On Saturday, July 11, the UFC hosted UFC 189: Mendes vs. McGregor from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
In the night’s main event, an interim featherweight champion was crowned after divisional kingpin Jose Aldo was forced out of the event due to a broken rib. The promotion responded by inserting two-time title challenger Chad Mendes against rising star Conor McGregor. McGregor entered the contest having yet to taste defeat inside the Octagon. The 26-year-old Irishman had compiled a 17-2 record, with his last five wins coming under the UFC banner. Mendes, meanwhile, got another crack at UFC gold. The Team Alpha Male product had tasted defeat just twice in his career, both at the hands of Aldo.
The co-main event also featured UFC gold on the line as welterweight champion Robbie Lawler rematched Canadian Rory MacDonald. Lawler captured the belt last fall with a decision win over Johny Hendricks, while MacDonald had won three straight since falling to Lawler in late 2013.
The 11-fight event kicked off Saturday at 7 p.m. ET with two fights streaming on UFC Fight Pass. Four additional preliminary card bouts followed at 8 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1, with the five-fight main card airing live on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET.
For the full results of the event, click here.
Above are video highlights of the co-main event between Lawler and MacDonald (courtesy of the UFC).
Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald – for welterweight title
Dennis Bermudez vs. Jeremy Stephens
Gunnar Nelson vs. Brandon Thatch
Brad Pickett vs. Thomas Almeida
Mike Swick vs. Alex Garcia
Cathal Pendred vs. John Howard
Cody Garbrandt vs. Henry Briones
Yosdenis Cedeno vs. Cody Pfister