UFC at MSG

[Egg Shen]

That's true, but Alvarez is as durable as they come. He's smartened up too, if Alvarez adopted the tactics he did when he fought Anthony Pettis he beats McGregor 9 times out of 10 for me, it's a horrible match-up for Conor.

[lambyUK]

That's true, but Alvarez is as durable as they come. He's smartened up too, if Alvarez adopted the tactics he did when he fought Anthony Pettis he beats McGregor 9 times out of 10 for me, it's a horrible match-up for Conor.

 

There's a big difference of being able to do what he did against Pettis for 3 rounds and doing it for 5 rounds against Mcgregor. I actually think whilst not brilliant, Mcgregor's takedown defence is far better than Pettis's too. 

 

Alvarez is durable yes, but I think all the years of wars he's had reduces that durability. It's perhaps why he's tried to be more clever with his approach as he knows it's not sustainable. 

 

I'm still hoping this match up comes together for 205.

[Egg Shen]

If Conor in anyway faded agaisnt Alvarez like he did against Diaz he loses.

[jimufctna24]

if Alvarez adopted the tactics he did when he fought Anthony Pettis he beats McGregor 9 times out of 10 for me, it's a horrible match-up for Conor.

Pettis was a shell of his former self when he fought Alvarez.

 

McGregor is a whole different kettle of fish. 

[lambyUK]

If Conor in anyway faded agaisnt Alvarez like he did against Diaz he loses.

 

Quite possibly. But I guess it comes down to whether Diaz is more durable than Alvarez, or who has the better chin? I'm not sure Alvarez can take the same punishment that Diaz is able to take so fading may not be an issue. In the end longevity isn't what Mcgregor is about anyway.

 

All i know is that whilst Alvarez has proven he has heart, he's hittable, really hittable, and that gives someone with the striking ability of Mcgregor a chance.

 

One other thing to consider regarding Mcgregor fading is the extra weight he was carrying in his past two fights. He ballooned up to 168llbs in order to try and compete with a guy carrying considerably more weight than he was. Fighting at 155llbs would enable Mcgregor to come in considerably lighter. 

[Egg Shen]

 

 

if Alvarez adopted the tactics he did when he fought Anthony Pettis he beats McGregor 9 times out of 10 for me, it's a horrible match-up for Conor.

Pettis was a shell of his former self when he fought Alvarez.

 

McGregor is a whole different kettle of fish.

What makes you say that? Pettis may have lost a couple in a row but he lost to top tier fighters, he's only 28, i'd hardly say Anthony Pettis is on the slide.

[lambyUK]

 

 

if Alvarez adopted the tactics he did when he fought Anthony Pettis he beats McGregor 9 times out of 10 for me, it's a horrible match-up for Conor.

Pettis was a shell of his former self when he fought Alvarez.

 

McGregor is a whole different kettle of fish.

What makes you say that? Pettis may have lost a couple in a row but he lost to top tier fighters, he's only 28, i'd hardly say Anthony Pettis is on the slide.

 

 

I didn't get that impression from Jim Egg. Pettis though at that time was going through a massive dip in form that was more to do with confidence than anything else. The beating that RDA gave him put doubts in his head where he was afraid to pull the trigger on his strikes and became hesitant with his most leathal weapon, his kicks.

 

It was more in his head for me and his performance against Alvarez was very poor as he had numerous opportunities to make Alvarez pay but just seemed lost. 

[jimufctna24]

Pettis didn't look good at all against Alvarez and Barboza. He might have rediscovered his mojo now, but he looked flat in those 2 performances. Far from the fighter who walked through Cerrone and Benson. 

[Supremo]

I keep hearing people refer to the, "UFC 200 debacle," doing damage to Conor. I'm not so sure. Whilst at the time it was a complete shambles, no-one can deny that, once the smoke cleared and that UFC 202 number came in, I actually think Conor came out smelling of roses.

 

Instead of sharing the credit of whatever number UFC 200 may have done with other big stars like Brock, Anderson, Tate and Cormier, along with the draw of a couple of title fights, Conor has the legitimate claim of beating that show, and breaking the all-time record, with fuck all support. I genuinely had to just go and look what other fights were on UFC 202, they were so dwarfed by the magnitude of the main event. When you break the record with Glover Texeira in the semi-main event, there's no denying that you're the biggest star of all time.

 

Don't get me wrong, in terms of credibility with the fans and his relationship with his employers, how Conor dealt with UFC 200 definitely harmed his standing. But in terms of stock, and proving your worth to the company? Things couldn't have gone better for him.

 

EDIT: As far as the fight with Alvarez goes, I do think there's every chance that Eddie could wrestle McGregor to a decision much like he did to Pettis. However, I'm less inclined to believe he'd have as much success considering this is Pettis we're talking about. Other than Johny Hendricks, I don't think there's anyone on the roster more than Anthony Pettis who's suspiciously gone to shit ever since they started doing proper drug testing.

[ColinBollocks]

Comparatively to the guy that was on the Wheaties box, he's less effective. I have no idea if it's down to confidence, people knowing exactly how to negate his skills, the fighters improving, or probably all of this*. Pettis was getting talked about as P4P contender and now he's well out that discussion.

 

It's a shame seeing him struggle a bit, because he seems like a good fella and his abs on a card used to make a world of difference in my life. Now the basement shrine is long gone, along with Catherine.

 

*EDIT: Or, as Supremo rightly points out, the new drug testing.

[Chunk]

 

I totally get what McGregor's doing, it's actually refreshing to see an MMA fighter squeeze as much as he can out of a promoter. It's what a fighter in McGregor's position should do. Contract negotiations aren't even about what you're worth, they're about what you can get for yourself. And McGregor's played that game very well so far.

 

Has he played the game very well so far though? He managed to blow the big UFC 200 fight with Nate, which I think would have been even bigger than the fight later on down the line, and his appearance on the big New York show is hanging by a thread by the looks of it. 

 

He's obviously made some mistakes but if you step back and look at it he's gone from unknown fighter to the biggest star in the sport. He's crossed over into mainstream media and brought new fans to MMA. He's made millions on dollars in the process and he's done it in 3 years.

 

If you look at the overall picture, it's nuts to say he hasn't played the game well. There's no way all of that happens through luck.

[David]

I keep hearing people refer to the, "UFC 200 debacle," doing damage to Conor. I'm not so sure. Whilst at the time it was a complete shambles, no-one can deny that, once the smoke cleared and that UFC 202 number came in, I actually think Conor came out smelling of roses.

 

The question is, do Dana and the UFC's new owners agree? Sure, McGregor made money, but when he seems hellbent on giving his employers headaches you have to question his intelligence.

 

 

 

I totally get what McGregor's doing, it's actually refreshing to see an MMA fighter squeeze as much as he can out of a promoter. It's what a fighter in McGregor's position should do. Contract negotiations aren't even about what you're worth, they're about what you can get for yourself. And McGregor's played that game very well so far.

 

Has he played the game very well so far though? He managed to blow the big UFC 200 fight with Nate, which I think would have been even bigger than the fight later on down the line, and his appearance on the big New York show is hanging by a thread by the looks of it. 

 

He's obviously made some mistakes but if you step back and look at it he's gone from unknown fighter to the biggest star in the sport. He's crossed over into mainstream media and brought new fans to MMA. He's made millions on dollars in the process and he's done it in 3 years.

 

If you look at the overall picture, it's nuts to say he hasn't played the game well. There's no way all of that happens through luck.

 

 

Up until recently he had played it well. His fight promotion is top notch, and he knows how to sell. 

 

The issues have come since he's gotten it into his head that he's bigger than the company, and that he actually makes the decisions, rather than the billionaires who run the show. He's allowed his piddly $4 million paydays get to his head. The cunts who make the decisions in the UFC drop that kind of coin in a weekend bender in Vegas.

 

He needs to remember that he needs the company just as much as they need him. They provide the platform for him to perform. He seems as though he's under the impression that it's all a one-way street.

 

He should be working together with the company to make the big fights happen, not being a cock about pressers and dicking about on Twitter.

[lambyUK]

When it comes down to it, I see it like this, who needs who more now and who carries the power?

 

The company that's just paid $4bn and without doubt will be desperate to see a return on their investment, or the man who just broke the PPV record who is now set for the rest of his life? 

 

Mcgregor knows this, and his manager, who incidentally represents a shit ton of well known sports stars that span from MMA, American Football, Basketball etc etc, more than knows this.

 

Before the sale, I would have said that Mcgregor needed the UFC more simply because there never used to be a number attached to the company. Now, with the astronomical $4bn price tag, the owners have put a value on the fighters and fighters are now starting to stand up for what they feel they are worth.

 

I see your point David regarding perhaps the pettiness of what you may see from Mcgregor, but if you honestly think that what you see on twitter is Mcgregor's sole negotiation strategy then that's certainly a bizarre view point. As stated, he's represented by Paradigm Sports Management, who does all that shit for him.

 

I think it's important to note as well, the latest "Beg me" message on his account was in direct response to Eddie Alvarez calling Mcgregor out on twitter, and not a swipe at the UFC.

[jimufctna24]

Aye

 

Context is everything. 

[David]

When it comes down to it, I see it like this, who needs who more now and who carries the power?

 

The company that's just paid $4bn and without doubt will be desperate to see a return on their investment, or the man who just broke the PPV record who is now set for the rest of his life? 

 

You think that a collection of rich people and companies who spent $4 billion are "desperate" to see a return on their investment? Any company with that mindset would have been better investing in a casino in Vegas rather than an MMA company.

 

The collective that bought the UFC will have plans and aspirations that stretch out for years if not decades most likely. they won't be looking to make a quick $40 million on a Conor McGregor fight as a priority.

 

Before the sale, I would have said that Mcgregor needed the UFC more simply because there never used to be a number attached to the company. Now, with the astronomical $4bn price tag, the owners have put a value on the fighters and fighters are now starting to stand up for what they feel they are worth.

 

 

Sadly, fighters come & go. It wasn't that long ago that we were all lamenting the loss of Brock Lesnar after his initial run. The company looked doomed, PPV buy rates were down, GSP had walked away. Things were shit.

 

Then McGregor and Rousey came along.

 

And once they go, there'll be new stars who come along and fill the void.

 

My point isn't that the owners won't pay a fighter what he's worth (McGregor has been paid well for his last few fights now), because the guys you're talking about who are running shit aren't known for being frugal when they see a return on their investment.

 

What they tend to not like is people acting the cunt with them. That's why I'm saying that if McGregor is even close to being as smart as he dresses, he'll have learned from the UFC 200 debacle (that's for you, Supremo) that acting the cunt isn't worth it. He ended up looking stupid and he didn't get his way. He didn't fight on the card, and had to fight later on down the line.

 

What I do know is that regardless of who represents him, he's went down the route of trying to irk his bosses whenever possible. I don't think that's good business.