Conor McGregor brings a legion of Irish MMA fans to his fights in Las Vegas.
Tonight’s UFC 194 has a chance to set betting records, say the Las Vegas sportsbooks. All four bouts on the main card feature close fights with no single fighter more than a 2-to-1 favorite. Even betting odds are conducive to gambling, because gamblers on both sides of the wager are willing to spend money.
The last time the show’s main attraction, Conor McGregor, fought in summer 2015 (UFC 189), the wagering action left Vegas bookmakers gushing about the volume of betting. UFC 194 is more anticipated than the main fight in UFC 189, so gamblers might provide the biggest MMA betting of the year.
Jose Aldo Profile
The champion in the fight is Jose Aldo, who has not lost an MMA fight in 10 years. Aldo has reigned as the UFC Featherweight Champion for 7 years. The belt did not exist before Jose Aldo held it, so he is the only fighter to ever hold the Featherweight title.
Jose Aldo has been atop the Featherweight division so long that many consider Jose Aldo “boring”. Until Conor McGregor came along, Aldo was perceived to have cleaned out the division.
Conor McGregor Profile
Conor McGregor comes in as the most intriguing challenger Jose Aldo has ever faced. McGregor brings with him a legion of fans from his native Ireland. Conor McGregor is also unbeaten in his UFC career, and he rides a 15-fight winning streak.
More than the winning streak, it is the way Conor McGregor wins which attracts crowds. He has power in either hand, along with excellent technique. McGregor, known in the business as “The Notorious”, is the biggest star in mixed martial arts right now.
The Notorious Irishman
A big part of “the way Conor McGregor wins” has to do with his persona. Conor McGregor may be the biggest talker to have ever entered the UFC’s octagon. The Irishman is brash, confident, and well-spoken. He taunts and chides opponents before fights, then lauds them after the battle. His interviews and pre-fight antics have created a legion of fans on both sides of the Atlantic; it’s also created a legion of detractors.
In short, people love to see Conor McGregor fight, whether it’s to cheer him on or see him get beat. He creates buzz. Everyone who follows MMA has an opinion of the Aldo-McGregor fight. Many of them want to bet on UFC 194. In the past couple of days, a lot of money has been wagered on Jose Aldo, making him a slight favorite.
Weidman versus Rockhold
Aldo-McGregor is not the only fight creating excitement. Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhold fight for the UFC Middleweight Championship in an even closer battle. The champion Weidman is a slight $135 moneylight favorite, meaning you would have to wager $135 to win $100.
Souza/Romero and Maia/Nelson
In other action, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza faces Yoel Romero in a tough Middleweight title eliminator match. Whoever wins is likely to be given a shot against the winner of Weidman-Rockhold.
Also, Demian Maia faces Gunnar Nelson in a featured Welterweight bout. This is a fight that’s likely to go to the ground, because both fighters consider it their specialty. Demian Maia is a former world champion submission wrestler, while Gunnar Nelson has defeated his last three opponents by choking them out. Nelson also fights out of the Straight Blast Gym, which Conor McGregor made famous.
Conor McGregor Wins in a 13-Second Knockout
In an update, Conor McGregor ended Jose Aldo’s 7-year reign atop the Featherweight Division in 13 seconds. After McGregor threw a straight right, Jose Aldo went on the attack with a straight right counter (and follow-up left hook). The southpaw McGregor stepped under the straight right to deliver a beautifully-executed left hook (or for a southpaw, it might be described as a left cross). Beating Aldo to the punch, McGregor knocked his opponent to the mat. Due to torque, no other punch in fighting is more devastating than a hook, when the other opponent is also throwing a hook. It was all that was needed to end the fight.
After Aldo went to the ground, Conor McGregor threw two left hammerfists. He wouldn’t have needed them. The flash knockdown happened so quickly that the referee did not have time to respond. He was leaping between the fighters before the hammerfist blows, trying to stop the fight.
The knockout sets a UFC record for the quickest bout ever. The previous record was a 14-second submission by Ronda Rousey. After the fight, Conor McGregor praised his opponent’s long reign as champ, while Jose Aldo was dismissive of the knockout and called for a rematch.
