Conor McGregor has long claimed he’d do things others simply couldn’t in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. Yet, ‘Mystic Mac’s predictions have so far been bold, and so far been correct, and perhaps that’s why when the Irishman mentions future plans, people’s ears tend to prick up. Especially when the plan in question is… Conor McGregor: Welterweight?
The idea has been around for a while. McGregor first mentioned the possibility of fighting in three different weight classes sometime around the Dennis Siver fight. Since then, Jose Aldo and the Featherweight division took much of his attention, until shortly before UFC 194 at the Go Big Press Conference, when McGregor declared he had his eyes on the Lightweight belt.
Then, with the bout against Lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos confirmed and taking place March 5th, McGregor once again set himself a target above previous expectations. At a press conference last month, McGregor announced his intentions of even more title gold.
“I am an active champion, I will fight in many weight divisions,” McGregor said at the UFC 197 press conference. “I like the sound of the 170-pound title, I’ve got to be honest with you. I feel I can take down them three gold belts, so, and I feel like I can do it by the year’s end.”
Today, McGregor’s coach John Kavanaugh added fuel to the fire by addressing the possibility in his column at Irish media source THE42, where he suggested the idea of McGregor holding three belts isn’t as crazy as you might believe.
“I’ve seen that rumours of Conor fighting Robbie Lawler for the 170lbs belt at UFC 200 on 9 July have been gathering momentum,” Kavanaugh wrote. “It’s not something we have discussed specifically but after Conor wins the lightweight belt, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if the next fight is for the welterweight belt.
“If that’s what Conor wants to do, I’ll absolutely support that move. I think that would be fantastic. We’re already talking about making history in a few weeks, but can you imagine what it will be like if Conor is the champion in three weight classes by the summer?
Given some time, as well as a bit of strength and conditioning work, he could also be a force at welterweight. This is an interesting time.”
Training out of Dublin’s Straight Blast Gym, McGregor is no stranger to bigger men, training with UFC welterweight Gunnar Nelson, as well as retired Middleweight Cathal Pendred,
First up though, is Lightweight. McGregor’s bout with Dos Anjos has historical implications, as should he beat the Brazilian, he’d be the first person in MMA to hold two UFC title belts at the same time. By itself, his plan for “2 belts, 2 shoulders” was controversial enough, with Featherweight contenders such as Frankie Edgar and ex-champion Jose Aldo airing frustrations that McGregor was allowed to keep the 145lb strap.
Should McGregor make history, going for the trifecta against Robbie Lawler would be incredible. A champion vs. champion bout at UFC 200 could be the mega-events main event, and would be something possibly never seen again in the sports future. To go through three different weight divisions is hard enough, but to be a force (and indeed a champion) at all three hasn’t yet been done.
But when it comes to McGregor…
