UFC 189: Mendes vs. McGregor
2nd Saturday of August, 2015 from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada

Prelims


Prelim Headliner: Matt Brown vs. Yuri Villefort

Round 1
An initial series of exchanges results in two jabs for Brown and a kick to the body by Villefort. Brown side steps a body kick and nails Villefort with a jab. He follows up with a big right head kick! Villefort staggers backwards. Brown races towards him and slams home two straight rights. Another right head kick! That was fast! Villefort is down and dazed. Brown takes a step back thinking it's a KO but referee John Sharp didn't call the fight. Brown springs forward to rain down punches but Villefort is turtling well. Villefort gets rolled onto his back as Brown tries to secure side control. Villefort does a great job however of snaking his leg in between Brown's. Brown stays stagnant in half guard for the last 30 seconds.

10-9 Brown

Round 2
Both fighters come out looking tired. They circle for some time, bouncing about from foot to foot flicking weak jabs. Villefort decides to step forward and press the action but gets caught right a hard right straight for his troubles. Villefort hits a jab-hook combo that causes Brown to back away. The first significant blow landed for Villefort to this point. Brown hits a weak right head kick. Villefort steps through it to hit a counter jab. Brown fakes the left high kick and instead hits a switch right roundhouse to the ribs. Brown does the same maneuver again but this time it's a kick to the leg. Brown chases down another kick to the lead leg. The round ends with two more cracking leg kicks from Brown.

20-18 Brown...Villefort is gonna need a finish

Round 3
They circle about the cage with loose exchanges. Brown starts hammering home the leg kicks again. Villefort is limping badly as his lead leg has taken significant damage. Brown tosses a left high kick that send Villefort to the ground! Villefort was worried about it going to the legs. Brown dives with a overhand right. It connects and Villefort's head bangs off the canvas. Brown gets in two more shots before John Sharp calls an end to the madness.

Your winner by TKO (Strikes) at the 2:36 mark of Round 3..."The Immortal" Matt Brown

Main Card

Round 1
Seemingly afraid to engage the two bop about the octagon for the first minute or so. Almeida finally lands a stiff jab. Pickett responds with a left high kick that goes just over Almeida's head. Almeida then hits a left kick to the body. Almeida doubles up on his jab then hits a right hook. Pickett backs away but does hit a left hook whilst retreating. They exchange jabs but Almeida also hits a hook. The two seem to just circle around the cage for the rest of the round throwing a punch at a time. No combinations.

10-9 Almeida

Round 2
Pickett hits a jab. Almeida then with a right cross and left cross in succession. Almeida hits a body kick. Almeida rings up a jab. Pickett comes forward and lands two jabs but right after the second makes contact he's hit with a spinning back kick to the rib cage. Almeida is really seeming to open up. He may have been suffering from some open round jitters. Almeida comes forward and hits a left hand and a left kick to the body.

20-18 Almeida....this would be a huge upset! "One Punch" needs a KO

Round 3
Almeida isn't resting on his laurels. He has to know he's up 2 rounds but he's still pressing forward. He's picking off Pickett with jabs. Pickett isn't coming forward but he is beating Almeida to the punch with jabs consistently as the round goes on. Pickett finally starts coming forward, forcing Almeida back. But there just isn't time. Pickett didn't do enough. That's the bell.

The Judge's score the bout 29-28 / 30-27 / 29-28 for you winner by Unanimous Decision....Thomas "Thominhas" Almeida


Round 1
A touch of gloves and then they exchange jabs. Thatch fires off a roundhouse to the ribs. Nelson responds with a double jab. Two jabs from Thatch are punctuated with a stiff straight right. After a few missed/blocked punches by both men Thatch hits a big right hook and a kick to Nelson's lead leg. Two jabs and a low kick from Thatch and Nelson is backing away. Thatch feints a low kick and blasts Nelson with a right straight. Nelson wobbles backwards and Thatch smells blood in the water! Thatch floats out two jabs to get Nelson to back into the cage before unleashing a tumultuous right uppercut! Nelson is out like a light.

Your winner via Knockout (Punch) at 3:55 mark of Round 1...Brandon "Rukus" Thatch


Round 1
The two men exchange a pair of jabs. They do so again. Bermudez hits two more jabs. Stephens now with a jab and a body kick that lands with little power. Bermudez lunges forward as Stephens steps in. Bermudez has Stephens down and is in guard. Bermudez, apparently wary of submission attempts, keeps his head on Stephens chest and is peppering his head and stomach with small short hooks. Stephens is trying to get his feet on Bermudez thighs to push him away but he can't do so. He oughta be worried about getting his guard passed. That's exactly what happens! Bermudez moves to side control but in the process Stephens uses his hips to buck the moving Bermudez. Stephens is now on top in side control. Bermudez immediately transitions to half guard and they spend the next forty seconds locked in a battle for position.

10-9 Stephens

Round 2
Round 2 begins with two big jabs from Stephens. Stephens then hits a huge body kick. And another shot connects as Stephens rattles Bermudez's jaw with a right hook. Bermudez seems to be desperately hunting the takedown. His hands are low and he's not looking to strike. Stephens connects with a jab and then successfully sprawls a double leg attempt. 2:45 to go in the round and Stephens hits another right hand clean to Bermudez's jaw. They circle a bit as the action slows. Stephens lands two jabs. Bermudez hits two counter jabs. A body kick lands from Bermudez. The bell sounds as Stephens lands a right hook and leg kick.

10-9 Stephens

Round 3
A jab and leg kick land from Stephens. A body kick and left cross hit from Stephens. A left hand a big right straight from Stephens. Bermudez hits a counter jab while backing up. Bermudez goes for a takedown but Stephens hits a counter knee! Bermudez falls back onto his butt and Stephens lunges forward to hit him. Stephens missed and Bermudez rapidly, wobbly gets back to his feet. Stephens races towards him, ducks a jab and hits a right spinning backfist! Down goes Bermudez! Stephens follows him to the ground and is raining blows down hard and heavy. Finally Kim Winslow comes in to stop it. Bermudez took a lot of unnecessary blows.

Your winner via TKO (Strikes) at the 3:10 of Round 3...."The Lil' Heathen" Jeremy Stephens


Round 1
This is the Co-Main Event of the Evening! For the UFC Welterweight Championship! Robbie Lawler versus Rory MacDonald II! And we're under way! Rory Mac lands two jabs to being the contest while Robbie misses one. Rory misses a jab but connects with a low front jab kick to Lawler's thigh. But in doing so, Rory ate a tremendous left cross. They each fire off a jab. MacDonald hits another jab but misses a low kick. Lawler hits a right hook. Lawler eats two jabs to land a right hook. Again Lawler takes a jab to land a left hook. Powerful right cross, left hook combo lands for Lawler. MacDonald hits two jabs. MacDonald comes in with some serious pace and gets a single leg takedown. He's in Robbie's guard. MacDonald can do nothing effective as Lawler maintains underhook control.

10-9 Lawler

Round 2
MacDonald hits a straight right. Each man hits the other with a jab. MacDonald hits a stiff left cross. Lawler ducks a jab and lands a huge overhand right! MacDonald is down! Lawler jumps down into side control and lands several massive blows. Herb Dean was getting close to ending it but MacDonald grabs on and stems the tide. Lawler teeters as he's trying to land punches but Rory is keeping him off balance. Lawler misses with a few shots and Rory is able to transition back to guard. Rory is bleeding from his nose. He clangs an elbow off the top of Robbie's head. Lawler looks a little tired and Rory is hunting for an arm. Finally Herb stands them up after a stalemate. Lawler lands a big left hook before the round ends.

20-18 Lawler

Round 3
MacDonald leads with a jab. Lawler hits a jab but is met by a left kick to the ribs. Lawler lands a left cross. Lawler lands a weak left and can't find the follow up right. Robbie hits two left jabs and a leg kick. The trade jabs. Lawler comes in for a right hook and misses. He's grappled by Rory and leveraged into the fence. Rory hits a knee on Lawler's thigh. The round ends there

30-27 Lawler....Rory is going to need two huge round or a finish

Round 4
Rory was instructed to take the fight to the ground, Lawler was getting the better of him in the stand up too often. The round starts, Rory moving forward. Robbie throws a leading left uppercut that was a whisker away from landing. The miss allows Rory the ability to grad double underhooks. And Robbie is going for a ride! Belly-to-Belly suplex and now Rory is in guard. Rory tries to jump from guard to side control and it causes a scramble. Rory regains a dominant position. He's in North-South. MacDonald tries to move to side control but Lawler exploded out. It's a scramble that winds up with Robbie in half guard. Rory is searching for an arm as he transitions to full guard. From his back Rory is landing hammerfists and elbows. He's causing more damage than Robbie.

39-37 Lawler

Round 5
They exchange a few jabs as they move around the cage. Both guys are tired. Lawler hits a few jabs as he decides to grapple! Lawler find his back against the cage as a result but it doesn't take him long to pummel his way out of the hold and they're back at center. MacDonald hits a jab. Lawler hits a jab and a right hook to the body. MacDonald is able to grapple with Lawler again and he drives him into the cage. Noticing that there's about a minute left in the fight, Rory tries to go into overdrive. He hits an uppercut and a slicing elbow. He nails a few punches to the body and then takes down Lawler so that Robbie is seated with his back against the cage. The bell sounds before Rory can do anything else. What a shame that type of explosion couldn't have happened earlier.

48-47 Lawler

The Judge's score the contest 49-46 / 49-46 / 48-47 for your winner....and still UFC Welterweight Champion of the World! "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler


Round 1
It's time for the Main Event of the evening here at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Conor McGregor and Chad Mendes face off for the Interim Featherweight Championship. Here. We. Go. Chad Mendes is moving away from McGregor after the touch of gloves. McGregor is stalking Mendes like prey but can't get close enough to actually hit him. Conor hits a jab and left low kick while Mendes is able to record two counter jabs. McGregor hits another jab/low kick combo. Chad Mendes comes in fast for a takedown! He grabs Conor's leg but Conor doesn't go down, he's hopping backward as Chad tries to complete the shot. Mendes shoves McGregor into the cage and he's now exerting pressure. Mendes tries for a couple of short punches to McGregor's ears. Chad hits a few knees to the thigh. Finally after about a minute and a half Mario Yamasaki separates them. 30 seconds left in the round tick by with little action.

10-9 Mendes

Round 2
Chad starts off the round by attempting a lunging lead uppercut AND GETS BLASTED BY A COUNTER RIGHT HOOK! Chad is down! McGregor follows him to the floor and lands some blows before attempting to secure mount. Mendes is definitely dazed but is coherent enough to fight the mount attempt and they begin to scramble. McGregor is up first but Mendes sprints in and has a waistlock from behind. Mendes drives Conor into the fence and works a few punches before wrenching him away from the cage and onto the floor. Conor is on his hands and knees with Mendes on top of him in back side control. Mendes tries to snake a leg over to get the hooks in but McGregor rolls. Mendes is now in side control with Conor on his back. Chad looks for mount but Conor is fighting it. Conor is trying to slide into guard but Chad won't let him either. Finally Mendes gets mount and he's raining down blows! Conor is eating some big shots but he's trying to defend well. He's using his hips to unbalance Mendes, so not every shot is landing. Finally Conor rolls over giving up his back, Chad immediately goes for the RNC. The bells sounds though and we're done with Round 2. Great stuff from these guys

20-18 Mendes

Round 3
Again Mendes is on his bike, Conor chasing the whole way. Conor can't close the distance as Chad is constantly avoiding engaging. Conor spouts some trash talk but it doesn't draw Chad in. Conor reaches with a leg kick but makes slapping contact. Conor tosses a leg kick and a left jab, Mendes lands a right hook. McGreogr hits a jab but misses a right head kick. Not many high kicks from McGregor, seemingly worried about the takedown. Conor lands a left jab. Mendes doubles up on a jab and uses it as an opening to grapple. He has ahold of McGregor and shoves him into the cage. Mendes hits a slam and McGregor is down but the bell sounds before anything else can happen. Very close round that takedown could have made the difference.

29-28 Mendes

Round 4
McGregor lands two jabs and a leg kick, but again Mendes is able to rush him and grapple. Mendes shoves him into the cage. A chorus of boos rains down from the crowd. With 4 minutes on the clock Mendes starts grappling. Both men ar stagnant against the cage throwing no strikes but it's not until 2:20 left on the clock that Mario Yamasaki separates them. Mendes rushes in again to grapple and although McGregor is able to avoid the initial rush, once Mendes was inside his reach he grappled him on the second try. Mendes gets McGregor against the cage. After about thirty seconds, Mendes is reversed so that he's against the cage. Conor hits a few strikes but the horn sounds. We enter the final round, McGregor looks exhausted.

39-37 Mendes

Round 5
The two touch gloves. McGregor hits a few punches but Mendes rushes in. They're grappled up but Mendes can't force Conor backward. Likewise Conor can't break free. Conor reverses so that Mendes is against the cage. Conor tries to keep him there with his grappling, and even tries for a takedown but can't get it. Mendes flips it around and has control now. As the round beings to run out Mendes gets a takedown but that's all she wrote.

The Judge's score the contest 49-46/48-47/50-45 for your winner by unanimous decision and the new Interim Featherweight Champion....Chad "Money" Mendes


UFC 189: Mendes vs. McGregor Post Fight Presser


-Chad Mendes thrilled for the opportunity and can't wait for trilogy with Aldo

-Conor is disappointed in his performance and admits Chad was the better man. Upset that he didn't get to spend a full camp preparing for Chad though and thinks he'd do better in a rematch. Still wants Aldo fight.

-Dana says he'll talk to Sean Shelby but there's a chance Conor could take a Lightweight fight and then there's a chance he faces the Aldo/Mendes winner. Acknowledges that Frankie Edgar likely deserves a shot as well.

-Jeremy Stephens says he feels as good as he ever has and isn't slowing down any time soon. Offers to fight McGregor. McGregor calls him a midget that makes a midget like Mendes look like a giant.

-Thomas Almeida is thrilled to remain undefeated. Eyeing bigger fights at 135.

-Matt Brown notes that the title chase probably isn't his destination and asks for fun fights. Suggests he'd be willing to fight at 185 as well.

-Neil Seery says he feels a win or two will put him in the 125 title picture after beating Louis Smolka.