Chad Mendes has fast become a real fan favourite of the Irish after gracious defeat to McGregor

Chad Mendes lost the fight but he won an awful lot of respect.

Trash talk is part and parcel of these things. They do it in boxing, they're mad for it in MMA and the American was only one half of a hostile build-up to UFC 189's main event. But, in the aftermath of a thrilling battle between him and Conor McGregor, Mendes held himself well, he acknowledged his adversary, and he showed real grace and class in defeat. He even thanked his Irish opponent for accepting the fight on such short notice after Jose Aldo pulled out and the pair showed real respect to one another. And the Irish loved Mendes for it. https://twitter.com/MeganSmall2002/status/620188987395862528 https://twitter.com/TheSonicScrew/status/620092335003697152 https://twitter.com/EoinMacrogo/status/620097376271880193 https://twitter.com/donnchaxx/status/620203101325250560 https://twitter.com/NiallOC_/status/620145224875175936 https://twitter.com/sharper888/status/620100975722938368 https://twitter.com/nicky_clarke/status/620092346894561281 https://twitter.com/jordan_hickey15/status/620091685574451200 https://twitter.com/ConnorJDavies/status/620204361004785664 https://twitter.com/CathalD50/status/620196021373693952 https://twitter.com/rourky11/status/620100730129633280 https://twitter.com/micr_wlee/status/620092501936898049