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Leagues and Governing Bodies

Conor McGregor Remains UFC's Biggest Star As Other Popular Fighters Falter

Conor McGregor was formally introduced yesterday as the headliner for UFC 205 -- the promotion's first card at MSG -- and it is clear that since Ronda Rousey's loss last November, McGregor has become MMA’s “biggest star, flamboyant in and out of the ring,” according to Victor Mather of the N.Y. TIMES. UFC currently is in a "period of uncertainty inside the ring,” as “several accomplished, popular champions have recently lost their belts.” The new champs are “lesser known and, in some cases, seemingly little more than journeymen.” Rousey “lost her belt to Holly Holm, who lost it” to Miesha Tate, who lost it to Amanda Nunes. Meanwhile, Jon Jones “returned from a suspension after a hit-and-run accident, won a bout and then was promptly hit with a doping violation.” That means that McGregor is “increasingly important to UFC, which perhaps explains why he has not been pressed to defend his featherweight belt yet” since winning it in December. He has instead fought higher-profile opponent in varying weight levels (NYTIMES.com, 9/27). YAHOO SPORTS' Kevin Iole noted an "overflow crowd jammed into the Theater in Madison Square Garden" on yesterday for the kickoff news conference for UFC 205, and McGregor "stole the show." He "mocked" Eddie Alvarez, his opponent on the card, and "spoke over him throughout the show." Iole: "He rose to the occasion and showed he's every bit as big as the city he held at least for a moment in the palm of his hand" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 9/27).

GIVING MCGREGOR TOO MUCH POWER? FS1's Colin Cowherd said UFC had to "have a headliner" in its first card at MSG, and "once Rousey said, ‘I’m out,’ you had to get McGregor in." Cowherd: "You think they were going to open that card with no star? ... Dana White is a good businessman." McGregor will attempt to become the first UFC fighter to hold two championships at the same time, and FS1's Jason Whitlock noted the move is a "bit of a pivot for Dana White, who has run things with an iron fist." Whitlock: "Connor McGregor just loosened that fist up a little bit” (“Speak for Yourself,” FS1, 9/27). USA TODAY’s Martin Rogers writes the fact McGregor is “by far the most powerful fighter" in the UFC, but he is “allowed to do pretty much whatever he likes.” There are “many sound business reasons why riding the McGregor money train for all it is worth makes sense.” However, UFC is “sacrificing competitive credibility in the process.” The belts “need to mean something and having McGregor be allowed to hold onto one of them for more than a year without fighting in the division cheapens the value in having the title in the first place” (USA TODAY, 9/28).

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