IT LOOKS LIKE Conor McGregor’s move up to the lightweight division is going to happen sooner rather than later.
On tonight’s media conference call with Jose Aldo ahead of their fight at UFC 194, McGregor said he intends to fight the winner of the upcoming UFC lightweight title bout next.
Defending champion Rafael Dos Anjos will put his title on the line against challenger Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone, in Orlando on 19 December.
McGregor will aim to become the undisputed featherweight champion when he takes on Aldo a week from Saturday in a title unification bout in Las Vegas. After that, the Irish fighter says he wants to move straight up to the 155lbs division.
“I will KO Jose Aldo and I will face the winner of the lightweight [title fight], which takes place a week after. Then I will fight for that, so within the next two fights I will be a two-weight world champion,” said McGregor.
When asked if he’ll give Aldo an opportunity to regain the featherweight belt if he’s victorious, McGregor said: ”We’ll have to see how the contest plays out. If he gives me a war and he can earn a rematch, then we’ll do a rematch. But I just don’t see him answering the bell for the second round.”
McGregor is seeking to replicate his achievements with the Cage Warriors promotion, where he won both the featherweight and lightweight titles in 2012 to secure a UFC contract.
The 27-year-old has spoken often about the difficulties of the weight-cut to 145lbs in order to compete in the featherweight division, so a move back to lightweight has long been on the agenda.
Alluding to the possibility of competing in both divisions simultaneously, McGregor added: “I’m looking to emulate what I achieved in my previous promotion and collect two belts, two different weight divisions, hold them consecutively, defend them consecutively and carry on.”
