Well, that just happened. Not only did Conor McGregor win the featherweight title from one of the best pound-for-pound fighters alive, he again called his shot, knocking out the great Jose Aldo in 13 seconds in a finish that nobody saw coming. But that wasn’t the only big moment on the year’s biggest card. Let’s take a look at what went down.
Bet on UFC odds at BookMaker.eu now!
THE CONOR MCGREGOR ERA HAS ARRIVED
Brace yourselves, because whether you love him or hate him, there is no escaping Conor McGregor now. There simply is no precedent to what he’s achieving. His dominance is reaching pre-Holm Rousey level, except his level of competition is much higher. And while Jon Jones has been putting away the best in the sport for longer, McGregor is making more waves as a crossover star.
What’s next for the new champion? Basically, anything he wants. He’s stated he wants an immediate shot at the lightweight champion, and Dana White said if they’ll make it happen. At featherweight, he just has one name left to beat, Frankie Edgar. But whatever comes next, you can bet that we’ll all be watching with bated breath.
LUKE ROCKHOLD PUTS AWAY CHRIS WEIDMAN
Rockhold came in as a slight +145 underdog, but he ran away with the title with a convincning TKO win over the previously undefeated Chris Weidman. After an even first round, Rockhold took over, battering the New York native with an endless stream of powerful body kicks. Then in the third and fourth, Rockhold unleashed hellacious ground and pound to end Weidman’s reign.
With the win, there is no doubt as to who the best fighter at 185 is. And with the way that Rockhold is fighting, I would expect at least a few successful title defenses in the future.
YOEL ROMERO IS NEXT TO FACE ROCKHOLD
In a somewhat listless bout, Romero topped Jacare Souza in a split decision win that could’ve gone either way. In all honesty, I don’t think either man really earned a title shot, but somebody has to face Rockhold. Now that we know Romero’s next, I’d expect him to be heavy underdog going into the bout. The new champ has looked ridiculously impressive, and Romero just seems to be squeaking by these days.
DEMIAN MAIA HUMBLES GUNNAR NELSON
At 38, Demian Maia continues to be one of the best welterweights in the world. Icelander Gunnar Nelson became the latest prospect to run into this brick wall built on gritty Brazilian jiu-jitsu. With Maia, we all know what’s coming: he’ll grab onto a limb and somehow drag you into his lethal web of submissions. Yet nobody seems able to stop him, which is why his fights have been compelling for eight UFC years and counting.
HOW TO BET
Access live betting lines at BookMaker Sportsbook and start wagering now. With our live betting options, you can also wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. UFC on FOX 17 takes place Saturday, December 19, 2015 at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. The main card will be televised on FOX starting 8 pm. ET following the FOX Sports 1 prelims starting at 5 p.m. ET.
