kind of genuine surprise ace card of your own to make Conor think about you more than you think about him when he looks to control the octagon and walk down his opponent. Ferguson definitely has that and stylistically, it's a great matchup between them.
If Johnson can wobble Khabib, then Conor can definitely knock him out if he landed with anything like the frequency Johnson did. Conor isn't as fast as Johnson, however, and that was a key factor in Johnson initially landing so many unanswered blows before Khabib could catch his rhythm and time him better. There's a big element of risk for both Khabib and Conor in every exchange and I would not expect Conor to be so bold and daring with his advancing as he has been in, well, all his fights up to this point in time. Difference is Khabib is genuine one-mistake-and-it-could-be-over guy, just like Maia, and that has to be legislated for otherwise it would not be due dilligence. Both fighters demand respect in their specialist field here and I would not be surprised should that fight go either way. Looks like a proper 50/50 to me.
Ultimately, both the UFC and Conor are going to seek the biggest payday from his next fight. Khabib is definitely not that and I'm not sure Ferguson can bring enough to the table in terms of attraction for Conor to risk so much against him. I don't think any of these guys fear each other, but Conor is a business man first and foremost, and I don't see him putting so much on the line for so little return - I wouldn't be surprised if Diaz gets a call for the conclusion of the 'trilogy' at 155... the history is there, the money they can generate is there and I think he's someone who actually got under Conor's skin in the build-ups of their two fights enough for Conor to want another go at him.
I'd love to see Aldo and Conor go at it, but I think that ship has long since sailed and we won't see Conor at 145 again, which makes sense as he can't keep on adding and dropping weight like that if he's serious about fighting in the heavier weight classes.
My bet is Diaz for Conor's next fight unless someone else makes as much financial sense.
You mean he doesn't intimidate you?!?
To be fair to him though he is good and worth watching. Talked up as the next big thing in UK MMA. Been calls for UFC to sign him and I think they did offer him a deal but he turned it down.
So what did you think? I was very unimpressed. Got the benefit of a really awful decision and should have been KTFO long before the end if his opponent had shown a bit more killer instinct. Yong and lernin' but on that performance he'd be eaten alive by any top UFC fighter.
a very bad decision.
Thought he looked OK for the 1st two rounds. And still very young, but he gassed badly. Also has been struggling to make weight in his last few fights and for a guy who looks like he should be bantham weight, that is a bad sign.
He will probably still find a way into the UFC purely because he is very marketable. I reckon one more fight in Cage Warriors and they will sign him in time for the next UK event
I dont know if you've forgot or are ignoring it but McGregor didn't fight a single top 5 fighter before getting the title shot (unless Poirier was... I can't remember). There was Cub Swanson, Ricardo Lamas, Chad Mendes and Frankie Edgar. Conor faced none of these guys and got a shot at the title... he beat a few guys, that were nowhere near the title shot themselves and talked a lot of shit. That's how he got his title shot... how can you not see that? And a lot of people when answering this point refer to Frankie Edgar getting undeserved shot... well I agree. Edgar's FW shot WAS bullshit and the fact that you bring it up as bullshit yet defend McGregor's shot is unbelievable. They were both undeserved shots.
As to the point I made about Aldo not getting the fight against Pettis... the thing I'm trying to hint at here is that Conor is the two-weight champ because the UFC allowed him. Had they allowed Aldo to move up in the past, he couldnt have been it. The UFC usually want champions to clear out their divisions before moving on. McGregor didnt even have 1 single fight at LW but got the shot and won. That just shows that although he is a good fighter, the UFC push is a HUGE reason to him making this bit of history. He was allowed to do something that others weren't.
It's a worry when you hear about someone struggling to make weight with his soft looking physique. Stark contrast to how ripped and skeletal McGregor, for example, looks when he's doing an ambitious cut. Does make you wonder if this party boy stuff is more than an act and whether that will cost him a decent career. Who knows, though. He is still very young. Hopefully this fight will be a wake up call because he does seem like the type of character that would appeal to the UFC.
I scored it the same way as him.
Probably wrong though, wasn't really expecting it to go the distance so wasn't keeping track properly while the fight was going on.
Unbelievable? Calm down mate, i'm not so much defending the way McGregor got his title shot as much as i am trying to explain why he got it. I said in my last post he was fast tracked to the title, Aldo had beaten Mendes, Edgar and Lamas handily enough in his last few fights before he fought McGregor. The UFC needed a credible challenger for Jose (also why Edgar got an immediate title shot the year before) and Conor came along at the perfect time. Im' not saying it was 100% fair but honestly it was easy to see McGregors potential even back then, having him fight Lamas, Swanson and Edgar didn't make much sense when he was ready to fight Aldo.
Yeah we basically agree then mate, as i said in my last post the UFC made an exception for him. When you are that good and that big a star in any sport you will get treatment and opportunities others don't. It's not fair but such is life.
He was hugely fortunate. He should of lost on the decision and a better fighter vs. him would of stopped the fight. He looked terrible to be honest. Cage Warriors seem desperate to make him the next Conor McGregor but he's definitely nowhere near that ability yet. As has been said he is hugely fortunate to not be fighting a UFC level fighter cos they'd of beaten him easily.
From what I remember that Juicy J got knocked out be Artem Lobov didn't he on TUF? Hardly encouraging to hear really.
This is what's annoying me about the sport. Fair enough McGregor is a mega star and unlike anyone the ufc has dealt with but this treatment of him seems very short sighted. Hrs killed the FW division and if he puts the LW division in hold the same way, it will be bad...
Well i don't know if he's killed the FW division, he only won the title less than a year ago. Yes he should have defended it by now but i imagine if Dos Anjos hadn't got injured for 197 and McGregor getting sidetracked with Diaz he would have defended or dropped the title months ago. I think he will give that belt up shortly as i just can't see him dropping down anytime soon and he'll want to defend the LW belt next year.
I doubt he'll hold up the LW division, i don't see him going up to welterweight just yet. Certainly not vs Woodley anyway. He will most likely make his first LW defence this summer after his kid is born. 6-8 months after a title win isn't uncommon for a first defence.
If he gives up the FW title and defend the LW title to Khabib or Ferguson, I think a lot of hate towards him will die down. But i reckon he'll end up either going for WW or fighting Diaz and not give up FW. I hope I'm wrong.
The fw title was never defended frequently though? He only won the thing a year ago so it could be argued that he has only missed one title defence.