Former two-weight UFC champion, Conor McGregor recently claimed that he would be challenging for promotional gold on his return to the sport. And off the back of Charles Oliveira’s third round standing rear-naked choke win over common-foe, Dustin Poirier on Saturday – the Dubliner appears to have sights fixed on a showdown with the Brazilian.
McGregor, who last featured in July of this year, suffered a first round doctor’s stoppage TKO loss against the aforenoted former interim champion, Poirier, fracturing his left tibia at the end of the opening frame,
Undergoing a surgical procedure to address the injury, McGregor is expected to remain sidelined until the second quarter of next year at the very earliest, however, has recently outlined plans to return to full mixed martial arts sparring by April of 2022.
Headlining UFC 269 on Saturday, Sao Paulo native, Oliveira successfully secured the first defense of his lightweight title against Poirier, submitting the Lafayette native with a slick third round standing rear-naked choke win.
Conor McGregor calls for lightweight title return against Charles Oliveira
Prior to the event, UFC president, Dana White confirmed that another former interim titleholder, Justin Gaethje, would be challenging for gold post-Poirier, off the back of a Fight of the Year contender, unanimous decision win over Michael Chandler last month at UFC 268.
However, following Oliveira’s submission win over Poirier – which McGregor wholly criticized in the immediate aftermath, the Dubliner has now called for an immediate title challenge against the most prolific finisher in Octagon antiquity in his return to the sport.
“So what date am I fighting (Charles) Oliveira?” Conor McGregor tweeted.
Along with his call for a title challenge against the Chute Boxe trainee, McGregor alluded to his past win against Oliveira’s compatriot, Jose Aldo, posting an Irish and Brazilian flag – as well as posting an image of him wearing a UFC championship belt.
While McGregor has called for an outing against Oliveira, the 33-year-old’s head coach, John Kavanagh has claimed that he would like to see his student return in a trilogy rubber match against Nate Diaz, or a long-overdue showdown with former interim champion, Tony Ferguson – before attempting a lightweight title siege.