The UFC 189 event scheduled for this Saturday in Las Vegas now has a new main event as Conor McGregor faces Chad Mendes for the interim title in the featherweight division. The “interim” belt came about because long-time champion Jose Aldo pulled out of the fight due to a rib injury, so McGregor faces top contender Mendes on short notice.
It’s a dramatic change for what was supposed to be the UFC’s biggest, most publicized fight off all time. We take a look at the repercussions to the UFC, to each of the fighters and where they go from here. Also, July 1 came and went, and this weekend’s UFC 189 is the first event where the$70 million Reebok sponsorship kicks in and all the fighters will be clothed in the new Reebok “kit”. The first few days of the publicity around the Reebok deal has been basically a disorganized mess.
Jose Aldo now gets a chance to heal his rib and watch what is still likely to be the biggest UFC event of all-time, and he will be awaiting the winner sometime this fall. For him, his history of injury and delaying fights have led the UFC to institute an “interim” belt for McGregor and Mendes. Mendes winning would possibly lead to a trilogy, and a McGregor win would see Aldo likely to be forced to defend against McGregor in Ireland in October.
Check out the latest edition of out Talk ‘n’ Shoot Podcast on UFC 189 and the new main event.
