Conor "The Notorious" McGregor proved many doubters wrong at UFC 189 when he survived Chad Mendes' best shot in Round 1 and knocked him out in Round 2. According to McGregor, he won the fight while he was dealing with injuries.
"I'm just gonna let that be in the past because there's no point in bringing anything up in my mind," McGregor said after being asked about a future fight with Jose Aldo. "Just know that I had a hell of a lot more wrong with me than a bruised rib, and I still showed up."
Aldo was initially believed to have suffered a fractured rib in training camp, but further examination revealed it was a bone bruise. Aldo was cleared by doctors to move ahead with the fight, but Aldo withdrew because the pain was too severe.
Aldo's withdrawal, plus his open support of Mendes, rankled McGregor.
"When Jose pulled and didn't mention nothing about the fans and then starts supporting Chad, and they were weird little buddies...that left a bad, bad taste in my mouth," McGregor said. "I couldn't do that. I showed up to fight. I respect the people that have sacrificed a lot of their money, their time to make this trip to support the event."
McGregor became one of the most talked-about fighters in the world during the UFC 189 buildup and then cemented his star status by taking care of Mendes, one of the premier fighters in the UFC. He's parlayed it into an opportunity to coach opposite Urijah Faber on the next season of The Ultimate Fighter.
"We've reviewed several different options, but at the end of the day, everybody knows what Urijah brings to the table," UFC PR head Dave Sholler said. "From a coaching perspective -- that's not a knock on anyone -- he certainly thrives on the TUF format. I think when you look at him and you look at Conor together, it's combustible and should be for great TV."
Unlike previous editions of the show, McGregor and Faber will not face off at the conclusion. That spot is likely being saved for McGregor, the new interim champion, to face Aldo when he is healed.
[Sherdog]
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
