If he beats RDA he's already established GOAT peak imo

I also thought it was awfully soon for Conor v RDA but given how short and 'easy' their most recent fights were, they should be in pretty good shape for this, and UFC197 results likely set up well for the potential Aldo and Rousey rematches for UFC 200/July 4th weekend mega event they're sure to put together, hopefully also Jon Jones return if that hasn't already been announced

That's a little unfair, Anderson won all his fights at LHW and would have easily won the LHW strap cept for he wanted to leave the division to his BFF Machida. There was no Bones or Cormier back then. Forrest won the title ffs.
Plus Anderson didn't look like he was out of Aushtwitz making weight for MW. Conor dwarfed over the featherweights. Aldo looked like a pygmy next to him and Aldo cuts a lot of weight too.

RDA is going to humilate Conor imo

nah, he took fights strategically for easy paydays and to boost his profile.

Forrest was the best of that crop but was pillow-fisted and slow, that's also not revisionist history - Anderson was a -335 fave at high end and -280 on the low.

James Irvin? -560 and -450

Bonnar? -1000 and -900

https://www.bestfightodds.com/fighte...erson-Silva-38

If he was so concerned about his friend Machida's claim to 205 it sure is weird that Machida dropped to 185 before Anderson had his rematch for the title with Weidman in '13.

He never wanted any part of Jon Jones. Sure, he prbly would've won the strap for a stretch though if he didn't stay in his lane.

Odds against Rashad would've been a ton closer than any of his other LHW opponents if he was the guy to fight him instead of Machida.

Not sure Rashad isn't able to smother him either fwiw. Rashad sure tooled Chael and Rashad lasted all 5 w/ Jones and hasn't been finished by anyone sans Machida's flurry of death.

I'm not denigrating him either, just saying what Conor is attempting to do is really worthy of praise.

Yes there was. Machida's reign was short and Anderson could've fought Shogun or Jones for a 3+ year window.

Machida lost his rematch to Shogun in May of '10. Anderson didn't lose to Weidman until July of '13.

Bones got the belt March of '11.

ya, prbly

I'm surprised that Conor isn't taking an easy fight against Edgar. A solid payday with way less risk. Get that payday in before taking a huge risk fighting RDA.

I really don't think Conor beats RDA. I want Conor to win (Irish pride and all that) but I just don't think it'll happen.

But then again nobody expected what happened against Jose Aldo.

No one ever picks Conor to win tho so these will all be familiar takes

Hope vegas pins him as a real dog too

Perhaps it's reverse psychology in an attempt to motivate Conor into proving people like me wrong.

This will be a tougher fight than lolaldo. Conor probably needs 30-45 seconds to finish him off.

Do we think RDA is gonna push forward with the aggro stylings hes used in his last few fights vs pettis certone bendo etc? That could prove a problem vs conor

I agree, none of the above have the power that Conor does so simply couldn't stop the pressure from RDA. If he's able to take him down it's a long night for conor but I can see him being over aggressive and getting aldo'd.

5D opened RDA at -125

Seems low

Nothing on Tate/Holm yet


Also, I was thinking maybe Connor and his team figure that he can take a loss to RDA and still keep on ticking with his brand and all that? Whereas if he lost to Edgar that is a little harder. And if he somehow lost to Diaz that would really take the luster off of him.

Coin Flip on Bet365

All losses aren't created the same.

To lose to Edgar it would prbly be a decision that, even if he lost, wouldn't be one-sided.

Losing to RDA would likely be in such a fashion that it'd be hard to save face. Overwhelmingly probable there's a finish in that fight.

They also don't take this fight at all if being risk averse is a consideration like you're implying. If that was the case they would've fought Diaz, Aldo, or Holloway imo. Also never would've fought Mendes in the first place and waited for Aldo if preserving him was a priority.

I'm not taking anything away from him. To fight the champ in your first fight moving up is definitely a badass thing to do.

Just was thinking of an alternative theory as to why he would be so aggressive given the $ at stake with such a risk.

Guess I've just been following boxing too long.

I didn't think you were taking anything away from him, just disagreed with your hypothesis.

But that was my line of thought too until he fought Mendes on little notice and jeopardized his immediate shot w/ Aldo. Pettis fought Guida and lost his impending shot at the time, but Guida wasn't at Mendes level. Jon Jones wouldn't even fight Chael on short notice - and I didn't hold it against Jon either, it's a business.

Conor is approaching this like a conquering hero instead of implementing strategic money and self-preservation decisions. Awesome but wholly original. BJ is only guy I can think of like him but BJ had his warts vis a vis training.

Couture obv had that bushido spirit but he was always just the toppest of the line grinder, not what Conor is. Conor is basically Alexander or Khan reincarnate.

sort of stated my thought on this few posts ago, I think it's more politics/foreshadowing than anything. With the enormous campaign Dana will put in pushing UFC 200/July 4th weekend 'super event' like they tend to do with milestone events, fights like Jon Jones return, Aldo rematch, and Holm/Rousey 2 follows a lot like UFC 100 did with 3 title fights etc.

Fighting RDA now builds that appeal should Conor win, and takes nothing if not the minimum away if he loses because Aldo pt2 likely takes place anyways in July, it will maximize the money draw doing it that way imo

Holm/Rousey 2 and Connor/Aldo 2

Which goes on last? I think Rousey

Also would be weird to see Bones on a card he isn't going on last. I mean he is the GOAT

Bones re-inserting himself to the scene so he would be 'co-main event' status, and i agree with Rousey Holm last. The whole event could be dubbed 'UFC 200: Redemption' cuz Bones, Rousey and Aldo lol

If Conor beat RDA and they randomly gave Diaz a title shot (the Diaz shot is def plausible) I wonder if that would headline over Holm/Rousey II

As w/ Conor/Aldo it would leave people happier and with a better taste in their mouth than watching Ronda get rick-rolled again imo

I could see it from the perspective that the Rousey Holm first fight was more of a shock especially to new/casual fans due to all of Rousey's hype and they'd be hungrier and paying more attention to seeing that fight happen again, making it a bigger 'draw' so to speak.

But, the salesmanship and hype that a Diaz bro and Conor would give to the press events would drive that fight through the roof lol, definitely headliner imo. I imagine the fans and the fighters would rather want the Aldo rematch before Conor went to defend the 155 assuming he beats RDA

edit: On second thought, that's putting a lot on Conor, bouncing up and down weight classes fight by fight. Don't know what that grind entails but for fighters I don't see that being a very strong method for Conor to compete at peak level. I guess that's what you get when you own two weight classes.

Diaz bro being in the co-ME of some type of supercard is fraudulent though.

Them fighting makes sense because the hype they could generate, Diaz being nuts, etc but if you're trying to build UFC 200 as a special card then I don't think that fight should be on it. Unless Diaz gets a nice W between now and then or something.

Yea thats kind've what I think, general population wants to see the 'super fight' rematch between Aldo n Conor at the 'super event' before they ever want to see a Diaz bro get that shot. And then you still have Edgar etc all waiting in line for Conor after the fact

There's no other fights that are really bigger than any other at 155 or 145 is why I brought it up

I just don't see a clamoring or the marketable appeal for Conor/Aldo II. Conor's fans are mainly European and American, I don't think they care about Aldo or that Conor has to justify the legitimacy of that win. Plus Aldo propensity for pulling out of fights should def be factored in if you wanted to build something that time specific involving him.

Maybe I'm off base but I think only hard-cores care about that match-up and 200 is about bringing in the casuals. I think Frankie accomplishes that better tbh.

No other draw at 145 or 155 close to Diaz. Maybe Pettis would be the next best option and the timeline fits if he beats Alvarez.