Still won't put the ''Conor McGregor is complete'' myth to bed. As was said earlier in the thread, this was going one of two ways, Conor knocks him out or Khabib makes him tap. I wasn't all that familiar with Khabib but I was saying wow a few times. I've seen much wrestling and grappling, the way he was trapping Conor and moving his body. Looked really amazing. I thought Conor defense was improved, obviously not enough.
By the time Conor had a chance to box with Khabib in the third he was clearly completely exhausted, could barely keep his hands up even at waist level.
Aldo finally wants to rematch with Conor after knocking back all the previous chances to fight him again. I'd still like to see it if Conor was able to get back down to featherweight which I doubt he would be able to anymore but if Aldo really wants the fight I'm sure he could move up for maybe a catchweight fight.
Connor was fool to fight Khabib coming off a two year layoff. Connor's conditioning was worse than usual, which is saying something, since conditioning isn't his strong point. He had the right idea though with using front kicks and quick 1-2's, but Connor didn't have the stamina to maintain it. If Nate Diaz was more active he'd give Khabib a great fight, but at the moment like Connor would be coming off a two year layoff. Connor could beat him in a rematch if he got himself back into shape, since Khabib had no answer for the front kicks and a full round of those would softened him up to be knocked out. I was shocked Jones didn't do it to Cormier in the first fight, since I knew front kicks would break Cormier down. Jones used front kicks in the rematch and beat Cormier like he owned him.
The work he did on the ground to McGregor's legs in the first round many found boring, I found it intriguing. Excellent techniques by Khabib, would have been painful and debilitating defending them. Still McGregor put up a hell of a battle IMO with this and all the other factors considered.
Agreed 100%. Conor Mcgregor should have never taken this fight. Sure he made a lot of money. But he lost the respect of so many people. He was completely outclassed and emasculated. His social media is filled with people calling him a p**** and chicken etc. He has become a laughing stock after that total humiliation. And this is well deserved too. After all that trash he talked about knocking him out and all the personal insults. Seeing him lose was so good
After finishing Stephens, Aldo was apparently contemplating moving up to 155 as a way to mark time while he waits for Max Holloway to be given the green light to return, so you never know.
Nate acting like he doesn't want the trilogy fight with Conor and the mammoth payday that comes with it is fooling nobody -- not even himself. And if the trilogy fight is offered to Nate, he will more than likely haggle over the weight that it will be contested at. I mean, can Nate even make 155 anymore?
A lot of Conor's ground defence success in the first was down to illegally grabbing Khabib's shorts. He was also grabbing the cage with both hands and toes, kneed Khabib's face when down, elbowed the back of his head, and grabbed his gloves, which at the end of the 3rd sent Khabib into a rage
I was going to say the same thing. It was so obvious who Dana White and the whole crew wanted to win. Gregor could take a **** in the middle of the octagon and Rogan would still defend him. He then climbs the fence like a hooligan to join the melee, sucker punches there a member of Khabib's team and still doesn't get called on it. What does Connor have to do before Dana lowers the boom on him ? Kill a man ? I loved the way the 3 Dagestanis ganged up on Connor and fed him his own medicine.
My money would still be on Connor. He's the far superior striker and Ferguson isn't Khabib: he will get timed, hurt and finished while standing up.
I don't really notice the illegal stuff at the time. IDKSAMMA haha. Still unsure about some of the rules. A friend I was watching it with was more knowledgeable, he was going on about Herb Dean hitting Khabib with sneaky kicks. Still can't believe what happened afterwards. None of the getting down on your knees and rolling about or praising the high heavens, Khabib is almost straight over the cage to do some more fighting. What a lunatic. I know it is a really stupid thing to do but part of me is saying you reap what you sow etc. Look at how the fight was promoted, they showed Conor's crazy attack a million times at least. Dana probably getting the champagne out afterwards. Been reading articles about UFC doing WWE better than WWE can do WWE. haha Sad but true. WWE is whatever it is today But anyway, I can't see a rematch going much different really. I know McGregor came back and beat Diaz but Khabib looks to be a different animal. Money talks and all so I think it is going to happen.
