On Saturday night at UFC 194, Conor McGregor shocked the world by knocking out featherweight champion Jose Aldo in 13 seconds. The fight was the culmination of two and a half years of hard work in the Octagon from McGregor as he fought his way to the top, always with complete conviction that he would eventually become champion.
That goal has now been achieved, so it’s time to move on to bigger and better things. McGregor wants to be the first man to hold titles in two UFC divisions concurrently. Via MMA Fighting:
“If I go up to that lightweight division, there’s no way in hell that I’m vacating my belt. That’s not happening. There will be a belt on one shoulder, and a belt on the other. I understand why, previously, other fighters wouldn’t do it. But look how many fights I’ve had in the last year. I stay busy. I stay fresh. So when I go to lightweight and take that lightweight belt, I will stay the featherweight champion also. I will be a dual weight champion. There’s no going up and vacating. The belt will still be active because I am active.”
But if he wants a shot at the lightweight belt, he’ll have to fight UFC president Dana White for the right to keep the featherweight title at the same time. White told ESPN that Conor could have an immediate lightweight title shot against the winner of next week’s Rafael Dos Anjos vs. Donald Cerrone fight, but that would result in a Frankie Edgar vs. Jose Aldo fight for the vacant featherweight title.
There’s the rub: As awesome as it would be for fight history to see someone hold two UFC belts at the same time, the UFC really doesn’t want to do it. If they let Conor McGregor try it, then there are gonna be other fighters on their roster who will demand the same thing. And the UFC is having enough trouble putting title fights on every PPV card without multiple belts on a single person.
If Conor isn’t willing to let go of the 145-pound belt, he’ll be facing Frankie Edgar next. Jose Aldo would end up the odd man out, and it’s interesting to note that no one in the UFC is talking about an immediate rematch against Conor. Well, except Aldo himself. Here’s what he told Brazilian site Combate:
“We spoke (with Dana White) right after. But I think it’s too soon to talk. Of course, I want a rematch, and I think I have this right. Not only me, but my career speaks for itself.”
It doesn’t look like he’ll be getting that any time soon. For now, the world waits on Conor McGregor to make his demands known for who he wants to fight next. If he has it his way, that goal of becoming a two-division champion may happen sooner rather than later.
