There is an angry Diego Sanchez on the loose, which means Conor McGregor should probably steer clear of any dark alleys or nearby “Yes” chants.
McGregor was a busy man on Thursday, making an enemy out of every top-10 featherweight in the UF…
There is an angry Diego Sanchez on the loose, which means ConorMcGregor should probably steer clear of any dark alleys or nearby “Yes” chants.
McGregor was a busy man on Thursday, making an enemy out of every top-10 featherweight in the UFC. He literally went down the list disqualifying fighters on Twitter.
“Notorious” is an apt nickname for McGregor, who has been living the rock star lifestyle in recent months.
It doesn’t take a trained eye to see the immense talent burning within McGregor, but he simply hasn’t accomplished anything noteworthy to be receiving the red carpet treatment this early in his UFC career.
At UFC Fight Night 26, he even received the full main event blackout entrance during his undercard bout against Max Holloway.
This is where Sanchez draws the line.
The UFC lightweight contender hopped on Twitter during the event and denounced the early McGregor hype.
Thursday certainly wasn’t the best of days for McGregor, who found out he would be sidelined for nine to 10 months after tearing his ACL in the Holloway fight. He made sure to respond to Sanchez’s earlier tweets in the midst of calling out the featherweight division.
Sanchez immediately fired back several angry tweets claiming there would be a physical altercation the next time he and McGregor crossed paths.
For those hoping to get a glimpse of the supposed street brawl, Sanchez said he would make sure someone records it on an iPhone.
McGregor has only been in the UFC for a few months, and he is already ruffling feathers and stealing headlines. A savvy businessman lies behind that Irish grin and snazzy bow tie.
Perhaps “Notorious” is destined to live up to his larger than life nickname after all.
Well, it looks like the Conor McGregor hype train has pulled into the station for extensive repairs. Though the Irish featherweight was originally reported to have suffered a minor ACL sprain during his decision victory over Max Hollaway last weekend, an MRI has revealed that McGregor actually sustained an ACL tear, an MCL strain, and a posterior horn meniscal tear. (Aye…da dreaded O’Donoghue’s triad.) He will be out of action for approximately 10 months.
So no, he won’t be fighting Diego Brandao — or anybody else — at UFC 168. It’s a shame, because McGregor was on a roll, in terms of trash-talking other fighters on Twitter. A couple of nights ago, he dissed the majority of the UFC’s featherweight contenders, calling them boring (Guida, Lentz), old (Swanson, Siver), undersized (Mendes, Edgar), or unpopular (Lamas, Koch). And then, he got into a twitter-beef with Diego Sanchez, telling The Dream “You’re the fattest, sloppiest, slowest Martial Artist i’ve ever laid eyes on. I’d go up to 170 to whoop your fat ass. EASY.”
McGregor won’t be able to back up any of his words until next summer. Still, he tried to put a brash spin on his knee injury this morning, writing: “I celebrate adversity. Congratulations. Your favourite fighter is safe. For 10 months. #AintNothing I’ll do it on my back. EASY!!!!”
Well, it looks like the Conor McGregor hype train has pulled into the station for extensive repairs. Though the Irish featherweight was originally reported to have suffered a minor ACL sprain during his decision victory over Max Hollaway last weekend, an MRI has revealed that McGregor actually sustained an ACL tear, an MCL strain, and a posterior horn meniscal tear. (Aye…da dreaded O’Donoghue’s triad.) He will be out of action for approximately 10 months.
So no, he won’t be fighting Diego Brandao — or anybody else — at UFC 168. It’s a shame, because McGregor was on a roll, in terms of trash-talking other fighters on Twitter. A couple of nights ago, he dissed the majority of the UFC’s featherweight contenders, calling them boring (Guida, Lentz), old (Swanson, Siver), undersized (Mendes, Edgar), or unpopular (Lamas, Koch). And then, he got into a twitter-beef with Diego Sanchez, telling The Dream “You’re the fattest, sloppiest, slowest Martial Artist i’ve ever laid eyes on. I’d go up to 170 to whoop your fat ass. EASY.”
McGregor won’t be able to back up any of his words until next summer. Still, he tried to put a brash spin on his knee injury this morning, writing: “I celebrate adversity. Congratulations. Your favourite fighter is safe. For 10 months. #AintNothing I’ll do it on my back. EASY!!!!”
Two weeks ago, all seemed to be running smoothly in the UFC lightweight title picture.
Champion Benson Henderson and No. 1 contender T.J. Grant were preparing for their scheduled title clash at UFC 164 in late August, and a collection of top 155-pound …
Two weeks ago, all seemed to be running smoothly in the UFC lightweight title picture.
Champion Benson Henderson and No. 1 contender T.J. Grant were preparing for their scheduled title clash at UFC 164 in late August, and a collection of top 155-pound fighters were given assignments that would have had an impact on the upper tier of the lightweight fold.
But mixed martial arts is a sport rife with uncertainty and the “injury bug” was about to rear it’s head and shake things up in a major way.
Last Friday night, news of T.J. Grant suffering a concussion and withdrawing from his title fight with Henderson hit the MMA media headlines. Before the masses could make sense of the Nova Scotian pulling out of the championship tilt, the next installment of the bout switch came through when the UFC announced former WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis would be taking his place at UFC 164.
“Showtime” getting the nod to face “Bendo” came through as a pleasant surprise to the MMA faithful who were still reeling from the Duke Roufus-trained fighter being forced out of his featherweight title showdown with Jose Aldo at UFC 163.
Suddenly, Grant was out. Pettis was in. And a rematch three years in the making became the first “can’t miss” scrap in the UFC’s stacked second half run to close out 2013.
While Henderson vs. Pettis firmly locked the spotlight on the championship tier of the lightweight division, it also had an impact on the divisional hierarchy as a whole. With Pettis returning to 155-pounds and stepping in for the title shot he previously abandoned following his victory over Donald Cerrone at UFC on Fox 6 back in January, the race for the next title opportunity immediately went into hyper-drive.
There are some interesting circumstances at play in the contender’s tier of the division and what comes next will hinge largely on who does the winning in the coming months.
Winning is Important, But Who Wins Will Matter the Most
The lightweight title will be on the line at UFC 164 and there are several fighters angling for a championship opportunity in the near future. At the current time there are two high profile bouts slated on the fall schedule, and those fights have the potential to shape up the title picture to close out the year.
Resurgent contender Donald Cerrone squares-off with Rafael dos Anjos at UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Kampmann 2 on Aug. 28 in Indianapolis and the winner will certainly position himself as a one of the front runners in the heated title race.
“Cowboy” has found victory in three of his last four showings and is coming off a lopsided drubbing over K.J. Noons at UFC 160 back in May. Cerrone’s win over “King Karl” put him back on track after suffering a crushing defeat against Pettis at UFC on Fox 6 and once again put the Jackson’s MMA fighter back on the radar of title contention.
As for dos Anjos, the 28-year-old Brazilian is currently enjoying one of the best stretches of his career. “RDA” has found victory in four consecutive outings and been successful in five of his last six during this stretch. His most recent win came against Evan Dunham at UFC on FX 8 back in May and the matchup with Cerrone will certainly be the biggest fight of his nine-year career.
While the bout between Cerrone and dos Anjos carries its fair share of high stakes, there is a shift in the scales where star power and name recognition is concerned. The 30-year-old former WEC lightweight title challenger carries one of the division’s most visible profiles, while dos Anjos is relatively unknown outside of the hardcore MMA fanbase.
Should Cerrone earn victory over dos Anjos in Indianapolis, the next step being a title opportunity is a possible reality. On the other hand, if dos Anjos gets the win on Aug. 28, it would be difficult to imagine the Brazilian jumping to the front of that particular line.
Where there is a difference in name recognition in the tilt between Cerrone and dos Anjos, the other high stakes bout on the fall docket doesn’t have that issue.
Former Strikeforce champion and recent title challenger Gilbert Melendez will scrap it out with former No. 1 contender Diego Sanchez at UFC 166 in October in a fight neither man can afford to lose.
“El Nino” is coming off a razor-thin, albeit controversial, split-decision loss to Henderson at UFC on Fox 7 back in April and he is hungry to get another shot at UFC gold. The 31-year-old Bay Area representative had put together a four-year, seven-fight winning streak coming into his bout with “Bendo” in San Jose and that success earned him an immediate title opportunity in the UFC following Strikeforce closing their doors for good in January.
While the loss to Henderson was certainly a setback for Melendez, it didn’t push him out of the immediate title picture. If he can defeat Sanchez and do so in sound fashion, the victory could certainly earn him another title shot in quick fashion.
Sanchez is looking at a similar situation. After his welterweight run produced mixed results, “The Dream” committed to once again dropping down to the 155-pound fold and making another run towards the lightweight crown. He was successful in his first lightweight showing in over three years when he edged out former Pride champion Takanori Gomi via split-decision at UFC on Fuel TV 8 back in March.
While Sanchez may not have a ton of momentum built up in the lightweight ranks, he has a passionate following with the UFC faithful. This makes the upcoming bout with Melendez a huge opportunity and the original TUF winner will absolutely be looking to make the most of it. If Sanchez is able to defeat Melendez in Houston at UFC 166, it could potentially provide the springboard for another title opportunity.
Where two consecutive wins would typically not be enough to warrant a title shot in the ultra-competitive lightweight fold, Sanchez could be the exception. Melendez is fresh off a title opportunity of his own, and defeating a recent No. 1 contender would be a huge feather in Sanchez’s cap.
Other Things to Consider
With the scheduled action in the lightweight title picture set to blast off, there are other fighters in the mix who are looking for their way in to the fold.
Former Strikeforce champion and AKA staple Josh Thomson is coming off a huge victory over former title challenger Nate Diaz, and is jockeying for a spot in the race. “The Punk” was recently angling for a showdown with Anthony Pettis in the fall, but with the Milwaukee resident stepping in for a title opportunity, Thomson will have to sit on the sidelines and wait for the right opportunity to materialize.
One possible option that makes sense in light of the recent shake-up would be T.J. Grant. The Canadian wrecking machine has been a nightmare since dropping down to the lightweight division and earned his title shot by defeating perennial contender Gray Maynard at UFC 160. His victory over “The Bully” was the 29-year-old’s fifth consecutive win and being forced out of his scheduled bout with Henderson was undoubtedly devastating.
Nevertheless, Grant will be looking to stay in the race for title contention and a bout with Thomson could very well serve as a title eliminator for both men.
While the action is fierce in the upper tier of the lightweight division, there are two young fighters who are making strong strides to break through into the next level of the weight class.
Undefeated 24-year-old Khabib Nurmagomedov has been steamrolling the competition since joining the UFC in January of 2012. In 18 months of work, “The Eagle” has made his presence in the lightweight ranks known as he’s collected four consecutive victories under the UFC banner.
His most recent win came at the expense of Abel Trujillo as Nurmagomedov earned a lopsided unanimous decision victory over the Team Blackzilians fighter, scoring a UFC record 21 takedowns in the process. While the talented young Dagestani is yet to face the highest level of talent the lightweight division has to offer, he is certainly on the fast track to do so.
Another surging talent chopping his way through the 155-pound ranks is Edson Barboza. The Brazilian striker has been amassing a highlight reel of devastating knockouts since entering the UFC fold. The 27-year-old has won six of his seven showings inside the Octagon with his only setback coming at the hands of former WEC champion Jamie Varner at UFC 146 in May of 2012. The Renzo Gracie-trained fighter has since bounced back strong, earning back-to-back victories with his most recent coming by way of a brutal leg kick clinic he put on Rafaello Oliveira at UFC 162.
There is no doubt the upper tier is crowded in the 155-pound division, but with Nurmagomedov and Barboza knocking on the door, things will continue to remain interesting for the foreseeable future.
Melendez is coming off of a razor-thin decision loss to champion Benson Henderson at UFC on FOX 7. Despite the ‘L’ on his record, the former Strikeforce champion lived up to the hype in his UFC debut and looks to get back into title contention ASAP by facing Sanchez.
“The Dream” has won three out of his last four bouts, including his victorious return to the lightweight division this past March when he earned a decision over Takanori Gomi. Melendez looked better than ever in his last bout, but Sanchez has a tendency to make any fight a competitive scrap…most of the time, at least. Who do you pick in this one, ‘Taters?
Melendez is coming off of a razor-thin decision loss to champion Benson Henderson at UFC on FOX 7. Despite the ‘L’ on his record, the former Strikeforce champion lived up to the hype in his UFC debut and looks to get back into title contention ASAP by facing Sanchez.
“The Dream” has won three out of his last four bouts, including his victorious return to the lightweight division this past March when he earned a decision over Takanori Gomi. Melendez looked better than ever in his last bout, but Sanchez has a tendency to make any fight a competitive scrap…most of the time, at least. Who do you pick in this one, ‘Taters?
For the past five years, Gilbert Melendez has been on a mission to prove he is the best 155-pound fighter on the planet.Over this stretch, the 31-year-old Californian put together an impressive run where he not only claimed the Strikeforce lightweight …
For the past five years, Gilbert Melendez has been on a mission to prove he is the best 155-pound fighter on the planet.
Over this stretch, the 31-year-old Californian put together an impressive run where he not only claimed the Strikeforce lightweight championship, but defended the strap on six consecutive occasions. That level of success and consistency made “El Nino” a staple in the race for the top spot in the lightweight ranks, but competing outside of the UFC made respect on a larger scale difficult to come by for the Skrap Pack leader.
Nevertheless, the San Jose-based promotion folded in January of this year, and Melendez was given a title shot against reigning UFC title holder Benson Henderson at UFC on Fox 7. It was the opportunity Melendez had been working towards and he stepped in to make his official Octagon debut with high stakes on the line.
Not only was there a coveted UFC title hanging in the balance, but the chance to prove once and for all who was the king of the lightweight division was at his finger tips. But after a gritty five-round battle between the two champions, Melendez came out on the short end of a split-decision in San Jose, and for the first time in seven fights, the Team Cesar Gracie fighter exited the cage without a title intact.
Yet, despite how the cageside judges scored the bout, the former No. 1 contender believes he proved a point at UFC on Fox 7 and he has used the experience to motivate his return to the grind.
“I think I am the best lightweight fighter in the world,” Melendez told Bleacher Report. “I think that I made that goal and I think I’ve done that. I believe I showed that in my last fight. I think I proved that I am a better fighter than Benson. He’s a tough matchup to fight and I feel like I did beat him that night. Maybe I lost on the judge’s cards, but I know I won the fight. I held my ground and was ready to fight to the death right there and I don’t think he was.”
“That said, I’m revamping the goal now. I’m going after that lightweight title and I am going to continue to prove I’m the best lightweight fighter in the world. My goal now is to get that UFC strap. I don’t care who has it. I’m coming for that UFC title.”
While the loss and being pushed down the divisional ladder were difficult turns for Melendez to face, the former champion refused to hang his head in the aftermath. The outcome may not have been in his favor against Henderson, but Melendez has taken plenty of positives out of the tilt.
“I took a ton of positives away from that fight,” Melendez said. “Yeah, not getting the win was tough. But you get over it and immediately regroup to start on the comeback trail. You look at what you have to do differently and you start thinking about the positives. And there were a bunch of positives. With that fight my brand went up. I won my last seven fights, had been undefeated for a solid streak, but then I have my first fight in the UFC and my brand still goes up 10 times more even with a loss.
“Competing in the UFC you also have to adapt to the size of the cage. Fighting inside the Strikeforce cage was completely different than the Octagon. The next time out, I’m going to have made those adjustments and my performance is only going to be that much stronger. People said it looked like I didn’t have any nerves during that fight with Benson, but I’ll be a lot more comfortable in my next fight for sure.”
The first step for Melendez to get back on track will come later this year against former lightweight title challenger Diego Sanchez. While there is yet to be an official date set for the showdown, the UFC has targeted the bout for one of their upcoming events in October.
Following his victory over TakanoriGomi at UFC on Fuel TV 8, “The Dream” gave matchmaker Joe Silva a “wish list“ of potential opponents for his next fight. Melendez was one of the names on that list and in short fashion, the lightweight scrap was put together.
“Be careful what you wish for as they always say,” Melendez offered. “I think Diego is a warrior. He likes to go to war inside the cage, and whether he wins or loses, he loves to get in there and battle. His last fight wasn’t quite that, but a war brings the best out of him, and I’m the kind of guy who loves a war as well. A good fight brings the best out of me. It’s cool getting called out by Diego. I take it as a compliment and I’m happy to be on this level, but Diego is Diego.”
With the battle with Sanchez set for later this year, Melendez can now begin the preparation for his next go inside the cage. Having a large amount of lead-in time is a welcome change for the El Nino Training Center owner and he believes the situation is a direct reflection of how the UFC operates their business.
While Melendez represented the Strikeforce banner proudly for many years, the manner in which business was conducted from fight to fight left much to be desired in the eyes of the former champion.
“It feels great to know I’m getting a great fight right away,” Melendez said. “That wasn’t always the case in the past, and with Diego, I get a big name and great fight. He was a pioneer in this MMA game and it’s neat that the UFC is on top of it. They are a real business. I love Strikeforce, but these guys do their business so well.
“I’m getting proper notice for a fight and there is no juggling opponents. I feel like the UFC is giving me a lot of respect by doing things this way. I know not every fighter gets that kind of notice, but I appreciate they are letting me know what is coming ahead of time. It’s great to feel that kind of respect from them.
“I have four months notice to prep for Diego. I’ve never had that before. I would get an eight-week notice and a switch of opponents. Or I would get a switch in venues or switch of dates. It’s nice to have that kind of lead in. He’s on my mind and now I can put all of my focus, both mental and physical, into preparing for that fight.
“I’m looking to get back to that title,” Melendez added. “I believe if I make a statement in this fight, that opportunity is right there.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
The lightweight divisional race has been nothing short of electric in the first half of 2013.Champion Benson Henderson edged out former Strikeforce title holder Gilbert Melendez in their tilt at UFC on Fox 7 back in April, while several of the division…
The lightweight divisional race has been nothing short of electric in the first half of 2013.
Champion Benson Henderson edged out former Strikeforce title holder Gilbert Melendez in their tilt at UFC on Fox 7 back in April, while several of the division’s top fighters experienced turbulence as they were turned back in their respective showings throughout the year’s opening six months.
The first half of the year provided plenty of unexpected surprises as well. Divisional darkhorse T.J. Grant put the finishing touches on his quest for a shot at the title as he rolled over Matt Wiman in January and former No. 1 contender Gray Maynard in his most recent outing at UFC 160.
American Kickboxing Academy staple Josh Thomson made a long-awaited and triumphant return to the UFC when he knocked out former title challenger Nate Diaz at UFC on Fox 7 in San Jose.
Former WEC title challenger Donald Cerrone bounced back after being knocked out of title contention in the first month of the year. “Cowboy” took a brutal setback courtesy of Anthony Pettis at UFC on Fox 6 in January, but jumped back onto the contention radar by drubbing K.J. Noons at UFC 160.
It goes without saying that the lightweight division is one of the most talent-rich collections under the UFC banner, and after a fast and furious opening six months, the second half of the year is easily shaping up to be action-packed.
Let’s take a look at some of the key matchups that will shake-up the title picture to close out 2013.
Benson Henderson vs. T.J. Grant
Lightweight champion Benson Henderson is on a mission to become one of the most dominant title holders in UFC history. The MMA Lab product has made three successful title defenses since claiming the strap from Frankie Edgar at UFC 144 back in February of 2012, earning victories over the likes of Nate Diaz, Gilbert Melendez and Edgar in their immediate rematch at UFC 150.
While Henderson was ruling the championship tier of the division, gritty Canadian T.J. Grant was making his climb. The former welterweight turned lightweight contender has collected five consecutive victories since dropping down into 155-pound waters. The 29-year-old Nova Scotian earned a title opportunity on the strength of his dynamic run and will have the opportunity to square off with the current champion on August 31 in Milwaukee.
Grant solidified his No. 1 contender status by putting on the most impressive performance of his career against Gray Maynard at UFC 160. “The Bully” has been a perennial contender in the lightweight ranks for the past three years and Grant steamrolled the TUF alum in a fashion few expected.
The victory set up a title showdown between a champion looking to define his legacy and the division’s hottest fighter. While Grant may not carry much name recognition with the UFC fanbase, he absolutely presents interesting stylistic challenges and is a legitimate threat to Henderson’s title reign.
For the past five years, the only thing Gilbert Melendez wanted was the opportunity to prove he is the best 155-pound fighter in the world. And it was a feat he nearly accomplished.
The former Strikeforce champion gave Benson Henderson all he could handle in a gritty five-round affair, But the 31-year-old Californian ultimately came up short on the judge’s scorecards, losing a close and controversial split-decision to the reigning champion.
While immediate rematches have been commonplace in the lightweight divisions over the past three years, especially in the wake of a closely contested fights, the UFC decided to keep the avenues of title contention rolling, and Melendez was forced to take a step back down the ladder.
The move will force “El Nino” to fight his way back to another title opportunity and the first step of that journey will come against Diego Sanchez in October.
Despite jumping between weight classes and being caught in career turbulence for the past few years, “The Dream” has committed to making another run at the lightweight title. After suffering a lopsided loss at the hands of B.J. Penn at UFC 107 in December of 2009, the original TUF winner returned to the welterweight division.
Sanchez experienced mixed results at 170 pounds and this prompted the 31-year-old Albuquerque native to once again try his hand in the lightweight division. His first step back produced favorable results as he edged out former Pride superstar TakanoriGomi at UFC on Fuel TV 8 in March.
Following the victory, Sanchez gave the UFC a “wish list” of opponents he’d like to face and Melendez was one of the possible options.
Now the two hard-charging lightweights will scrap it out later this year to determine who stays and who goes in the title hunt. Melendez is eager to earn a shot at redemption in the title realm and Sanchez will be looking to keep his career reinvention alive.
Plenty of Variables at Play in the Title Hunt
While the title race in the lightweight division has certainly heated up this year, at the current time, there isn’t a clear cut path to contention.
In addition to Melendez versus Sanchez, there are multiple high-profile bouts on the books in the upcoming months that will certainly have a major impact on where things go in the final months of the year.
Resurgent contender Donald Cerrone will throw down with Rafael dos Anjos in the co-main event of UFC on Fox Sports 1: 2. The bout will carry tremendous significance were Cerrone is concerned. The Jackson’s MMA-trained fighter has been on the cusp of contention multiple times since coming into the UFC fold and can ill-afford another setback in his quest to become a champion.
A victory over “RDA” will keep Cerrone in the thick of the hunt, but a loss would most likely push him out of the title picture for the foreseeable future.
Defeating Nate Diaz at UFC on Fox 7 put Josh Thomson in a great position on the divisional hierarchy, but the biggest step is yet to come. Despite the incredible depth of the lightweight roster, the option’s for Thomson’s next challenge have yet to materialize.
There are plenty of tough fighters lurking around the lightweight ranks, there is yet to be an opponent who makes a tremendous amount of sense. If Thomson is going to make a push to become a UFC champion, he will need to wait for someone who brings an equal amount of risk/reward to the table.
While there are a handful of fighters looking to make a big impact on the title picture, the one fighter who has the most power to do so is Anthony Pettis. The former WEC lightweight champion is undoubtedly one of the biggest talents in the 155-pound division and is a fixture in the title picture in the lightweight division.
That being said, the Duke Roufus-trained fighter is caught in a limbo between two divisions. “Showtime” was originally guaranteed the next shot at the lightweight crown following his victory over Cerrone at UFC on Fox 6, but discarded that opportunity to drop down and face featherweight champion Jose Aldo at UFC 163.
Unfortunately for Pettis, a knee injury pushed him out of the bout, and forced yet another title shot to fall by the wayside. The 26-year-old Milwaukee-based fighter then attempted to politic himself into the main event against Henderson at UFC 164, but UFC President Dana White quickly put that idea on ice.
Nevertheless, Pettis will be returning to action later this year and will have immediate impact on whichever division he chooses to compete in. Whether that will be the lightweight division remains to be seen, but if Pettis does decide to re-enter the 155-pound shark tank, he will automatically jump to the front of the line.
There is an angry Diego Sanchez on the loose, which means Conor McGregor should probably steer clear of any dark alleys or nearby “Yes” chants.