Are the UFC Fighters Scared of Conor McGregor?

    
     This is a very familiar road that the UFC is traveling down. A road in which not just a fighter but a champion fighter pulls out of a mega-fight due to a questionable injury at the last minute. Injuries happen, especially in this type of sport. The curious thing is when both of these highly promoted fights were against the same individual. This is of course referring to passed potential cards with Jose Aldo and Rafael Dos Anjos. When both ended with the same result: one might ask themselves are the UFC fighters scared of Conor McGregor?

    The phenomena all began at UFC 189 in 2015 when Conor McGregor was scheduled to compete against Jose Aldo for the Featherweight Championship. Just weeks before the bout was scheduled to take place, Aldo pulled out of the match due to injured ribs. This, however, was predicted like many of his knockouts by the "Mystic Mac" persona of McGregor. Conor spouted in many press interviews that Aldo would not make it to UFC 189 and would pull out before that fight, which strangely enough, came true. McGregor went on to beat a formidable opponent, Chad Mendes, at UFC 189 for the Interim Featherweight Championship belt via KO/TKO stoppage in the 2nd round (also predicted by Mystic Mac).

    Aldo and McGregor would finally meet at UFC 194 in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2015. After the long wait was finally over, these two men would step toe to toe with hopes not to disappoint. Within a flash, one punch and thirteen seconds later, the fight was over. As Conor McGregor again predicted exactly how the fight would turn out, moment by moment as it was portrayed. A defeated Aldo laid humbled on the canvas as the newly crowned Featherweight Champion celebrated his KO/TKO victory.

    Rafael Dos Anjos was slated to be the next scheduled opponent for McGregor at UFC 196 in March of 2016. The contest in which Conor has moved up in weight to the Lightweight Division to challenge Dos Anjos for his championship belt. Dos Anjos has also pulled out of what was shaping up to be an epic showdown just weeks before the contest was to take place. Dos Anjos withdrew from the fight due to a broken foot. Originally Dos Anjos presented the idea of taking a pain killing injection in his foot to UFC President Dana White, but later declared that was no longer an option as he claims he is unable to compete. 

"When we told Conor, he said, 'Come on! This [expletive] guy! Oh my God! He's pulling out?'

But when we went through the options, he said he'd fight any of them.

I swear to God, he said, 'I'll fight anyone.' He just doesn't give a [expletive]. People talk about this strained relationship between us and Conor, and he has a different style than I've ever seen, but I have never seen anyone like Conor. The closest was Chuck Liddell, but we've never had one like Conor. You think he's not hurt? But when he says he's going to fight, he's going to fight no matter what." -Dana White, UFC President

    The options seemed numerous, but finding willing opponents was another story entirely. Jose Aldo emphatically stated that he will not take any other fight until he has his rematch with Conor McGregor, but when asked to fill in at UFC 196, Aldo declined. Frankie Edgar has come out through the media saying that he wants to fight McGregor and put an end to all the hype that surrounds him. Edgar was also given the opportunity to fight McGregor at UFC 196: his response was that he is unavailable. Many fighters have spoken freely about their dislike for the antics of Conor McGregor and all claiming that they would be the one to dethrone him. The opportunity is here, the time is now, and the silence is deafening. 

    The king of trash talk McGregor not only delivers in promoting fights but shows up on fight night (which no one else can seem to do). McGregor's in-ring reputation in addition to his bigger than life, outside the octagon persona, puts him in a league of his own. His willingness to fight anyone at any time anywhere proves he is more than just words. Seems like all these other fighters are just talk, and are not able to step up when its time to put up or shut up. 

    Solidifying McGregor's stance that he will fight anyone at anytime, his opponent was finally set for UFC 196, that man is none other than Nate Diaz. These two men have exchanged less than pleasantries with each other in the past, while demonstrating the willingness to oppose each other inside the octagon. 

    "I don't care about weight divisions. I'll run through everyone on the roster." Conor McGregor 

    Normally known for fighting at the 145 weight class which he currently holds the belt for;  eyebrows were raised, questions were asked and concerns expressed when the initial matchup against Dos Anjos was in the 155 weight class. Could McGregor affectively make the jump? Will he still be as dominant? Not only did Conor dismiss those accusations but expressed interest in challenging for the Welterweight belt at 170. When Diaz had issues with what weight this fight at UFC 196 would be at, McGregor told him" to get comfortable " and he would make things easy on him proving no weight class matters in his eyes and the contest would be set at 170.

   McGregor has more than proven he can sell any fight. His promoting skills are par to no one in this business. But If Conor McGregor's talent level was half as deadly as his words, he may go down as the greatest champion in UFC history.