Conor McGregor earned his UFC featherweight title shot.
With current division champion Jose Aldo sitting ringside to take in the action, McGregor dominated Dennis Siver on Sunday to solidify his crack at the title. McGregor got the technical knockout stoppage in the second round.
Siver was merely a punching bag. His reach kept him out of range for the majority of the fight, and McGregor controlled the center of the Octagon. McGregor walked him down and did what he wanted. It was the matchup we all expected: a showcase for McGregor.
This is what we learned from the UFC Fight Night 59 main event.
What We'll Remember About This Fight
After McGregor got the stoppage, I was prepared to say that we will remember that, but then he jumped from the cage to get in Aldo's face. That is what we will remember.
That was pretty much exactly what the UFC wanted out of tonight. A very long commercial for the Aldo-McGregor PPV.
— Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) January 19, 2015
McGregor yelled and talked trash, but the champion was unfazed. He laughed in his face. Aldo was enjoying the antics as if they were just part of the show. He may have also been laughing knowing that McGregor was helping line his pockets with money for the upcoming title fight between the two.
Rarely do we see antics like these, and McGregor certainly entertains us both in and out of the cage. The build to this featherweight tilt can't get here soon enough.
What We Learned About Dennis Siver
We learned that Siver is a gatekeeper. That's all.
He is not a legitimate title contender, but he is also not a mid-tier fighter. He has a value to the UFC as someone who can keep fighters outside the top 10 out of the mix by using his skills to defeat them. And those who can beat Siver, like McGregor, prove they are worthy of title consideration.
It's not the role Siver wants, but it is an important one to play.
What We Learned About Conor McGregor
We learned he is a true contender. Is he getting this title shot over Frankie Edgar because of his talking abilities? Absolutely, but he is not built on that alone.
This was the second top-10 featherweight he defeated easily. That has to carry weight.
Some things for Aldo to take away from this fight. Siver found a home for his right counter and McGregor struggled with level changes.
— Jonathan Snowden (@mmaencyclopedia) January 19, 2015
McGregor has exceptional technique in his striking. His ground game is still a work in progress, but he may not need it against the striking Aldo. It may be a stand-up affair, and that makes McGregor a live dog in that fight. The Irish contender has the skills, speed and power to finish the champion.
He's not just a talker. He is a fighter. A really, really good fighter.
What's Next for Dennis Siver
Ideally, the UFC would look outside of the top 15 for his next fight. Someone like Tom Niinimaki makes sense for a European fight card, but after dropping his third straight UFC contest, he may not be a part of the promotion much longer.
I would think the loser of Andy Ogle vs. Makwan Amirkhani makes sense.
The UFC should give Siver a winnable fight his next time out to get him back in the win column before lining him up against another rising prospect.
What's Next for Conor McGregor
Aldo.
Repeated throughout the lead-up to the fight and during the broadcast, with the win McGregor gets to face Aldo for the featherweight championship. And I'm on board. Is Edgar more deserving? Absolutely, but McGregor is white-hot right now and will do the best business.
And as Aldo has shown on social media, this will be a compelling build from a promotional aspect—something that is not present with Edgar.
This is the biggest featherweight fight to make from a business perspective, and that's OK.
