Chael Sonnen Says Edgar or Faber, Not Jose Aldo, Is Next for Conor McGregor

With unsettled dust still floating around our ears and noses in the wake of Conor McGregor’s UFC 189 victory over Chad Mendes, we already look toward the Irish fighter’s future. 
We’re anticipating his next step—a showdown with UFC featherwe…

With unsettled dust still floating around our ears and noses in the wake of Conor McGregor‘s UFC 189 victory over Chad Mendes, we already look toward the Irish fighter’s future. 

We’re anticipating his next step—a showdown with UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo, the fight he was originally scheduled for Saturday evening. 

McGregor, now the interim UFC featherweight champ of the world, provides an obvious matchup for Aldo’s return. They’ve already hyped the fight and sparked a feud, and the unification of titles is a no-brainer from a business standpoint. 

If you ask former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight title challenger Chael Sonnen, however, a McGregor vs. Aldo showdown isn’t so obvious. 

In fact, it’s not happening next at all. 

When asked when McGregor vs. Aldo would go down on an episode of SportsCenter which aired immediately after the UFC 189 main event, Sonnen provided a shocking response. 

I think this is a question that our president, Dana White, should answer and will very soon, but I’m going to go ahead and answer it for you anyway: That fight’s not going to happen,” Sonnen said. “It’s either going to be Urijah Faber or it is going to be Frankie Edgar. One of these two guys, in my prediction, will probably likely go through The Ultimate Fighter television series and then go into a fight with him (McGregor).”

That came out of nowhere. 

According to Sonnen, the recent tussle between McGregor and Faber before the UFC 189 weigh-ins might get a sequel, this time inside the UFC Octagon. While that remains a possibility, Sonnen took it a step further, saying a McGregor vs. Edgar fight makes perhaps more sense for one key reason. 

Sonnen added that “the UFC put out a pre-packaged promo immediately following the fight for Frankie Edgar, which leads me to believe—and he (Edgar) has kept his mouth very shut after being overlooked on this—I believe he’s got a backdoor deal, and his (McGregor’s) next opponent is Frankie Edgar.

“But I know the next opponent is not Jose Aldo. You can’t count on it (happening).” 

On top of this, Edgar greeted McGregor inside the cage following Notorious’ UFC 189 victory, shaking hands with the night’s big winner and appearing to congratulate him. 

After watching Mendes find success with his wrestling but ultimately succumb to McGregor‘s striking prowess, a fight with Edgar is intriguing. The former UFC lightweight champion has a limitless gas tank, incredible footwork and solid all-around skills built upon a wrestling base. 

Mendes was a problem for McGregor in one department, but Edgar might pose a threat everywhere.

Still, it’s hard to imagine the UFC passing on the chance to set up Aldo vs. McGregor again. That fight was massively hyped and anticipated, and it feels like it must happen now. 

If Sonnen‘s words are true, though, it’s not going down. Not any time soon, at least. 

Stay tuned to Bleacher Report as news of McGregor‘s next opponent continues to develop. 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 189 Results: Winners and Scorecards from Mendes vs. McGregor Fight Card

What a night.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship put on a phenomenal show on Saturday night in Las Vegas at UFC 189. “The Notorious” Conor McGregor won the UFC interim featherweight title by thrilling second-round TKO over Chad “Money” Mendes.
McGregor…

What a night.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship put on a phenomenal show on Saturday night in Las Vegas at UFC 189. “The Notorious” Conor McGregor won the UFC interim featherweight title by thrilling second-round TKO over Chad “Money” Mendes.

McGregor took more damage in this scrap than he has in all his previous UFC bouts put together, but in the end, he emerged victorious. The UFC was quick to congratulate the new interim champion:

In the first round, McGregor’s striking and length proved to be too much for Mendes. The Irishman was seemingly landing at will with straight right hands, jabs and kicks, but Mendes would adjust. He was able to counter and secure the first takedown against McGregor in his career.

Mendes didn’t just plant McGregor—he teed off with elbows from the top position. One of them opened a cut near McGregor’s right eye. In all, Mendes would score three takedowns in the opening round. McGregor showed solid defense from his back and the ability to get to his feet, but Mendes’ path to victory seemed clear.

In the second round, Mendes didn’t waste as much time looking for the takedown. He dragged McGregor down early and held him there for much of the round. He was again dropping elbows on McGregor’s face, but with about 25 seconds left, Mendes made the mistake of going for a guillotine.

The slippery McGregor used the opportunity to rise to his feet. It was quickly apparent Mendes was spent from trying to hold McGregor down the entire round. Instead of shooting the legs for a takedown to survive the final 15 seconds of the round, an exhausted Mendes stood right in front of McGregor and ate the decisive one-two combination that ended the fight.

Referee Herb Dean rushed in to stop the bout as Mendes crumbled from a clean right hand from McGregor.

When the fight was over, McGregor was overcome with emotion and shelved the Notorious persona. He spoke honestly when he talked about his supporters and close-knit circle of friends and family, per Fox Sports’ Ariel Helwani:

Mendes offered no excuses for his loss after stepping in on two weeks’ notice for the injured Jose Aldo. Per Helwani, he put aside the bad blood leading up to the fight and thanked McGregor for fighting him:

While Mendes didn’t have any excuses, some in the MMA community pointed out the details that may have cost him the bout. Sam Vecenie of CBS Sports has some solid points:

It’s hard to argue with his logic. Mendes looked to be on his way to a win. McGregor had no answer for the takedown. Mendes simply ran out of gas and patience when he gave up position.

Per the pay-per-view broadcast, featherweight contender Frankie Edgar took the opportunity to call out McGregor. It’s understandable and logical that Edgar would want a shot at McGregor, but that fight is unlikely—at least any time soon.

Aldo vs. McGregor is an even bigger gold mine for the UFC now than it would have been before this fight. If Edgar were to beat McGregor, that payday for the promotion and both fighters would go by the boards.

The only opponent for McGregor to face next is Aldo. Now that the Irishman has interim gold, he must meet Also to determine the undisputed 145-pound champion.

As good and deserving as Edgar is, he’ll have to wait. 

As exciting as this fight was, it wasn’t even the best of the night. That distinction belongs to the co-main event.

 

Lawler Stops MacDonald in Bloody Classic

You’ll have a hard time finding a better championship bout in the UFC’s past or future. Robbie Lawler kept his UFC welterweight title by stopping Rory MacDonald in the fifth round of a fight that seemed super close.

Both men’s faces were covered with blood from multiple lacerations. Lawler dominated the second round with stellar boxing, but MacDonald nearly stopped the champion in the third round with a massive head kick.

Lawler remarkably survived the round, got his wherewithal in the fourth and came out with more steam in the fifth. Watch this amazing and macabre standoff at the end of the fourth round:

As the hungrier pursuer in the final frame, Lawler appeared to shatter MacDonald’s nose with a left hand that sent the challenger to the mat like a bully who had finally been stood up to.

When it was over, congratulations and admiration for both fighters came pouring in. Rob Goldberg of Bleacher Report had an interesting assessment of the bout:

Mike Bohn of MMA Junkie marveled at both men’s MMA skills and warrior mentality:

No matter what Lawler does for the rest of his career, his status as a legend is now secured with one of the most amazing title defenses in history.

Let’s take a look at all of the results table from the UFC 189 card and a breakdown of each bout. 

UFC Fight Pass Prelims

Pfister’s Grappling Trips Up Cedeno

In an entertaining opening bout, Cody Pfister’s five takedowns earned him a unanimous-decision victory over Yosdenis Cedeno. Take a look at some of the early action:

Cedeno took the first round by landing 21 strikes to Pfister’s eight. Most importantly, Cedeno avoided the takedown in the first five minutes. Despite being outstruck on the feet early, Pfister stuck to his game plan and stayed glued to Cedeno to take advantage of his edge in wrestling in the final two rounds.

These two guys are headed in opposite directions. Pfister rebounded from a loss in his UFC debut to James Moontasri at UFC Fight Night 60 in February. He’s not a top-notch prospect, but winning is always good.

On the other side of the spectrum, Cedeno’s stay in the UFC may be in danger. The 30-year-old Cuban has now lost three of his four fights with the promotion.

 

Smolka Controls Seery

Louis Smolka had no problem taking a unanimous decision over Neil Seery in the final Fight Pass preliminary bout. The Hawaiian was a wizard on the ground, as you can see in the highlight below:

Smolka secured six takedowns en route to his second straight victory in the UFC. With a superior ground game at his disposal, the 23-year-old could evolve into a formidable flyweight contender.

Seery continues to look run-of-the-mill. He’s 2-2 in the UFC but has yet to show himself to be a name that fans will need to watch moving forward.

 

Fox Sports 1 Prelims

Garbrandt Outslugs Briones

It didn’t seem as though Cody Garbrandt vs. Henry Briones would go the distance, but it did. Garbrandt remained undefeated with a hard-fought unanimous-decision victory.

Briones landed a solid left hand that got Garbrandt’s attention in the first round, but the latter gained top position at the end of the frame to take the opening round.

In the second, this sequence from Garbrandt left Briones on his butt:

Briones would get up and remain competitive, but Garbrandt’s speed and powerful boxing proved to be too much. Garbrandt is Team Alpha Male’s newest highly touted prospect. The win made him 2-0 in the UFC, but he didn’t get the finish he had earned in each of his previous six fights.

Brett Okamoto of ESPN is still high on the 24-year-old bantamweight:

He’s a ways off from contending as he needs to tighten up his defense, but the striking prowess and athleticism are undeniable.

 

Howard Wins Snoozer

In a horrible fight, John “Doomsday” Howard defeated Cathal Pendred via split decision. Howard really deserved to win the fight 30-27 on all three cards, but apparently one judge was influenced by the large Irish contingency on hand rooting for Pendred.

There was really no logical way to give Pendred the decision. This was one of the only memorable exchanges, and Howard got the best of it:

UFC President Dana White didn’t like the fight or the result:

Howard did little that was overly impressive, but Pendred did even less. If there’s a way for both fighters to come out as losers, this is one of those cases. Howard did capture a much-needed victory after losing three consecutive fights, but this win did little to improve his stock.

Pendred’s striking is as bad as anyone you’ll ever see in the UFC. His hands are so slow that his opponents have time to phone a friend before they need to block or slip the strike. CagePotato.com took a dig at Pendred’s striking efficiency as well:

Quite honestly, Pendred and Cezar Ferreira have to be in a dead heat when it comes to the most overrated fighters in the promotion.

 

Garcia Wins Another Ho-Hum Scrap

Alex Garcia’s dominant wrestling kept Mike Swick reeling for three rounds. Both men were making their returns to the Octagon after long layoffs, but only Garcia looked prepared.

Swick was unable to stop the powerful Brazilian from picking him up and dropping him six times in the fight. As you can see in the video below, the grappling exhibition began in the first round:

Without question, this was a disappointing return for Swick, who hadn’t fought in the UFC since 2012 when he lost to Matt Brown. He experienced some Octagon rust that he’ll need to clear up before his next bout. 

Garcia doesn’t have great stamina, but his strength and grappling are top-notch. If he faces a fighter capable of defending his takedown attempts, he might be in trouble.

 

Brown Elbows and Submits Means

In a battle of guys with great elbow attacks, Brown’s proved to be the most dangerous of all. After eating some nasty elbow shots from Tim Means and being hurt early in the first round, Brown showed the heart and finishing instinct that have defined his career.

Brown landed two elbow strikes that sent Means reeling with just under 20 seconds remaining in the opening round. He immediately slapped on the guillotine choke and forced Means to tap.

UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman enjoyed the one-round brawl:

Brown snapped a two-fight losing streak and has now finished his opponents in his last six wins. Means’ four-fight win streak came to an end, but he still fought well until he was caught.

When the fight was over, several members of the MMA community including Fox Sports’ Damon Martin were calling for Brown to face Carlos Condit:

That could truly be an epic battle. Hopefully, UFC matchmakers are listening.

 

Main Card

Almeida Absorbs Punishment and Spectacularly Finishes Pickett

Thomas Almeida faced as much adversity as he has in any of his 20 professional fights. Brad Pickett floored Almeida twice in the first round with counter power shots and had the 23-year-old Brazilian’s face badly bloodied.

Almeida would gain some momentum at the end of the round. A hard right elbow dropped Pickett and gave the youngster some confidence. 

In the second round, he had begun slipping Pickett’s punches and landing counters. The decisive moment came when Almeida landed a straight right hand and followed it up with a flying knee to Pickett’s face. The latter was out before he hit the mat.

Referee John McCarthy immediately stepped in to call a halt to the fight.

Chamatkar Sandhu of MMA Junkie thinks a Street Fighter legend would be proud of Almeida’s flying knee:

Almeida took some shots in this one, but his chin and ability to adjust were impressive. This kid is a future champion. MMA History Today sees the same thing:

Pickett looked good before he was dropped in the first round, but the 36-year-old is nearing his end in the sport.

 

Gunnar Smokes Thatch

Brandon Thatch came into the fight with Gunnar Nelson as the man lauded for his striking prowess. On Saturday night, it was a right-left combination from Nelson that floored Thatch and set up the submission victory.

Nelson is one of the most dangerous grapplers in the sport, and he systematically set Thatch up for the finish. By transitioning from side control to full mount and finally taking Thatch’s back, Nelson sunk in the choke and forced the finish. Here’s a look at the ending:

Both men were coming off losses. Nelson had lost to Rick Story at UFC Fight Night 53. Thatch was submitted by Benson Henderson at UFC Fight Night 60. With two straight losses by submission, it’s clear what Thatch must work on.

Nelson’s striking was improved, and his ground game was as good as ever. His future again looks bright.

 

Stephens Keeps the Knees Coming

In a bloody battle, Jeremy Stephens scored a second-round TKO win over Dennis Bermudez with the second insane knee of the night.

Bermudez opened a nasty cut to the outside of Stephens’ right eye. It left his face a crimson mess midway through the opening round. The gash made it look as if he was getting the worst of the scrap, but that wasn’t the case.

Bermudez landed some solid strikes throughout the first two rounds, but it was Stephens who hurt and dazed his opponent several times.

The decisive blow came when Stephens caught Bermudez with the leaping knee as his opponent surged in for the attack.

Stephens swarmed and pounded Bermudez out until the fight was stopped. Stephens missed weight and had to surrender 20 percent of his purse to Bermudez, per Matt Erickson of MMA Junkie, but he had the last laugh.

There will be other cards this year, but it’ll be hard to top UFC 189.


All fight highlights from official UFC Twitter account unless otherwise noted.

Fight Stat images per Sportz Visionz captured from UFC.com.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 189 Results: The Good, Bad and the Strange from Las Vegas

Las Vegas — Something special happens when a fighter rises to meet expectations, and UFC 189 was all about seeing if Conor McGregor could live up to his.
In the two years since his official Octagon debut, the surging Irish featherweight has becom…

Las Vegas — Something special happens when a fighter rises to meet expectations, and UFC 189 was all about seeing if Conor McGregor could live up to his.

In the two years since his official Octagon debut, the surging Irish featherweight has become one of the biggest names in all of MMA. With undeniable charisma and the ability to back up his talk in the cage, the Dublin native’s trajectory has been nothing short of meteoric as he’s gone from highly touted prospect to supernova.

Yet, despite all the attention McGregor has garnered for his trash-talking and flashy presentation outside the cage, several key elements remained absent from his resume. All the hype and excitement surrounding him would be meaningless if he was unable to claim the featherweight title, and his opportunity to do just that materialized on Saturday night in Las Vegas.

Though the scrappy Irishman was initially faced with the challenge of dethroning long-reigning featherweight king Jose Aldo at UFC 189, a rib injury suffered by the Brazilian phenom forced him out of their main event tilt.

Nevertheless, previous title challenger Chad Mendes would step in on short notice, and with the UFC implementing an interim 145-pound title in Aldo’s absence, the ultimate prize McGregor had been hunting remained available.

Furthermore, questions surrounding McGregor were going to be answered one way or another on Saturday night in Las Vegas. Could he become the champion he deemed himself destined to be, or would Mendes‘ wrestling be McGregor‘s kryptonite and knock his rapid rise off the rails?

The anticipation and energy surrounding the main event showdown was palpable inside the MGM Grand Garden, and it was McGregor‘s night to shine.

After being taken down repeatedly for the better part of two rounds, McGregor landed a clean left hand on Mendes‘ chin, dropping the perennial contender to the canvas. Once his opponent was hurt, McGregor rushed in with a flurry of shots that forced referee Herb Dean to step in and stop the fight, and the interim featherweight title was his.

While the main event was the driving force behind the attention UFC 189 received in the lead-up to the event, a bout for the welterweight title between Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald in the co-main event slot was a huge showdown in one of the UFC’s most competitive divisions.

Ruthless came into the rematch in the midst of one of the most impressive resurgences in MMA history and was determined to log his first successful defense of the 170-pound strap against the talented young Canadian.

On the other side of the equation, MacDonald has been touted as a future champion since the moment he emerged onto the sport’s biggest stage back in 2010. Over the last five years, the 25-year-old British Columbia native has faced a collection of the world’s best welterweights, and his second go with Lawler brought with it a long-awaited title shot.

The bout figured to be a matchup of Lawler‘s power and MacDonald’s technique, and it was the champion’s greatest attribute that won out in the end.

Although Lawler‘s striking tore up MacDonald’s face during the first two rounds, the challenger rebounded strong in the third to turn the tides with a flurry against the cage. It was anyone’s fight going into the final round, and a straight left from Lawler that landed on MacDonald’s shattered nose crumpled the Tristar fighter to the canvas. 

A few more shots from Lawler was all it took for him to put away MacDonald and retain the welterweight strap in what was easily one of the best fights in the history of the UFC’s 170-pound division. 

It was a crazy night of fights in Las Vegas. Let’s take a look at the good, bad and the strange from UFC 189.

 

The Good

McGregor not only became the interim featherweight champion on Saturday night, he may have also become the biggest star in mixed martial arts.

The Irish phenom weathered a wrestling onslaught from Mendes only to bounce back and score a knockout victory in the second round of their main event tilt.

While the Dublin native looked far from bulletproof as he had in every other appearance, defeating a two-time title challenger in Mendes is an impressive accomplishment. McGregor wasn’t able to stop the Team Alpha Male fighter’s takedowns, but that didn’t matter in the end.

McGregor‘s power was too much for Mendes to handle, as a single left hand secured the victory and his first UFC title. And as McGregor‘s star power explodes in the aftermath of his performance at UFC 189, his knockout win over Mendes will only make the unification bout with Aldo that much bigger.

Their scheduled fight at UFC 189 was predicted to be one of the biggest bouts in UFC history, and it’s all but guaranteed that their eventual collision will be the biggest fight the promotion has ever put on. But that’s further down the road. All that matters to McGregor right now are the fruits of his labor: championship gold.

Meanwhile, in the welterweight division, the chapter Lawler is currently writing could go down as one of the best in MMA history. Not long ago the heavy-handed knockout artist appeared to be at the end of his career after a series of lackluster performances under the Strikeforce banner left the once dominant powerhouse looking like a shell of what he once was.

Three years and a welterweight title later, Lawler is a completely different type of monster. In addition to the signature brand of devastation he’s always possessed in his hands, the current version of Lawler is one of measured aggression and patience.

Both qualities were on display in his co-main event title bout with MacDonald at UFC 189, as the American Top Team product chipped away at the Canadian challenger until he finally put him away in the final frame.

While the win over MacDonald will go down as Lawler‘s first successful defense of the welterweight strap, it was just one in a long string of amazing and resilient performances from a fighter who battled back from the brink of obscurity to find greatness. 

*** Flying knee knockouts were all the rage at UFC 189, and Jeremy Stephens made another addition to his highlight reel by delivering a blistering one to Dennis Bermudez in the final round of their tilt. Up until the point Lil’ Heathen dropped The Ultimate Fighter alum with the well-timed strike, the fight had been an absolute shootout between two featherweights unwilling to yield.

While the New York native had Stephens in trouble numerous times in the early goings, the Team Alliance fighter battled back to snatch victory in brutal fashion, snapping a two-fight skid in the process

*** There are highly touted prospects in MMA, and then there is Thomas Almeida. The young Brazilian phenom has steamrolled every man he’s faced in the cage, and many in the MMA community believe he will be a UFC champion in the near future.

The Chute Boxe representative’s fight against Brad Pickett at UFC 189 figured to be another step up the bantamweight ladder, but the early goings of the tilt saw Almeida on the receiving end of a beating delivered by One Punch.

Pickett put Almeida on the mat with a slick combination and turned the 23-year-old’s face into a crimson mask by the end of the first stanza. Yet, there is a reason for all the hype surrounding Almeida, and a perfectly timed flying knee that dropped Pickett cold was just another example of how dangerous he is.

Despite being battered in the first round, Almeida bounced back strong to earn a highlight-reel finish that will amplify the buzz surrounding him exponentially. 

*** Matt Brown came into his fight with Tim Means at UFC 189 with his place in the upper tier of the welterweight division in serious jeopardy. The hard-charging Ohio native battled back from the brink of obscurity to become a certified contender in the 170-pound fold on the strength of a seven-fight winning streak, but back-to-back losses threatened to erase all of his progress.

The Immortal absolutely needed to get the job done on Saturday night, and that’s exactly what he did, as he put the Dirty Bird away with a guillotine choke and put a definitive stamp on a high-paced carnival of violence. With the win, Brown will remain a major player in the heated welterweight title race and draw one of the division’s best in his next outing. 

*** No fighter on the card for UFC 189 needed a win more than John Howard. Doomsday came into his bout against Cathal Pendred having dropped three consecutive showings, and a fourth-straight setback would have certainly cost the Boston native his place on the UFC roster for a second time.

Fortunately for Howard, he’ll live to see another day in the Octagon, as the heavy-hitting welterweight edged out The Punisher via split-decision. It was a solid win over a fighter who has made a habit out of getting questionable decisions, as Howard was able to topple the “Pendred Effect” on Saturday night.

*** There is a solid amount of buzz gathering around Cody Garbrandt, and it will continue to grow following his performance against Henry Briones at UFC 189.

The Team Alpha Male bantamweight once again showed his willingness to stand toe-to-toe and exchange leather inside the Octagon, as he was able to beat Briones to the punch early and often in their tilt. The end result saw No Love pick up the unanimous-decision victory and his second consecutive win under the UFC banner. 

 

The Bad

Six years ago Mike Swick entered the Octagon one win away from earning a shot at the Georges St-Pierre’s welterweight title. The only thing standing in his way was up-and-coming knockout artist Dan Hardy, but the American Top Team product appeared poised to derail The Outlaw’s hype train at UFC 105 in Manchester, England.

Unfortunately for Swick, things didn’t go his way that night, and little has in the years that have followed. A rash of injuries and a stomach condition have continuously kept Swick out of action, and the momentum he once had has entirely vanished.

Yet, with a career filled with solid accomplishments and his part in the historical first season of The Ultimate Fighter guaranteed to mark his place in MMA history, Swick will always be an important figure in MMA. 

That said, every fighter has different motivations for competing, and Swick was determined to rise above adversity and return to the sport’s biggest stage. A showdown with surging Tristar product Alex Garcia at UFC 189 would mark his opportunity to do so, but the 27-year-old powerhouse would prove to be too much for the savvy veteran to handle. 

While Swick was able to keep up with Garcia in the striking game, the Dominican Republic native’s grappling was ultimately the deciding factor in the fight. Garcia was able to put Swick on his back at will, which created a scoring gap the American Kickboxing Academy staple was never able to recover from.

The end result saw Swick come out on the business end of a unanimous decision and suffer his fourth loss in his past five showings in the Octagon.

Just making it back to compete is something Swick can take great pride in, but it will be interesting to see where he chooses to go from here. The majority of his fellow fighters from the inaugural season of TUF have retired and moved on from competing, with only Diego Sanchez remaining relevant in the current landscape of the sport.

Now that Swick is running AKA’s Thailand operation and coaching his own squad of fighters, he certainly has options beyond throwing punches in the cage, but again, every fighter has different motivations.

*** Another fighter who will find himself in rough waters after UFC 189 is British slugger Brad Pickett. One Punch suffered his third-straight setback in the Octagon on Saturday night, when he was starched by a flying knee from Thomas Almeida in the second round of their tilt.

With the loss, Pickett has now dropped four of his past five fights despite attempting to find traction by competing in two different divisions. That’s bad news for Pickett any way you cut it, and his recent slump could put his place on the UFC roster in danger. 

 

The Strange

A lot of hyperbole comes with promoting events in the fight business, and there has certainly been no shortage of bold claims in the UFC’s promotion of “The Conor McGregor Show.” Dana White has suggested the entire country of Ireland shuts down when McGregor fights, and even though we all know this isn’t true, it doesn’t stop the UFC front man from attempting to paint an epic picture.

That said, this writer has spent the entire fight week build-up to UFC 189 in Las Vegas, and can absolutely confirm there is something unique about Notorious’ connection with his countrymen.

The Irish invasion of Las Vegas has been an impressive sight to witness, as scores of MMA fans hailing from the Emerald Isle set up shop and overtook Sin City. Lads gathered with their mates to cheer on their hero up and down the Strip this past week and only served to bolster the buzz surrounding the surging featherweight’s fight on Saturday night.

The best example of the Irish fans’ passion was on display during the pre-fight weigh-ins on Friday afternoon, as nearly 12,000 fans packed into the MGM Grand just to see McGregor hit the scale.

As a writer who has covered countless weigh-ins during his time in the sport, believe me when I tell you the spectacle I witnessed on Friday was something truly unique. Weigh-ins are typically drab but necessary events, but the Irish fighting faithful turned the UFC 189 weigh-ins into a full-throttle party.

Long before the first fighters hit the stage, the raucous crowd was signing along and dancing to every song the UFC’s house DJ spun. In between chants and fist pumping, several fans took the opportunity to launch soccer balls into the crowd that were then swatted from side to side in the arena.

And though the weigh-ins would eventually end, that didn’t mean their party was going to stop, as droves of Irish then moved to the casino floor to continue their celebration.

Las Vegas Metro Police would eventually be called to break up the extravaganza, but that only pushed the merry crowd out on the Strip, where they took their show public and carried on long into the night.

That energy absolutely carried over to Saturday’s event, as they wasted no time rocking the tricolor and firing up the “Ole’ Ole’ Ole'” chants that filled the MGM Grand Garden Arena until McGregor became the interim champion of the featherweight division.

While Brazilian fight fans are known for creating some of the rowdiest environments in all of combat sports, McGregor’s fans created a frenzy that rivaled their best efforts. For the Irish to take over the fight capital of the world the way they did was remarkable. 

 

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Conor McGregor vs. Chad Mendes: What We Learned from UFC 189 Interim Title Fight

One of the most hotly anticipated featherweight bouts in MMA history headlined UFC 189, when Conor McGregor met Chad Mendes in a raucous Las Vegas-turned-Dublin-for-a-night match. The fight also served as the most anticipated interim title bout in UFC …

One of the most hotly anticipated featherweight bouts in MMA history headlined UFC 189, when Conor McGregor met Chad Mendes in a raucous Las Vegas-turned-Dublin-for-a-night match. The fight also served as the most anticipated interim title bout in UFC history, living up to the lofty expectations with an explosive two-round affair.

Eventually, McGregor answered questions about his wrestling and stamina, blasting Mendes unconscious with the left hand that’s become his patent as a UFC combatant. Now set to unify the belts against Jose Aldo later in 2015, here’s what we know going into that meeting after learning a few things on Saturday night.

 

What We’ll Remember About This Fight

It was the night McGregor truly arrived as an undeniable, top-end UFC talent. People have had questions about the way he was matched, whether he could beat a wrestler and whether he could work hard at a high pace for a long time.

Saturday night was the night that people got their answer. The Notorious is for real.

 

What We Learned About Conor McGregor

He can beat a wrestler.

The cries of “can he? Can he?” have been alive and well for as long as McGregor has been a UFC athlete, and until he got in the cage and did it there was nothing to tilt the scales in one direction or another. Against Mendes, he conceded some takedowns but was able to get up when it mattered, and when on his feet, he was in another stratosphere.

Can he? He can.

 

What We Learned About Chad Mendes

He’s a gamer, but trying to beat the best fighters on Earth on such short notice is a tough task for anyone. It’s a lesson that isn’t any sort of secret, but it’s one that the Mendes showing reminded everyone of, regardless.

After a few exchanges Mendes was slowed significantly, and after some wrestling and grappling he looked utterly wiped. When he was so visibly tired, McGregor pounced and put him away violently.

It’s not reflective of Mendes at top gear, but this version simply couldn’t get it done.

 

What’s Next for McGregor

Joe Rogan called it in the cage, and though it may be debatable, it might as well be true for tonight: the biggest fight in UFC history.

Jose Aldo.

The two men hate each other, and the only thing that will be different in a few months is that they’ve had more time to stew and it will be title versus title.

Buckle up, folks. That’s going to be something.

 

What’s Next for Mendes

You’d have to think the logical fight for Mendes would be Frankie Edgar, who has been the other wrestle-boxer atop 145 that no one can beat. Edgar also just beat Mendes’ mentor Urijah Faber, so that’s a storyline going in.

That said, the UFC may wish to avoid burning off a contender against Mendes and go with the winner of next month’s Max Holloway/Charles Oliveira tilt instead.

 

Follow me on Twitter @matthewjryder.

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Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald: What We Learned from UFC 189 Title Fight

Saturday featured more than just a grudge match between hungry featherweights Conor McGregor and Chad Mendes.
A highly anticipated rematch between champion Robbie Lawler and surging Canadian Rory MacDonald from a three-round battle back at UFC 167, whi…

Saturday featured more than just a grudge match between hungry featherweights Conor McGregor and Chad Mendes.

A highly anticipated rematch between champion Robbie Lawler and surging Canadian Rory MacDonald from a three-round battle back at UFC 167, which resulted in a split-decision victory for Ruthless, also filled the card.

However, their clash at UFC 189 was a scheduled five-round fight for the UFC welterweight championship.

And in one of the very best fights you’ll ever see, Lawler finished MacDonald with a blistering right to the nose in the fifth and final round en route to victory.

Here is what we learned from the champ’s scintillating retention Saturday night.

 

What We’ll Remember About This Fight

Well, that was one of the best performances you’ll ever witness inside of the Octagon.

Both Lawler and MacDonald put forth incredible effort and toughness in what can be considered a true barn burner.

From Lawler‘s sprawling and tumultuous power punches to MacDonald’s timely flurries and head kicks, the co-main event may very well have earned Fight of the Year honors.

But in the end, it was relentless striking and pressure that kept a king on his throne.

 

What We Learned About Lawler

Seen taking his time in the first round, Lawler displayed a little more patience in this fight.

With good takedown defense, foot work and an ability to channel his polished striking, Ruthless displayed the elite techniques we know he has.

It took a lot of chin to ward off The Red King, but he was able to inflict punishing damage en route to another finish.

It was his first title defense and a true statement to the division.

 

What We Learned About MacDonald

There’s no disputing MacDonald’s potential and toughness now.

After nearly getting his nose punched off at the wrong end of quick jabs and powerful rights, MacDonald maintained his effectiveness and offensive output.

But without the ability to land successful takedowns and do what he does best, he absorbed way more damage than he was built to take.

The defense may not have been there on Saturday night for the Canadian, but his unwavering will to compete will forever be cemented into time.

 

What’s Next for Lawler

A second title defense opposite former champion Johny Hendricks or a resurgent Carlos Condit makes sense.

It’s likely that he’ll have to take some time off to heal, but an appearance in early 2016 seems right.

Lawler may very well have the toughest contender road among all UFC champions.

 

What’s Next for MacDonald

As it is for any contender who loses in dramatic fashion, MacDonald will drop back down the welterweight ladder and have to work his way back into contention.

A international collision with Gunnar Nelson could fair well for both men.

Of course, the youngster will have to heal his wounds before his steps back inside the cage.

 

 

For more UFC/UFC 189 news and coverage, 


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Lawler vs. MacDonald 2: Winner, Recap and Reaction from UFC 189

Robbie Lawler took on Rory MacDonald for the second time in his career at UFC 189, and it ended the same way—with the Ruthless One getting his hand raised in victory. The 33-year-old successfully defended his UFC Welterweight Championship via fif…

Robbie Lawler took on Rory MacDonald for the second time in his career at UFC 189, and it ended the same way—with the Ruthless One getting his hand raised in victory. The 33-year-old successfully defended his UFC Welterweight Championship via fifth-round TKO in the co-main event of Saturday evening. 

MMAjunkie tweeted out the official result:

The bout got off to a rather quiet start. MacDonald looked to establish his jab and fight just outside the pocket, and Lawler didn’t do much to close the distance. As Josh Gross of ESPN noted, it wasn’t an easy round to score:

The second round saw each fighter ratchet things up a bit. The exchanges came much more often, and both fighters landed solid shots. The champion even opened up a cut on the challenger. As noted by Jonathan Snowden of Bleacher Report, it was a round that saw Lawler grab the momentum:

That trend would carry into Round 3. Lawler continued to put his punches together in combinations to devastating effect. That was until the last minute of the round when MacDonald landed a massive head kick that turned the fight on a dime. 

MacDonald continued to tee off until the final bell. 

In the fourth round, MacDonald came out like a man who felt like he a was a few strikes from a championship belt. The Canadian started the frame by unloading on the champion. 

Lawler showed the heart that made him a champion, though. Despite being rocked, he stayed the course, survived the onslaught and continued to exchange. The bout would move to a fifth round. 

The fifth frame truly became the championship round, as a fired-up Lawler went for the knockout and got it. A huge left hand sent MacDonald to the canvas and defended the belt. 

The win for Lawler is just another example of his beating the odds in his second UFC stint. Since returning to the organization, he has gone 6-1, including a win over Johny Hendricks to win the championship belt. Yet, he came into this bout as a slight underdog against a man he’s defeated once already, according to Odds Shark

That’s a mistake oddsmakers aren’t likely to make again. This win not only gives him two over MacDonald but makes it five wins against welterweights in the Top 10 of the UFC rankings

Even if it does happen again, Lawler won’t care.

“That’s just the way it is. Maybe they’re seeing something that I’m not seeing. Everyone’s got an opinion and not all of them are good ones,” Lawler said regarding his underdog status heading into the fight, per Damon Martin of Fox Sports. “I’m excited to showcase that I’m the better man. Plain and simple.”

That Lawler was able to do just that has to be frustrating for MacDonald. The 25-year-old has seemed destined for the title for years, but this loss makes his path to the title even more difficult. After two losses to the champion, it’s going to be difficult to market a trilogy fight unless he goes on a tear. 

Instead, the trilogy to make could be Hendricks vs. Lawler. The former champion and current king have exchanged a combined 535 significant strikes with each other in 10 rounds of action. Both fights were instant classics. 

Since Lawler took the title from him in the rematch, Bigg Rigg has defeated Matt Brown via unanimous decision. Given the quality of his two bouts against Lawler, that could be enough to get him back in the title picture. 

When he does, it’ll be interesting to see just who is favored. One thing is certain, though: Lawler will bring the fight regardless. It’s what took him from journeyman to champion, and it’s what made him a reigning champion at UFC 189.

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