After the devastating leg break against Dustin Poirier, who almost finished his career, Conor McGregor feels better. Now he talks about the future and calls out another fighter in a weight class he has participated in before.
McGregor, who is looking bulkier, recently revealed that he wants to attempt to get another belt but this time in the welterweight class.
“It’s about finding out which weight now; I just don’t really see myself going back to 155 again,” McGregor said during a pub conversation on his The Mac Life YouTube channel.
McGregor’s Weighty Comments
“I’ve gotten myself down to a lightweight frame, but I’m big now. I feel big, I feel strong, I feel healthy, I’ve got good energy. Coming back after a gruesome injury, I do not want to deplete myself. There’s no need to deplete myself.”
McGregor had won titles in two weight classes when he infamously knocked out Chad Mendes to win the interim UFC featherweight title in 2015 and then knocked out Jose Aldo in 13 seconds to unify it.
He defeated Eddie Alvarez in 2016 to win the UFC lightweight title but has been without a title ever since. His forays into the welterweight division have been a fruitful two wins and one loss.
Conor McGregor believes he should fight Kamaru Usman on his return to action. pic.twitter.com/IfeSvhVMYs
— The Mac Life (@TheMacLife) March 18, 2022
The Welterweight Proposition
McGregor and Nate Diaz have one win apiece at 170 pounds, and McGregor made easy work of Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone after a two-year absence from the sport.
“I’m eyeballing 170, I think. I’ve always had a great time when I have a full camp at 170 with correct preparation, the Diaz 2 rematch and the Cowboy fight in particular. They were some of my flawless performances. They worked for me.”
Now bulked up and “not cutting calories,” McGregor is enjoying his “natural state” and believes that a showdown against current UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is a natural progression for his career.
St paddy’s eve work at crumlin boxing club. The school of excellence! pic.twitter.com/E6xqS8KFxo
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 16, 2022
Kamaru Call Out
“I believe myself vs. Usman for the 170-pound title for my comeback fight is the one I’m eyeballing at the minute,” McGregor said.
“I’ve gotten myself down to a lightweight frame, but I’m big now. I feel big, I feel strong, I feel healthy, I’ve got good energy. Coming back after a gruesome injury, I do not want to deplete myself. There’s no need to deplete myself.”
Like most fighters chasing glory across different weight divisions, once you go up, you rarely go back, and now McGregor feels that he has found a home at 170lbs.
McGregor wants to return against Usman and sees no "danger" from the champ 👀
📰 https://t.co/PB9Jppovh5 pic.twitter.com/PLoUvvuPxW
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) March 18, 2022
Scheduling Conflict
The biggest obstacle in his way? Usman is already booked to defend his belt in a rematch with Leon Edwards in the summer.
“And I feel confident against Usman – a jab-happy, sloppy orthodox wrestler with no submissions whatsoever. What’s he gonna do? Where’s the danger here? I don’t see a danger with him.”
Usman had quite the reaction to McGregor's callout 🤭
(via @USMAN84kg) pic.twitter.com/2FUsEpQkbi
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) March 18, 2022
McGregor wants to return to action and make the statements he used to make in the Octagon. Now he is looking to achieve his third title dramatically.
“The world will talk again (about) the triple crown,” McGregor said. “No one’s ever obtained three knockouts in three weight divisions moving up like I have already. But no one’s ever obtained three UFC world titles across three divisions like I will do also if we make this fight.”
