Matches to Make After UFC 189

The critics are running out of ammunition.

Conor McGregor foiled the plans of Team Alpha Male’s Chad Mendes, as he scored a second-round technical knockout and captured the interim Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight title in the UFC 189 “Mendes vs. McGregor” main event on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. A short-notice replacement for injured champion Jose Aldo, Mendes succumbed to punches 4:57 into round two.

McGregor shined on the feet and paid particular attention to his opponent’s midsection. However, it seemed for a time as if the questions that had longed dogged the Irishman would lead to his undoing. Mendes executed multiple takedowns, sliced open the former two-division Cage Warriors Fighting Championship titleholder with a wicked elbow strike and generally made life miserable for him from inside guard.

Late in the second round, Mendes made what turned out to be a costly tactical error. While smashing away at the grounded McGregor, he tried to lock up a guillotine choke and lost position. Soon, the two featherweights were back on their feet. McGregor unleashed, setting “Money” on his heels with a volley of power punches before felling him with a straight left. After McGregor delivered a quick burst of rights to a turtled Mendes, referee Herb Dean had seen enough.

In wake of UFC 189 “Mendes vs. McGregor,” here are six matchups that ought to be considered:

Related » UFC 189 By the Numbers

Conor McGregor vs. Jose Aldo: The risk will likely prove to be worth the reward, as McGregor’s 14th straight win sets up a showdown with Aldo later this year. The Brazilian champion withdrew from UFC 189 with a rib injury, much to the chagrin of McGregor and the powers that be. However, now that the Irishman has cleared a significant hurdle in Mendes and further raised his profile, the stage appears set for a blockbuster battle. It all hinges on Aldo’s health. The oft-injured Nova Uniao standout has not fought since he bested Mendes across five rounds in October.

Robbie Lawler vs. Johny Hendricks: The welterweight championship was on the verge of changing hands, but Lawler had other ideas. The “Ruthless” American Top Team export rallied for a fifth-round technical knockout against Rory MacDonald in the co-main event, denying the Canadian in an instant classic. Lawler damaged the Tristar Gym standout with jabs and straight lefts but nevertheless found himself in serious trouble in the middle rounds. He stood his ground and put away MacDonald with a straight left to the face that crushed his nose 60 seconds into round five. Hendricks surrendered the 170-pound title to Lawler in their Dec. 6 rematch, as he wound up on the wrong side of a split decision at UFC 181.

Chad Mendes vs. Frankie Edgar: Mendes will not lose much ground in the featherweight division, seeing as though he accepted such a high-stakes fight without the benefit of a full training camp. He has compiled an 8-3 record since touching down in the UFC in 2011 and remains one of the world’s premier featherweights. Only Aldo (twice) and McGregor have beaten Mendes. Edgar has been nothing short of stellar of late, having rattled off successive victories over Urijah Faber, Cub Swanson, B.J. Penn and Charles Oliveira.

Gunnar Nelson vs. Demian Maia-Neil Magny winner: The undersized Nelson rebounded from his first career defeat -- a five-round decision loss to Rick Story -- and disposed of Brandon Thatch with a rear-naked choke in their welterweight showcase. The tapout came 2:54 into round one, Thatch having been floored by a two-punch combination and weakened by the subsequent grappling exchanges. A Renzo Gracie-trained Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Nelson has won 14 of his last 15 fights, 11 of them via first-round stoppage. Maia and Magny will lock horns at UFC 190 on Aug. 1.

Thomas Almeida vs. Francisco Rivera: Almeida withstood a pair of first-round knockdowns to take care of American Top Team’s Brad Pickett and pass the most difficult test of his young career. The undefeated Chute Boxe prospect cut down Pickett with a breathtaking flying knee 29 seconds into the second round of their clash at 135 pounds. Almeida, 23, has won all 19 of his fights, 18 of them finishes, and looks like a superstar in the making in the UFC’s bantamweight division. The 33-year-old Rivera threw the brakes on a two-fight losing streak at UFC Fight Night 68 on June 6, as he knocked out Alex Caceres in just 21 seconds.

Matt Brown vs. Carlos Condit: Brown is violence personified. The Xenia, Ohio, native weathered an early barrage from Tim Means, staggered him with two standing elbow strikes to the head and countered a desperate takedown attempt from the former King of the Cage champion by locking in a fight-ending guillotine choke. The victory came on the heels of back-to-back decision losses to Hendricks and Lawler and kept Brown in a position of relevance within the welterweight division. Condit returned from reconstructive knee surgery to dispatch Thiago Alves at UFC Fight Night 57 on May 30. Brown and Condit have 50 wins and 46 finishes between them.