UFC 189
| Company type | Mixed martial arts event |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mixed martial arts |
| Predecessor | UFC 188 |
| Founded | July 11, 2015 |
| Founder | Ultimate Fighting Championship |
| Successor | UFC 190 |
| Headquarters | Las Vegas, Nevada , United States |
Area served | International |
Key people | Conor McGregor, Chad Mendes, Robbie Lawler, Rory MacDonald |
| Products | Mixed martial arts fights |
| Owner | Ultimate Fighting Championship |
| Parent | Ultimate Fighting Championship |
UFC 189: Mendes vs. McGregor was a mixed martial arts event that took place on July 11, 2015, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena located in Las Vegas, Nevada.[1]
Background
This event was part of the UFC's annual International Fight Week festivities.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Initially, the main event was scheduled as a UFC Featherweight Championship clash between reigning champion José Aldo and challenger Conor McGregor. However, Aldo withdrew on June 30 due to a rib fracture, which led to an interim title bout between McGregor and Chad Mendes.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Dana White later explained that Aldo’s injury involved a "bruised rib and cartilage," complicating his ability to make weight; Aldo and McGregor eventually faced each other at UFC 194.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
The co-headliner featured a UFC Welterweight Championship defense by champion Robbie Lawler against contender Rory MacDonald, marking a rematch following their split decision encounter at UFC 167.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Matt Brown was originally linked to a bout with Nate Diaz, but after that fight was canceled, Brown competed against Tim Means.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
A welterweight matchup between Jake Ellenberger and Stephen Thompson was rescheduled for the subsequent day’s card, which was the finale of The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
John Hathaway pulled out of his scheduled fight with Gunnar Nelson due to injury. This led to adjustments in the lineup: Brandon Thatch stepped up to face Nelson, while Cathal Pendred, who had recently fought at UFC 188, replaced Thatch against John Howard.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Jeremy Stephens failed to make weight by 3.5 pounds, resulting in a 20% fine of his purse that was awarded to his opponent, Dennis Bermudez.[2]
Bonus awards
$50,000 bonuses were granted for exceptional performances:
- Fight of the Night: Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald
- Performance of the Night: Conor McGregor and Thomas Almeida
Reported payout
The disclosed fighter payments submitted to the Nevada State Athletic Commission exclude sponsorship earnings and UFC "fight night" bonuses:
- Conor McGregor: $500,000 (no win bonus) defeated Chad Mendes: $500,000
- Robbie Lawler: $300,000 (including $150,000 win bonus) defeated Rory MacDonald: $59,000
- Jeremy Stephens: $72,000 (including $40,000 win bonus) defeated Dennis Bermudez: $34,000 ^
- Gunnar Nelson: $58,000 (including $29,000 win bonus) defeated Brandon Thatch: $22,000
- Thomas Almeida: $24,000 (including $12,000 win bonus) defeated Brad Pickett: $30,000
- Matt Brown: $92,000 (including $46,000 win bonus) defeated Tim Means: $23,000
- Alex Garcia: $30,000 (including $15,000 win bonus) defeated Mike Swick: $48,000
- John Howard: $42,000 (including $21,000 win bonus) defeated Cathal Pendred: $10,000
- Cody Garbrandt: $20,000 (including $10,000 win bonus) defeated Henry Briones: $10,000
- Louis Smolka: $30,000 (including $15,000 win bonus) defeated Neil Seery: $10,000
- Cody Pfister: $20,000 (including $10,000 win bonus) defeated Yosdenis Cedeno: $13,000
^ Jeremy Stephens incurred a 20% purse penalty ($8,000) for missing weight; this amount was awarded to Dennis Bermudez.
Records established
The weigh-in session attracted an unprecedented audience of around 11,500 attendees. The event generated a gate revenue of $7,200,000, setting a new benchmark for mixed martial arts events in the United States. The final turnout reached 16,019 spectators, marking the highest attendance for a UFC event in Nevada after having hosted 91 previous shows.
Lawler versus MacDonald
The bout between Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald earned the title of 2015 Fight of the Year from both Sherdog and MMA Fighting. Recognized as one of the most remarkable contests in UFC history, it was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame's Fight wing in 2023.
Notable milestones
This event introduced the UFC's Reebok fight apparel, which had been announced in December 2014 and unveiled in June 2015.
For the headline fight, live performances accompanied the fighters' entrances: Sinéad O'Connor delivered "Foggy Dew" for McGregor, while Aaron Lewis and his band performed "Country Boy" for Mendes.