Does this injury open up huge opportunity for UFC 200. McGregor v RDA had not built up the anticipation that a super fight should have. Aldo v McGregor had a huge build up , the world tour did that but the RDA v McGregor was going to be only the second ever champion v champion super fight in the UFC and we had one stare down just one!!
Aldo was the pound for pound champion that hadn't been beaten in 10 years and was better know to the casual fan than RDA is and the injury legitimise McGregor as a threat when he beat Mendes. This delay made it the biggest MMA event of 2015 because we had to wait even longer for it but come on 2 champions hadn't fought in 7 years, where was the build up!!! We should have been sick of the 2 of them at this stage and only 1 stare down!! Maybe it was about to start this week but It was the same with the original promo for what was then UFC197
The UFC has the chance to build this into the Media driven superfight that makes UFC 200 historic. First they need a legitimate 155 contender to make McGregor look good and will step in, who's available:
Diaz : He is coming off a win, the smack talk will sell the fight, is as tough as nails and doesn't have great wrestling so will have to fight standing
Cerrone: Just won, has a longstanding beef withMcGregor, is still top 5 lightweight and doesn't have great wrestling so will have to fight standing
Pettis: The most exciting stand up fighter in the lightweight division, just lost 2 in a row
Alvarez: Blew it against Pettis, fought to win instead of entertain
Faber: has never fought at 155 in the UFC
Khabib and Ferguson: the casual fans have no idea who they are
So really leaves Cerrone and Diaz who are known to the casual fans and are legitimate enough that if McGregor wins its a big win and hypes his chances against RDA. Lets ignore the extremely probable chance McGregor loses and say after he wins he fights RDA at UFC 200. A build up suitable for a super fight would be required, maybe a world tour, there would be time, maybe an extended Embedded series or something new (they are rumours of sky sports deal in Europe). Maybe just maybe this could be better for the UFC than it looks!!!
Aldo was the pound for pound champion that hadn't been beaten in 10 years and was better know to the casual fan than RDA is and the injury legitimise McGregor as a threat when he beat Mendes. This delay made it the biggest MMA event of 2015 because we had to wait even longer for it but come on 2 champions hadn't fought in 7 years, where was the build up!!! We should have been sick of the 2 of them at this stage and only 1 stare down!! Maybe it was about to start this week but It was the same with the original promo for what was then UFC197
The UFC has the chance to build this into the Media driven superfight that makes UFC 200 historic. First they need a legitimate 155 contender to make McGregor look good and will step in, who's available:
Diaz : He is coming off a win, the smack talk will sell the fight, is as tough as nails and doesn't have great wrestling so will have to fight standing
Cerrone: Just won, has a longstanding beef withMcGregor, is still top 5 lightweight and doesn't have great wrestling so will have to fight standing
Pettis: The most exciting stand up fighter in the lightweight division, just lost 2 in a row
Alvarez: Blew it against Pettis, fought to win instead of entertain
Faber: has never fought at 155 in the UFC
Khabib and Ferguson: the casual fans have no idea who they are
So really leaves Cerrone and Diaz who are known to the casual fans and are legitimate enough that if McGregor wins its a big win and hypes his chances against RDA. Lets ignore the extremely probable chance McGregor loses and say after he wins he fights RDA at UFC 200. A build up suitable for a super fight would be required, maybe a world tour, there would be time, maybe an extended Embedded series or something new (they are rumours of sky sports deal in Europe). Maybe just maybe this could be better for the UFC than it looks!!!
