Countdown to UFC 189: Chad Mendes vs. Conor McGregor
Countdown to UFC 189 begins by recounting the roller coaster ride which has finally led to this interim featherweight title fight between Chad Mendes and Conor McGregor. With just three weeks to go in his training camp, the champion Jose Aldo injured his rib in training camp and was forced to pull out of the much-hyped fight against McGregor.
And with that, the obvious choice to step in for Aldo is the number one contender Chad Mendes. Mendes who was not in a training camp gets three weeks to prepare for a five-round title fight. Not a perfect situation for him, or for McGregor, who was preparing for a striker. While Chad brings a much more wrestling focused game coupled with explosive hands.
A Confident Conor McGregor
However, McGregor is confident in what he brings to the fight. And feels he will tower over the much smaller Mendes, who will be at an eight-inch reach disadvantage. We get to hear from the rising challenger that it makes no difference whether it is Mendes or Aldo. As for him, all fighters on the roster will at some point or another loss to the Irishman.
We go inside Team Alpha male where the coaches which include Urijah Faber. Are preparing their guy for war as he gets ready to fight again for a featherweight title. Alongside teammates such a TJ Dillashaw, TAM feels their guy has what it takes to shut down McGregor and bring the belt to their gym.
However, Conor McGregor and his team have a very different idea of how they see the fight playing out. And as his coach John Kavanagh tells us it’s, it’s an MMA fight. Aldo could wrestle for five rounds and Mendes could strike for five rounds, anything can happen. And anything is likely to happen as this pair of elite fighters face-off inside the UFC octagon at UFC 189. To see how will walk away with the interim featherweight title this weekend July 11th, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.