I like it. Hopefully it goes over well because these stacked-on-paper cards always tend to not deliver with the fights being so evenly matched. Still don't think I'm a fan of McGregor still wrapping up that 145 belt though. Three non-defense fights in a row is pretty bogus, regardless of how good this fight is. Although it's still been less than a year since he won the Featherweight title, and some champs sit out longer than that (if you want to rationalize it that way). Just can't help but to feel like they're trying to manufacture the whole "two-division" champ thing. No title defenses, and he instantly gets a 155 lb title shot. Goes 1-1 with a lightweight contender and is granted another title shot while El CuCuy is on an eight-fight win streak. If you want to do big money fights, that's totally fine, but being a two-division champ under these circumstances is less prestigious than it would have been in the old days, in my opinion. Edit: Also, as much as I like the fight, that's pretty fucked up to publicly tell Khabib he has the shot and that they're waiting for Eddie to sign....only to reveal the poster for Eddie vs. Conor.
Agree with you here, I'd love to see a title defense. Good news (I guess) is that if he wins he'll have to defend something. Eddie is probably the best style match up for him at lightweight, don't think he'd have much success against Khabib and I still think Aldo beats him in the rematch. I'm not his biggest fan, but I do have to laud the way that he's maneuvered and positioned himself in the UFC. Card is pretty stacked, both die hards and casual fans should get a kick out of it. Here's to no injuries/drug violations.
Pretty much agree with everything there. I think Eddie could be a terrible match up for him or an easy match up for him depending on the way he fights. haha. I don't know how to call it because Eddie could use his wrestling and take this thing no problem, but if he tries to make it a dog fight like he's done in most of his well-known fights, I think Conor finds his chin. I know people say that the belts don't really matter, but by holding the belt of one division hostage for all this time, he's denying opportunities to the contenders to make a lot of money. Becoming champion moves you up higher in pay. It kind of feels like Max, Jose, Frankie, Khabib and Tony aren't really working towards anything if they let Conor do whatever he wants.
Wow, UFC 205 is sooooo stacked. I can't wait. I do feel bad for Max and Khabib. But if Khabib get Michael Johnson at 205, that would be some consolation. And Max should fight Aldo.
hahaha. That guy killed me. He started out so professional and then just went berserk. My other favorite moment was probably when Eddie just randomly chimed in "Take them stupid ass glasses off". Side note, do you ever sometimes think back to maybe 3-5 years ago and wonder what you would think about the current state of MMA? Rewind before the WEC was absorbed by the UFC. Frankie Edgar was the champ. Who would have guessed that Benson would take the belt (then move up to WW and then go to Bellator), followed by Pettis while Cerrone has been cleaning house in two divisions? Fast forward to now, you have Eddie fuckin Alvarez as champ fighting on possibly the biggest event ever against a guy who entered the UFC three years ago and is now the biggest PPV draw the company has. It's just crazy to step back and look at where the sport currently is every once in a while and think of how it got here. I mean, Bisping, Woodley and Miocic are champs... How weird.
So we have 23 "celebrity" owners of the UFC now, apparently. Trey Parker! LL Cool J! Ben Affleck! Tom Brady!
Damn, just saw Lineker missed weight, too... That's strike number five lol Even with an impressive win over Dodson, I can't see him getting a title shot over Cody for this mess up alone. He'll actually be lucky if they don't make him move up ANOTHER weight class.
That is correct. Turns out, no UFC fighter has missed weight more than 3 times. So Lineker really does stand alone.
Guess I'm going to side with Bisping in this one. Think the only way Henderson wins is by knockout, but I can't see Bisping falling for that again.
Hendo is the one guy I root for in EVERY fight. I hope either way that this really is his last fight though. He's taken tons of damage in almost every fight he's won in the last few years. It would be amazing for him to win the title and retire, but knowing him, I just feel like if he wins he won't be able to turn down a title defense offer. Of course it would suck, but it would not break my heart if he doesn't win the title on Saturday considering how it was a stroke of luck and fan demand that got him this shot in the first place. He's pretty much accomplished everything else you can possibly do in this sport.
Agreed, Dan is the man. Not actively rooting for either really, Bisping just seems to be in a much better place fighting wise right now. Everything has been coming up roses for him lately (saved by the bell with Anderson, starching Rockhold), and we all know he never loses in England. Guess my question would be, what happens if Henderson wins and walks off? You have a four man tournament of Rockhold/Bisping and Jacare/Weidman v Romero winner? The winner of Belfort and Mousasi jump in there? It'd be anarchy.
You know, more so than getting the last feather in his cap... it would be a fitting end to his career that he takes the belt and then retires without ever actually losing it. He had two Pride belts and the UFC bought them out... He had the Strikeforce LHW belt and the UFC bought them out... He's never actually lost a title.