CONOR McGREGOR RETURNS to action in 10 days’ time against Chad Mendes in the main event at UFC 189 in Las Vegas.
However, the Irish MMA star has been forced to deal with the late withdrawal of yet another opponent, after UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo backed out of their title bout this morning due to injury.
That’s nothing new for McGregor. In fact, of his last 10 opponents — dating back to 2011 — five have pulled out injured.
September 2011, Cage Warriors Fight Night 2
Swedish featherweight Niklas Backstrom was about to leave for the airport to head to Jordan to face McGregor when he “fell” and broke his hand. McGregor took on Norway’s Aaron Jahnsen in a lightweight bout instead. Despite fighting a much bigger opponent on short notice, McGregor picked up his first Cage Warriors win via first-round TKO. Backstrom has since joined McGregor in the UFC.
December 2012, Cage Warriors 51
McGregor became the Cage Warriors featherweight champion in June 2012 and was due to make his first defence of the title in Dublin against American Jim Alers — who’s now also in the UFC. Alers withdrew from the bout due to a hand injury so McGregor went on to fight — and defeat — Slovakian star Ivan Buchinger for the promotion’s vacant lightweight title instead. To Alers’ credit, however, he had been due to fight McGregor the previous September but it was the Irishman who pulled out because of a facial injury.
August 2013, UFC Fight Night 26
Following a spectacular win over Marcus Brimage in his UFC debut, McGregor was paired with Englishman Andy Ogle next. After the injured Ogle backed out, US prospect Max Holloway stepped in and took the Dubliner to the final bell for the first time in his career. Despite sustaining an ACL injury during the fight, McGregor was still victorious in Boston.
July 2014, UFC Fight Night 46
Headlining a UFC event for the first time, McGregor was set to take on Cole Miller in Dublin. A thumb injury forced the American to pull out and Brazil’s Diego Brandao was called in as a replacement. The bout lasted just over four minutes as McGregor made a triumphant return from injury in front of a raucous hometown crowd.
July 2015, UFC 189
Jose Aldo was scheduled to defend his UFC featherweight title against McGregor in the main event at UFC 189 in Las Vegas. The champion injured his rib 18 days before the bout and a week of uncertainty about his participation followed, until the Brazilian star officially withdrew and Chad Mendes took his place with just 10 days to go.
Interesting article , it shows that there is much more to the IRFU recruitments than meets the eye .
@Limón Madrugada: The IRFU have invested a lot of money in their Exiles program recently but this certainly goes beyond the pale. He must have been tearing it up in Australia to get noticed.
This lad looks as if he has the mental strength to go all the up to the highest level. The number of really good young props coming through is very encouraging.
Another Leinster man up north.
@Lf: He may come from Leinster but that’s where the association ends. More like another player that Leinster had nothing to do with playing at another province.
@EK: If you’ve ever taken a fart in Leinster lf would claim you as a Leinster product
https://youtu.be/A0IPESHL40U
Good going Tom.
Let’s forget the hype and wait and see how he steps up
@Mark Smith: The problem is he is only one player and Ulster need volume of quality Youngsters who can break through into the 1st squad.
Great story.Best of luck to him.
Good commend
This Irish u20 team are terrible
Will never make the team, couldn’t tackle for his dinner, useless
@Royster: always the optimist, keep up the good vibe!
A career only going one way – upwards!