UFC 189 -Chad Mendes v Conor McGregor

Zero-Cool · 01-07-2015 12:57AM

Yeah and even crazier an interim belt for lighter weight will still headline over robbie rory. The power of McGregor!

Now, get ready for that 'balls on the forehead' quote to be played 100 times this week, dunno why but i think I'm more pumped for this fight!!

That_Guy · 01-07-2015 12:58AM

Regardless of the work Conor has put in, I find it really strange to have an interim title as a headliner when there is an actual title on the line in the co-main.

Zero-Cool · 01-07-2015 01:09AM

Now what's the chances of Jose retiring undefeated (ufc)? Would be a shnakey move but can see it happening.

That_Guy · 01-07-2015 01:13AM

I'm trying to remain calm and be rational but it's proving difficult.

Conor can fight on a torn ACL and win.
Aldo can't fight because his ribs are too sore.

Obviously this is pre-fight but... gah. It's frustrating as fúck.

I like Mendes. I actually think he seems like a good guy but it's hard to build yourself up to this fight with less than two weeks notice when Aldo has been the guy in all of the images and all of the promos for the last 7 months.

Injuries happen. I know that. It's a risk buying flights and tickets that far out in advance but fúck.

Ugh.

Mellor · 01-07-2015 01:14AM

sheehy83 wrote: »

An interim belt is stupid in this instance but i am glad there is a belt oN the line.

I agree that the interim title, for the sake of a 4 month layoff is stupid, but in this instance it is serving another purpose. Lawlor v Hendricks would have to get top billing as the title, which means that McGregor v Mendes can only a 3 rounder - this is basically an NSAC rule.
By introducing the interim title, it can remain as the main event, and also a 5 rounder. I'd much rather that way to be honest. It's better for those who are going, and its also better for McGregor to (potentially) get a 5-rounder under his belt going into face Aldo.

MarkJD · 01-07-2015 01:15AM

When Conor beats Mendez i really do hope he refuses to give Aldo another fight and only recognise the Interim belt as him being champion. He will have huge sway with things then...

Failing that I see them giving him a truck load of cash and it being McGregor vs Aldo TUF season!

Mellor · 01-07-2015 01:16AM

That_Guy wrote: »

Conor can fight on a torn ACL and win.
Aldo can't fight because his ribs are too sore.

That's a really silly point you are trying to make.
If Aldo hurt his Ribs half way through the fight he's fight on. Pre fight is completely different

That_Guy · 01-07-2015 01:18AM

Mellor wrote: »

That's a really silly point you are trying to make.
If Aldo hurt his Ribs half way through the fight he's fight on. Pre fight is completely different

Em, I acknowledged that point.

I know I was being irrational but I pointed that out in the line after.

mdwexford · 01-07-2015 01:18AM

What a load of ****. Everyone been looking forward to this for so long.

Aldo's record of no shows are a disgrace at this stage.

Say the UFC are fuming.

m.j.w · 01-07-2015 01:30AM

Im heading to the fight and this is **** news but at least Conor is fighting. Saying that though if I was to bet on it id say Mendes will beat Conor. Would have been a very close fight to start with but all this drama is bound to have an effect on Conor, hes been visibliy down in recent interviews and Mendes must be over the moon with the news. Hope im wrong!!!!

Just a little Samba · 01-07-2015 01:32AM

MarkJD wrote: »

When Conor beats Mendez i really do hope he refuses to give Aldo another fight and only recognise the Interim belt as him being champion. He will have huge sway with things then...

Failing that I see them giving him a truck load of cash and it being McGregor vs Aldo TUF season!

Refuse a fight in UFC = Dana White takes your belt away.

That_Guy · 01-07-2015 01:33AM

@Mellor

Didn't mean that post to sound crabby. Just on a bit of a downer. I know I was being irrational with some of the comments I made.

It's a crap situation but at least I get to watch fights in Vegas.

This clip will probably be be repeated for days now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6HIZX3rfpI

Mellor · 01-07-2015 01:34AM

Chad Mendes opens as a slight favourite over McGregor. PP have Mendes as a underdog

Mellor · 01-07-2015 01:36AM

That_Guy wrote: »

@Mellor

Didn't mean that post to sound crabby. Just on a bit of a downer. I know I was being irrational with some of the comments I made.

It's all good. Fairly gutted myself.
I'm just trying to look at it that Aldo knew he was going to lose if he was less than 100%. He fears Conor more than he lets on

Just a little Samba · 01-07-2015 01:46AM

Mellor wrote: »

It's all good. Fairly gutted myself.
I'm just trying to look at it that Aldo knew he was going to lose if he was less than 100%. He fears Conor more than he lets on

I'd imagine if Aldo is not fighting it was a call made by UFC medics, not Aldo himself.

If he makes the call himself he has to deal with Dana's wrath, the medics make the call he gets a free pass and doesn't get penalised.

I reckon, win or lose, he's not walking away from that payday willingly.

m.j.w · 01-07-2015 01:46AM

Anybody worried now mcgregor might pull put, just thinking about the rumors last week that his knee was not 100% and if hes not 100% would be madness to chance losing aganist Mendes and losing title shot. Really hope im wrong about this just freaking out!!

ciano316 · 01-07-2015 01:56AM

TimRiggins wrote: »

The UFC are really missing a trick here. They shouldn't have announced this till the Weigh ins. Everyone expects Aldo and Mendes walks out, would have been crazy!

Think they announced it so they can go ahead filming Embedded with McGregor/Mendes.

That_Guy · 01-07-2015 02:10AM

As an aside and just for general curiosity, I'd love to know what the results of Jose Aldo's drug test were.

Foxtrol · 01-07-2015 02:55AM

Just a little Samba wrote: »

I'd imagine if Aldo is not fighting it was a call made by UFC medics, not Aldo himself.

If he makes the call himself he has to deal with Dana's wrath, the medics make the call he gets a free pass and doesn't get penalised.

I reckon, win or lose, he's not walking away from that payday willingly.

He walked away. Dana would have said the medics had pulled him if they did but instead said that his coach called and said it's off. Does UFC no favours to make their champ look like he backed out again.

Aldo once again shows he won't fight unless 100%, if he was a soccer player he'd be called all the names under the sun for being cleared and refusing to play. Actually maybe it's his soccer roots coming out.

Foxtrol · 01-07-2015 03:06AM

I'm pretty down now but from the media call tomorrow onwards this is going to get tasty. Both lads dislike each other since previous and I don't Mendes has the quick wits to deal with Conor when it comes to interviews etc so it'll go down the Poirier route during embedded, with added background noise from the rest of team alpha male. It'll be exactly what Conor and the fans need heading into next week.

On the interim title, I was extremely skeptical at first but it's completely the right decision.

Firstly, it keeps Conor in the main event (as changing the focus now would destroy any momentum the event still has), it gives the travelling fans the title fight they paid for, gives both fights 5 rounds, and most importantly belatedly sends a message to Aldo that the UFC are done with his pulling out of fights crap. 5 out of 8 fights is an appalling and embarrassing stat and it has to call into question his p4p status and his general legacy. It's a lot easier to be the best and be undefeated for so long when you refuse to fight unless you're 100%. I was an Aldo fan but I think this stat flew under the radar for a lot of people until this fight, even if this is a case of the boy who cried wolf and he is actually injured this time.

.ak · 01-07-2015 04:18AM

For some reason I can see Mendes being a tougher opponent for mcgregor... I think Mendes is rightly favourite, and it just won't be the offensive strike storm the Aldo fight had built itself up to be.

But, having said that. How much prep work would Mendes have put in for this?

ibrahimovic · 01-07-2015 05:22AM

.ak wrote: »

For some reason I can see Mendes being a tougher opponent for mcgregor... I think Mendes is rightly favourite, and it just won't be the offensive strike storm the Aldo fight had built itself up to be.

But, having said that. How much prep work would Mendes have put in for this?

Mendes isn't the favourite though, I've heard that from a few sources, where are people getting that?

http://www.oddschecker.com/ufc-mma/chad-mendes-v-conor-mcgregor/winner

Awesomeness · 01-07-2015 05:25AM

It is a downer but I hope if he wins they dont do the unification in Brazil. While it would be huge it would be aldo gaining from this. From the sound of it and their logic that they are doing an interim because he has pulled out of so many fights the ufc are pissed and its hard to argue

Now im just looking forward to embedded to start me getting pumped. Next week should fly by

Just a little Samba · 01-07-2015 05:26AM

ibrahimovic wrote: »

Mendes isn't the favourite though, I've heard that from a few sources, where are people getting that?

http://www.oddschecker.com/ufc-mma/chad-mendes-v-conor-mcgregor/winner

He's favourite on the american market, not Irish/British. It's fairly common for bookies in different countries to offer different odds on the same event to cover their potential losses.

Bookies here know nobody will back Mendes so they can offer long odds, they know everyone will back conor so they have to try and limit their losses if he does win.

Just a little Samba · 01-07-2015 05:28AM

Awesomeness wrote: »

It is a downer but I hope if he wins they dont do the unification in Brazil. While it would be huge it would be aldo gaining from this. From the sound of it and their logic that they are doing an interim because he has pulled out of so many fights the ufc are pissed and its hard to argue

Now im just looking forward to embedded to start me getting pumped. Next week should fly by

The only reason an interim belt is happening is so that the NSAC will sanction a 5 round bout, UFC still have a double headline night and they don't have to apologise for losing one of the main draws for PPV and ticket sales.

ibrahimovic · 01-07-2015 05:30AM

Just a little Samba wrote: »

He's favourite on the american market, not Irish/British. It's fairly common for bookies in different countries to offer different odds on the same event to cover their potential losses.

Bookies here know nobody will back Mendes so they can offer long odds, they know everyone will back conor so they have to try and limit their losses if he does win.

Oh i didnt know that, couldnt you just get a relative or something to bet on Mcgregor in the states and back Mendes here and make a guaranteed profit in that case?

but1er · 01-07-2015 06:10AM

Doctors clear him to fight and his coach pulls him out

How is he not stripped of title? Clearly just running

EagererBeaver · 01-07-2015 06:22AM

MarkJD wrote: »

When Conor beats Mendez i really do hope he refuses to give Aldo another fight and only recognise the Interim belt as him being champion. He will have huge sway with things then...

Failing that I see them giving him a truck load of cash and it being McGregor vs Aldo TUF season!

"Give" him another fight? You think he "gave" him this one?

michael999999 · 01-07-2015 06:43AM

Bolex!

Davei141 · 01-07-2015 06:43AM

Right lets build up the Mendes - McGregor fight and forget about Aldo, better off declaring it now instead of right before and rightfully pissing everyone off while giving McGregor Mendes zero build up.

UFC 189 -Chad Mendes v Conor McGregor

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