Conor McGregor impressed even his most vocal critics with his ability to rally after almost being finished in the third round of his rematch with Nate Diaz.
‘The Notorious’ was eating shots against the fence and was sucking in deep breaths, and it looked for all the world that endurance would lead to his downfall just as it did in the main event of UFC 196 in March.
But he came back and claimed the fourth round, which ultimately left him in the position in which all he needed to do was survive the fifth and final frame to ensure he’d have his hand raised.
The incredible staying power was something we’d not yet seen in McGregor’s career, throughout which he had never seen a fourth round, but UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez remains unimpressed.
Alvarez, who could well be McGregor’s next opponent if the Irishman decides that his future lies at 155 lbs rather than his more familiar stronghold of 145 lbs, insisted that McGregor is simply not cut out to perform to the best of his ability over 25 minutes.
“Honestly, the first round it all looked good but I’ve said it a million times, he’s just not a championship fighter,” Alvarez said on the Anik and Florian podcast. “Not a five 5-minute round fighter. Never has been, never will be.
“Some guys can have the chops for it and some guys don’t. I’ve said it from the beginning, I looked at him as a three 5-minute round fighter and that’s where he’ll be, that’s where he should stay. I think he’s good. I think anything past 8-9 minutes it just starts to look sloppy and looks a little messy.”
UFC president Dana White has essentially given McGregor two options for his next outing – either defend his featherweight title against Jose Aldo or be stripped and take on Alvarez for the lightweight crown.
Neither involve Nathan Diaz… https://t.co/Xwk9iFIEBN
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) August 23, 2016
There are a number of contenders waiting in line for a shot at Alvarez, one of the loudest ones being the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov, and the 155 lbs kingpin insists he is open to all comers.
“I’m waiting on the UFC,” Alvarez said. “Whoever the UFC wants. I was looking forward to watching that fight this weekend with these two guys and we’ll see. I don’t know what’s gonna happen. I’m waiting to hear from the powers that be. I’ll fight whoever they want next. That’s who’s next.”
Immediately after dethroning previous champion Rafael dos Anjos, Alvarez had McGregor’s name on his lips and believed he would walk through the Dubliner with ease.
Newly crowned lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez wants "gimme fight" with Conor McGregor https://t.co/gmkEPaZ4nR
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) July 8, 2016
And he has since doubled down on his opinion that he has already been facing more testing competition in the UFC than McGregor would offer him.
“I’ve fought the best guys in the world,” Alvarez continued. “I look up to a lot of the guys I fight. I see them as some of the best guys. I try to challenge myself against them.
“But when I beat a legit guy who I feel has taken his time in this sport and is a real fighter and then I get done with the fight and I get asked about this Irish dude it’s really kind of disappointing to me…because the guys I’ve fought were way higher calibre than this guy.”
On the latest GAA Hour we look back at Mayo-Tipperary and chat to Andy Moran about his incredible, never-ending career. Listen below or subscribe here on iTunes.
