Add lightweight to the list of things Conor McGregor wants to conquer before his time in the fight game is up.
We all know that the outspoken featherweight has goals of becoming UFC champion and selling out stadiums in Ireland for the UFC, but he also has goals of competing up in weight.
Speaking to reporters at Thursday’s open workouts (video via Severe MMA), McGregor made his intentions clear that he plans on reigning over two weight divisions, saying:
“The goal at the end of the day is world titles. I came into this promotion as a two-weight world champion. I vacated the belts when I signed with the UFC, and I am in the process of regaining them again.”
UFC President Dana White has already said that the McGregor will get a shot at the UFC featherweight title with a win over Siver on Sunday night, with Croke Park Stadium in Ireland being a possible venue.
The sky seems to be the limit for the charismatic Irishman, and he wants to add his name to perhaps the most elite of lists in the sport as a two-division UFC champion.
McGregor did come into the UFC holding both the Cage Warriors featherweight and lightweight titles, but thus far in UFC history, only two men, Randy Couture and B.J. Penn, have held titles in more than one weight class.
A year ago, White was greenlighting the idea of featherweight champion Jose Aldo dropping the title and moving up to lightweight to challenge Anthony Pettis, after a superfight between the two had been tossed around at either weight.
If McGregor were to become champion and defend the title, it’s likely he wouldn’t get any pushback from the UFC boss if he were to decide to shine some of his emerald spotlight on the 155-pound weight class.
Thus far, the reality hasn’t much strayed from the rhetoric, and McGregor has been backing up everything he’s been saying. With big tasks in front of him, McGregor seems to only find bigger ones to place in his path, saying at the open workout:
“I am a young man, and I am not small for the lightweight division. I definitely have my eyes on that lightweight division in the future 100 percent.”
There are still plenty of potential matchups for McGregor at 145 pounds, especially considering he has yet to face anyone with serious wrestling credentials. But if he continues on his current trajectory, his visions of a run at lightweight might just come to fruition.
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