LAS VEGAS – UFC 189’s main event, an interim featherweight title headliner between Conor McGregor and Chad Mendes, had two tough acts to follow – the injury withdrawal of champ Jose Aldo and a sensational co-main event between welterweight champ Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald.
Somehow, the fight rose above all and surpassed expectations. McGregor (18-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC) survived the toughest test of his UFC career and stopped Mendes (17-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC), a three-time title challenger, in the second round to win the interim title and send his Irish fans into a frenzy.