Let's set the record straight with Conor McGregor

[Redhawks100]

Conor McGregor is a great fighter. Yes, he was destroyed by Diaz inside 2 rounds, but he's still a great featherweight. Yes, he's still great. He was handled by Nate Diaz because he's simply not a great LW or WW.

An average or mediocre fighter does not knock out a legendary fighter like Aldo with a pinpoint strike in 13 seconds. A mediocre fighter doesn't go undefeated in the division he's champion in.

The biggest issue is Conor's arrogance and belief that he could compete with bigger and more skilled men. It's similar to Ronda's "I can beat Cain" claims except Conor made it a reality and in turn lost. Let's not forget though, the FW champion took a fight two weight divisions above and he should certainly be respected a ton for doing it.

Because in reality, McGregor landed some good shots on Diaz. His boxing looked slick with good head movement, good counter left, and good inside boxing with the left hook/uppercut combo that he landed a few times. Thing is, Diaz is just a better fighter than him along with being bigger. His use of the jab, utilization of reach, and timing of the 1-2 won him the fight. Compare that to Aldo's sloppy boxing approach and Mendes' inability to implement good setups with the jab or left hook.

Basically, Conor needs to focus on FW. Build a legacy there and forget the superfights. He's a devastating FW fighter that's a problem for anyone, yes even Frankie.

I've reveled in this loss of his but respect must be given to McGregor. It took a lot of balls to go up and take that fight but now that he badly lost, he must build a great legacy at FW, something I think he's capable of doing.

 

[Dragon Punch]

Respect to Nate for beating this shit out of this great fighter on short notice.

 

[Fatal Catro]

I'll respect him much more if he gets some defenses under his belt and does not let his ego dictate and consume him.

I am looking forward to seeing the 145 division get back on track, Conor may come out on top of the division or he may not.

Tons of talent there and if you can rule it you're definitely legit.

 

[Redhawks100]

Respect to Nate for beating this shit out of this great fighter on short notice.

Nate certainly deserves a great amount of respect. That performance was fucking amazing.

 

[IamStryker]

I don't think it's right to say that he fought two weight divisions above. He didn't fight a real WW. He fought another LW at 170.

Conor is also more realistically a LW himself. He has always claimed to enjoy fighting at LW more than FW.

 

[MagnusGOAT]

As long as he's putting on fights like he has been, even the one against Diaz was awesome to watch, his legacy will be fine. I think he beats Frankie, and I don't see many people beating him at FW. If he beats Frankie then Aldo in a rematch he solidifies himself as the GOAT at 145... I also think that a rematch with Holloway is a very fun fight for the future.

 

[wilKO]

Great post. Agree on everything. Conor looked fine in round 1. He beat Nate up but didn't finish him. Nate weathered it and proved he was the better fighter. Conor has too many brutal wins to write him off or say he isn't elite. At FW.

 

[Prince Nephilim]

his legacy will be fine.

Conor will never be the same again...He set himself up with this loss. Maybe if he didn't make career talking shit he might have been able to come back

 

[Redhawks100]

I don't think it's right to say that he fought two weight divisions above. He didn't fight a real WW. He fought another LW at 170.

Conor is also more realistically a LW himself. He has always claimed to enjoy fighting at LW more than FW.

In a sense, I agree. He's a big FW that's most likely a LW but much of his success has occurred at FW. If he can make the weight, which he does, then he's a FW. He needs to quit with moving up until he can establish a dominant reign as a champion at FW.

 

[wake_me]

How much longer can he make the cut to FW as he gets older?

 

[Reason]

Thinly veiled hate thread. Conor will take the LW strap, its only a matter of time.

 

[robjenkins2]

Frankie could make him look really bad honestly.

 

[MCS]

That cut to 145 looks brutal. His power was fine, his cardio was not. I think he's more suited for 155, even if that's a tougher division. I think Lauzon made a good point that putting on so much weight so fast takes a toll on endurance. He's big enough for LW, has enough KO power for that weight and will be more healthy there. Fighting Edgar at FW doesn't really matter. Edgar was an elite LW.

 

[shawnwood2016]

Oh you are presenting one sided facts. What about McGregor commentary which he proudly presents before the match in front of media?

 

[Deleted member 196663]

Conor McGregor is a great fighter. Yes, he was destroyed by Diaz inside 2 rounds, but he's still a great featherweight. Yes, he's still great. He was handled by Nate Diaz because he's simply not a great LW or WW.

An average or mediocre fighter does not knock out a legendary fighter like Aldo with a pinpoint strike in 13 seconds. A mediocre fighter doesn't go undefeated in the division he's champion in.

The biggest issue is Conor's arrogance and belief that he could compete with bigger and more skilled men. It's similar to Ronda's "I can beat Cain" claims except Conor made it a reality and in turn lost. Let's not forget though, the FW champion took a fight two weight divisions above and he should certainly be respected a ton for doing it.

Because in reality, McGregor landed some good shots on Diaz. His boxing looked slick with good head movement, good counter left, and good inside boxing with the left hook/uppercut combo that he landed a few times. Thing is, Diaz is just a better fighter than him along with being bigger. His use of the jab, utilization of reach, and timing of the 1-2 won him the fight. Compare that to Aldo's sloppy boxing approach and Mendes' inability to implement good setups with the jab or left hook.

Basically, Conor needs to focus on FW. Build a legacy there and forget the superfights. He's a devastating FW fighter that's a problem for anyone, yes even Frankie.

I've reveled in this loss of his but respect must be given to McGregor. It took a lot of balls to go up and take that fight but now that he badly lost, he must build a great legacy at FW, something I think he's capable of doing.

Absolutely NOT. Losing is part of the sport. Stop building it up to be some life changing thing that should alter everything you do. It's MMA. Let's encourage fighters to continue taking on great challenges, not avoid them like GSP because they have "too much to lose".

 

[Redhawks100]

How much longer can he make the cut to FW as he gets older?

I've wondered the same. There has been rumors that he's going to abandon the belt at 145 and pursue 155 but I can't see him doing that after this loss. Guess we'll have to wait and see how his cut goes now that he has to come back down in weight.

 

[robjenkins2]

Conor's biggest problem is that he's in it for the money, trying to jump weight classes and make super fights right away instead of defending the belt at 145 and moving up organically. It all felt forced, this bullshit people were spewing about three division champion was just insane.

 

[MagnusGOAT]

Conor will never be the same again...He set himself up with this loss. Maybe if he didn't make career talking shit he might have been able to come back

If he didn't make his career talking shit he wouldn't have made all the money. It's a double edged sword... I think he'll be back. He's had set backs before and has only got better with each and every fight.

 

[IamStryker]

In a sense, I agree. He's a big FW that's most likely a LW but much of his success has occurred at FW. If he can make the weight, which he does, then he's a FW. He needs to quit with moving up until he can establish a dominant reign as a champion at FW.

I think he was trying to ride his success as far as it could take him just by having supreme faith in his left hand quick KO's. He figured why not just keep going with this and see how big I can get. This loss shattered that confidence and he knows he has to stay at FW for awhile. I really don't know if he will ever fight for the LW title. He would have to make some big adjustments. He can't just go in and expect a KO in the first round.

 

[Redhawks100]

Absolutely NOT. Losing is part of the sport. Stop building it up to be some life changing thing that should alter everything you do. It's MMA. Let's encourage fighters to continue taking on great challenges, not avoid them like GSP because they have "too much to lose".

Losing is part of the sport but he'd lost before and in humiliating fashion. I'm not saying for him to no longer take risks but he's yet to establish a dominant reign as champion at FW. Simply he bit off more than he chew. Like I said in my OP, he deserves a shitload of respect for moving up and taking on that challenge but at the same time it's bad for his legacy. It's not as if he lost a close decision, he was choked out in the 2nd round. He doesn't have to be like GSP and he never will be. Why? Because he's actually exciting unlike GSP