Despite the unanimous-decision win, Conor McGregor (pictured) feels like he lost at UFC Fight Night 26. Photo via Getty Images.

Conor McGregor went into his UFC fight in Boston with a finish on his mind. Settling for a decision was not in the cards for the Irish mixed martial artist.

To his disappointment, McGregor secured his Fight Night 26 win by unanimous decision. A win is a win, of course, but when other fighters are collecting bonus money, it angers the fast-rising featherweight.

“I’m sitting here listening to this guy got ‘of the Night,’ this other guy got ‘of the Night,’ this guys got ‘of the Night’ – I want that,” McGregor said at the post-fight news conference. “I don’t come here for decisions. We are rewarded for finishes and that’s what I’m looking for.”

The reaction from the 25-year-old Irishman is exactly what UFC President Dana White likes to hear. The executive explained that the attitude McGregor carried following the unanimous-decision win on Saturday tells a story of what fans should anticipate from the fighter in the near future.

Rage stemming from not finishing a fight should show that there are big things over the horizon for McGregor, according to the UFC boss.

“I love that he’s that kind of a fighter,” White told reporters following the news conference. “That just shows you more and more the promise that this kid has. I love that attitude.”

White may love his fighter’s demeanor, but McGregor is treating the fight like Max Holloway got the best of him on Saturday. Had it not been for an injury, McGregor said, “Notorious” might have gotten the win the way he wanted it.

If there was a way to rip off body parts and use them as weapons in the Octagon, McGregor said it would have worked to his benefit. Beating up Holloway with a limb sounded like a good idea.

“I don’t give a sh-t. It feels like a loss to me, to be honest,” McGregor said. “I wanted the finish in that one. I felt the finish was there for me, and I injured my knee midway through the second [round], and I just can’t get it out of my head. Looking back I should have just pulled my knee from my leg and hit him with it.”

Either way, Ireland’s most famous mixed martial artist is in the good graces of his boss, White. As long as he keeps the same approach for all his fights going forward, he’ll have the backing of the UFC President from now until the end of his stretch as a fighter.

“Why am I promoting this kid? Why am I getting behind him? Because I love what he’s about,” White said.

The Fox Sports phantom cam made another appearance, this time at UFC Fight Night 26 last Saturday in Boston.

The slow-motion camera captured all the best strikes that happened on last weekend’s fight card, and the poetry in motion can’t be put into words.

Check out the phantom cam in action in the player above and be sure to check out the full UFC Fight Night 26 results below.

UFC Fight Night 26
Shogun vs. Sonnen
August 17, 2013
TD Garden
Boston, Massachusetts

Main Card:

Chael Sonnen def. Shogun Rua via submission (guillotine) at 4:47, Round 1

Travis Browne def. Alistair Overeem via knockout (strikes) at 4:08, Round 1

Urijah Faber def. Yuri Alcantara by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)

Matt Brown def. Mike Pyle by KO (punches) at 0:29, Round 1

John Howard def. Uriah Hall via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)

Michael Johnson def. Joe Lauzon via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-25)

Prelims:

Michael McDonald def. Brad Pickett by submission (triangle) at 3:43, Round 2

Conor McGregor def. Max Holloway via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

Steven Siler def. Mike Brown via KO at 0:50, Round 1

Diego Brandao def. Daniel Pineda by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Prelims on Facebook:

Manny Gamburyan def. Cole Miller via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Ovince St. Preux def. Cody Donovan via knockout (punches) at 2:07, Round 1

James Vick def. Ramsey Nijem via submission (guillotine choke) at 0:58, Round 1

UFC President Dana White sat with the media following the UFC Fight Night 26 pre-fight news conference. During his media scrum, White talked about everything from crooked politicians to offering a fight with Lyoto Machida to Nick Diaz.

Props to MMA H.E.A.T to for the footage. Check it out.

Photo by Esther Lin via MMAFighting.com

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua hasn’t before been considered an ill-tempered fighter, spouting off in reaction to trash talk coming from his UFC opponents. His lead-up to the UFC Fight Night 26 main event with Chael Sonnen has been no different.

The fighter mostly ignores the chatter spewed between fights, but one thing he’s taken notice to is Sonnen’s talk of Brazil. That and the way Sonnen talks about his friend, Wanderlei Silva, in the press are things Rua considers slightly bothersome.

“The only thing that bothers me is when he talks about my country and my friend Wanderlei,” Rua revealed at a pre-fight news conference in Boston to promote Saturday’s fight card.

Sonnen, who unofficially sets the standard for pre-fight hype with his delivery of trash talk, reminiscent of pro wrestling, has gone off about Silva in the recent past. Referring to Rua and Silva’s boss, for example, has been part of Sonnen’s verbal assault.

Shogun, though, said it doesn’t affect him to the point of getting in the way of Saturday’s fight. The former Pride Grand Prix champ keeps his crosshairs on making sure he’s ready to compete well when he steps in the Octagon.

“I try to not get too much involved in that,” he said of Sonnen’s views of Silva. “I try to keep my focus on my training so I can make sure I’m going to be 100 percent ready for the fight.”

This time around, Sonnen has been surprisingly quiet going into the main event in Boston. Instead of tirades about his opponent’s culture, fighting style or anything else he’s said about previous foes, Sonnen has been very respectful when discussing Rua.

The 180-degree turn in Sonnen’s approach to the fight hasn’t raised Shogun’s eyebrows, though.

“That doesn’t surprise me,” Rua said. “Chael Sonnen has always respected me, since the beginning of my career. Before our fight he’s always showed me a lot of respect.”

But if Sonnen did start talking, Shogun said, it wouldn’t change anything about what Rua plans to do to the “American Gangster” on Aug. 17. The fight is a chance to get back to where he was in 2010 and 2011: at the top of the UFC’s 205-pound division.

“Even if he starts talking, that’s not going to change anything,” he said. “My desire for the victory will be the same. I’m an experienced fighter and that doesn’t change my mind.

“My main goal today is to get back to the belt – to a title shot. I think this victory over Sonnen will be the first step. Right now I’m really focused on this fight and … getting back on track. I think my chance and my opportunity for a title shot will be the result of my fight.”

UFC Fight Night 26
Shogun vs. Sonnen
August 17, 2013
TD Garden
Boston, Massachusetts

Main Card:
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (21-7) vs. Chael Sonnen (27-13-1)
Alistair Overeem (36-12-1) vs. Travis Browne (14-1-1)
Urijah Faber (28-6) vs. Yuri Alcantara (28-4)
Matt Brown (17-11) vs. Mike Pyle (25-8-1)
Uriah Hall (7-3) vs. John Howard (20-8)
Joe Lauzon (22-8) vs. Michael Johnson (12-8)

Prelims:
Brad Pickett (23-7) vs. Michael McDonald (15-2)
Conor McGregor (13-2) vs. Max Holloway (7-2)
Mike Brown (26-8) vs. Steven Siler (22-10)
Diego Brandao (17-8) vs. Daniel Pineda (18-9)

Prelims on Facebook:
Manny Gamburyan (12-7) vs. Cole Miller (19-7)
Cody Donovan (8-2) vs. Ovince St. Preux (13-5)
Ramsey Nijem (8-3) vs. James Vick (4-0)

It’s very rare that a fighter competing on an undercard gets his own exclusive open workout for fans. But Conor McGregor is something different.

The Irish mixed martial artist has taken the UFC by storm with just one fight in the organization, but his highlight-reel knockouts that he collected before coming to the Octagon have backed his hype train leading into his UFC Fight Night 26 fight against Max Halloway.

Watch the video of his open workout above and check out the full fight card below.

UFC Fight Night 26
Shogun vs. Sonnen
August 17, 2013
TD Garden
Boston, Massachusetts

Main Card:
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (21-7) vs. Chael Sonnen (27-13-1)
Alistair Overeem (36-12-1) vs. Travis Browne (14-1-1)
Urijah Faber (28-6) vs. Yuri Alcantara (28-4)
Matt Brown (17-11) vs. Mike Pyle (25-8-1)
Uriah Hall (7-3) vs. John Howard (20-8)
Joe Lauzon (22-8) vs. Michael Johnson (12-8)

Prelims:
Brad Pickett (23-7) vs. Michael McDonald (15-2)
Conor McGregor (13-2) vs. Max Holloway (7-2)
Mike Brown (26-8) vs. Steven Siler (22-10)
Diego Brandao (17-8) vs. Daniel Pineda (18-9)

Prelims on Facebook:
Manny Gamburyan (12-7) vs. Cole Miller (19-7)
Cody Donovan (8-2) vs. Ovince St. Preux (13-5)
Ramsey Nijem (8-3) vs. James Vick (4-0)

Southern California played home to Shogun Rua’s preparation for his UFC Fight Night 26 bout against Chael Sonnen. Under the tutelage of Kings MMA head coach Rafael Cordeiro, with whom the fighter used to train under at Chute Boxe, Shogun is refocusing on his rise to the top of the light heavyweight division.

Check out the video of Shogun training at Kings MMA and read the entire UFC Fight Night 26 fight card below.

UFC Fight Night 26
Shogun vs. Sonnen
August 17, 2013
TD Garden
Boston, Massachusetts

Main Card:
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (21-7) vs. Chael Sonnen (27-13-1)
Alistair Overeem (36-12-1) vs. Travis Browne (14-1-1)
Urijah Faber (28-6) vs. Yuri Alcantara (28-4)
Matt Brown (17-11) vs. Mike Pyle (25-8-1)
Uriah Hall (7-3) vs. John Howard (20-8)
Joe Lauzon (22-8) vs. Michael Johnson (12-8)

Prelims:
Brad Pickett (23-7) vs. Michael McDonald (15-2)
Conor McGregor (13-2) vs. Max Holloway (7-2)
Mike Brown (26-8) vs. Steven Siler (22-10)
Diego Brandao (17-8) vs. Daniel Pineda (18-9)

Prelims on Facebook:
Manny Gamburyan (12-7) vs. Cole Miller (19-7)
Cody Donovan (8-2) vs. Ovince St. Preux (13-5)
Ramsey Nijem (8-3) vs. James Vick (4-0)

The Choke MMA Show is back with another episode of UFC chatter with hosts Erik Fontanez and E. Spencer Kyte. This week, the guys welcome Sports Illustrated MMA writer Jeff Wagenheim to talk UFC Fight Night 26 in Boston. Also, the biggest MMA news stories of the week, including Rousey going Carano and Bellator PPV pipe dreams.

For an archive of episodes, visit the Choke MMA Show homepage

Photo by Erik Fontanez for GRACIEMAG.com.

UFC welterweights Demian Maia and Jake Shields are targeted to meet at UFC Fight Night 29 on Oct. 9, according to media reports on Tuesday.

Maia and Shileds will headline the card, which is set to take place at Jose Correa Gymnasium in Barueri, São Paulo, according to a report from combate.com.

Shields (28-6-1, 1 N.C.) last competed at UFC 161 against Tyron Woodley, earning a split decision for his efforts. The fight was considered lackluster by many, but notched Shields’ first win since being suspended for failing his UFC 150 post-fight drug test in 2012.

Maia (18-4) has been on a tear since dropping down to 170 pounds from the middleweight division, going 3-0 in the process. In his most recent outing, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist dominated Jon Fitch at UFC 156 for the unanimous-decision win.

UFC Fight Night 29 is also reported to feature fights between Erick Silva and Dong Hyun Kim, Rony Jason and Jeremy Stephens, and Thiago Silva and Matt Hamill.

Conor McGregor fights Max Hollaway this weekend at UFC Fight Night 26. Saturday’s card is McGregor’s second bout in the Octagon, and his first one is something to remember. Check out McGregor’s debut against Marcus Brimage from earlier this year.

Check out the UFC Fight Night 26 fight card below:

UFC Fight Night 26
Shogun vs. Sonnen
August 17, 2013
TD Garden
Boston, Massachusetts

Main Card:
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (21-7) vs. Chael Sonnen (27-13-1)
Alistair Overeem (36-12-1) vs. Travis Browne (14-1-1)
Urijah Faber (28-6) vs. Yuri Alcantara (28-4)
Matt Brown (17-11) vs. Mike Pyle (25-8-1)
Uriah Hall (7-3) vs. John Howard (20-8)
Joe Lauzon (22-8) vs. Michael Johnson (12-8)

Prelims:
Brad Pickett (23-7) vs. Michael McDonald (15-2)
Conor McGregor (13-2) vs. Max Holloway (7-2)
Mike Brown (26-8) vs. Steven Siler (22-10)
Diego Brandao (17-8) vs. Daniel Pineda (18-9)

Prelims on Facebook:
Manny Gamburyan (12-7) vs. Cole Miller (19-7)
Cody Donovan (8-2) vs. Ovince St. Preux (13-5)
Ramsey Nijem (8-3) vs. James Vick (4-0)

Photo via Getty Images

When he lost to Antonio Silva at UFC 156 last February, Alistair Overeem went under the radar. The phenomenally muscular Dutchman, a fighter whose appearance makes him stand out amongst a crowd, became difficult to spot.

Instead of being in the public eye, his attention, Overeem said, was given to getting back on track by making adjustments behind the MMA scenes. A new coach and a redirection in his training program became his new priority.

How far he is from getting back into title contention, however, isn’t the concern.

“I just stay really focused on my own development,” the fighter said Monday on a media conference call. “I was recovering from an injury, getting back on track. I made lot of changes in the camp and preparation and the whole process. So for me I’ve just been focusing on myself and … it’s just important to get that win. I put 100 percent effort into that, my preparation. It’s up to the … UFC to decide what I’m going to do next.”

Reports following UFC 156 said that Overeem’s testosterone levels where dangerously low. This is notable because, prior to the fight, he was under heavy scrutiny for having failed a random drug test, administered by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, that showed elevated levels of testosterone. The results had Overeem suspended from competition thereafter. Overeem’s explanation of the elevated levels was that he needed anti-inflammatory medication to help heal a rib injury. That medication, Overeem explained, had artificial testosterone as an ingredient, and he had no idea this was the case before injecting it into his body.

Alistair Overeem (right) training under Mike Passenier (left). Photo via Staredown.nl.

After all the testosterone talk and dealing with his first loss since coming to the UFC from Strikeforce, Overeem took time to reflect. It wasn’t a time for him to feel sorry for himself, he said. Instead, Overeem was all about taking care of himself.

Additional concerns don’t apply.

“I took some time off to [think about] everything,” Overeem said when asked what he did following his recent defeat. “I’m not a person to get depressed and mentally down.”

Overeem said he’s been training with Mike Passenier, head coach of Mike’s Gym in Holland, while preparing for his UFC Fight Night 26 bout against Travis Browne. The coaching assignment has put the fighter in a position where he’s sharing time between his residence in Miami and his homeland of Holland.

While traveling between environments, continents and time zones sounds like something that would get in the way of focus, it isn’t, according to Overeem. The fighter, not listening to what others have to say about him and his lifestyle, stood by his statement and said he’s just worried about one thing: himself.

“I’ve just been focused on my thing and not really focused on what other people think of me or what’s going to happen after this fight or who I’ll fight after,” he said. “Just been focused on my own thing and getting back on track.”