Conor McGregor is the rising star of the featherweight division, and he is generating the heat with casual fans that is needed for a fighter to become a star.
The lighter weight classes have been missing that star power since BJ Penn left the scene.
Penn was an enigma who captivated fans ever since his debut. He began headlining shows prior to the post-TUF era. His first headlining bout in the new era of the UFC came against rival Matt Hughes, but then he dropped back to 155 pounds.
He proved that fighters under 170 pounds could draw on PPV. However, no one since has been able to replicate his success.
However, that could change with a premier featherweight tilt between McGregor and current champion Jose Aldo.
Aldo is dynamic and can be one of the most exciting fighters in the entire company. He is also a dominant champion. He is yet to draw big numbers for the UFC, but that can change. Anderson Silva was not an overnight success, either.
The current champion will get another chance to draw money with Chad Mendes at UFC 179 later in October. If victorious, McGregor should be on tap.
McGregor entered the UFC with a lot of hype, but he quickly legitimized himself and added fuel to the fire. He was a part of the inaugural Fox Sports 1 fight card, and he got the full walk-out treatment. The Irish crowd in Boston was on fire for him.
He returned to action in July, and then again in September, in two exciting performances. He defeated Diego Brandao via TKO in front of his home crowd in Dublin and then came to Vegas to stop Dustin Poirier in short order.
McGregor now has a lot of buzz behind him and a top-five spot in the UFC’s official rankings.
An Aldo-McGregor bout is exactly what the featherweight division needs. It is exactly what all the lighter weight classes need. This fight will have an extra spark to it that has the potential to launch the winner into a Penn-like position that can draw on PPV.
Other contenders like Mendes lack the “it” factor that McGregor has surrounding him. Aldo has that potential, but he needs the foil that McGregor would be to solidify him as the next Penn of smaller fighters.
Demetrious Johnson is one of the pound-for-pound best and a very likable fighter, but he fails to inspire fans to draw. Bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw has the same issues.
To date, Aldo has failed to inspire large numbers as well.
This is the perfect time for a McGregor title shot. The UFC can capitalize on his growing marketability to make a fight that gives the featherweight division a brighter future.
If the hypothetical Aldo-McGregor matchup were to launch a PPV star, the UFC and featherweight division would benefit greatly.
If that fight fails, it is hard to imagine what it would take for a fighter from a lighter weight class to become a legitimate star. This may be the UFC’s best chance.
Aldo-McGregor is the best bet the UFC has for creating a new BJ Penn. The first step is for Aldo to successfully defend his title against Mendes. If he does, the stars could align to finally give the UFC another huge name among the lighter weight classes.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com