After losing at UFC 196, Conor McGregor says he wants to drop back down to featherweight to defend his belt.
Conor McGregor moved up two weight classes and faltered against the #5 ranked lightweight in Nate Diaz at UFC 196. It was a shocking upset to many, and had people reacting all over social media.
“I know there’s a lot of people celebrating this (loss) in the featherweight division,” McGregor said following the fight. “There are many people celebrating another man’s victory. It’s something that I can’t understand. How someone not involved can celebrate another man’s victory.”
After talking about taking belts at lightweight and even welterweight, McGregor says the plan after this tough loss is to now drop back down to 145 lbs and defend his title.
“At the end of the day, I am the featherweight champion. I feel it is only right to go back down and remind them of what I achieved and what I have done in that division”
“But, I am not forgetting the 155 lb division. I am not forgetting about the 170 lb division,” he said. “I think next is probably to go back down, and defend my featherweight crown.”
McGregor says he doesn’t have injuries from the contest, and still leaves the door open for that planned quick turn around at UFC 200.
“You know, I haven’t stopped in a long time. I’m not tired of it,” he said. “I still feel UFC 200 is there for me. I’m not cut, I’m simply heart broken. I’ll pick myself up and we’ll figure things out in the morning.”
McGregor cuts a serious amount of weight to make 145 lbs, but he says it is possible even if he has moved up to welterweight bout for this one.
“I weighed in 168 lbs. I didn’t make anything, I simply ate regularly. 145 is a cut. It’s intense, but I make it and I make it every time,” he said. “I think 145 will be next. I think after I defend my belt and climb myself back up, I will get my shot at that lightweight belt once again. Maybe me and Nate can do it again.”
The loss and a move back down would open up opportunities for contenders such as Jose Aldo, Frankie Edgar, or Max Holloway, and it seems like McGregor is leaning ever so slightly towards the former champ.
“It’s hard not to give Aldo another go, he was ten years undefeated, but he pulls out and doesn’t show up a lot. Frankie at least competes,” he said. “I don’t know. I’ll see who the fans want to see the most.”