Most onlookers – myself included – gave former UFC featherweight and current lightweight champion Conor McGregor almost no hope of defeating the most accomplished boxer of the past 30 years.
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Floyd Mayweather, who is guaranteed to become boxing’s first billionaire after today’s bout, had too many tools at his disposal against McGregor, the UFC’s most famous knockout puncher who was making his pro boxing debut.
That doesn’t mean the Irishman didn’t have his moments, though. The bigger, more powerful fighter, who had inflated up to 170-pounds after weigh-ins, was able to land several impactful blows on Mayweather, who barely threw a punch during the opening rounds.
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
In the fourth it became apparent that it was all strategy when he broke the fourth wall, stopping mid-fight to wink at ringside commentator ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard.
“That was our gameplan,” Mayweather explained after the fight. “We wanted him to shoot with heavy shots in the beginning.”
McGregor, who had never fought more than 25 minutes in his mixed martial arts career, was simply unprepared to fight at Mayweather’s pace, throwing less and less with every round that passed by.
By the tenth, Mayweather’s constant pressure proved to be too much, with the referee calling a halt to the fight while ‘Money May’ pounded on the still-standing Irishman.
In what he claims is his farewell fight, Mayweather delivered with his most entertaining fight in at least a half-decade, putting an end to his reign of terror on pay-per-view, selling the age-old story of good-versus-evil $100 at a time.
The arrogant multi-millionaire has cultivated a pro wrestling-esque persona as “The Ted DiBiase of boxing”, who lives in a 22,000 square-foot mansion and flaunts his wealth at every turn.
Behind the fake bad guy gimmick, is an even worse human. A true ghoul, an unrepentant serial woman beater with a record that includes physical assaults of at least five different women in the not-so-distant past.
And, as sadistic as it sounds, his out-of-the-ring episodes have all helped to line his already fat pockets.
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Fans pay a small fortune for a ridiculously overpriced ticket or whip out their credit card to witness a Mayweather fight in hopes that the serial abuser will end his night looking up at the ceiling lights.
But he never does.
This time, the story was a little different. To make Mayweather-McGregor the most lucrative fight in the history of combat sports, the cerebral villain needed to convince the public that he might actually lose this time.
The public already believed that Ricky Hatton was the blue-collar underdog capable of cleaning Mayweather’s clock. They believed baby-faced ‘Canelo’ was up to the task. And they believed Manny Pacquiao could win ‘The Fight of The Century.’
It was harder to convince ticket and pay-per-view buyers that a relative novice could even lay a glove on the most accomplished boxer of the past three decades.
Mayweather planted seeds of doubt in the back of your mind to make you ask the question “what if?”.
“What if McGregor lands that left hand?”
“What if Mayweather comes in underprepared?”
Mayweather hyped up McGregor’s chances, told the press that he was over-the-hill, campaigned to fight in smaller gloves, ate greasy fast food days before the fight, and spent the week leading up to the fight “partying” at his Las Vegas strip club which he misogynistically named Girl Collection.
But when the bell sounded, the result was never really in doubt.
couldabeenacontender
Guest
It was obviously easy money for Mayweather and you're right, he was never going to lose. His opponent was easily as bad though. The trash talking and talking himself up on was on a whole different level of idiocy with this one lol. One that makes WWE look a genuine sporting contest and sensible in comparison. Obviously this is now accepted (sadly) but this was really something else. All the silly talk of knocking Mayweather out and actually getting people not only to believe him, but to accept that he believed it himself. It was put into perspective after the fight. Fact is Mcgregor seemed genuinely chuffed and not a little surprised (not to mention proud of himself) for making it to the tenth before getting tko'd. So much for that.
Simoc
Guest
dunno. They only put in hurdles so those who can't run fast enough on the flat could win something :)
Sideline Commentator
Roar Guru
Allow my Jimmy... First of all, I think you misread: he said Conor's next fight will be the biggest in the sport's history, i.e. the UFC's history. No one is saying it will be bigger than yesterday's fight. Second, "McGregor is spruiked and touted by UFC as having outstanding boxing skills." No he isn't actually, he is lauded as having outstanding MMA skill, which he does. In MMA boxing is just one small part of the greater whole, and not even the most important. Third, why on earth would someone disregard Floyd's record in the sport? His ability is directly applicable to the situation, as he is one of the best ever, performing his profession. If anything should be held regardless it is the arbitrary number of 40, as it was clear that age has not wearied him very much as of yet. How many boxers has Floyd made look tired? And they are people who actually complete professionally in the sport, not someone making a debut. To ask if the standard of athlete in the UFC is poor based on that is either your misunderstanding of the sport, or a cheap jibe. Would Roger Federer be a poor athlete if he couldn't beat the best in table tennis? Finally, the UFC sells itself as having the best fighters, because it does have the best fighters. However, that was neither proved nor disproved yesterday, because it was not a fight; it was a boxing match.
Matthew H
Guest
If I could get a front-on camera angle of Sally winning the World Champs this year I would have it on loop in my house - right next to Kyle Chalmers winning the 100m Olympic Freestyle. You also forgot to mention that 'Dasha' Gavrilova won her maiden WTA event on Sunday morning and the match was an absolute peach. Personally I really wanted to see McGregor get his head knocked off. This was just another example of the misguided way people believe the BS coming out of the media - Brexit, Trump and now this fight. The fight was fine, Mayweather was imperious, McGregor was way out of his depth. McGregor lucky to not look too badly beat up afterwards. Was absolutely shocked at the lack of power shown by McGregor and for me confirms my suspicions about the quality and integrity of the UFC.
Craig
Guest
No. Just no. Mayweathers profile is 10000000 times bigger than any UFC hack, including Diaz. UFC is still a small sport compared to boxing. Any fight in UFC that McGregor does next will pale in comparison to this one. McGregor is spruiked and touted by UFC as having outstanding boxing skills. He was completely outclassed by a 40 year old retired bloke. Regardless of his history and record in the sport, he was 40 and retired for 2 years. Aside from not having the skills, McGregor at 29 years of age and in his prime, was in terrible shape compared to a 40 year old bloke who hasn't fought in years. How on earth is that possible? Was he unprepared? Or simply the standard of athlete in the UFC is that poor? UFC wants to sell itself as having the best fighters. That myth was clearly put to bed tonight. Imagine what someone in their prime would've done to McGregor in the boxing ring? "ohh but if it was a UFC fight", it wasn't, so put that argument to bed.
BigJ
Roar Guru
I would of liked a Mcgregor victory but it comes as no surprise that Mayweather won.
Farqueue
Guest
You predicted a McGregor victory.
jimmy
Guest
Couldn't be more wrong. This was a massive win for the UFC. Their biggest star just went 10 rounds with boxing's best, in his first ever pro fight. He took rounds off Mayweather. In the reverse situation, boxing's best wouldn't last 2mins against a MMA fighter...even one at 40yrs old. As for Diaz, he's only ever been knocked out once from a significant head kick. The guy has a jaw made of cement, so Conor not knocking Diaz out says nothing about him. In the end, Conor's next UFC fight will probably be the biggest in the sports history, because of the way this fight boosted his profile. I assure you, Dana is a happy man today.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Yeah, do the same matchup in a UFC ring under UFC rules and the results is likely reversed. That's just how it is. That's what people said all along. It's not like they did some sort of mashup of rules to give them something in between to try and even out the contest, it was 100% McGregor stepping into Mayweather's world. So I don't see that it does any harm to UFC or McGregor within within MMA context at all.
Sideline Commentator
Roar Guru
So wrong about this hurting the UFC. The UFC made millions, and all we learnt was that a UFC fighter isn't as good at boxing as a boxer. It did not harm to Conor's standing as a UFC fighter in the slightest. He'll come back and fight Nate in a trilogy at 155, and it will be the biggest fight the UFC has ever seen, bar none. And talking about Nate, I have no idea why you mention not knocking Diaz out. He's tough as hell, 6 foot, and over 80kg. He didn't knock Conor out either. Also, the UFC's best didn't have the conditioning or power to put away Floyd in a boxing match? Neither did boxing's best, haha, of course a UFC fighter didn't. In MMA, however, it's a different story and everyone knows it. No one loses from this fight but the fans who paid to watch it. Even that wasn't so bad, despite the fact it looks a bit choreographed.
not so super
Guest
yeah, one has integrity
steve
Guest
May weather had his plan to defeat conner. it was simple for him. the plan was carried out all as his farther said. conner should have been more prepared with the pre fight plan. he thought he could take Mayweather out his way Stupid. but saying that he did not disgrace himself.
anon
Roar Pro
McGregor couldn't knock out Nate Diaz TWICE. He threw a lot of hard punches early but most of them hit Mayweather's gloves. The lasting memory from this is McGregor -- in his prime, holding two championships in the UFC, endlessly pushed by the UFC and its fans for his stand up skills -- getting absolutely lit up by Mayweather in the 9th and 10th rounds. The rest won't matter, and it will be explained away as Mayweather's strategy. It actually hurts the UFC today's result because when McGregor next fights in the UFC he loses that aura. The UFC's best didn't have the conditioning, didn't have the power, to put a 40-year-old fighter under any pressure at all for 30 minutes.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
I think you'll find McGregor had prepared for the Philly Shell. Money being Money, in short. Regardless of him as a human being, he is the best defender on the planet, in any sport.
Craig
Guest
womens hurdles v boxing. Not really on the same level mate.
Mike Julz
Guest
Mayweather goes out in style. He didn't showcase his usual defensive style tho, the one with his left hand down with shoulder up, and the right hand up blocking his right face. The whole fight he had both of his hands up blocking his face while coming forward, and throwing that right hand. He was a different Mayweather in this fight. He didn't showcase this in his last 10 to 15 fights. He had a purpose and his purpose was to not go the full 12 rounds and he did just that. McGregor after this should know his real place now, he belongs in the MMA world. No denying his money pulling power, but leave the boxing to the real boxers.
Brendon
Guest
Sally Pearson performed amazing stuff at the recent world champs and it barely registered a mention in the news. This joke of a "fight" - something on the level of Keeping Up With the Kardashians gets heaps of interest. They weren't even fighting for any titles - only money. If this doesn't prove that sport these days is little more than quick-fix entertainment I don't know what does. Actually on second thought this fight was worse than the Kardashians. They don't pretend their show is anything but trashy reality-tv where as these two obnoxious and odious "athletes" just completed a great swindle.
Mattyb
Guest
Was an interesting fight. Mayweather started like he usually does which probably made McGregor look better than he is,it was a good tactical approach from Mayweather. It ended nothing really like Mayweather. I thought he could have taken McGregor much earlier. He had no caution at all in the end which is most unlike him,McGregors punches had no power at all. Mayweathers a good tactical boxer,the ref did a great job to stop the fight when he did,McGregor could have ended up seriously hurt and was well out of his depth. Put him up against others with serious punching power,or even someone not over the hill and he will get seriously hurt.
Garry Edwards
Guest
Clearly a grab for cash by all including Rupert, who was just given given $30mil Australian by Turnbull to cover uhh, hummm Foxtel content.... part of the fight????? And no questions asked or accountability statements given by Turnbull. As for the farce just witnessed I was hoping Mayweather for a win and, got it not that I'm a fan however of the two I'd rather see that brash irish Git go back to Dublin and dig spuds as a loser rather than be continually inundated with MMA promo's depicting him as an ambassador. Anyway lets all go back to our slumber and await the fourth coming of Mundine..................OMG.
rnid
Guest
the same dumb sheeple who vote for politicians.