Conor McGregor did what he needed to do against Dennis Siver. His second-round stoppage has earned him a title shot against longtime champion Jose Aldo.
What’s interesting about this case is that McGregor has done so in such a way that his messaging outside of the Octagon has been almost more important than what he was able to do within the cage. In less than two years, Conor McGregor and the UFC have learned how to properly book and promote growing stars that will benefit those to follow.
With his fifth win in the promotion, McGregor has already been tapped as the man to face Aldo at some point in 2015. Tristen Critchfield of Sherdog reported that works are underway to get this fight scheduled for Las Vegas, potentially during the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Watching this rise to fame has helped not only McGregor but the other competitors within the sport.
McGregor draws attention to the division that hasn’t garnered much without him. He’s done so by talking in a way that goes beyond promotion and borders on predetermination. Chael Sonnen is often praised for the way he promoted himself into title fights against Anderson Silva and Jon Jones, but what McGregor has done is quite different.
Sonnen‘s words were often taken in a “tongue in cheek” fashion, leaving room to question whether or not even Sonnen believed what he was saying. There isn’t a question as to whether or not McGregor believes how he talks about himself and his career.
“What he has is unbelievable confidence in himself, and when he sits in a room with you, you start to believe everything he’s saying, too,” Dana White said in a report by MMA Junkie’s John Morgan. “And he has a really good gift of explaining and breaking down a fight and how a fight is going to go and why it’s going to happen. It’s hard to argue with the kid.”
Being able to verbalize that confidence has helped McGregor jump to the top of a division that is much more competitive than perceived. He’s done so in a way that is quite different than the path many other UFC competitors had to take in order to earn a title shot.
In five fights, McGregor has yet to face an individual who is ranked within the top five of the group. Dustin Poirier, whom Conor defeated at UFC 178, sits at No. 6 and is the highest-ranked opponent against whom the Irishman has competed (via UFC.com).
So what does this mean for the other fighters, not only at 145, but throughout the world of MMA as a whole?
The lesson to be learned is that fighters have to learn how to present themselves in a way that is believable both verbally and visually. With four stoppages in five fights, McGregor is fighting in the exact way that is meant to entice fans into watching his next foray in the cage.
Matchmakers within the UFC are also doing their part to build up their competitor. One question that many have had is whether or not McGregor would be able to deal with powerful wrestlers such as Chad Mendes or Frankie Edgar.
“But the pattern of matchmaking McGregor has been subject to has caused a bit of an uproar,” wrote Tom Taylor of Fightland. “While that argument does diminish the skill of the Irishman’s recent opponents, who have all been dangerous, it is somewhat merited. Siver is no slouch, but if the UFC is interested in establishing McGregor as a genuine contender, letting him test his chops against a wrestler wouldn’t hurt.”
With this purposeful booking style the UFC has learned that “protecting” fighters for as long as possible will have a long-term benefit. McGregor will eventually have to face an established wrestler. Keeping away from this bout until he is a guaranteed draw will benefit the organization and both men involved.
McGregor will not be the last star to emerge in mixed martial arts. His growth to main event spectacle has been a plan developed by both his and the UFC’s actions. When he faces Jose Aldo later this year, expect it to be one of the biggest fights that the UFC has put on in recent memory.
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