Conor McGregor: The lightweight division needs me, I don't need the division
New UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor has plenty of options for his next fight, but he's making it clear that it will be his decision whether or not to pursue a second belt at lightweight or stick around for his first defense at featherweight instead.
McGregor is currently the most talked about fighter in all mixed martial arts following his 13-second mugging of Jose Aldo this past weekend, where he knocked out the former pound-for-pound king with one punch during their first exchange in the fight.
Following the fight, McGregor teased his next move might be challenging the winner of the FOX UFC Fight Night main event between Rafael dos Anjos and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone because the lightweight division needs a champion who can sell pay-per-views and he doesn't see either of the guys competing for the title this weekend doing the job.
"I'll keep my ear to the ground, I'll see what kind of numbers we're talking," McGregor said at the UFC 194 post-fight press conference. "It's not even a pay-per-view card so the division is struggling big time. The division needs me -- I don't need the division. So I'll play it by ear and see. I am emotionless to who comes out victorious."
Regardless of who wins this weekend and whether or not McGregor pulls the trigger on moving to lightweight, he's not planning to surrender his featherweight title no matter the outcome.
When McGregor's coach John Kavanagh mentioned McGregor moving to 155-pounds, UFC officials immediately stated that he would give up the featherweight belt in order to pursue the lightweight title instead.
McGregor promises that scenario will not happen because his goal since arriving in the UFC has been to become a two-weight class world champion while holding two titles simultaneously and no one -- not even the UFC will deprive him of that.
"I tell you one thing that won't be happening -- if I go up to that lightweight division, there's no way in hell that I'm vacating my belt," McGregor said. "That's not happening. There will be a belt on one shoulder and a belt on the other shoulder. I understand why previously they would have fighters do that because many fighters don't fight as frequently as I do.
"Tell me how many fights I've had in the past year? I'm busy. I stay active. I'm fresh. So when I go up for that lightweight belt and take that lightweight belt, I will still be the featherweight champion."
It is hard to argue with McGregor's logic considering since last September, he's fought four times, including three main events and two title fights during that stretch.
Whether or not the UFC would allow him to keep that same rigorous schedule remains to be seen, but McGregor is all about staying active, and that will give him plenty of time to hold onto two titles and defend them consecutively.
In the history of the UFC only two fighters -- B.J. Penn and Randy Couture -- have ever won titles in multiple divisions, but neither ever did it while holding two belts at the same time. McGregor wants to be the first and he doesn't think it will slow down either division while he's reigning over both.
"I wasn't considering leaving the featherweight division for good because I am the unified world champion. This is my division. I say what I do now," McGregor said. "There's a couple of contenders in the mix, let them maybe compete against each other while I go up and take the lightweight belt, allow a contender to emerge, then go back down and take out that contender and then go back up after a lightweight contender has emerged and take out that contender.
"That was what my career path I felt was taking shape. Now Frankie (Edgar) had a good win (Saturday) so he could probably climb up as an early contender already. We've some options, we've some decisions to make."
No matter what ends up being his next fight, McGregor promises at one point or another he will capture the lightweight title while also holding the featherweight title. Considering his success rate for prognostication since coming to the UFC, it's hard to argue with McGregor's predictions for the future.
"Most certainly I am looking to replicate what I have achieved in my previous promotion in a two-weight world champion. Held both belts consecutively," McGregor said.
"I said I would do it and I will do it."
