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Critics and skeptics of Conor McGregor’s UFC 196 welterweight performance have blamed the weight gain on the Irish superstar’s loss, but at least one man is saying “what weight gain?”

According to McGregor’s strength and conditioning coach, John Connor, the “Notorious” loss had little to nothing to do with his weight, and that McGregor weighed pretty much what he always does.

“Conor fought at the weight that he walks around at – always,” said Connor during a recent appearance on The Manual podcast (transcribed by Seamus Raferty of PunditArena.com).

“We did more fitness work for this because we could. Because he was so tight at the weight for 145, we always had to be careful what we did because we couldn’t do too much. Because we didn’t want him putting on size, because it just makes it harder to get down there. He was at his peak condition going into that fight”.

According to Connor, McGregor really began his transformation into his current physique after sustaining an injury to his ACL against Max Holloway in 2013. That’s when the Irish fighter got into movement, strength and conditioning.

“And if you look at his body – his body has transformed a lot since then. And his big thing is that, you look at, his arse is bigger, which is more power, his hamstrings are a lot bigger, and his lower back is a lot bigger.”

When McGregor fought Diego Brandao a year later in Dublin, Ireland, McGregor was the biggest he’d ever been. Connor says he’s been at that weight ever since, give a pound (kilogram) or two.

“So, he weighed in at 168 [prior to UFC 196]. So you’re talking 76 kilos. He was probably 1 or 2 kilos heavier than he was fighting in Dublin, fighting in Boston, fighting in Vegas against Poirier, I wasn’t there for July against Mendes so I don’t know, Aldo again it was probably the same. So he was only 1 and a half, maybe 2 kilos heavier than he was in those other fights”.

UFC president Dana White has repeatedly credited McGregor for jumping up two weight classes to fight Nate Diaz last weekend, but as you can hear from this strength and conditioning coach, he didn’t really go up in weight at all. He simply didn’t cut the water weight and rehydrate it 24 hours later.

The most interesting thing about all of this is Connor’s statement that “Mystic Mac” was in great physical condition, despite the fact he looked a little “gassed out” in the second round, something the Frankie Edgar camp has picked up on.

Gassy? Or Stockton slapped? You decide.

There’s been enough incredible upsets in the UFC in the past year to tell you that anything can happen on fight night.

Nobody knows that better than Fabricio Werdum, who defeated non-sea level Cain Velasquez in Mexico City at UFC 188.

But when Velasquez pulled out of his scheduled February rematch against Werdum, the Brazilian decided against late-replacement Stipe Miocic, drawing heavy criticism from fans and Irish superstars.

According to “Vai Cavalo” it had nothing to do with being a scaredy cat.

“I was criticized by some fans, but it was mostly people talking nonsense, saying I was scared of Miocic,” Werdum told UFC on FOX. “I have been fighting for 18 years. Why would I be afraid of Miocic?”

Regardless of fears or otherwise, the pair have been re-booked for May 18 inside Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Parana, Brazil, for UFC 198.

Despite fighting on home soil against a man who is currently a +164 underdog in Las Vegas, Werdum isn’t going to make the mistake of looking past the 14-2 Miocic.

“I don’t like it when people say one fight is easier than another. It’s not true. Every match is different,” Werdum said. “He’s taller than Cain, it’s different. I can’t go in there thinking it’ll be easier. I can’t underestimate him.”

Miocic has been a dangerous knockout artist in recent fights, with three violent finishes against Mark Hunt, Andrei Arlovski and Fabio Maldonado split between a five round war with Junior dos Santos.

Werdum, 20-5-1, is on a career resurgence himself, stringing together six consecutive victories in his second stint in UFC after migrating over from Strikeforce. In that winning streak the Brazilian has two knockouts and two submissions, including a performance of the night guillotine choke against Velasquez to win the heavyweight strap in his last outing.

As for being afraid, Werdum tells FOX he’s afraid no man.

“I’m only afraid of my mom,” he said.

Bloody Elbow is the place to be for live video, results, and play-by-play of tonight’s World Series of Fighting 29 in Greeley, Colorado, where lightweight champion Justin Gaethje fights Brian Foster in the main event.

Tonight, World Series of Fighting originates from Bank of America Arena in Greeley, Colorado. The main event is must-watch, because lightweight champion Justin Gaethje is one of the most exciting fighters in all of MMA. Gaethje seeks another successful title defense, as he takes on UFC veteran and WSOF one-night tournament winner Brian Foster. The co-main event features former UFC heavyweight Josh Copeland against Mike Hayes, who has won just once in his last eight fights. Yeah.

More: WSOF champ Justin Gaethje: I won’t take a pay cut to go to the UFC

Bloody Elbow is your place to watch and discuss tonight’s action. The NBC Sports Network broadcast begins at 10 PM ET/6 PM PT, but you can catch the preliminary card on Bloody Elbow at the top of the page starting at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT. It’s Danny Mainus time, and you know how I feel about Mainus.

More: WSOF 29: Gaethje vs. Foster preview

Here’s the full bout order:

Main Card (NBCSN, 10 p.m. ET)

Justin Gaethje vs. Brian Foster
Josh Copeland vs. Mike Hayes
Cory Devela vs. Louis Taylor
Josh Cavan vs. Kris Hocum

Preliminary Card (Online, 8 p.m. ET)

Ian Heinisch vs. Tyler Vogel
Josh Huber vs. Clay Wimer
Danny Mainus vs. Brandon Royal

The heavyweight boxing legend believes Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey will learn from their mistakes and return to form in the UFC.

If there’s one fighter who’s familiar with the highs and lows of combat sports, it’s heavyweight boxing legend Mike Tyson. Tyson, 49, built a reputation as ‘the baddest man on the planet’ when he was running rampant through the heavyweight division in the 80’s.

Things came crashing down for ‘Iron Mike’ when he was knocked out by Buster Douglas in the 10th round at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. Things also came crashing down for Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor when they were both recently humbled in the Octagon.

“Rowdy”, who lost her bantamweight title in devastating fashion to Holly Holm at UFC 193, broke down on the Ellen Degeneres show when she admitted to suicidal thoughts in the wake of her loss. McGregor, on the other hand, was clearly upset with the outcome to Nate Diaz at UFC 196 but seems to be taking the loss in his stride.

Tyson believes both fighters are going through the motions but will learn from their mistakes and rebound with conviction. Here’s what what the combat sports veteran had to say about Rousey:

“Listen, you say those things, but that’s just our ego’s really being bruised that’s all,” Tyson told “The Jim Rome Show” recently. “We get it together, we realize it’s a discipline, we need to correct some mistakes that we made to increase our desire, and life goes on.

“Now she’s going to get ready to fight the girl (Miesha Tate) that just beat Holly Holm and most likely she’s going to beat that woman.”

The former boxing world champion also believes McGregor was too ambitious with his move up to welterweight and offered the Irishman some encouraging words of advice.

“My personal opinion, I think he went up too fast in weight, and I think he fought the wrong guy in that weight,” Tyson said. “It’s just something that happens in fighting, and we should all learn from our mistakes.

“That’s what fighting is all about, learning from our mistakes, improving our mistakes, and improving ourselves. Not giving up.”

It’s expected that Ronda Rousey will rematch Miesha Tate for the batamweight title and McGregor will move back down to featherweight to defend his championship.

Check out a brief preview of WSOF 29, where Justin Gaethje will defend his title against Brian Foster.

Brian Foster’s come-from-behind tournament win earned him a lightweight title shot against longstanding champion Justin Gaethje, and he’ll get it tonight in Greeley, CO at WSOF 29. The main card, which airs on NBC Sports Network starting at 10pm ET/7pm PT, also features a heavyweight bout and a scrap between two Strikeforce vets.

Let’s take a brief look at the main card and offer up some predictions.

Justin Gaethje vs. Brian Foster

As mentioned, this is for the WSOF lightweight title. Foster won a wild and wacky lightweight tournament back in November where he was actually beaten by Joao Zeferino in the first round, but got back in due to injuries and ended up getting his win back from Zeferino in the finals. His strong all-round game will be put to the test by the undefeated champion, who throws caution to the wind and engages in brawls more often than not.

Truthfully, this is Gaethje’s fight to lose. He’ll fight like he always does, and if his chin can stand up to Foster’s power, he should eventually wear him down and get the victory.

Prediction: Justin Gaethje by TKO, round 4

Josh Copeland vs. Mike Hayes

Copeland had a cup of coffee in the UFC, dropping his only two bouts there. He was beaten by Vitaly Minakov in his last bout in Europe. Hayes fought in a couple of early Bellator tournaments and has not had good results as of late, going  just 1-6-1 in his last eight.

This will be your typical heavyweight fight. Plodding, probably unremarkable until a finish shows up out of nowhere.

Prediction: Josh Copeland by TKO, round 2

Cory Devela vs. Louis Taylor

Both Strikeforce vets are coming in on four-fight winning streaks, which is commendable – they even beat UFC-tested competition. This might be a contender fight for the right to face David Branch for his middleweight title next. Devela is the slight favorite, and I think he has the game to win a close decision.

Prediction: Cory Devela by decision

Josh Cavan vs. Kris Hocum

Prediction: Josh Cavan by decision