Home

UFC

UFC Superstar Conor McGregor Rules Out a Return to the Lightweight Division, Shares the Reason Behind It

Published 03/20/2022, 2:11 AM EDT

Follow Us

via Getty

For many MMA and UFC fans, Conor McGregor is the face of the sport. The charisma that he carries often leaves a lasting impact on the audience. Hence, his absence from the octagon because of a gruesome leg injury has left many in dismay.

Even while he has been away from action, he hasn’t let the MMA world forget about him; ‘The Notorious’ has provided fans with regular updates about his recovery. As his return is looming large, people are speculating about his potential opponents.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Given that the fighter is at lightweight, fans are pondering over big names like Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier, and Islam Makhachev. However, McGregor put these rumors to rest in his latest interview.

He said, “It’s about finding out which weight now you know I just don’t really see myself going back to 155 [pounds] again. I mean, I’m eating, I’m lifting, I’m training and I’m not cutting calories. So you know, this is my natural state. I can go even bigger, you know what I’m saying.”

Instead, The Notorious’ showed the desire to go up to welterweight.

He added, “I might be only 170 [pounds], I don’t wanna go too much above 170… I’ve always had a great time when I’ve had a full camp at 170 with correct preparation, the [Nate] Diaz-2 rematch, and the Cowboy [Donald Cerrone] fight in particular.”

Conor McGregor wants to make his comeback against Kamaru Usman

Conor McGregor revealed that he wants to make his UFC return against UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. ‘The Notorious’, who described why he thinks he can defeat the top-ranked UFC pound-for-pound fighter, believes ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ is no danger for him.

The striker even called Usman a “jab happy, sloppy, orthodox wrestler.”

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest UFC stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

via Imago

The former featherweight and lightweight champion is prepared for this fight if it indeed happens, as he wants to become the first fighter in UFC history to win the title in three different weight categories.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

However, Usman, who can hold his own in a standup game, is a proficient grappler. Hence, he can present McGregor with a tough challenge as ‘The Notorious’ doesn’t like his fights to go to the ground.

If this matchup goes through, MMA fans are in for a slugfest. However, the final call depends on UFC president Dana White. When asked about it, White called the idea “interesting.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

WATCH THIS STORY: Top potential opponents for Conor McGregor’s UFC comeback

What do you think about Conor McGregor’s desire to switch divisions? Let us know in the comments.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Utkarsh Gathani

150Articles

One take at a time

Utkarsh Gathani is a UFC writer at EssentiallySports. A Mass Communication graduate from Wilson College, this sports buff, who is captivated by multiple sports, adores MMA. Conor McGregor is the reason for that as Utkarsh is in awe of the man's unbelievable striking ability, his lifestyle, and his trash talking.
Show More>

Edited by:

Reubyn Coutinho