Conor McGregor moving up to lightweight after Jose Aldo fight is 'almost set in stone'
WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- Conor McGregor might not be long for the featherweight division. Even if he beats Jose Aldo to unify the UFC featherweight title.
"I feel like it's almost set in stone -- KO Jose and KO whoever holds that lightweight belt," McGregor said Wednesday at a UFC 194 media lunch. "And within the next two fights, I will be a two-weight world champion once again. But this time within the UFC."
McGregor held both belts under the Cage Warriors banner in Cage Warriors. A lot to still has to happen for him to do the same thing on the big stage, though.
First, McGregor has to beat Aldo in the main event of UFC 194 on Dec. 12 in Las Vegas. That will be no easy task. A week after that, Rafael dos Anjos will defend his lightweight title against Donald Cerrone at UFC on FOX 17 in Orlando.
McGregor, 27, was already setting up fights with both men at the Go Big press conference back in September, especially Cerrone. The tension between the Irishman and "Cowboy" on the dais was palpable and there were some crass things said back and forth.
"I think the brass wants that," McGregor said of a Cerrone bout. "They said to me, if Cerrone wins they would do the lightweight fight. They would do the lightweight title fight. Because it wouldn't be as big with dos Anjos. But really, the fight will decide what happens. If it's a war, if it's a great fight, then all of a sudden dos Anjos' stock rises. I'm sure he's gonna call me out."
In McGregor's perfect world, he would beat Aldo and then beat the Cerrone-dos Anjos winner to hold both belts. Then, he would pick and choose whom to fight in either division as dual champion.
"I would like to go from this fight to the lightweight fight and then decide what contenders are there in the lightweight division and the featherweight division," McGregor said.
A lot of fighters have talked about winning titles in two weight classes, but it has only happened twice before. Randy Couture held the UFC belt at heavyweight and light heavyweight and B.J. Penn held the lightweight and welterweight titles. No one, though, has ever been a champion in two weight classes at the same time.
McGregor has already made history in the UFC with the financial numbers he produces. He seems to be looking for more.
"Featherweight is popping, because I'm in here popping," McGregor said. "If I go to 155, guess what? All of a sudden 155 is popping. I may bless them with some big numbers as well in the future. "