But then, things started to sort themselves out on Wednesday’s edition of when Dana White told the UFC Tonight gang that “If anyone can hold two belts, it’s Conor McGregor.” With that ringing endorsement now out there in the universe, it was pretty much a given that McGregor would challenge lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos next, which recent reports now indicate will be the case.
But then, things started to sort themselves out on Wednesday’s edition of when Dana White told the UFC Tonight gang that “If anyone can hold two belts, it’s Conor McGregor.” With that ringing endorsement now out there in the universe, it was pretty much a given that McGregor would challenge lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos next, which recent reports now indicate will be the case.
Details after the jump.
As first reported by Bleacher Report’s Jeremy Botter (citing multiple sources), McGregor will in fact be moving up to lightweight next to take on Dos Anjos in the main event of UFC 197 on March 5th in Las Vegas.
And not only that, but Botter also confirmed that Holly Holmwill be getting her wish to fight once more before rematching Ronda Rousey, squaring off against former title challenger Miesha Tate in UFC 197′s co-main event. Which, wow. It’s getting harder and harder to be a cynical, biased, UFC h8ing MMA blog these days when looking at the absolutely amazing run they’ve been on lately. (Luckily, there’s still their Nazi-esque outfitting policy to take shots at or we’d probably have to close up shop.)
It’s worth mentioning that Ariel Helwani hinted at “a couple of big fights” being looked at for March 5th back in December, only to be immediately shut down by Dana White for being “full of shit.” Here’s hoping that he has the balls to hit Dana with a zinger like this the next time they’re face-to-face.
(Wanderlei Silva: Professional in the streets, freak in the sheets.)
If there’s two things that Wanderlei Silva has become known for in his post-fighting career, it’s posting creepy, borderline unintelligible videos to his social networks and threatening to slap the sh*t out of people. And while the man has arguably raised some good points about the state of fighter pay, it’s growing harder and harder to take him seriously when those points are threateningly delivered in a dimly-lit room while heavy metal and/or techno blasts in the background.
So a credit is due to Silva for stripping away some of the more distracting elements in his most recent effort, wherein he calls for an immediate rematch between Conor McGregor and Jose Aldo and threatens to slap the “Notorious” one should they ever meet face to face.
(Wanderlei Silva: Professional in the streets, freak in the sheets.)
If there’s two things that Wanderlei Silva has become known for in his post-fighting career, it’s posting creepy, borderline unintelligible videos to his social networks and threatening to slap the sh*t out of people. And while the man has arguably raised some good points about the state of fighter pay, it’s growing harder and harder to take him seriously when those points are threateningly delivered in a dimly-lit room while heavy metal and/or techno blasts in the background.
So a credit is due to Silva for stripping away some of the more distracting elements in his most recent effort, wherein he calls for an immediate rematch between Conor McGregor and Jose Aldo and threatens to slap the “Notorious” one should they ever meet face to face.
The video was posted to Silva’s Facebook page the day after UFC 194, but the entire thing is in Goldbergian Japanese (aka Portuguese), so check out a full translation below via MMAFighting.
I’m here to support one of the greatest champions, our greatest champion, Jose Aldo. You continue to be our great champion. Wanderlei Silva continues to be your fan. I like you, I know what you can do, and I know you know that too. That has happened to be too, I’ve been through a moment like this you’re going through now.
And this promotion, if they don’t give (Aldo) the immediate rematch, we will criticize them. How? Everybody saw it was an accident, this a–hole was lucky. And when I meet this guy, for everything he said about Jesus, I will slap this motherf–ker in the face. You can’t do that. You can’t play with our God. When I meet you, raise your hand because you’re getting slapped in the face, you punk.
I’ll tell you this: it hurts. It hurts. A warrior feels this pain with the loss. I know you will walk through this and show you still are the best fighter in the world. Don’t listen to the critics. I want to ask Brazilians to support our champion. Hold back the jokes. If you have any garbage inside your heart, don’t throw it outside. Keep it to yourself. Don’t criticize our champion. Our champion needs support.
He represents us for a long time. A guy that lived in a gym, had nothing, and became the best fighter in the world, deserves out respect to say the least. Aldo, I’m with you. You’re our champion, and that won’t change anything.
Our major takeaway from this video: No Brazilian has or ever will lose a fight fair and square; extenuating circumstances are almost always to blame. Jose Aldo didn’t simply overcommit and walk right into the power hand of Conor McGregor (like McGregor predicted he would), he had an “accident.” As a matter of fact, we guarantee that if you slow down the footage of his final moments as champion, you’ll see him slipping on a piece of ice placed by in the octagon by that goddamn Dana White.
We kid, but as much as it would arguably make sense for Aldo to receive an immediate rematch — Cain Velasquez and Ronda Rousey are getting just that, and their losses were far less “flukey” than Aldo’s — it would be even harder to see the UFC selling McGregor/Aldo 2 to casual audiences, given the time it took for the first fight to actually come to fruition and the payoff (or lack thereof) it resulted in. As great as a champion as Aldo was, it’s just not a likely scenario that he’ll receive an immediate rematch against a guy with an extremely limited window left at 145 lbs anyways (which opens a whole other can of worms).
Still though, you have to love how the impetus for this whole video seemed to be McGregor’s assertion that he’d “whoop Jesus’ ass” in the octagon, as if he was speaking from the heart and considering it as his next matchup. We can only hope that Wanderlei has never seen Dogma, or else Kevin Smith will have one unholy ass-kicking coming his way.
Our advice to McGregor, though, should Wanderlei attempt to make good on his promise? GO FOR THE DOUBLE LEG!
Back in 2008, a fresh faced (well, maybe “fresh faced” is a little disingenuous) Conor McGregorwas quoted as saying that he would be the future champion of the UFC’s lightweight division — “I’m the fucking future” was how he summed it up, I believe. Over the next four years, McGregor would put together a string of vicious performances that seemed to align with that belief, becoming CWFC’s first two-division champion in the process.
It was on April 6th, 2013 that McGregor was first tested on the world’s premier mixed martial arts stage, and to say that he passed with flying colors would be a bit of an understatement. McGregor tore through Marcus Brimage like tissue paper, starching the TUF 13 alum in just over a minute and collecting a well-earned 60 G’s (babayy!!) in bonus money to boot.
McGregor’s naysayers used a lot of words to describe his subsequent rise to fame — “protected,” “unearned,” and “all talk” among them — but time after time when it came to fight night, there McGregor would be, his hand raised, a thoroughly bewildered and semi-unconscious opponent beside him. He talked the talk, he walked the walk, and on Saturday, Conor McGregor fulfilled the prophecy that he and he alone created in devastating fashion.
Back in 2008, a fresh faced (well, maybe “fresh faced” is a little disingenuous) Conor McGregorwas quoted as saying that he would be the future champion of the UFC’s lightweight division — “I’m the fucking future” was how he summed it up, I believe. Over the next four years, McGregor would put together a string of vicious performances that seemed to align with that belief, becoming CWFC’s first two-division champion in the process.
It was on April 6th, 2013 that McGregor was first tested on the world’s premier mixed martial arts stage, and to say that he passed with flying colors would be a bit of an understatement. McGregor tore through Marcus Brimage like tissue paper, starching the TUF 13 alum in just over a minute and collecting a well-earned 60 G’s (babayy!!) in bonus money to boot.
McGregor’s naysayers used a lot of words to describe his subsequent rise to fame — “protected,” “unearned,” and “all talk” among them — but time after time when it came to fight night, there McGregor would be, his hand raised, a thoroughly bewildered and semi-unconscious opponent beside him. He talked the talk, he walked the walk, and on Saturday, Conor McGregor fulfilled the prophecy that he and he alone created in devastating fashion.
Much has been made about McGregor’s, let’s call them “linguistic skills” over the years, but arguably more impressive than the Irishman’s gift for gab has been his foresight. He said he would knock out Dustin Poirier in a round, and he did. He said he that Chad Mendes would crumble, and he did. Perhaps most insane of all, he said that Jose Aldo — the pound for pound king and only featherweight champion in the UFC’s history — would “overreact, overextend, and then be KO’d unconscious.” And he did.
In the blink of an eye at UFC 194, all doubt about “Mystic Mac’s” abilities were erased via an emphatic knockout of Aldo that was eerily reminiscent of one from early in his career. It was Aldo’s first defeat in ten years, and it happened in just over 10 seconds. It was a moment that’s still indescribable, even when looking back at the road it took to get there.
Speaking of prophecies, Luke Rockhold seemed to know something we all didn’t heading into his UFC 194 co-main event with Chris Weidman. The middleweight title challenger oozed confidence in the build-up to the fight despite being paired against the man best known for defeating one of the sport’s greatest fighters twice, and his confidence was evident from the very first punch thrown.
We all knew Rockhold’s size would be a factor, but the extent to which he was able to wear down Weidman with body kicks and clinch work was a sight to behold. Even the final sequence of the fight, where Rockhold secured a takedown on the two-time Division 1 wrestler that would lead to the fight-ending onslaught of ground-and-pound (which seemed to last for no less than 90 minutes), was a testament to how well-rounded the former Strikeforce champion has become, and just how dominant he will be moving forward…barring any steroid-fueled spinning head kicks.
And Rockhold will need to bring every bit of confidence to the cage should he face Yoel Romero, who secured a split decision over fellow top contender Jacare Souza just one fight earlier at UFC194, next. Despite Romero’s penchant for stretching the rules and slowing down over the course of three round affairs, his momentary flashes of brilliance (I’m referring to that nasty spinning backfist he landed in the first round, of course) still paint him as a dangerous potential challenge to anyone at 185 . But Romero’s controversial win, coupled with Rockhold’s upset, doesn’t exactly make the middleweight title picture any clearer — in fact, we might have to see Weidman vs. Romero to determine who gets a shot at the new champ next.
In any case, a whole lot of possibilities have just opened up in two of the UFC’s most steady divisions, and that’s always an exciting prospect for those of us who choose to embrace the chaos that the sport oft dwells in.
Main Card
Conor McGregor def. Jose Aldo via first-round KO
Luke Rockhold def. Chris Weidman via fourth-round TKO
Yoel Romero def. Jacare Souza via split decision
Demian Maia def. Gunnar Nelson via unanimous decision
Max Holloway def. Jeremy Stephens via UD
Undercard
Urijah Faber def. Frankie Saenz via unanimous decision
Tecia Torres def. Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger via UD
Warlley Alves def. Colby Covington via submission (guillotine choke)
Leonardo Santos def. Kevin Lee via first-round TKO (3:26)
Magomed Mustafaev def. Joe Proctor via TKO (strikes) at 1:54 of R1
Yancy Medeiros def. John Makdessi via split decision
Court McGee def. Marcio Alexandre Jr. via UD
The MMA gods have, for the most part, safely guided one of the most stacked cards in UFC history to fruition. Amidst those ever-prevalent claims of oversaturation, the UFC have mustered up an ubercard for the ages. Featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo will finally defend his title against interim champion Conor McGregor. Middleweight champion Chris Weidman takes on No.1 contender Luke Rockhold in the co-main event. Then you’ve got Romero vs. Souza, Maia vs. Nelson…the list goes on and on.
Nation, it’s been an emotional journey. An unprecedented world media tour. Fractured ribs. Interim titles. More heated staredowns. These have all led to this mammoth main-event. I don’t know about you, but I’m giddy with excitement as months of trash-talking all culminate this weekend. To honour this epic event, I’ve compiled an A-to-Z list previewing each and every aspect of UFC 194. Join me?
The MMA gods have, for the most part, safely guided one of the most stacked cards in UFC history to fruition. Amidst those ever-prevalent claims of oversaturation, the UFC have mustered up an ubercard for the ages. Featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo will finally defend his title against interim champion Conor McGregor. Middleweight champion Chris Weidman takes on No.1 contender Luke Rockhold in the co-main event. Then you’ve got Romero vs. Souza, Maia vs. Nelson…the list goes on and on.
Nation, it’s been an emotional journey. An unprecedented world media tour. Fractured ribs. Interim titles. More heated staredowns. These have all led to this mammoth main-event. I don’t know about you, but I’m giddy with excitement as months of trash-talking all culminate this weekend. To honour this epic event, I’ve compiled an A-to-Z list previewing each and every aspect of UFC 194. Join me?
Rockhold’s stand-up skills pave the way for his buttery smooth ground game. Weidman will have to be wary of the former Strikeforce champions efficiency on the mat.
C is for Coaches
As well as the primed fighters, the two title-bouts also pit masterful coaches against one another in Pederneiras vs. Kavanagh and Longo/Serra vs. Cook/Mendez.
D is for Division I
The middleweight challenger does indeed own a fierce, aggressive jiu-jitsu game, but Weidman brings his Division I wrestling credentials to the table pitting the two noble disciplines.
The main-card will open in style with Max Holloway vs. Jeremy Stephens, a fight that is largely flying under the radar when compared to the simply epic fights that come after it. Come to think of it, the whole card other than Aldo-McGregor is flying under the radar.
Don’t be surprised to see ‘The Notorious’ in movie theatres near you in the future. McGregor claims Hollywood is screaming for him, so let’s hope it doesn’t get to his head like certain other fighters.
I is for Interim
Interim champion McGregor doesn’t want to be labelled as interim champion, which, okayyyyy.
J is for Jiu-Jitsu
Ice-cool Gunnar Nelson will take on the equally stoic Demian Maia. Two of the finest jiu-jitsu practitioners on the planet going head-to-head, which can only mean that a sloppy stand-up war is what will ensue.
K is for Kicks
Rockhold’s kicks > Aldo’s kicks. Yeah, I said it.
L is for Lightweight
Win or lose, is McGregor planning his exit from the featherweight division? He’s stated on numerous occasions about his intentions of challenging for the 155lbs title, and has already talked his way into a fight with the Donald Cerrone-Rafael Dos Anjos lightweight title winner.
M is for Movement
Being a so-called “student of movement” with an obsession over the mechanics of the human anatomy, McGregor linked up with martial art guru Ido Portal recently, as seen in the UFC 194 embedded vlog series, where he polished and further enhanced his range of movements.
N is for Newcomer
Newcomer Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger would make a huge statement in the women’s strawweight division if she could take out the No.5 ranked Tecia Torres.
O is for “Overaggressive”
According to Rockhold, the undefeated champion is “overaggressive” and “clumsy.” Does anyone agree with the challenger’s statement?
P is for Pay
In case you were worried that MMA referees are overpaid, they’re not. ‘Big’ John McCarthy will make a measly $1,900 for reffing Aldo-McGregor. Stay classy, NSAC.
Q is for Quality
The quality of the top three fights goes without saying, but the combined record of those 6 fighters, in case you were wondering? 102-9. Ridiculous.
Aldo’s sneaky-good wrestling, as displayed against Mark Hominick and Chan Sung Jung, coupled with his jiu-jitsu black belt could be his way to victory against McGregor, whose only losses have come on the ground.
Urijah Faber is the pound-for-pound king of headlining prelims. At UFC 194, he’ll be taking on huge underdog Frankie Saenz in the coveted “featured prelim” slot once again.
V is for Vocal
Come fight night, The MGM Grand Garden Arena is going to be a melting pot of vocal Irish and Brazilian fans. Event security is going to have their hands full.
W is for Weapons
It seems fans and critics alike are heavily obsessing over the possible inefficacy of Aldo’s leg-kicks due to McGregor’s southpaw stance. Newsflash: the Brazilian has many other potent weapons in his arsenal like the power in his hands as well as his stellar ground game.
X is for X-Rated
Middleweight champion Chris Weidman recently recalled his worst injury on Huffington Post Live. FYI: It’s penis-related.
But before they do, how about one last video to send your anticipation levels through the damn roof?
If you haven’t seen it already, the UFC’s latest Embedded episode on McGregor vs. Aldo is a must-see ahead of this weekend’s UFC 194 main event. Chronicling both fighters rise from rags to riches, the UFC 189 media tour (and Aldo’s subsequent withdrawal), and their incredible training regimens, UFC 194 Embedded is arguably the crowning achievement of the series. A credit is due to the UFC for really stepping it up in regards to the production value and somehow getting us more excited for this fight than we previously thought possible. Bravo, ladies and gents.
(“So Conor, how do *you* think Reebok is doing so far?”)
Conor McGregor, if nothing else, is one charismatic individual. He’s a quick thinker ( or perhaps “tinker”) and crack wit — as his back and forthswith Urijah Faber on TUF 22 have demonstrated — and incredibly well-spoken when compared to the average fighter, even he if he does sometimes say things he later regrets.
Fame, respect, money, movement…these are all things that interest the “Notorious” one, and regardless of whether you think he’s “fake” or “real,” it would be tough to argue that he’s not achieving damn near every one of those tings. His interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night was a continuation of his meteoric rise since joining the UFC, and covered everything from the fallout of UFC 189 to his sparring match with “The Mountain” (which quickly escalated from playful sparring session into “a bare-knuckle body brawl,” according to the man himself) to which lavish, exotic pet he should buy after/if he beats Jose Aldo at UFC 194. FWIW, McGregor is leaning toward either tiger or monkey.
(“So Conor, how do *you* think Reebok is doing so far?”)
Conor McGregor, if nothing else, is one charismatic individual. He’s a quick thinker ( or perhaps “tinker”) and crack wit — as his back and forthswith Urijah Faber on TUF 22 have demonstrated — and incredibly well-spoken when compared to the average fighter, even he if he does sometimes say things he later regrets.
Fame, respect, money, movement…these are all things that interest the “Notorious” one, and regardless of whether you think he’s “fake” or “real,” it would be tough to argue that he’s not achieving damn near every one of those tings. His interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night was a continuation of his meteoric rise since joining the UFC, and covered everything from the fallout of UFC 189 to his sparring match with “The Mountain” (which quickly escalated from playful sparring session into “a bare-knuckle body brawl,” according to the man himself) to which lavish, exotic pet he should buy after/if he beats Jose Aldo at UFC 194. FWIW, McGregor is leaning toward either tiger or monkey.
