UFC 189: Conor McGregor Dismisses Jose Aldo As 'Distant Memory' After Win

Conor McGregor was on his back, struggling to get back on his feet and avoid the elbows and fists that were raining down on him.

He was in deep trouble. Or was he?

Late into Saturday night, with the UFC interim featherweight belt in front of him, McGregor insisted he was in complete control. No matter how bad it might have looked — or how concerned his fans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena might have been — he knew he would find a way.

And he did.

“I was never in any danger in that contest,” he said. “I felt extremely confident.”

After weeks of pre-fight posturing and non-stop trash talking, McGregor proved he was every bit as good as he claimed to be. But it also took all the resolve he had to defeat Chad Mendes.

UFC 189 was McGregor’s moment, from beginning to end. On a fight card that was arguably the best in UFC history, he and Mendes provided the closing act — a fight to determine an interim champion to challenge Jose Aldo.

But McGregor didn’t want to talk about Aldo, who bowed out with a rib injury. Neither did UFC president Dana White. Aldo wasn’t in Las Vegas, and although he and McGregor will ultimately face off at some point, this was not the time to discuss it.

“I’m going to put Jose at a distant memory right now because I don’t think he deserves to be talked about here,” McGregor said. “He didn’t show up. He should have made that walk. I respect Chad for making the walk and showing up.

“In my opinion, Jose’s done. If the fight comes around, we’ll discuss it then. Right now, this is my night.”