UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor may do the unfathomable and jump up two weight classes to challenge for the welterweight title, leap-frogging all current division contenders in the process.
Hey, it could happen.
That’s according to Matt Brown, who claims a win for “Notorious” against Nate Diaz at this weekend’s (Sat., March 5, 2016) UFC 196 pay-per-view (PPV) event could very well make that mind-boggling fantasy become a reality.
In fact, as “The Immortal” stated on The Great MMA Debate Podcast, it would make more sense to give Conor a shot at the 170-pound title with a victory, than it would if it was given to Tyron Woodley, the No. 3 ranked fighter in the division.
He makes his case via FOX Sports:
“I can understand them giving it to Conor. He’s the money man. That makes sense. (Tyron) Woodley, he shouldn’t even be getting a title shot. This guy, he beat Kelvin Gastelum and he didn’t even beat Carlos Condit. His last fight was Gastelum. That’s a fucking joke. He’s just a business man. Just trying to play the business and not actually fight and earn it like other people are. If Conor beats Nate, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to fight for whatever title he wants. He’s the money man.”
To further explain his stance, Brown compared Conor to Floyd Mayweather Jr., saying that just like the pound-for-pound best boxer in the world, McGregor is the money fight everyone wants, current champions included.
“I wish that it wasn’t the truth. Floyd (Mayweather) could go fight any weight he wants and fight any guy he wants and Conor’s in the same boat. That’s where the money is. There’s no reason not to give him the money fights. I guarantee (Robbie) Lawler would rather fight Conor and break out the red panties.”
Everyone’s entitled to their opinion, I suppose.
Still, I find it very difficult to believe that UFC officials would go as far as awarding the Irishman a shot at the 170-pound strap with a win over a lightweight who took the fight on less than two weeks notice, upsetting the entire division in the process.
In other words, it ain’t happening, captain.