INTERIM TITLE ON LINE AT UFC 189
Mendes Will Test McGregor
Los Angeles, CA- The most anticipated mixed martial arts fight of the year will not take place on Saturday night after all. Featherweight (145 lb.) champion Jose Aldo (25-1) pulled out of his title defense against Conor McGregor (17-2) after injuring his ribs in sparring. Two-time title challenger Chad “Money” Mendes (17-2) has stepped in to fight McGregor on two weeks notice for the main event of UFC 189. While he presents possibly a tougher stylistic match for McGregor than Aldo, Mendes will be filling the same role of “loser” that Aldo would have filled had he not gotten injured. This is still a must-see fight, and will prove once and for all whether the loud-mouthed “Notorious” is for real. The UFC is pushing the Irishman really hard, and it is obvious who they want to win this bout.
WELTERWEIGHT (170) STRAP AT STAKE
Champion Robbie Lawler (25-10, 1 NC) will defend his belt against Rory McDonald (18-2) in the co-main. This is a testament to the drawing power of McGregor, as his interim championship fight is headlining above the legitimate welterweight championship of the world. Lawler already defeated Canadian McDonald less than two years ago, so this fight reeks of UFC favoritism.
UFC LOOKS TO FILL “GSP” VOID
They want their “New GSP” to become a major draw and bring in the pay-per-view money they are severely lacking since long-reigning former champion Georges St Pierre’s (25-2) departure from competition in 2013. While McDonald is a good young fighter, I feel that he has not done enough to earn a title shot after losing to Lawler convincingly just four fights ago. He will lose again and be relegated to “gate keeper” status.
EX-CHAMP MELENDEZ “CAUGHT” ON STEROIDS
Lightweight (155) Gilbert Melendez (22-5) recent failure of a drug test for “exogenous origin of testosterone metabolites” following his split decision loss to Eddie Alvarez (26-4) has earned him a one-year suspension. More damaging will be the asterisk that will be placed next to his solid career, whether fairly or unfairly. The former Strikeforce champ will be remembered for his good wins, but this new revelation will forever tarnish his legacy.
DOUBLE-HEADER OF UFC CARDS THIS WEEKEND
If your MMA thirst is not quenched on Saturday night, tune in the very next night for The Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale on Fox Sports 1 at 9PM/6PM ETPT. The main event will feature welterweight vet Jake Ellenberger (30-9) vs Stephen Thompson (10-1). In closing, UFC Fight Week is underway, ladies and gentlemen. More on that later.
Zack “Attack” Young
MID-WEEK MMA NOTES PLUS UFC 189