Morning Report: Conor McGregor plans lightweight title challenge after defending UFC’s featherweight belt in Ireland

UFC featherweight Conor McGregor doesn’t mind talking a big game.

He’s been talking since he joined the UFC in 2013, but it wasn’t until he put Dustin Poirier away at UFC 178 that people started listening.

“If you do what you say you’re going to do, look what happens? I’ve skipped the queue and now I’m the world title contender, I’m number one contender,” McGregor told Severe MMA. “My next fight is most likely going to be for the title. After that there will be no catching me.”

McGregor will be cageside for featherweight champion Jose Aldo’s title defense to Chad Mendes Oct. 25 at UFC 179 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but his crystal ball is already conjuring visions of the Emerald Isle.

“I’ll win the belt, maybe I’ll defend it in the Aviva and then I’ll challenge for the lightweight belt, then who knows? That’s definitely in my plans, you better believe that,” said McGregor.

“If a 155 fight came up I will take it. I’m only gone 26, I’m not going to be making featherweight my whole career, it’s a tough cut. I do it and I do it professionally, but it’s tough.”

McGregor hopes to challenge for the featherweight title early in 2015, making his first defense at Dublin’s 52,000 seat Aviva Stadium later in the year.

“It’s going to be in the summer. I’ll win the belt, possibly in January or February in [Las Vegas] and then I’ll defend it in the Aviva in June or July. It’s definitely in the Aviva next summer.”

Luckily for McGregor, his schedule might jive pretty well with Aldo’s, should the champ retain his title against Mendes. Aldo hasn’t fought more than twice in a calendar year since 2009, but he does maintain a fairly predictable rotation of fighting once in fall and again in late winter.

Aldo most recently defended his title Feb. 1 at UFC 169, scoring a unanimous decision over Ricardo Lamas in Newark, New Jersey. In February 2013, Aldo out-pointed Frankie Edgar at UFC 156 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Star-divide

5 MUST-READ STORIES

Korean Zombie goes to war. Chan Sung Jung is expected to be sidelined from mixed martial arts for the next two years to fulfill his mandatory military service required of South Korean male citizens.

Business. Dave Meltzer explains how the UFC is surviving a tough 2014 that has seen Pay-Per-View numbers take a major hit.

‘Everybody loses.’ Vitor Belfort believes the UFC should create an interim title when champions are forced to withdraw from bouts due to injury. ‘In this type of situation, everybody loses – the fans, who want to see an incredible fight, the other athlete, who trains hard for a fight, the promoters and sponsors, who want to make it all happen.’

Then Who? Urijah Faber says a fight with Raphael Assuncao ‘isn’t that exciting to me.’

No strap, no scrap? American Top Team head coach Ricardo Liborio believes matches between his top welterweights are an inevitability. ‘Two American Top Team fighters fighting for a title? It means we’re doing something right here. It’s an individual sport and everybody wants the same thing.’

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MEDIA STEW

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Free Fight: Jose Aldo vs. Chan Sung Jung.

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Highlights from K-1 World MAX 2014 Final.

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Ronda Rousey doing a photo shoot in Brazil.

RR by random_sports

(via MMA Mania)

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Highlights from RFA 19.

Star-divide

It’s not Japanese, but it’ll do. UFC 179 promo.

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Rampage Jackson on the Late Late Show.

Star-divide

Welp, he’s 240 pounds and can tackle and punch.

Star-divide

Long watches.

BEATDOWN: EDDIE BRAVO, ‘MAYHEM’ MILLER DISCUSSION

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TWEETS

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Brutal.

@danawhite @ufc I’ll promise I’ll be back stronger, I apologize and thank you so much. I really appreciate it.

— Chan Sung Jung (@KoreanZombieMMA) October 14, 2014

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Sound good?

@mmaroundtable @JuryJJ @FuryJury @Cowboycerrone yes

Dana White (@danawhite) October 13, 2014

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FYI.

My first podcast will be on Wednesday will guest @arielhelwani . http://t.co/O8DwYncpvG YOU’RE WELCOME.

— chael sonnen (@sonnench) October 13, 2014

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Reunited.

Oooh look whose in LA helping out. My man @mattmitrione…trouble! pic.twitter.com/easrv6bPjp

Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) October 13, 2014

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The Best all time !!! Pretty soon the big events are going to bring back the glamor and respect the events novamete! Already have’ll have amazing news guys will love !! The monopoly is coming to an end !!!!

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The Best all time!!! Logo logo os grandes eventos estaram de volta vamos trazer o glamour e o respeito novamete aos eventos! Já já vou ter novidades incríveis vcs vai adorar!! O monopolio esta chegando ao fim !!!!

View on Instagram

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Cool.

Had a great talk at @_y7f_ Sac County Juvenile Hall. Kids were super cool! Gonna bring @teamalphamalehttp://t.co/Zf46PqgO95

— Urijah Faber (@UrijahFaber) October 14, 2014

Giving away a signed UFC ps4 game, just donate at least a dollar to @JustinTheViking ‘s fight for the forgotten and your name is entered.

Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) October 14, 2014

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Reebok-ish, no?

Working on prototype’s for the new shoe!! #ComingSoon @Dethrone Stay Ready!!! pic.twitter.com/b2vh9Qwz31

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 13, 2014

Star-divide

Incredible.

Breakfast of champions 😉 http://t.co/qfLtTTseLr pic.twitter.com/NGO15q4WnQ

Gunnar Nelson (@GunniNelson) October 13, 2014

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (Oct. 13 2014)

NA

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FANPOST OF THE DAY

Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via evildregs.

Wildlife Management 101 for Dan Hardy

I apologize because this isn’t exactly MMA related. But there seems to be significant discussion here since Dan Hardy called Matt Hughes a piece of s–t after Hughes’ hunting show was announced.

Here are the options as I see them for managing wildlife:

1A – Confinement – Humans and animals keep to their own areas. As prey flourishes their food dwindles and the population becomes unhealthy. As predators flourish they over-kill prey. As the predators die out the prey flourishes and the whole thing cycles.

1B – None – Animals and humans encroach on each others land. People are killed by animals. Animals are killed by people to protect themselves, crops, and livestock.

2 – Management – Hunting is permitted and regulated to keep predators and prey in relative balance, and overall numbers in check. Some get enjoyment from hunting. Local economies get money from taxes, travel, lodging, food service, tourism, etc.

Check out the rest of the post here.

Star-divide

Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.

UFC featherweight Conor McGregor doesn’t mind talking a big game.

He’s been talking since he joined the UFC in 2013, but it wasn’t until he put Dustin Poirier away at UFC 178 that people started listening.

“If you do what you say you’re going to do, look what happens? I’ve skipped the queue and now I’m the world title contender, I’m number one contender,” McGregor told Severe MMA. “My next fight is most likely going to be for the title. After that there will be no catching me.”

McGregor will be cageside for featherweight champion Jose Aldo’s title defense to Chad Mendes Oct. 25 at UFC 179 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but his crystal ball is already conjuring visions of the Emerald Isle.

“I’ll win the belt, maybe I’ll defend it in the Aviva and then I’ll challenge for the lightweight belt, then who knows? That’s definitely in my plans, you better believe that,” said McGregor.

“If a 155 fight came up I will take it. I’m only gone 26, I’m not going to be making featherweight my whole career, it’s a tough cut. I do it and I do it professionally, but it’s tough.”

McGregor hopes to challenge for the featherweight title early in 2015, making his first defense at Dublin’s 52,000 seat Aviva Stadium later in the year.

“It’s going to be in the summer. I’ll win the belt, possibly in January or February in [Las Vegas] and then I’ll defend it in the Aviva in June or July. It’s definitely in the Aviva next summer.”

Luckily for McGregor, his schedule might jive pretty well with Aldo’s, should the champ retain his title against Mendes. Aldo hasn’t fought more than twice in a calendar year since 2009, but he does maintain a fairly predictable rotation of fighting once in fall and again in late winter.

Aldo most recently defended his title Feb. 1 at UFC 169, scoring a unanimous decision over Ricardo Lamas in Newark, New Jersey. In February 2013, Aldo out-pointed Frankie Edgar at UFC 156 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Star-divide

5 MUST-READ STORIES

Korean Zombie goes to war. Chan Sung Jung is expected to be sidelined from mixed martial arts for the next two years to fulfill his mandatory military service required of South Korean male citizens.

Business. Dave Meltzer explains how the UFC is surviving a tough 2014 that has seen Pay-Per-View numbers take a major hit.

‘Everybody loses.’ Vitor Belfort believes the UFC should create an interim title when champions are forced to withdraw from bouts due to injury. ‘In this type of situation, everybody loses – the fans, who want to see an incredible fight, the other athlete, who trains hard for a fight, the promoters and sponsors, who want to make it all happen.’

Then Who? Urijah Faber says a fight with Raphael Assuncao ‘isn’t that exciting to me.’

No strap, no scrap? American Top Team head coach Ricardo Liborio believes matches between his top welterweights are an inevitability. ‘Two American Top Team fighters fighting for a title? It means we’re doing something right here. It’s an individual sport and everybody wants the same thing.’

Star-divide

MEDIA STEW

Star-divide

Free Fight: Jose Aldo vs. Chan Sung Jung.

Star-divide

Highlights from K-1 World MAX 2014 Final.

Star-divide

Ronda Rousey doing a photo shoot in Brazil.


RR by random_sports

(via MMA Mania)

Star-divide

Highlights from RFA 19.

Star-divide

It’s not Japanese, but it’ll do. UFC 179 promo.

Star-divide

Rampage Jackson on the Late Late Show.

Star-divide

Welp, he’s 240 pounds and can tackle and punch.

Star-divide

Long watches.

BEATDOWN: EDDIE BRAVO, ‘MAYHEM’ MILLER DISCUSSION

Star-divide

TWEETS

Star-divide

Brutal.

Star-divide

Sound good?

Star-divide

FYI.

Star-divide

Reunited.

Star-divide

The Best all time !!! Pretty soon the big events are going to bring back the glamor and respect the events novamete! Already have’ll have amazing news guys will love !! The monopoly is coming to an end !!!!

Loading

The Best all time!!! Logo logo os grandes eventos estaram de volta vamos trazer o glamour e o respeito novamete aos eventos! Já já vou ter novidades incríveis vcs vai adorar!! O monopolio esta chegando ao fim !!!!

View on Instagram

Star-divide

Cool.

Star-divide

Reebok-ish, no?

Star-divide

Incredible.

Star-divide

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (Oct. 13 2014)

NA

Star-divide

FANPOST OF THE DAY

Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via evildregs.

Wildlife Management 101 for Dan Hardy

I apologize because this isn’t exactly MMA related. But there seems to be significant discussion here since Dan Hardy called Matt Hughes a piece of s–t after Hughes’ hunting show was announced.

Here are the options as I see them for managing wildlife:

1A – Confinement – Humans and animals keep to their own areas. As prey flourishes their food dwindles and the population becomes unhealthy. As predators flourish they over-kill prey. As the predators die out the prey flourishes and the whole thing cycles.

1B – None – Animals and humans encroach on each others land. People are killed by animals. Animals are killed by people to protect themselves, crops, and livestock.

2 – Management – Hunting is permitted and regulated to keep predators and prey in relative balance, and overall numbers in check. Some get enjoyment from hunting. Local economies get money from taxes, travel, lodging, food service, tourism, etc.

Check out the rest of the post here.

Star-divide

Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.