Morning Report: John Kavanagh says Conor McGregor will stop Jose Aldo inside three rounds, blames Joe Rogan for Cathal Pendred fallout

It’s easy to see where Conor McGregor gets it.

While we all love Greg Jackson, it’s refreshing to see a coach open up a bit more on some prickly issues.

Thursday, SBG Ireland head trainer John Kavanagh penned a piece for The42.ie touching on a few of the biggest storylines emerging from Sunday’s UFC Fight Night event in Boston.

In preliminary action, SBG welterweight Cathal Pendred scored a controversial unanimous decision victory over Sean Spencer. UFC president Dana White called the decision ‘a bad one,’ but Kavanagh believes it was Joe Rogan’s commentary that created a firestorm of negativity towards his fighter.

“People have been questioning the judges’ decision and I think a lot of it has stemmed from Joe Rogan’s commentary on the fight,” said Kavanagh. “When Joe starts to see one guy getting the upper hand in a fight, his mind seems to be made up and he can’t see it any other way. Sean started well so that seemed to settle it for Joe.

“Looking back at the stats from the fight, Sean only landed three or four more significant strikes, whereas Cathal had four takedowns, as well as some submission attempts, and Sean had none. Of course I am slightly biased when it comes to my own fighters – Who isn’t? – but I do genuinely feel Cathal did enough.”

Moving on to prized pupil McGregor, Kavanagh says the rising superstar revealed to him he felt he was ‘operating at about 30 or 40 percent of what he’s capable of’ in the main event against Dennis Siver.

McGregor earned a title shot against featherweight champion Jose Aldo with a second round TKO stoppage, letting Kavanagh finally ponder the matchup.

“I think Jose will want it to turn into a grappling match early on,” said Kavanagh. “As soon as he gets hit he’ll start to shoot for takedowns. Basically, similar to when he’s fought the guys from Team Alpha Male… but with the roles reversed.”

Saying Aldo’s five-round wars have ‘almost certainly taken a lot out of him,’ Kavanagh believes it’s time for a new generation to hold the title.

“I think he’s slightly on the slide,” said Kavanagh. “When you look at his last few fights, three or four years ago he was destroying opponents of that calibre inside a round or two. Now they’re all bringing him the distance and having decent exchanges.

“When Conor lands strikes it’s devastating, whereas Aldo seems to be happy out-pointing people now. Conor will stop him, maybe in the second or third round, but I do believe he’ll stop him.”

Star-divide

5 MUST-READ STORIES

Friends. Anderson Silva isn’t happy with the apparent willingness of his Brazilian friends to fight him. ‘When the guys talk like this, I’m very, very, very disappointed.’

‘They’re not really shining too hard.’ Nick Diaz says the UFC uses him because they need ‘a real fighter who fights.’

‘I believe he will be the best of all time.’ Anderson Silva says UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones needs to be supported, not criticized for his failed drug test.

‘Things didn’t work out as well as they could have.’ Nick Diaz thinks he would have beaten former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre if they’d fought at UFC 137.

An opening. One of the UFC’s biggest political opponents preventing the legalization of MMA in the state of New York has been arrested on corruption charges.

Star-divide

MEDIA STEW

Star-divide

An overload of Anderson.

Star-divide

Nice looks from Alexander Gustafsson and Anthony Johnson.

Star-divide

Friday Finishes from Inside MMA.

Star-divide

Trailer for the next Conor McGregor documentary in Ireland.

Star-divide

TTTHS.

Star-divide

Long watches.

UFC 183: Anderson Silva vs. Nick Diaz Conference Call

Gross Point Blank – Ken Shamrock

Post UFC Boston John Kavanagh: “McGregor gave himself a 30% score vs Siver

UFC on Fox 14: Travis Browne talks CM Punk, Joe Rogan blasting Brendan Schaub & more

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TWEETS

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Whenever.

Ready whenever Im hoping soon”@Richiee94: @JonnyBones what’s your ideal date to fight the winner of Gustafsson/Johnson? #Unbroken #AndStill

— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) January 23, 2015

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Get well soon.

Surgery is now complete…next step is putting my head down and busting out the rehabilitation… http://t.co/pMHj3h1aHQ

Dominick Cruz (@TheDomin8r) January 23, 2015

I’m feeling great. It sounds like I have a fight in Las Vegas. It’s just a matter of time @Reebok @BrochuKevin @ufc

— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) January 23, 2015

Great training this morning – leg will be back at 100% soon! http://t.co/VXrae8Rxh6

— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) January 22, 2015

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Reality TV claims another.

Feel like I’m going to have take a social media leave of absence after tonight, like I lost a fight or something haha #MilionaireMatchmaker

Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) January 23, 2015

Time for more wine

— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) January 23, 2015

True story lol RT @mattrockhold: My brother @LukeRockhold is hiding out from Patty at my house

— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) January 23, 2015

Watching my Friend @luckrockhold on millionaire matchmaker. Funniest thing I’ve seen in a… http://t.co/bHOJxEVGHC pic.twitter.com/9h5ycJvyjF

Jake Shields (@jakeshieldsajj) January 23, 2015

@LukeRockhold wanted the mixologist 😉

Demetrious Johnson (@MightyMouseUFC) January 23, 2015

@LukeRockhold … Legend #MillionaireMatchMaker

— AL IAQUINTA (@ALIAQUINTA) January 23, 2015

They asked me go on the bow titanic style. I referenced u want me teach her how to spit, we joked about it back stage & editing is a bitch

— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) January 23, 2015

@LukeRockhold lol dude nice job on millionaire match maker. Maybe the heat is on u now and they will forget about my blind date episode.

Tim Sylvia (@timsylviamma) January 23, 2015

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OK.

FREEDOM!!!!! pic.twitter.com/s2rkSuVa1a

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) January 22, 2015

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Beefin’.

@johnlineker take it easy on me? Thanks but I’ll “run” laps around you before I choke the life out of you #fatboy #goodnight

Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) January 22, 2015

Mmmmm kimbo licking good. Waiting for ur answer…@bellatormma #mma #jiujitsu #kickboxing #muaythaihttp://t.co/7aVAmYkGFp

Seth Petruzelli (@silverbackseth) January 22, 2015

Ready to fight, now on diferent ring,i fight to give respect to the fighters!!! Fomos feitos pra… http://t.co/oTipvRAOOO

Wanderlei Silva (@wandfc) January 22, 2015

Star-divide

Sure.

I got a call from #AmericanNinjaWarrior… hmmmmmm should I?

Felice Herrig (@feliceherrig) January 22, 2015

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This Week in Struggle.

Best Worst job ever! http://t.co/9F5ApJgAtA pic.twitter.com/xjHGaMvf1t

Rose Namajunas (@rosenamajunas) January 23, 2015

“Hey, let’s put 47 different kinds of drops in your eye then poke at it for 15-20 minutes” http://t.co/yVTiHU0pl5 pic.twitter.com/YkvWaRD522

James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) January 22, 2015

Let’s book this fight. @bethecorreia says she wants it, I want it, the fans want it. When are we fighting @ufc @UFC_CA @seanshelby?

Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) January 23, 2015

There’s beauty in the struggle .

Sergio Pettis (@sergiopettis) January 21, 2015

I told my dentist: “if you don’t hurt me, I don’t hurt you”#spodakdental pic.twitter.com/OBSyCYXLqj

Andrei Arlovski (@AndreiArlovski) January 22, 2015

How many times am I gonna get confused with Dave Herman & the dumb shit he says & dose come on people get your shit straight !

Ed Herman (@EdHermanufc) January 22, 2015

Just watched blackhat.. Don’t bother as its shit!

— STORMIN NORMAN PARKE (@norman_parke) January 21, 2015

That moment when you are at the dmv and realize you are bummin it and your hair is a mess, and you have to take your license photo.

Carla Esparza (@CarlaEsparza1) January 20, 2015

Forgot to shave before heading to the airport. Predicting my “Random search” ✔️ getting strange looks… http://t.co/aDWvKDlgN8

Beneil Dariush (@beneildariush_) January 20, 2015

I have a dream, one day flyweights will be treated equal! #MLK #ihaveadream

John Moraga (@chicanojohn) January 19, 2015

Cm punk gets signed to the ufc Kimbo to bellator #isuckatlife FML lol

DaMarques Johnson (@DaMarques_UFC) January 19, 2015

Finished up my last meal before weigh ins tomorrow. Weight cut went great this camp. Feeling ready to… http://t.co/yBtmFAHjVL

Dan Henderson (@danhendo) January 23, 2015

Hey nobody @DanielSel what’s the prob u just wake up and talk u must have shit in you mouth all day so what if I lost u can’t do what I do

— U R I A H H A L L (@UriahHallMMA) January 22, 2015

I just had the most wonderfully dorky non verbal conversation with someone I couldn’t understand cause they spoke orcish on WoW

Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) January 22, 2015

@alexthemauler let me introduce you and your countrymen to a softer side.. #charmin #aloeandvitaminEhttp://t.co/oUDREmqbSz

Travis Browne (@travisbrowneMMA) January 22, 2015

#NoScrollZone @ufc internet Warriors are hot! they can’t get a rise or reply out The Chosen One! #UFC183 #ufc #ImFocusedMan

— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) January 22, 2015

30 miles done! Can’t feel my hands. Lil colder than I thought out there. http://t.co/R0jw8Y2sJr

— chad mendes (@chadmendes) January 21, 2015

Oh someone had a mishap on the freeway? Let’s me slow the F%*k down & cause people that don’t rubberneck to slam their brakes.

Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) January 21, 2015

Someone just ripped ass in the post office

David Michaud (@bulldawgUFC) January 21, 2015

Star-divide

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (Jan. 22 2015)

Bobby Green out, Benson Henderson vs. Jorge Madvidal at UFC Fight Night: Lamas vs. Mendes

Ryan LaFlare vs. Demian Maia at UFC Fight Night: Faber vs. Assuncao

Ben Saunders vs. Erick Silva at UFC Fight Night: Faber vs. Assuncao

Leonardo Santos vs. Matt Wiman at UFC Fight Night: Faber vs. Assuncao

Cain Carrizosa vs. Leonardo Mafra at UFC Fight Night: Faber vs. Assuncao

Drew Dober vs. Leandro Silva at UFC Fight Night: Faber vs. Assuncao

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FANPOST OF THE DAY

Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via Emmery Myers.

Why Crocop’s return is actually a great thing.

News broke yesterday that the UFC has come to terms with Pride and K1 legend Mirko Crocop. While it is obvious this was a move designed to out flank the new Bellator, it isn’t nearly as egregious as some fans are making it out to be. This situation is rather comparable to the re-signing, less than one year ago, of Andrei Arlovski; a move similarly laughed off by fans. Fast forward 8 months and Arlovski is currently the number 7 ranked fighter and isn’t more than two KOs from a title fight. What earned Arlovski his return after his Zuffa release following an utterly dismal 0-4 run was a 6-1-1 series of fights against average competition, juxtaposed against a severe lack of star power and depth at HW. Since the last time Mirko Crocop graced the Octagon, he has claimed a K1 title, become a top ten ranked HW kickboxer and gone 3-1 in MMA, including two wins over the highly regarded Satori Ishii, who was probably considered the best Non-UFC HW outside whatever Russian-of-the-week is holding the Bellator title at the moment. If Arlovski deserved another shot, surely we can made the same concession for Crocop given what success he has found.

Check out the rest of the post here.

Star-divide

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.

It’s easy to see where Conor McGregor gets it.

While we all love Greg Jackson, it’s refreshing to see a coach open up a bit more on some prickly issues.

Thursday, SBG Ireland head trainer John Kavanagh penned a piece for The42.ie touching on a few of the biggest storylines emerging from Sunday’s UFC Fight Night event in Boston.

In preliminary action, SBG welterweight Cathal Pendred scored a controversial unanimous decision victory over Sean Spencer. UFC president Dana White called the decision ‘a bad one,’ but Kavanagh believes it was Joe Rogan’s commentary that created a firestorm of negativity towards his fighter.

“People have been questioning the judges’ decision and I think a lot of it has stemmed from Joe Rogan’s commentary on the fight,” said Kavanagh. “When Joe starts to see one guy getting the upper hand in a fight, his mind seems to be made up and he can’t see it any other way. Sean started well so that seemed to settle it for Joe.

“Looking back at the stats from the fight, Sean only landed three or four more significant strikes, whereas Cathal had four takedowns, as well as some submission attempts, and Sean had none. Of course I am slightly biased when it comes to my own fighters – Who isn’t? – but I do genuinely feel Cathal did enough.”

Moving on to prized pupil McGregor, Kavanagh says the rising superstar revealed to him he felt he was ‘operating at about 30 or 40 percent of what he’s capable of’ in the main event against Dennis Siver.

McGregor earned a title shot against featherweight champion Jose Aldo with a second round TKO stoppage, letting Kavanagh finally ponder the matchup.

“I think Jose will want it to turn into a grappling match early on,” said Kavanagh. “As soon as he gets hit he’ll start to shoot for takedowns. Basically, similar to when he’s fought the guys from Team Alpha Male… but with the roles reversed.”

Saying Aldo’s five-round wars have ‘almost certainly taken a lot out of him,’ Kavanagh believes it’s time for a new generation to hold the title.

“I think he’s slightly on the slide,” said Kavanagh. “When you look at his last few fights, three or four years ago he was destroying opponents of that calibre inside a round or two. Now they’re all bringing him the distance and having decent exchanges.

“When Conor lands strikes it’s devastating, whereas Aldo seems to be happy out-pointing people now. Conor will stop him, maybe in the second or third round, but I do believe he’ll stop him.”

Star-divide

5 MUST-READ STORIES

Friends. Anderson Silva isn’t happy with the apparent willingness of his Brazilian friends to fight him. ‘When the guys talk like this, I’m very, very, very disappointed.’

‘They’re not really shining too hard.’ Nick Diaz says the UFC uses him because they need ‘a real fighter who fights.’

‘I believe he will be the best of all time.’ Anderson Silva says UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones needs to be supported, not criticized for his failed drug test.

‘Things didn’t work out as well as they could have.’ Nick Diaz thinks he would have beaten former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre if they’d fought at UFC 137.

An opening. One of the UFC’s biggest political opponents preventing the legalization of MMA in the state of New York has been arrested on corruption charges.

Star-divide

MEDIA STEW

Star-divide

An overload of Anderson.

Star-divide

Nice looks from Alexander Gustafsson and Anthony Johnson.

Star-divide

Friday Finishes from Inside MMA.

Star-divide

Trailer for the next Conor McGregor documentary in Ireland.

Star-divide

TTTHS.

Star-divide

Long watches.

UFC 183: Anderson Silva vs. Nick Diaz Conference Call

Gross Point Blank – Ken Shamrock

Post UFC Boston John Kavanagh: “McGregor gave himself a 30% score vs Siver

UFC on Fox 14: Travis Browne talks CM Punk, Joe Rogan blasting Brendan Schaub & more

Star-divide

TWEETS

Star-divide

Whenever.

Star-divide

Get well soon.

Star-divide

Reality TV claims another.

Star-divide

OK.

Star-divide

Beefin’.

Star-divide

Sure.

Star-divide

This Week in Struggle.

Star-divide

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (Jan. 22 2015)

Bobby Green out, Benson Henderson vs. Jorge Madvidal at UFC Fight Night: Lamas vs. Mendes

Ryan LaFlare vs. Demian Maia at UFC Fight Night: Faber vs. Assuncao

Ben Saunders vs. Erick Silva at UFC Fight Night: Faber vs. Assuncao

Leonardo Santos vs. Matt Wiman at UFC Fight Night: Faber vs. Assuncao

Cain Carrizosa vs. Leonardo Mafra at UFC Fight Night: Faber vs. Assuncao

Drew Dober vs. Leandro Silva at UFC Fight Night: Faber vs. Assuncao

Star-divide

FANPOST OF THE DAY

Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via Emmery Myers.

Why Crocop’s return is actually a great thing.

News broke yesterday that the UFC has come to terms with Pride and K1 legend Mirko Crocop. While it is obvious this was a move designed to out flank the new Bellator, it isn’t nearly as egregious as some fans are making it out to be. This situation is rather comparable to the re-signing, less than one year ago, of Andrei Arlovski; a move similarly laughed off by fans. Fast forward 8 months and Arlovski is currently the number 7 ranked fighter and isn’t more than two KOs from a title fight. What earned Arlovski his return after his Zuffa release following an utterly dismal 0-4 run was a 6-1-1 series of fights against average competition, juxtaposed against a severe lack of star power and depth at HW. Since the last time Mirko Crocop graced the Octagon, he has claimed a K1 title, become a top ten ranked HW kickboxer and gone 3-1 in MMA, including two wins over the highly regarded Satori Ishii, who was probably considered the best Non-UFC HW outside whatever Russian-of-the-week is holding the Bellator title at the moment. If Arlovski deserved another shot, surely we can made the same concession for Crocop given what success he has found.

Check out the rest of the post here.

Star-divide

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.