Conor McGregor vs Dennis Siver Headlines UFC Fight Night 59
After destroying No. 6 Dustin Poirier with a first round knockout at UFC 178, No. 5-ranked Irish featherweight Conor McGregor was supposedly headed for the next UFC 145-pound title shot.
But apparently that may not be the case.
This afternoon (Thurs., October 23, 2014) sources confirmed to MMA Junkie that a bout between McGregor and No. 10-ranked Dennis Siver is being targeted for the main event of a January 18, 2014, card to be held at Boston’s TD Garden.
Acting on a condition of anonymity, the source said that the promotion reportedly wants to keep McGregor active. “Notorious” has already fought in Boston, famously making a huge splash by defeating Max Holloway in his second UFC bout at UFC Fight Night 26 in August 2013.
The proposed January card has not been finalized yet, and neither has an agreement between McGregor and Siver’s teams. The event would take place on a Sunday night directly after the NFL’s NFC Championship game.
The rumored lightweight bout between Donald Cerrone and Myles Jury is also reported to take place on the card.
McGregor was thought to be fast-tracked to a title shot against the winner of this Saturday’s UFC 179 rematch between Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. UFC President Dana White focused on the fact that he’s the only Top 5 featherweight that Aldo hasn’t defeated, and that’s a good point.
However, McGregor’s massive drawing power is apparently too much too resist, as the UFC is banking on the fact that they can have him headline one more event before fighting for the title.
But Siver is definitely a noted step down in competition for “Notorious.” The 35-year-old kickboxer recently returned to action from a nine-month suspension, defeating Charles Rosa in UFC Fight Night 53’s “Fight of the Night”-winning bout. His UFC 168 win over Manny Gamburyan was switched to a no contest when Siver tested positive for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
He does have an ongoing beef with McGregor online, but the same could be said for just about every other ranked featherweight in the UFC right now.
A lot of things could happen from now until the next featherweight title fight as well. Cub Swanson and Frankie Edgar will be facing off on November 22, and the winner will surely be campaigning for a shot at gold. There just won’t be many other places for the winner of that fight to go.
What do you think of this rumored booking for McGregor? Should the UFC have saved him for a title shot at the winner of Aldo vs. Mendes II, or is keeping him fresh in the minds of fans the best course of action?
UPDATE
UFC Fight Night 59 was announced by UFC.com earlier today, and will be headlined by Conor McGregor vs Dennis Siver on January 18th at the TD Gardens in Boston. Check out the statement by the UFC:
Germany’s Siver may provide his stiffest test yet though, as the 35-year-old veteran has the fight-stopping power and solid ground attack to beat anyone at 145 pounds. Unbeaten in four of his last five bouts, including a Fight of the Night victory over Charles Rosa on October 4, Siver’s UFC record also has seven post-fight bonuses attached to it, setting up what could be the first Fight of the Year candidate for 2015.
Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie for USA TODAY Sports
