Conor McGregor aims welterweight title shot
Conor McGregor is aiming for the UFC welterweight title with a victory over Michael Chandler.
Conor McGregor still has business in the lightweight, but he’s eyeing a shot at the UFC welterweight title if successful against Michael Chandler.
On a special edition of The MMA Hour, McGregor stated that he may be in attendance to watch Leon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman 3 at UFC 286. He has a vested interest in the winner.
“Yeah, I’d like [a welterweight title shot],” McGregor told Ariel Helwani. “So I would like that.”
The UFC is yet to confirm the weight class for McGregor vs. Chandler, which serves as their season-ending fight following The Ultimate Fighter 31. But McGregor sees himself as a welterweight, telling Helwani, “I’m 170.”
McGregor added his fight with Chandler could take place in Las Vegas, New York, AT&T Stadium in Dallas, or London, but he said the location has not been confirmed.
So far, McGregor has competed three times at welterweight, splitting a pair of bouts with Nate Diaz before railroading Donald Cerrone in a comeback fight in 2020. He then fell short in back-to-back lightweight fights against Dustin Poirier, losing the first by knockout and the second when he broke his leg in a trilogy match.
McGregor has on several occasions targeted now-former welterweight champ Usman, who aims to win back the belt at UFC 286 after a brutal knockout loss to Edwards this past August. UFC President Dana White didn’t shoot down the idea when it was broached this past year, but the TUFcoaching spot and fight against Chandler, who’s historically competed at lightweight, raised questions of the promotion’s plans.
McGregor is due in London this week for business at a satellite location of The Black Forge Inn, the restaurant and bar he owns, and said he may be in attendance for UFC 286, which takes place at The O2 in London.
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