It happened again.
Last summer Conor McGregor challenged the UFC champion for his belt, and with 11 days to go, the champ pulled out with an injury. The UFC put in Chad Mendes, with an interim title on the line. McGregor beat Mendes, and when featherweight Jose Aldo came back, he crushed him too.
Now with 11 days to go until UFC 196 on March 5, UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos pulled out of the fight, reportedly with a broken foot. The news was reported by Ariel Helwani for MMA Fighting. ?This is in fact the fourth time in eight UFC fights that McGregor has had his initial opponent pull out.
The UFC is scrambling to find a replacement. It is not likely that an interim belt will be on the line. Thus McGregor’s goal of being the first champion in UFC history to hold two belts simultaneously will likely have to wait.
The bantamweight champion Holly Holm vs. Miesha Tate co-main will now become the main event.
The injury may be only a bump in Conor McGregor’s plan.
First, win the UFC featherweight title. Then lightweight. Then welterweight.
That is going through Jose Aldo, Rafael dos Anjos, and Robbie Lawler.
Aldo of course fell in spectacular fashion. The fight with RDA at UFC 196 on March 5 is delayed, due to injury. But in a recent interview with SevereMMA, McGregor talked about continuing the march.
Why not go up? replied McGregor, when asked about 170. They get slower and they get less free. They get stiffer. Even more stuck than the lightweight division.
As crazy as it sounds, UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub spoke recently with Joe Rogan, and said he thinks McGregor would beat current welterweight champion Robbie Lawler.
“I’m gonna say something crazy, Joe,” began Schaub, as transcribed by Mike Drahota for LowKick. “Are you ready for this?
“I think the toughest match-up possible for McGregor in the UFC is dos Anjos. I think the easier fight for him is Robbie Lawler. Robbie’s not gonna touch him. Not a chance. I think he f***s Robbie up, and I love Robbie! Style wise he f***s Robbie up.”
So what do you tink?
Black breaks down what could have been:
