Irish fans throng Sin City for fight night

Backing their country's top Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Conor McGregor, Irish fans today descended at the MGM Grand Arena here even as home boy Chad Mendes got booed at the weigh-in ahead of the much-awaited UFC interim title featherweight fight.
Thousands of people from Ireland have flown into the Sin City to witness the Ultimate Fighting Challenge spectacle tomorrow morning.
Initially built as a title clash, the fight turned interim with Brazil's Jose Aldo pulling out at the last moment due to a rib injury. But the no-holds-barred fight between the Irishman and the American underdog does promise to be a tough contest.

McGregor, nicknamed 'The Notorious', tipped the scales at 145 pounds ahead of his five-round clash with Mendes (144.5).
With more than 10,000 Irish fans at the famous MGM Arena, known for many a historical bout including the Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield ear-biting punch up and the recently contested Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao welterweight bout, it was one of the most attended weigh-ins in UFC 189 history.
Meanwhile, welterweight champion Robbie Lawler(169.5) also met the contracted weight requirements for his title defense against Rory MacDonald (170) in another mouthwatering match-up.

But the focus remains on the McGregor-Mendes fight as Irish flags, easily mistaken for the Indian tri-colour, are surely the most visible prop in the city.

Chanting various country songs to support their star, Irish fans made sure that their presence was felt with loud chanting and colourful jerseys being the order of the day.
An elated Irish fan, who flew in from Dublin just to watch this match said, "Conor is star. He is just too good. There is no way that Mendes can overpower him. You will see that 'The Notorious' will destroy the American."
Experts though remained cautious in their predictions as the presenter and the local media dubbed the fight as a close contest between two different Mixed Martial Art fighters.