The odds are out and after a comprehensive beating of Chad Mendes, it is not surprising that Irishman Conor McGregor, the current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Interim Featherweight Champion, is the new favourite of pundits and bettors alike for UFC 194. I wouldn’t be surprised if you’d bet on him too for their December unification bout. McGregor is a brash bruiser with a devil-may-care attitude we all love to love and hate, who is now pegged as a 2-1 favourite.
What sets him apart, and what makes him entertaining, is that he’s proven that he can back up all his swagger with his fighting smarts and his relentlessness. Let us break down the five possible reasons why he is suddenly the toast of the town, when he was the clear underdog the last time he was paired with defending champion Jose Aldo.
1. Conor McGregor talks the talk, and walks the walk. We love a fighter whose punches speak louder than his words.
2. Conor McGregor is a methodical fighter. Underneath McGregor’s seemingly crude shell is a very polished fighter that made him very successful in his recent bouts.
3. Conor McGregor is not easily intimidated. No fighter really admits being intimidated. But a long-time mixed martial arts fan immediately sees hesitation on a fighter, usually when intimidated – the tentative steps of Mendes versus McGregor is an example. McGregor appears to be always ready to dive in, with no signs of being intimidated whatsoever.
4. Conor McGregor enjoys the challenge. McGregor takes what is given to him. He does not scheme around and find fights to his liking wherein he has a clear advantage, making him a true fighter.
5. Conor McGregor is on his path to the top. I think this is one of the disadvantages Jose Aldo has. Aldo has been sitting on this throne for quite a while now, and after some injuries and several cancelled fights, it is surprising if he (and pundits alike) are having doubts about Aldo’s form. The long layoff definitely has a significant impact on a fighter’s killer instinct and overall form, while McGregor carries with him not just swagger but more importantly, momentum.
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