7 Things We Learned From UFC 194 - Aldo vs. McGregor

7. Conor McGregor: The Hype Is Real

There were many people - myself included - who were reluctant to get caught up in the whirlwind of hype that surrounded the new featherweight champion. McGregor has managed to craft an aura around himself unseen in any other competitors outside of Ronda Rousey and Brock Lesnar, and while his performances inside the cage have been impressive, it was largely his mouth and persona that created it. There's no doubt that McGregor is responsible for bringing new eyes to the sport, which is always a good thing and he has one of the most passionate fan bases we've seen. He's perfect with the media and is everything Dana White could ever want in a champion; basically a more formidable Chael Sonnen. Had he lost on the heels of Rousey's stunning defeat, it's a safe bet the UFC president would have cried himself to sleep/ That being said, no longer can it be denied that Conor has earned the attention he's been given. He stepped in the octagon with one of the pound-for-pound greatest fighters ever and delivered him his first loss in ten years. And he did it with one punch. There's not much left for his detractors to say. Conor McGregor is for real.