‘Top 5’ Ep. I: UFC Best Fighters Of 2015

#1: Conor McGregor
Notorious!

One of the year’s tested fighters in terms of backing up what he’d preach. Notable for being one of the UFC’s biggest trash talkers, Conor McGregor has been able to prove that his word is his bond and his fists will do the proving each and every time he steps in the octagon. With a record of 19-2, Conor McGregor would have a two-year reign receiving 5 ‘Performances of the Night’ honors. Being notorious to many really panders to being a great showman.

McGregor has a style that’s in a league of his own. He pressures opponents with forward movement and carefully timed, powerful strikes. He is largely known for his straight left hand, switch kicks to the body and wheel kicks to the head. After stunning an opponent, he usually seeks to end the fight with a flurry.

McGregor’s gift of the gab, pre-match predictions, and use of “psychological warfare” against his opponents has led some commentators to compare him to Muhammad Ali

In 2015, McGregor would show why being Notorious show be his actual name as he faced Dennis Siver on 18 January 2015 at UFC Fight Night 59. McGregor dominated his opponent, winning the one-sided fight via TKO in the second round. The win also earned McGregor his third straight Performance of the Night Award. After the fight, McGregor jumped over the cage and confronted the UFC Featherweight Champion José Aldo.

McGregor was expected to face current champion Aldo on 11 July 2015 at UFC 189 for the undisputed UFC Featherweight Championship. However, in the days leading up to the fight, Aldo pulled out of the bout because of a rib injury he had sustained in training. McGregor remained on the card and faced UFC ranked No. 1 contender Chad Mendes for the interim championship.

McGregor walked out to the octagon in front of more than sixteen thousand attendees as Sinéad O’Connor performed a rendition of “Foggy Dew”. McGregor was taken down several times by the All-American wrestler in the first round, but was able to score a second-round TKO after getting back up to his feet, knocking down Mendes, and finishing with ground and pound with three seconds left, winning the UFC interim Featherweight Championship.

On 12 December 2015, at UFC 194, McGregor defeated Aldo by knockout, thereby unifying the title in the featherweight division. Before the opening of the first round, both Aldo and McGregor refused to touch gloves and began fighting immediately.^[38] As the fight started, McGregor took control of the center of the octagon. When Aldo got within his range, McGregor threw a straight left hand to keep him away, but missed. McGregor then followed with a leg kick that connected. As Aldo surged forward to connect with a right-left punch combination, McGregor moved backwards and connected with a left hook that landed on Aldo’s chin and rendered him unconscious. Both punches connected, but McGregor’s left punch landed first.

As Aldo fell to the ground, McGregor connected with two hammer fists before the referee stepped in to stop the fight. Within a minute, Aldo regained consciousness and was on his feet.^[39] The bout lasted 13 seconds. The knockout was the fastest finish in any UFC title fight.^[40] “Again, nobody can take that left-hand shot,” said McGregor in the post-fight interview. “Aldo’s powerful and fast. But precision beats power, and timing beats speed. And that’s what you saw there.

It’s safe to say that McGregor defined his year in 2015 as the most charismatic, a trash talker who backed up everything he said, a true ground-and-pounder, a fighting champion, and the pride of Ireland to ever step foot in the UFC. 2016, Conor has already set the bar high for himself as he aims to try and become a dual-weight class champion. You have to have total confidence in yourself to believe you can carry two weight divisions as the champions, but the time tells the tale we may see come a reality.

Our ‘Top 5’ may or may not be yours, but you can’t say that 2015 isn’t the year that belongs to the UFC. Whether it be the unlikeliest rising star proving the critics wrong, or a time-tested pure athlete ending an undefeated champion’s reign with a complete beat down the UFC will remain full of surprises. In 2016 we will see the 200th PPV event be held in the summer. That promises to see a card for the ages as the best of the best will be fighting to be the ultimate fighter in the ultimate league known as the UFC.