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Conor Mcgregor has put Ireland on the map of MMA communityMcGregor is still relatively new to the UFC, yet is at the top level of the sport already. His meteoric rise is unparalleled in the sport's history, having stopped four out of five opponents since his debut with UFC in 2013, he has been demanding a shot at the belt from the very beginning. Conor's seemingly unstoppable momentum, as well as his extreme extroversion, has made him the biggest talking point in the sport since Brock Lesnar was signed to compete. He is the perfect storm, just what the UFC and featherweight division needed to shake things up.Also unparalleled is his ability to market himself, and get under the skin of his opponents at the same time. McGregor has that star power, he is confident and brash, he has a reputation for being disrespectful and dismissive of his opponent, causing them to become very emotional and angry. Whether this is all part of a carefully constructed game plan to push his foes' buttons and throw them off their game, or just Conor being himself, only he really knows. But its effectiveness speaks for itself, as we see by the UFC’s investment in him as UFC 189 clearly is Conor McGregor show all along.Yes everyone is disappointed that Jose Aldo has dropped out of the fight due to a rib injury against Mcgregor but we are getting a fantastic replacement bout with Chad Mendes stepping in for Aldo for the interim title. This also presents a wonderful opportunity for McGregor to finally silence his critics by facing a wrestler like Mendes. And we all know if he succeeds, the title unification bout with Jose Aldo will be a massive deal. But before we go that far, let’s recap the UFC journey of Conor Mcgregor.
#1 Conor Mcgregor vs Marcus Brimage
This is where it all began for those in the UFC who were unfamiliar with “The Notorious” Conor McGregor. In his debut he faced featherweight Marcus Brimage. After some heated exchange during weigh-ins Brimage was out there to prove a point that the hype behind McGregor is nothing more than hype. There was no touch of gloves as Brimage comes straight at McGregor, swinging overhand punches and lands a nice left hook. Nice right hand connects for Brimage but McGregor breaks up the momentum with a hard uppercut.
McGregor showed reat hand speed as he blasted Brimage again with another pair of uppercuts which had Brimage hitting the deck and McGregor followed up with heavy shots on the ground until referee Robert Sundel intervened. Conor McGregor needed just 67 seconds to win his UFC debut in impressive fashion and prove the hype behind him is real. This was the prologue to what would go on to be one of the fastest rises through the ranks of the Ultimate fighting Championships.
#2 Conor Mcgregor vs Max Holloway
UFC went to Boston’s TD Garden, as UFC Fight night 26 marked the promotion's first event on the Fox Sports 1 network and having Conor McGregor on that card was a no brainer. He had more than a little pressure on him, and he lived up to the hype again. The Irishman got the full-on lights-out walkout treatment, despite being in just his second UFC fight, and having a spot on the preliminary card. McGregor then rolled to a dominant unanimous decision win over Max Holloway.
McGregor landed leg kicks early and then a leaping kick just missed. Holloway tried to return fire with kicks of his own, but then ate a left hand and a kick to the body. Another left hand came right behind it, then a 1-2 with the right and left, and more unpredictable kicks. Holloway tried to create distance with jabs, but McGregor was much quicker to the punch and the kicks. Holloway stayed in the pocket as best he could when not backing up, and even nearly landed a spinning wheel kick.
The second round also started slowly before a right uppercut rocked Holloway. Holloway tried his best to counter-punch, but he never had McGregor in any kind of trouble. Holloway kicked around three minutes into the round, and McGregor caught the leg and took the fight to the ground. McGregor used his hand speed to good effect it was a straight left that sent Holloway to the floor with two minutes remaining. McGregor quickly took control from the top but failed to maneuver himself into position for the submission.
Entering the third round for the first time in his MMA career, the Dublin native took the fight to the floor at the first available opportunity and went to work out of the Hawaiian’s guard. He quickly passed to side control with more than four minutes to work in the round. McGregor briefly got to mount, but Holloway rolled out. Moments later, though, McGregor got back to mount, where he boxed the ears, then landed some punches when Holloway tried to scramble. Holloway got back to his feet with a minute left and landed a head kick that grazed McGregor. But soon after, McGregor put Holloway on his back again for the rest of the fight.
He picked up 30-27 scores from two judges and a 30-26 from the third. McGregor said his first takedown in the second round led to a knee injury that forced the other takedowns the rest of the way. His performance now looks quite remarkable after we know how Mcgregor overcome adversity and adjusted in the fight. McGregor however was disappointed to have been taken the distance.
#3 Conor McGregor vs Diego Brandao
Mcgregor had a ton of pressure on his shoulders because of returning to his first ever UFC headliner after tearing his ACL defeating Max Holloway at UFC Fight Night 26 headlining the Fight night event in his home town. No other UFC fighter had ever risen up to his status as the face of an entire country with just two wins in UFC.
The brash McGregor faced a volatile and dangerous test in Brandao, TUF 14 winner who filled in as a late replacement for the injured Cole Miller, he had a golden opportunity of upsetting McGregor in his home city. When the dust was settled on UFC Fight Night 46's massively hyped main event, McGregor notched up his third straight UFC victory. He pledged to finish it in the first round and he delivered.
The bad blood-fueled bout began with a spinning kick from McGregor. He blocks two head kicks from Brandao. Brandao sought a takedown against the cage, but McGregor reversed to get a takedown and land on top of Brandao. Brandao sought a leglock but McGregor slipped out to pour down some ground and pound. "Notorious" returned to his feet to land a big right hand and a body kick. He followed with a left hand and a spinning kick that hurt Brandao.
Brandao landed some good punches of his own and body shots but McGregor stalked Brandao on the cage, landed a left hook to drop the Brazilian. McGregor follows up and unloads a series of right hands to Brandao who was just covering up. The referee Leon Roberts stops the fight when Brandao doesn't react. Conor McGregor stopped Brandao via strikes at 4:08 minutes of round 1
McGregor delivered in a huge way on a grand stage, clearly outclassing Brandao, who was once considered the future of the UFC featherweight division. That distinction now goes to McGregor, who called out for a title bout with Jose Aldo in an Irish soccer stadium.
#4 Conor Mcgregor vs Dustin Poirier
While most PPV events generally rely on the headlining act to sell the card, UFC 178 differed in the fact that arguably the most anticipated match-up on the PPV card took place before the co-main event of the evening. It was dubbed as peoples main event as Irish sensation Conor McGregor had all eyes on him in Las Vegas when he destroyed Dustin Poirier in less than two minutes of fight time to announce himself as a legitimate contender in the featherweight division.
McGregor began the fight with a long kick then he attacked with a hook kick. Poirier who seemed fairly calm despite the heated nature of the bout landed a leg kick in response. The two traded punches as the crowd roared. McGregor continued to push forward with kicks and mixed with spinning attacks. McGregor continued to pressure and landed a left hand, before taunting Poirier. When Poirier ducked down, the Irishman punched over the top with a left hand. The punch clipped Poirier's temple, sending him to the mat. From there, McGregor poured a series of ground strikes until Herb Dean stepped in to end the contest. This was a perfect performance by McGregor. He was aggressive, boastful, and violently effective. He definitely made the statement for a title shot.
#5 Conor McGregor vs Dennis Siver
Just four win into the UFC Mcgregor was on top of the world. He single handedly put Featherweight division in limelight. Everyone wanted a piece of him but UFC obliged Denis Siver with the opportunity to face Mcgregor in front of Irish people away from home in the main event of UFC Boston. There was lot of trash talking and bad blood between these two coming into this fight and Mcgregor once again vowed to give Boston fans a TKO victory.
In the first round McGregor attempted a spinning wheel kick which went way over the head of Siver. McGregor already switching stances in the middle of the cage, then hits Siver with a spinning back kick. A switch-step jumping head kick by McGregor is blocked by Siver. Siver shoots in for a takedown but failed. Siver lands a right kick to the body as McGregor steps in, but the Irishman responds with a clean left hand.
Flying knee lands for McGregor, but Siver responds with a hook when he lands. Left head kick and a right cross land for McGregor, then a left cross. McGregor started to land harder, cleaner shots. Siver's face was already visibly reddened. A jumping knee for McGregor landed, then a left cross knocks Siver's mouth guard out. McGregor lands another left cross, then powers out of a Siver double-leg takedown. Siver's left eye is busted up as McGregor keeps glancing him with kicks and spearing him with long left crosses. As the round ends, McGregor has Siver trapped on the cage, unloading with both hands.
The second round begins where the first ended, with McGregor stalking and taunting Siver. Mcgregor lands another left head kick, then a left cross. McGregor's left-hand seems tethered to Siver. Siver sneaks a clean hook or body kick in here and there, but he's so overwhelmed by McGregor's volume and power that it hardly seems to matter. Another streak of hard left hands from McGregor have Siver's face badly bloodied.
McGregor lands yet another clean left hand, this one putting Siver on his back. Siver's still conscious, but he's beyond the point of defeat. McGregor casually sits into full mount, punching and elbowing away until referee Herb Dean rescues Siver. McGregor immediately runs out of the cage and tries to confront UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo, but is halted by security. From few feet away, McGregor screams at Aldo, who grins in amusement from his cage-side seat.
