The UFC 189 card is in the books, and both title fight main events ended in definitive wins for the belt-holders. At featherweight, Ireland’s Conor McGregor survived the onslaught of Chad Mendes for most of two rounds before he stopped Mendes with a big flurry of punches nearing the end of the second to fulfill part of his “destiny” and become interim featherweight champion.
At welterweight, Champion Robbie Lawler delivered on his promise of a KO, stopping challenger Rory MacDonald in the fifth round.
You have to give McGregor credit for delivering on his promises after months of hype. McGregor had a huge ethnic-Irish following backing him at the live show, and the sport books had installed him as a favorite despite the late change in opponent to the difficult Mendes.
Mendes got him to the ground where McGregor was supposedly weak, but the Irishman kept his composure. When he saw an opening he pounced, dropping and finishing Mendes with just seconds left to go in the round. This gives the UFC back it’s Jose Aldo versus McGregor matchup as they will have to unite the belts at featherweight. What it does for McGregor is it likely sets him up to fight Aldo later this year in Ireland.
The UFC has been actively planning to do a show on the emerald island later this year, and McGregor vs Aldo in Ireland would give them back the fight they hyped as the “biggest UFC fight of all time”. As for Mendes, the third title fight was not the charm for him, as he has now lost every UFC title fight he has been in and he should be out of the title picture for at least a few years with this loss.
As for Lawler, he suffered the indignity of being a champion that was an underdog against a guy he had already beaten in Rory MacDonald. MacDonald has been one of the UFC’s most hyped welterweights for years and for MacDonald and his fans it must have seemed like this title shot came after a long time and that things were right for MacDonald’s inevitable ascension.
Throughout the first four rounds, Macdonald’s cautious gameplan of using this length on Lawler appeared to be working. Lawler busted Macdonald up, but the champion was also bloodied and at times Macdonald appeared to outwork Lawler. Lawler, perhaps sensing he needed a stoppage glared at MacDonald at the end of round four and came out in round five and just blasted at MacDonald until the “Red King” or “Ares” or whatever stupid nickname he wants to use folded like a house of cards.
This probably leaves Lawler facing a third fight with Johnny Hendricks. As for MacDonald, he will likely habg around in the number one contender slot and he will almost assuredly get another crack at the belt with a couple of wins.
