Rehabbing a broken hand that ‘doesn’t feel fantastic,’ UFC featherweight Cole Miller was forced to watch Saturday’s Fight Night event in Dublin from the sidelines. Miller was booked to face Conor McGregor in the headliner before injuring his hand and being replaced by Diego Brandao in June. McGregor TKO’d Brandao just four minutes into the bout, but Miller doesn’t sound too impressed.
“I thought he looked pretty solid,” Miller told Sherdog Radio Network. “It’s pretty easy to look good when everything’s made for you to look good. He got to fight in his home town with all those people there supporting him. He got a full camp of preparation when his opponent didn’t.
“I don’t think anyone can really judge Diego. He got in there and like I said, he didn’t get his full camp.”
McGregor’s win moved him into the division’s top ten, but Miller firmly believes the Irishman greatly benefits from sizzle over substance.
“I think when these people are spoon-fed what their opinions should be they start saying the same stuff they’ve already been hearing from the UFC and the brass,” said Miller.
“Absolutely, I think [the UFC is] behind [McGregor]. I don’t think that he’s a bad thing. I’m not saying he’s great for the sport but he’s probably pretty good for the division. I don’t think Jose Aldo is that big of a draw amongst the fighters. Everyone’s always looking for the gold and he’s the best, but I don’t get a good vibe from fans. Nobody really wants to watch Aldo fight.”
MIller believes those buying into McGregor’s hype as a contender are likely newcomers to the sport or fans of hyperbole.
“I think that Conor is good for the weight class,” MIller said. “People like him or they don’t like him. Whether they’re going to repeat what Dana’s already said about him or whether they’re going to develop their own opinion. Like you [Sherdog] said, you don’t think he’s ready for a top five contender yet. I think that’s coming from an educated person who’s been involved in mixed martial arts for over a decade, but these fans are already talking about whether he is or not. That’s something we’ve never seen before.
“I did see something where Dana said Conor reminds him of Ronda Rousey. That’s a pretty bold statement. I told my brother they’re both blond. That must be it.”
So would McGregor be able to reproduce that hometown feel outside of Ireland? Miller doesn’t think so.
“Definitely not. In the post-fight speech there was stuff I couldn’t hear. Not because I couldn’t understand him but because the crowd was so loud. If he were over here [in the United States] the crowd wouldn’t have been into it like it was. The walkout, the lights going black, the Irish flag popping up. That wouldn’t have been able to be replicated over here.”
Even if he doesn’t believe McGregor has earned it, Miller sees a matchup with Dustin Poirier next for the Irishman.
“I think Poirier’s been working real hard and doing some real impressive things in the division,” said Miller. “I think he’s ready for a Frankie Edgar or [Cub] Swanson or [Chad] Mendes. [UFC] is obviously trying to build the McGregor fight and I don’t think [McGregor] deserves it, but I don’t think he deserves a lot of things he’s gotten.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Fired up. Dustin Poirier says he’ll be ‘the first real fight Conor McGregor’s ever been in.’
Fortunes changed for five. Dave Meltzer explains how Conor McGregor, Gunnar Nelson, Ian McCall, Diego Brandao and Brad Pickett move forward following UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Brandao.
IT happened again. Ronda Rousey still won’t refer to Cris Cyborg as an actual woman. ‘In a perfect world, she would be a girl and not an it.’
Semtex. Paul Daley will return to Bellator to rejoin Scott Coker. ‘After months of rumors about me returning to the States with large American promotions, I’ve finally sealed the deal.’
‘He’s dripping testosterone out of his eyeballs right now.’ Tim Kennedy doesn’t have much faith Vitor Belfort isn’t using performance-enhancing drugs. ‘Right now he’s down in Brazil, or back in you know California, training his butt off and injecting anything that he wants to and loving it, and nobody’s testing him.’
Make sure to check out The MMA Hour featuring Anthony Pettis, Dominick Cruz, Dustin Poirier, Paul Daley, Dennis Bermudez, Chris Cariaso and Tom Egan.
MEDIA STEW
Free Fight: Matt Brown vs. Erick Silva.
Daniel Cormier’s final wrestling match.
Ronda Rousey sits down with ESPN.
Metamoris 4: Countdown (Keenan Cornelius vs. Vinny Magalhaes).
Tyrone Spong talks MMA and GLORY future.
A quick look at Matt Brown’s training.
Long watches.
Joe Rogan Experience #524 – Rickson Gracie & Eddie Bravo
…
Knuckle Up #408: the crush of Irish Power, the return of MMA joy, Kogan v. Dana + Miller’s Crossing
TWEETS
Gina confirmation looming?
In LA to get some shit done!!! #ufc #lorenzofertitta @lorenzofertitta http://t.co/7xRy1IcUtl
— Dana White (@danawhite) July 21, 2014
Like it.
Keep running your mouth @Amanda_Leoa , make sure there’s still room in there when you’re eating my fists & your words! @ufc
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) July 22, 2014
This escalated quickly. Listen to the interview here.
I will be on @todayfmofficial shortly to have a chat with Ray D’Arcy.
— Cathal Pendred (@PendredMMA) July 21, 2014
Looking forward to doing an interview where I celebrate the biggest win of my career 2 days ago, not defend myself and my sport.
— Cathal Pendred (@PendredMMA) July 21, 2014
Cool.
Glad to help a veteran like urself RT @philbaroni: @TheDomin8r great listening to you on @MMAFighting with @arielhelwani . Helped me a lot.
— Dominick Cruz (@TheDomin8r) July 22, 2014
Congrats.
The numbers don’t lie. http://t.co/rRwMeZwh3Y
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 21, 2014
So pumped to be in a video game. A wish of mine when I was a kid playing all the EA Sports games. http://t.co/mWbFOidcOe
— TJ Dillashaw (@TJDillashaw) July 22, 2014
Not against a human, unfortunately.
ok, for everyone asking about the 1 punch slow motion KO vid, here ya go! @aram_ttd http://t.co/mpCfpgUMsq
— Johny Hendricks (@JohnyHendricks) July 21, 2014
Reem shrink: denied.
Finished workout # III for today! 250lbs! Looking forward to sept 5 @UFC – Have a great night!
Not sure I’ve seen this drill.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Jul. 21 2014)
NA
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via DirtyBird2.
DirtyBird2’s Weekly Prospect Breakdown
Due to the request of members of this site I will be doing a weekly prospect breakdown of the soon to be stars in MMA
This week is English 170lb standout Danny “hot Chocolate” Roberts.
1) has been fighting in cage warriors his last 5 fights so you won’t see him signed so you won’t see him in the big leagues too soon but he is very talented. He knocked out Bellator veteran Jim Wallhead his last time out after losing most of the fight. He stand 6 feet tall. England has some solid Talent at 170. He is likely to fight undefeated 12-0 Nicolas Dalby next. He’s well rounded. 5(t)ko’s 4 subs. Solid gas tank. He’s definitely getting signed once his contract is up. A picture is worth a thousand words so…
…
Check out the rest of the post here.
Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.