Seems like the American lad expected the decision and decided to not take any risks. He was never going to get one though, if they had any half chance of giving to the scouser. Horrible, horible decision, mind, can't remember last time I've seen one as bad.
The MMA thread
- Thread starter Fortitude
- Start date
They might not but it's not unlikely, equity as an incentive to talent/ management isn't that uncommon, Conan O'Brien owns part of the UFC because of a similar reason.
Last edited:
That was an amazing performance, and the best performance McGregor's ever put in. I think that was the sort of fight he needed to silence some of the doubters. He always seems to be in a state of Zen and looks incredibly loose. No one has an answer to that straight left. Which is somewhat comparable to Mayweather's right. Funnily enough, the only guy who did have an "answer" to it (Nate Diaz) has a chin on him and still got dropped. Regardless of who his opponent was, he just outclassed the LW champion. Alvarez couldn't get a takedown and kept getting dropped. On McGregor's TDD, maybe Alvarez didn't half-ass his takedowns (as some have said); maybe McGregor had an excellent TDD? And this is coming from someone who thinks he will struggle against an elite wrestler (see Mendes fight).
I don't know where you get this idea. Up until last night he'd fought one in short-notice Mendes and he looked poor. Having said that he was injured and in 18 months he may have improved that takedown defence immeasurably, certainly looked on point last night.
I still think taking him down is the most likely route to victory. Diaz gave him trouble because he was able to survive long enough for Conor to gas himself. But with the work he's putting in on his cardio and how much lighter he looked last night compared to the WW fights I think he'd outstrike him and Ferguson quite easily and he'll be able to do it for longer next time. Khabib may get knocked out before he gets his hands on him but it's almost impossible to stop his takedowns and he'd maul anyone on the ground.
Khabib vs. Ferguson
Conor vs. Diaz
Winner vs Winner at the end of 2017.
Another massive payday for the UFC, Conor and Diaz; a guaranteed title shot for the winner of the challengers.
That's about the best it's gonna get, I reckon.
Sounds like a good plan. Conor has a kid coming in the spring so he may take some time off as well. Also, it would be a bit awkward if Nate beats Conor again and then winds up having to fight Ferguson or Khabib.
Most fighters have some kind of extensive wrestling training if they're American or trained at an American camp from a young age, especially at the lower weight classes.
It went from a long list of fighters that had decent wrestling that would trouble Conor to it all resting on Khabibs shoulders. It's now an extreme example to the point it's not relevant at all. Khabib is besting fighters who don't tend to struggle v wrestlers.
You either try and get into the inside and Conor smacks you when you lower your hands in the forward movement or you lunge from too far out and he stuffs the takedown with ease.
Only two fighters have been past the 2nd with Conor and most of them would have had plans to avoid the standup and work the takedowns.
It doesn't work.
I absolutely hate that idea. There's no way in hell Nate should get a title shot, especially coming off a loss. Khabib fighting Ferguson eliminates a contender... I'd rather one of them gets title shot whilst the other fights Nate to be contender for the next title shot.
Having said that, what you said will probably happen I reckon.
I won't ever doubt McGregor's skill inside the octagon.
He's still a massive cnut but he's really something else. His left hand is just a fecking bomb.
He's still a massive cnut but he's really something else. His left hand is just a fecking bomb.
The trick with Conor is to take him down. Once that happens, he is like a fish out of water. On the flip side, his take down defense has been getting better of late so he is having more success keeping things standing up where he excels.
If McGregor gives up the featherweight title then I don't particularly mind McGregor/Diaz + Khabib/Ferguson. Only one division would be tied up, Khabib and Ferguson would get the chance to definitively earn the title shot over the other rather than picking one of them to face McGregor as is, it'd get the inevitable third Diaz fight out of the way and (most importantly) they would be two immensely fun fights.
It's not ideal in terms of merit but also not as bad as some of the other examples of preferential treatment McGregor has received. He does fight an awful lot so if you keep him at one weight division he will quickly fight all the main contenders anyway, even if Diaz does come first.
It's not ideal in terms of merit but also not as bad as some of the other examples of preferential treatment McGregor has received. He does fight an awful lot so if you keep him at one weight division he will quickly fight all the main contenders anyway, even if Diaz does come first.
Yep, the only hope I have left is Khabib, especially after the smackdown he delivered on saturday.
It'd be a great matchup I think.
Nate's still the toughest opponent for him. He'd knock out Khabib.
While Conor's take down defense has improved a lot, it's pretty obvious that the best way to beat him is to drag him into the later rounds and try to take him down. That left hand of his is something else though and it's hard to say which fighters at 145/155 can take them shots. Khabib is probably toughest fight out there for him imo. Khabib has a great chin and he's without a doubt one of the best grapplers in the UFC.
Wouldn't mind seeing a third fight with Diaz but Khabib or Ferguson deserve the title shot more.
Wouldn't mind seeing a third fight with Diaz but Khabib or Ferguson deserve the title shot more.
I think that is easier said than done. The only person to take him down consistently was Mendes and he was a short notice substitute for Aldo. However much McGregor says he doesn't train for the opponent that is BS. Also he was apparently injured during that fight. His second fight against Diaz and against Alvarez he was very good with his take down defence.
Another thing is that his movement and range is so good that it can be difficult for someone to get close enough to take him down, whilst also looking to avoid the vicious strikes Conor can throw. It must make some fighter think twice when they know they could shoot for the take down and take a knee to the face. Conor's movement and ability to strike with precision from any angle is insane.
I also find it weird those in this thread saying he got to where he is by picking and choosing the fights. Prior to Mendes he tried to fight the P4P number 1 but an injury prevented that so he took on one of the divisions best wrestlers on short notice and won. He then knocked out the FW champion in 13 seconds. He then picked a fight with RDA who was supposedly one of the best lightweights ever. After an injury he took on Diaz at 2 weight classes above his normal weight class, lost, but took him on again with the same conditions and won. He then took on the lightweight champion who many through would steamroll him and won again. The guy has "Big Irish Balls" and will fight anyone.
Khabib is probably as good on the ground and in terms of take downs as anyone in the history of the sport, so his takedown defense would be severely tested.
Not surprising. Can definitely see him making an appearance at the next Wrestlemania like Rousey did.
"Deserve" comes up a lot in discussions about title shots, but the UFC works on money over everything else. What is box office is what will be catered for, always, and Diaz vs. McGregor makes more money, has more hype and will set up a grandstand conclusion to both the 'trilogy' and the fight for the title next December, injuries permitting.
It makes sense all-round.
It makes sense all-round.
Yea maybe I haven't really seen much of him but heard he is a beast. Either way he has to get into a position where he can take Conor down without taking a devastating strike first. It can be done of course but not that easily. Either way would be a fun fight
Dana said he wasn't interested in a McGregor Diaz fight on Saturday.
Going up to WW is possible but i doubt thats where his next fight will be, but theres no way they'll let him keep the FW belt. He likely won't fight again until the summer which will have been 18 months since he won it. The UFC give McGregor a lot of slack but i doubt they would even let him away with that shit. He most likely drops the FW title in the new year.
He'll have to either defend the 145 belt or give it up. That thing has not been fought for since December last year.
What's the longest a belt has gone without being defended (not including injuries)?
What's the longest a belt has gone without being defended (not including injuries)?
Kavanagh just said Diaz is the #2 LW and that is the best fight to make 
He also just asked Ariel if Ukraine is Russia
He also just asked Ariel if Ukraine is Russia
Dana says a lot of things..
I would be surprised if Ferguson or Khabib were given a direct total shot. Even if one of them were, the other would have every right to be irate.
Conor's not going to go back down to 145, and even thinking of going up to 170 would cause uproar.
If 155 is his home, there aren't many avenues to actually go down.
Holloway, Poirier, Seiver, Brimage, Brandao... It's not a wrestling heavy list and the quality of some of them is another realm to what we're discussing when suggesting who has the best chance of beating Mcgregor - we're talking top 5 Lightweights.
Saying trying to take Conor down doesn't work is hardly conclusive, Mendes did it successfully but gassed either due to short camp or eating too many body shots or a combination of both. But he was able to get inside without getting "smacked" and he was also able to shoot from a distance and still get the takedown.
If wrestling is useless against Mcgregor and the only way to beat him is the Nate strategy of getting the shit beat out of you for 2 rounds until Conor gasses himself, then I don't see him losing any time soon. He'll keep working extensively on his cardio and he's trimmer than he was in those 2 WW fights which will help his endurance.
Complete madness.Kavanagh just said Diaz is the #2 LW and that is the best fight to make
He also just asked Ariel if Ukraine is Russia
He said he'd beat both Tony and Khabib.
I don't see how he beats Khabib, Nate's takedown defence is terrible, RDA took him down with ease and beat him to a pulp on the ground, Khabib would do the same. Whilst we're at it RDA even on a 2 fight losing streak is huge favourite against Diaz given how one sided their first fight was, and stylistically RDA has the Diaz brother kryptonite in leg kicks and wrestling. Tony fight is more interesting because they're both tall, long, iron chins, cardio machines.
I might be cynical but Kavanagh may be trying to keep him away from Khabib at all costs. Plus I think you owe it to the livelihood and careers of fighters to have some integrity when it comes to choosing who gets the shot, Nate hasn't earnt it, Tony and Khabib are both overdue their shot at the belt.
They would obviously have to be careful with another Conor/Nate fight. If Nate wins, it would throw everything into chaos and they might find themselves in a situation where Nate would have to defend the belt against Ferguson or Khabib. If I'm Conor, I would take about 6 months off and deal with having a kid, then come back against the winner of Ferguson/Khabib.
I don't think we know if his takedown defence has improved though, there's not really a great deal to back that up since the Mendes fight. Aldo was a flash KO so we never got to see how that one would have went. Diaz basically stood with him in both fights and when it did actually go to the ground in the first, submitted him. Alvarez I believed went for possibly two takedowns in their fight and they were in the second round when he'd just been dominated in Round 1 and clearly had nothing for McGregor on the feet, more desperate attempts to get him down. We've not seen him tested in that department since the Mendes fight. There's no doubt he's improved as a fighter since then but it's tough to say how much his wrestling has improved since that fight because he hasn't needed to use it or really defend a great deal of takedowns against a high level wrestler.
Mentioned a year or so back about how I also think his willingness to be so open defensively on his feet is one of his biggest weaknesses. It led to him eating a good amount of shots against Mendes and two wars against Diaz, he even got caught heavily when KOing Aldo. He's clearly got a damn good chin though but nobody so far apart from Diaz has really been able to take advantage of how open he is on his feet. It's a unique style, he's so confident in his own striking which in fairness he's absolutely lethal with.
It's why I'm seriously hoping they do the right thing and have him defend against Khabib or Ferguson. You can't go wrong with either. Khabib provides that top level wrestling challenge which would answer big questions. Whereas Ferguson is one of the few guys around that has a style just as unique as McGregor, can take punishment and comes in at absolutely crazy angles with unpredictable offense. While I've mentioned I think McGregor is open on his feet, in fairness it always makes for great fights, always entertains. I'd personally prefer Ferguson for the first shot, would likely be the most explosive build up for a McGregor fight ever too, Ferguson is a nutter.
Alternatively, he should go down and fight Aldo again. If he doesn't want to, then he should give up the FW belt. He's proven his point that he can win two belts, so no need to keep one if he doesn't plan on defending it.
Conor has time to one more fight before his baby is born. He came out of the cage fresher than how he went in for his last fight, so he might want to fight sooner rather than later.
If I'm the UFC i would only allow him to fight Woodley or defend his title against Aldo (should be number 1 priority) or El Cucuy.
If they force us (the fans) right away to a 3rd fight with the average Nate Diaz, i would be fecking pissed.
If I'm the UFC i would only allow him to fight Woodley or defend his title against Aldo (should be number 1 priority) or El Cucuy.
If they force us (the fans) right away to a 3rd fight with the average Nate Diaz, i would be fecking pissed.
Last edited:
No chance that Diaz is his next fight. They'll fight again for sure but won't be next.
I think he'll go for the third belt next, not sure a title defence at lightweight interests him much.
I certainly hope so
Nah, I definitely think there was a noticeable improvement in his TDD, particularly when Diaz and Alvarez had him against the fence. Not saying it's amazing or anything but it's better than it used to be.
Wrestling is useless v Conor when his opponent doesn't have the hands to get into position to utilise it correctly.
Nobody will beat Conor with sloppy striking or the inability to walk through his shots. That's why I don't give Khabib much of a chance, that striking ability breeds hesitation which messes up timing.
What impresses me about Conor is the way he waits for the shots, he doesn't seem to force mistakes anymore, it's more of a Mayweather-esque style of the opponent opening up his own mistakes.
Prediction eh:
I don't think McGregor got to where he is picking suitable fights, but I do think ufc have picked a route for him that made this possible in such a short span of time. Who else would be allowed to not defend their belt and fight for LW belt coming off of 1-1 and having never fight in a division that has two ready made contenders?
As to a few of your other points, Mendes was short notice but at least McGregor had a full camp. even if he prepared for a different style, cardio and strength/conditioning it's transferable. Mendes came straight from a reality hunting show...
Also, why do I keep reading 'McGregor went up two weight classes from his normal one to fight Nate'... firstly, 145 isn't McGregor natural weight, it's more likely 155. Diaz Is also a 155er. it was basically a 155 fight minus the weight cut.
Did people really think Eddie would steamroll McGregor? Genuine question. they must have been on crack. Eddie has been average in his whole ufc career so far. Lost to cowboy, should have lost to Giblert, cage hugged an SD over Pettis (who is another overrated fighter) and had his only legit victory over RDA (although I think RDA would win that fight 9 times out of 10). Eddie really was there for the taking. it's probably the easiest fight for McGregor to get the LW title.
I'm loving seeing McGregor go toe to toe with the ufc though. remind me of Stone Cold against Vince McMahon!
Kavanagh just said Diaz is the #2 LW and that is the best fight to make
He also just asked Ariel if Ukraine is Russia
Yeah it was odd. In fairness though he did state he expects people to disagree with him about it and get a load of Tweets. He went on to (kind of) justify his opinion as well. It sounds like he does actually right Khabib and would be happy with the fight. He just said from a coaches point of view Diaz interests him more. I never used to like Kavanagh but he has grown on me, seems a decent enough guy and is interesting to listen to. Gives a useful insight into McGregor as well as the only time we really see McGregor speak now is "in character" or on big chat shows, albeit he was on MMA Hour before 202.
It's not really a prediction when you're in control of the outcome. It's a goal.