Earlier today Dana White went on record stating that he will strip Conor McGregor of his titles if he doesn't defend one by the end of 2020
How great is Conor McGregor, really?
- Thread starter D241
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LMAO.... Conor is no where near an MMA Great
Money fight Great. Yes he is undoubtedly the all time money fight great.
But MMA Great. Cmon the dude is not even in the conversation.
To date he still has not defended a single belt. How the hell do you mention MMA
Great in the same sentence as Conor?
Ya'll killing me with this shit
Money fight Great. Yes he is undoubtedly the all time money fight great.
But MMA Great. Cmon the dude is not even in the conversation.
To date he still has not defended a single belt. How the hell do you mention MMA
Great in the same sentence as Conor?
Ya'll killing me with this shit
This is really the crux of it. You have to look at the political economy of the sport. People in the past fought more frequently due to a combination of low wages, less say in the promotion, and an industry need to build stars. Looking at Conor as a unique individual is the wrong way to do it. He's just a manifestation of the changing structure of MMA where you could quickly use it as a springboard to make a lot of money. Brock Lesnar maybe inaugurated this trend. Ronda Rousey continued and enhanced it. Conor has ridden it into superstardom. Jones really was set up to fall into this category too, but blew it. This is the era of performance and spectacle in North American MMA. Comparing it to past eras doesn't factor in the money and media differences that make the modern UFC a completely different promotion than any other in the sport's brief history.
We can question any of these fighters' achievements in hindsight. Any of the aforementioned fighters are the greatest of their time and division. What we do know is that Conor changed the fucking game, much as his predecessors. Not only in monetary ways, but who the fuck came even close to flat lining Aldo, the GOAT of that division at the time and should be hall of famer.
I’m worried he isn’t training as much
theres great fighters that never even won a title though.... being great is based on skill and ability ....
I agree but the context of this thread is about Conor being an all time great which
he isn't even close.
You have champions with much longer reigns Like Demetrius Johnson, Chuck Liddel
Anderson Silva, Joanna Champion etc.... Conor doesn't even have a reign.
He's never even defended
That is not an MMA Great in my book. Yes he is a great fighter
but a "MMA Great" in that context. He isn't in the discussion
Even Jon Bones defended multiple times and wrecked his entire division
Thats an MMA Great although tainted like a mutherfucker...
When I look at this list. Conor isn't even on it. Fight Matrix | UFC Records » Title Defenses
Let alone a Great
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I agree to an extent. Yes his resume is no where near as impressive as other mma greats, But longetivity is only one aspect that helps define greatness.
He’s done things no other mma fighter has, and has more power than any mma fighter before him has ever had in terms of leverage against the ufc. This guy calls his own shots and ufc have had to listen to him most times(except when they pulled him from the Diaz fight, but even that might’ve been Conor’s choice secretly) Not really relevant to fighting, but still pretty awesome (though it can also be seen as an annoyance)
Good points and I understand where you are coming from. Can't say I disagree.
When I think of Fedor Emelianenko
When I think of BJ Penn
QUOTE]
I was at that fight, barely made it on time due to slipping over in Newcastle at the venue and everyone going mental making sure I didn't sue.
Further decided how much I disliked him.
All this is very true.
Unlike any of the others listed I'd say Conor was a bit "protected" by the UFC in his rise to fame and fortune.
His weaknesses are his Wrestling, Ground Game and cardio, many would agree.
Wrestlers: He faced Mendes and Eddie. Mendes came in on very short notice, was doing well but was not going full bore trying to conserve energy. He started well then gassed badly. Eddie has good wrestling, however doesn't use it much and will always prefer to stand and trade.
The UFC could have matched Mac up easily with Wrestlers like a deserving Frankie, Full Camp Mendes, Elkins or Lamas.
Ground Game: We know Mac has been submitted in his losses. With not the best wrestling to get him down. Aldo and Nate both have great ground games but prefer to be on the feet. Nate easily submitted Conor when the Champ was rocked and shot in for a TD.
Grappling: Again the UFC Could have matched Mac with a submission artist but chose not too. Not that there are many straight up top submission specialists at 145 other than Ortega (who was suspended for a good chunk of Conor's rise at FW). The above wrestlers are good at chokes and could have gone that route over G and P.
Cardio: This is where Nate got the advantage over Conor in both their fights. I say a Full Camp Mendes or Frankie could have given the Mac fits in this area.
Lastly I feel that Conor should have been made to defend his belt at 145 before moving up to LW. A rematch with Aldo should of been made. Not implying at all Conor didn't murk Aldo in the first fight fair and square. However 13 seconds after Jose reigned the division since the beginning, anyone else would have been made to give the ex Champ a rematch. At least make Conor defend the belt ONCE. Many still believe a Champion isn't Champ until they do defend the belt. Hell, Dana made GSP even put a title defense in his contact at 185 when he came back ( he vacated but the point is Dana put that stipulation in there). Conor had two choices to defend, a rematch with Aldo OR a bout against Frankie. Both would have answered many questions and with a win this conversation may not have to even take place. The UFC let Conor move immediately to LW to become two Division CH to face Eddie. A fighter perfectly suited for Conor. A fighter who will go in there and trade shot for shot. The UFC couldn't have scripted it any better.
In well over a year Conor is riding the benefits of being Champ, hasn't defended but was allowed to fight in Boxing. Six months later, still no title defense. I sometimes wonder if this is the UFC plan. First talks about Conor's return is a 3rd bout with Nate at 155 for the Title. In no way shape or form does Nate deserve a shot at the 155lb belt over Ferguson the interm Champ or Khabib (with his very long win streak). Is this because they know Conor can't afford to lose and are hedging their bets? Ferguson IS a very dangerous opponent for the Champ. Has a chin, wrestles, has great submissions and he strikes..... never slows down and has a gas tank for days. Then Khabib, stylistically a nightmare for MacGregor. Perhaps it's better to keep Conor away from the Octagon as long as possible. Let him get in trouble and suspend him for a bit (cough, cough, Bellator). Khabib will soon be fighting a dangerous striker with good TDD, perhaps the Eagle misses weight again or loses. Either way he would move down the rankings for a bit or have to move up weight class, Then he'd be no immediate threat to the LW King. Tony has fought and been taunted by the UFC for wanting to wait to fight Conor. Perhaps the UFC is hoping The Boogyman will lose pushing him down the ranks so someone who is more "pure striker" will be left to fight the King on his return.
Yes the tin hat has been put on. Can you name another UFC Champion who has not fought by choice and not been bullied by the UFC? They would be forced to defend or vacate.....
All while given the stylistic favorable matches that Conor has in his career.
Really good and well thought out post man.
