[VIDEO] UFC 189 highlights: Chad Mendes vs Conor McGregor results, round-by-round updates

FIGHT RESULTS

MAIN CARD

Interim featherweight championship bout: Conor McGregor def. Chad Mendes via TKO (punches) 4:57 R2 to become the new interim UFC featherweight champion

Welterweight championship bout: Robbie Lawler def. Rory MacDonald via TKO (punches) 1:00 R5 to retain the UFC welterweight championship

Featherweight: Jeremy Stephens def. Dennis Bermudez via TKO (knee & punches) 0:32 R3
Welterweight: Gunnar Nelson def. Brandon Thatch via submission (rear-naked choke) 2:54 R1
Bantamweight: Thomas Almeida def. Brad Pickett via knockout (flying knee) 0:29 R2

FOX SPORTS Prelims

Welterweight: Matt Brown def. Tim Means via submission (guillotine choke) 4:44 R1
Welterweight: Alex Garcia def. Mike Swick (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Welterweight: John Howard def. Cathal Pendred via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Bantamweight: Cody Garbrandt def. Henry Briones via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

FIGHT PASS! Prelims

Flyweight: Louis Smolka def. Neil Seery via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Lightweight: Cody Pfister def. Yosdenis Cedeno via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

FIGHT PREVIEW:

Two title are on the line, as UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler looks to defend his belt for the first time against Rory MacDonald. Also, Chad Mendes takes on Conor McGregor in a highly anticipated matchup for the interim featherweight belt.

Join us on The Roar from 12pm AEST for live commentary and round-by-round updates.

After featherweight champion Jose Aldo was forced out of his highly-anticipated title defence against Conor McGregor, Chad Mendes was eager to step in and take his place.

Mendes’ only two professional losses came at the hands of Jose Aldo, and after knocking out top featherweight contender Ricardo Lamas via a first-round knockout in his last bout he proved that he is ready for another shot at gold.

With devastating knockout power and arguably the best wrestling in the featherweight division, Mendes will be looking to take McGregor down and finish him on the ground with strikes.

Conor McGregor has become the next big thing in MMA. His unique approach to the sport has gathered worldwide attention, and in this fight the spotlight is on him.

McGregor is 5-0 in the UFC, with four of those coming via knockout. He’s become known for picking the round and methods for which he finishes fights, and will be looking to take Mendes out in under four minutes.

After hitting a rough patch in his career, Robbie Lawler returned to the UFC as a completely new fighter. Lawler lost his first title bout against former champion Johny Hendricks, however he then went on to grab the title in their rematch.

Rory MacDonald has been campaigning for a title shot, and after his impressive third-round knockout of top prospect Tarec Saffiedine, he finally got what he was looking for.

Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald have faced off once before, at UFC 167 back in November 2013. Lawler got his hand raised in a close split-decision win, and both men will be looking for a more decisive finish the second time around.

Prediction:

Chad Mendes will be by far the toughest opponent Conor McGregor has ever faced. However, McGregor has an eight-inch reach advantage, and the ability to control distance very well. I expect him to take the win in a close, hard-fought contest.

McGregor via TKO in the fifth round.

Both Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald have grown since their last bout, and this one should be just as close the first fight, with a slight advantage for the champion.

Lawler via split decision.

Will Robbie Lawler defend his title for the first time, or can Rory MacDonald get the victory the second time around? Will Chad Mendes derail Conor McGregor’s hype train, or will McGregor finally wear UFC gold? Join us on The Roar from 12pm AEST for live commentary and round-by-round updates to find out.