McGregor’s big mouth is big business for UFC, books

A trash talker is either loved or hated, but either way, he always attracts attention. Conor McGregor is one of those guys. He might even be the No. 1 trash talker in all of sports, which says a lot.

McGregor has the biggest mouth in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and that’s a good thing. His quotes make the media’s job easy. The hype he creates makes his fights an easy sell for promoters. The emotions he inspires makes fans pay attention.

It’s probably fair to say half of the fans watching the UFC 189 card Saturday night were rooting for McGregor and the other half were hoping to see his big head get ripped off, so to speak. There was a high-energy sellout crowd at the MGM Grand Garden and a huge pay-per-view audience mostly because of McGregor.

“This is probably the biggest UFC fight we’ve had this year,” MGM Resorts sports book director Jay Rood said.

McGregor, taken down three times and pummeled for the majority of 10 minutes, turned the tables in an instant and riddled Chad Mendes with punches to win the interim featherweight title fight by technical knockout with three seconds remaining in the second round. It was an instant classic.

McGregor’s next fight will be even bigger.

Rood said the fight drew strong two-way action. Mendes, a replacement for Jose Aldo, who withdrew two weeks ago citing a rib injury, is no slouch and came in with a 17-2 record. He drew a decent amount of sharp and public money after the price got inflated.

McGregor, from Dublin, Ireland, opened at minus-130 and closed as a 2-1 favorite. A large and loud contingent of Irish fans flocked to Las Vegas to support him.

“I knew we would see some McGregor money showing up,” Rood said. “I like McGregor. He’s kind of an old-school guy. He reminds me of Chuck Liddell a little bit. But I think the majority of the public does not like McGregor, and that’s probably where a lot of the Mendes money is coming from because they are hoping he can somehow kick his ass.”

Mendes was doing just that until, somehow, he was dropped on his ass.

McGregor was so confident in his chances that he challenged UFC president Dana White and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta to a bet. According to White, McGregor wanted to wager $3 million that he would knock out Mendes in the second round.

McGregor predicted publicly that he would knock out Mendes by the four-minute mark of the first round. His predictions changed, but the point was the same — he planned to win by knockout.

“I like to bet,” White said on Jim Rome’s show. “I don’t know if I’m that willing to take that bet. When I tell you how extremely confident this guy is in himself, it’s fascinating.”

White was wise to turn down the bet.

McGregor, who cut about 15 pounds to fight at 145, recently said he would “certainly dismantle” boxing champ Floyd Mayweather Jr. if they ever got in a ring together. Both are big talkers, but McGregor certainly puts on a more entertaining show.

The Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao dance contest May 2 drew an estimated wagering handle of $55 million in Nevada, a figure boosted by several six-figure bets at Strip books. The largest wager on McGregor-Mendes, Rood said, was $80,000 on Mendes.

The money that surfaced on Robbie Lawler in the welterweight title bout was on the right side. Lawler, bet from plus-155 to plus-125, broke Rory MacDonald’s nose in the second round and seemed in control until MacDonald staggered him late in the third.

“Everybody is betting Lawler,” Rood said. “He’s kind of a fan favorite.”

Both fighters were spitting blood throughout the fourth round. Lawler caught MacDonald — who was ahead 3-1 on all three judges scorecards — with a left hand to the head in the fifth and won by TKO. It was a hell of a show.

“One of the best fights I have ever seen in my life,” UFC commentator Joe Rogan said.

Thomas Almeida, the biggest favorite on the card at minus-900, was down early against Brad Pickett. Rood said bettors were taking shots on Pickett at plus-600, and why not?

“In this sport, anything can happen,” Rood said.

Anything almost happened. Pickett dropped Almeida twice in the first round. Almeida dodged the upset attempt, flying in with his left knee and driving it into Pickett’s chin. Pickett’s eyes were closed before he dropped to the mat at 49 seconds of the second.

Gunnar Nelson did deliver for ’dog bettors. Nelson, an Irishman who trains with McGregor, threw a right hand that put Brandon Thatch, a minus-155 favorite, on his back. Nelson locked in a rear naked choke and forced Thatch to tap out in the first round.

Another underdog barked when Jeremy Stephens (plus-175) stopped Dennis Bermudez at 32 seconds of the third round. Stephens, cut above the right eye and wearing a red mask in the first round, landed a right knee and followed with a flurry of punches to finish a back-and-forth brawl.

Win or lose, the night was going to be about McGregor, who left his job as a plumber seven years ago to pursue a mixed martial arts career and has put together a 14-fight win streak. He promised to “destroy everyone in the division.”

McGregor was in trouble, but in the end he backed up the talk.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports betting columnist Matt Youmans can be reached at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. He co-hosts “The Las Vegas Sportsline” weekdays at 2 p.m. on ESPN Radio (1100 AM). Follow him on Twitter: @mattyoumans247.