The time for talk, and there’s been plenty of it, is almost over as the long-awaited clash between Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor is set for Saturday night. The featherweight championship unification bout headlines a strong UFC 194 card.
Chris Weidman will also put his middleweight title on the line for the fourth time as he takes on Luke Rockhold. Both championship bouts are evenly matched, which should ensure the night inside MGM Grand Garden Arena ends with a bang.
Let’s check out all of the important viewing information for the showcase. That’s followed by a look at the card and a deeper dive into the highly anticipated main event.
Event Details
Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas
When: Saturday, Dec. 12 at 6:30 p.m. ET (10 p.m. ET Main Card)
Watch: UFC Fight Pass and Fox Sports 1 (Prelims), PPV (Main Card)
Mobile Info: UFC.com
Tickets: ScoreBig.com
Fight Card
Main Event Preview
Aldo and McGregor have been on a collision course for a long time, so it should be a treat for MMA fans to finally get to see them square off. The intrigue is only bolstered by the fact that neither fighter has a clear advantage heading into the fight.
These are two superstars who are used to winning and typically doing it in dominant fashion. That’s why there are so many questions about what will happen in Saturday’s high-profile clash.
ESPN Stats and Info spotlighted their respective runs of success:
They are both versatile fighters with the ability to wear down an opponent. The biggest factor could very well end up being who’s able to set the pace. McGregor will likely set a more up-tempo fight, giving him a chance to use his power, while Aldo wants a more technical battle to keep the Irishman at bay.
Of course, “The Notorious” is extremely confident, in large part because of what he’s seen out of Aldo. Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times passed along the interim champion’s thoughts about the longtime title holder.
“I see a man who’s ready to go home,” McGregor said. “It’s hard to say it any clearer than that. He wants to go home. It’s over. He’s ready to put it in the past. I guarantee he will be smiling and happy and full of energy when the fight is done because it will be a relief off his shoulders.”
Those type of comments tend to provide a little extra motivation for his opponent, but McGregor has always backed them up during his rise to the top of the division.
ESPN highlighted a tension-filled stare down at the weigh-in, which further illustrated the reason there’s so much interest in the bout:
Ultimately, there really isn’t a result that would be overly shocking. The fight, as the odds show, could go either way. And it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a rematch between the two in the relatively near future, regardless of who comes out on top Saturday night.
That said, look for McGregor‘s power to emerge as the difference. Aldo is coming off an extended layoff from the Octagon due in part to a rib injury. McGregor should use the potential rustiness of his opponent as a chief reason to push the envelope early, and that will help him walk out as the champ.
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