MMA
Conor McGregor says he's not willing to wait for lightweight title shot
Right after Conor McGregor torched Donald Cerrone in 40 seconds at UFC 246 on Saturday night, talk immediately shifted to who he'd fight next.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. took to his Instagram to say he wanted a rematch from their record-setting bout in August 2017. There's been chatter about a possible Manny Pacquaio fight. BMF champion Jorge Masvidal and welterweight champion Kamaru Usman were in the T-Mobile Arena to watch McGregor as well, with each fighter interested in a bout with McGregor.
During his UFC 246 post-fight presser, UFC president Dana White said he preferred that McGregor go back to lightweight and take on the winner of the title bout at UFC 249 on April 18 between champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson. McGregor spoke at the dais not too long after White.
The 31-year-old had said during the buildup to UFC 246 that he doesn't feel Nurmagomedov-Ferguson will make it to the finish line for the fifth time and that he intends to stay in shape and be ready in case. If the highly-anticipated fight actually does happen, McGregor isn't going to wait for the winner. He wants to compete.
"I don’t think the who matters," McGregor said. "The lightweight title will be there. That will be there. You see the difference in the physique, the preparation. That will come back around, that shot. I’m certainly not going to if this fight does go ahead, sit out and wait and then wait through holidays, injuries and all this type of thing that goes with it."
On his way to becoming a former two-division world champion, McGregor always was keenly focused on who he'd face next, whether it was Jose Aldo when he held the featherweight title or Eddie Alvarez for the lightweight belt.
To McGregor, it's about the dates marked on the calendar and opponents second. McGregor said he's going to take Sunday off and spend time with his two children. Then on Monday, it's back to training and a possible meeting on Tuesday that will give him a better picture of when he'll return to the Octagon.
"The who doesn’t matter for me now," McGregor said. "I’m looking at dates now. I know March was there. I’m going to have a look at a calendar and see where we’re at. Lorenzo (Fertitta, former co-owner of the UFC) gets back in from Panama on Tuesday, so we will toast a fine Irish whiskey (lifts up the cup of his whiskey Proper No. Twelve) with Lorenzo. I always look to do that tradition (and) talking with Dana, so he gets back here on Tuesday to Vegas. I’ll stay here and I’ll go for dinner and a toast with Lorenzo and Dana. I’m sure we’ll chat about it then and see what’s what. I’ll be ready."
