Friday, December 11, 2015

Can Conor McGregor walk the walk?




He’s talked the talk, but can Conor McGregor walk the walk?

It’s the intriguing question that remains going into UFC 194, with the Irishman finally getting locked inside the Octagon with UFC Featherweight champion Jose Aldo.

Aldo-McGregor is the most anticipated fight in UFC history, after the pairs scheduled bout at UFC 189 was postponed after the champion sustained a rib injury, just weeks out from the event.

The UFC 189 date with Aldo was meant to be McGregor’s coming out party, the moment when the box office appeal was finally matched with the credibility that comes with a UFC title.

But whilst he did leave UFC 189 with some gold, in the form of the interim Featherweight belt, McGregor wasn’t entirely convincing.

Although he stopped Chad Mendes late in the second round, it’s what occurred in the 9 minutes and 57 seconds prior that left people with some lingering doubt.  

Many pundits saw the Aldo fight as a better matchup for McGregor stylistically, given Aldo has a tendency to be a stand-up fighter, which is the Irishman’s strength.

The Mendes fight would see the Irishman tackle a superior wrestler, and arguably the best in the featherweight division. 

Throughout McGregor’s rise in the UFC, many have pointed to his wrestling ability as his Achilles heel, and there were several instances in the Mendes fight that showed exactly that.

The American took down McGregor multiple times and large parts of the fight were spent with the Irishman fighting off his back. As dominant a fighter McGregor says he is, UFC fight fans didn’t walk away thinking as such.

 Mendes had just three weeks to prepare for the UFC 189 date, and was in control for large parts of the fight, before McGregor’s stand-up ended things.

McGregor did the important stuff. He got the victory, took the belt and even collected a tidy performance bonus from the UFC. But what could have Mendes achieved had he had a full camp to prepare?

It is why UFC 194 is so appealing - all questions will be unequivocally answered.

McGregor’s opponent, Jose Aldo is the only ever UFC Featherweight champion and has not tasted defeat in ten years.

He’s fought Chad Mendes twice, winning both times - A crushing first round knockout, followed by a unanimous points decision win.

His resume is a roll call of UFC stars. His highlight reel is a thing of beauty. When the Brazilian decides to hang up the gloves, he’ll have a fair case to being instilled as a great in the sport.

Yet in the lead-up to the fight not one is talking about Aldo.
It is because McGregor is marketable like no other. 

Everything he says and does instantly trends on social media. He’s the face of the UFC’s deal with Reebok and he holds the biggest gate receipts of any UFC fighter – with UFC 194 expected to set a new record.  

His UFC cheque is set to reach nine figures, at least according to the Irishman, and the Aldo fight will see substantially more money in the McGregor bank account.

But the Irishman only needs to look to another box office smash in Ronda Rousey for a word of warning. Rousey was humbled by Holly Holm just a month ago, losing her title and a bit of her allure in the process.

UFC 194 is Conor McGregor’s chance to show he can handle the pressure and that despite all the brashness and media hype, he does his best work and speaks loudest inside the Octagon.

Should he win on Sunday, his appeal will only rise further. A fight at the 82,000 seat Croke Park has been touted, plus there are a handful of opponents waiting to cash in on their rivalry with the Irishman.

If McGregor walks out of UFC 194 as Featherweight champion his voice will only rise, and the doubters will be silenced once and for all.