What The Heck Happened? On June 23, news came out that Jose Aldo injured his ribs in training. Alcides Nunes, the fighter Aldo’s camp had recruited to emulate Conor McGregor during sparring, slipped while throwing a spinning backkick and hit Aldo directly in the ribs. Conflicting stories emerged regarding the severity of the damage — initial articles from Brazil stated that Jose’s rib was broken, later reports had doctors unsure if it was a break or a deep bruise.
The day after the injury news broke, Jose announced he would still compete at UFC 189. But shortly after a planned training session to assess his readiness on Tuesday, June 30, it was announced that Aldo was out of the fight.
Who Will Conor McGregor Fight At UFC 189 Now? Chad Mendes, the No. 1 ranked contender in the featherweight division (Conor is ranked No. 3) will now step up to face Conor on July 11. Mendes is a member of Urijah Faber’s Team Alpha Male camp and is known for his relentless wrestling style. His striking is no joke though — five of his last six victories have come via KO or TKO. He is currently 17-2 with his only losses coming to Jose Aldo.
Were There Any Other Fighters Considered? Several fighters were in the running to replace Aldo. Former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar was in the mix, and there was serious talk of a lightweight bout versus Nick Diaz’s little brother Nate.
Why Is This An Interim Title Fight? According to some sources, Conor McGregor’s camp wanted the highest ranked opponent but only on the condition that the fight be for the interim belt.
Is This Fight Still Worth Buying? While a McGregor vs. Mendes fight doesn’t have the same megafight appeal as McGregor vs. Aldo, it is still a very interesting fight. McGregor has been dogged with accusations that he’s never faced a strong wrestler, and now he’s facing the best wrestler in his division. It will be a major test for the cocky Irishman and worth watching. While there is a small chance Mendes pins McGregor to the mat and holds him there for five rounds, most agree this match up is likely to produce fireworks as both fighters are known for exciting fights and pushing the pace.
UFC 189 goes down July 11 in Las Vegas, Nevada and also features Robbie Lawler vs Rory MacDonald for the welterweight title.
