Conor McGregor is a polarizing figure. You either love him
or you hate him.
Whatever your opinion, you can’t deny the
showman/businessman he has become in the UFC, and in record time.
He’ll main event UFC 189 this weekend alongside Chad Mendes, where he’ll
aim for the UFC Featherweight Title or the crown of the ‘McGregor Division as
he describes it.
Not only is it the first pay-per-view that McGregor will
carry as the main event, but it’s his first shot at a UFC title, all in a
little over two years since he joined the Zuffa owned organisation.
Simply remarkable.
What’s even more remarkable is the man he was looking to
dethrone, Jose Aldo, hadn’t lost in nine years, yet all everyone was talking
about was Conor McGregor.
McGregor has become a star in a time when the UFC is clearly
lacking them.
One of their greatest ever, Georges St Pierre, is currently
in retirement. He’s known for his incredible ability inside the Octagon, but
away from it, he’s softly spoken, humble and respectful.
Anderson Silva was another star. But he’s currently
disgraced after testing positive to performance enhancing drugs and is on the
shelf for the time being.
Jon Jones is facing similar problems. He has significant
legal issues following a hit and run accident earlier this year, not to mention
a positive test for cocaine, just weeks prior.
He seems to have embraced the villain in recent times. His cocky swagger has fans mixed and after playing the ‘bad guy’ in his showdown with Daniel Cormier, he seems to have enjoyed the part.
Look through the current champions and most lack charisma.
Fabricio Werdum, Chris Weidman, Robbie Lawler, Rafael Dos
Anjos, TJ Dillashaw and Demetrious Johnson are all household names to MMA fans,
but I’d argue none have crossover appeal.
Ronda Rousey is arguably the promotions biggest star at the
moment, but how long can the UFC bank on that.
Rousey’s stardom only continues to rise and already it’s led
to movie roles, WWE guest appearances and Sports Illustrated shoots. But with
Rousey so dominant and with future opponents thinning with every fight, how
long will she stick around?
Conor McGregor is not yet a blue chip stock the company can
invest in, he’s a rough diamond.
He’s worth a lot, but for how long is what needs to be
determined.
We know now he can sell a big fight, but can he win one.
McGregor’s style looks carved from the Chael Sonnen
playbook, with Sonnen the trailblazer of fight promotion.
But let’s hope when he reaches the chapter on winning big fights, McGregor stops reading said playbook.
But let’s hope when he reaches the chapter on winning big fights, McGregor stops reading said playbook.
Because whilst Sonnen was known for landing big fights, he
didn’t win many.
There’s no denying McGregor’s star power and companies are
already lining up to take their slice.
He’s one of six UFC Fighters to have a Reebok deal and there’s more on the way.
But a UFC fighter’s real business is what he does in the
Octagon. Talk is cheap and actions speak louder than words.
To be fair, McGregor has matched the talk up until now, but Chad Mendes is another story.
To be fair, McGregor has matched the talk up until now, but Chad Mendes is another story.
Jose Aldo was officially removed from their UFC 189 main
event last week, throwing number two ranked featherweight, Mendes a title
fight on short notice.
McGregor had been all over the world disrespecting Aldo,
creating huge buzz and becoming an internet sensation in the process.
He hasn’t wasted any time bringing a similar campaign
together for Mendes.
But whilst this manner of promotion may line his pockets, it
also makes his life in the Octagon much harder, with a severely pissed off Mendes not his only concern.
The talk brings pressure and the expectation that he will
deliver.
Pressure from sponsors that want him to justify their dollars in him, pressure from the UFC for hitching their tail to his wagon and pressure from fans that it isn’t all hype and their $50 is money well spent.
Pressure from sponsors that want him to justify their dollars in him, pressure from the UFC for hitching their tail to his wagon and pressure from fans that it isn’t all hype and their $50 is money well spent.
The UFC has big plans for the Irishman too. Dana White
recently confirmed that the 82,000 seat Croke Park
Sure, he has to win the title first, but you can’t fault the
UFC for having ambition on a grand scale.
The UFC 189 card is
expected to do the biggest gate in UFC history, with McGregor also claiming it
will set records on pay-per-view.
That was before Aldo’s withdrawal, but although the buyrate
will take a hit, the number should still be impressive as McGregor is still
fighting, and that’s what most people will be paying to see.
The world is his oyster at the moment and he’s the hottest
fighter on the planet, with top status in the UFC his for the taking.
All he has to do is beat Chad Mendes.
We already know that Conor McGregor is special. Just how
special remains to be seen.
We’ve heard him talk about it, now he needs to prove
it in the biggest fight of his life, with everything to lose.
