CONOR McGregor is already one of the biggest stars the UFC has ever seen. Probably the biggest.
But victory tonight over Eddie Alvarez will elevate him to a level no other fighter has reached in the UFC history. It’s all part of his grand plan, hatched before he even joined the UFC.
McGregor became a two-weight world champion with European promotion Cage Warriors, capturing featherweight and lightweight belts before heading to the UFC.
And his goal from day one has always been to repeat that feat on the sport’s biggest stage – and he has that chance tonight at the Mecca of combat sports, Madison Square Garden.
If he’s successful, he’ll become the first athlete to ever hold UFC world titles in two weight classes simultaneously.
In the world’s toughest proving ground for combat athletes, it would represent a remarkable achievement.
But it would also usher in a new, even more exciting era for the Irishman as we head towards 2017.
McGregor’s career has meandered off-course since winning the UFC featherweight belt last December. Indeed, he hasn’t fought at 145lbs since that jaw-dropping 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo at UFC 194.
The Irishman has been criticised for not defending his title as he’s instead sought to progress to further heights in the sport.
Indeed, despite being a multiple-time world champion, it’s interesting to note McGregor has never actually defended a world title belt.
The narrative suggests after this weekend things will surely be different.
If he defeats Alvarez McGregor will almost certainly be asked to relinquish one of the titles – presumably the featherweight belt.
And the call for the Irishman to become a reigning, DEFENDING world champion will start to gain volume, with the lightweight division boasting arguably the most impressive collection of fighting talent in any of the UFC’s weight classes.
But McGregor doesn’t like to play things by the book. He marches to the beat of his own drum and there are two rivalries brewing that could yet cause the UFC more headaches, and frustrate his fighting rivals, in the coming months.
Despite the likes of Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov sitting in prime position for a shot at the lightweight belt, McGregor may instead turn his attentions elsewhere in pursuit of a bigger payday and more glory.
The potential for facing his old rival Nate Diaz for a third time is one that we simply can’t discount. His two contests with Diaz were among the biggest-grossing events in UFC history, and with the score currently 1-1 between the pair, a trilogy fight, potentially for the lightweight title, would seem too good an option to ignore.
And this week McGregor has clashed with defending welterweight champion Tyron Woodley.
Both men are set for action on the fight card tonight, but it seems that McGregor might already be planting a seed or two in preparation for a potential matchup further down the line.
Conor McGregor: THREE-weight world champion? That might be the next target for ‘The Notorious’ one.
Can Conor do it?
Of course he has the significant task of dethroning Alvarez first, and I believe the Philadelphia man has all the tools available to defeat McGregor and derail the Dubliner’s plans.
His wrestling in particular could prove crucial, as could his overall fighting experience and sheer gritty toughness.
But the inescapable fact here is Alvarez gets hit in his fights. A lot. He walks through his opponent’s offence to land punishing shots of his own.
It’s seen him rocked and dropped in a number of his previous fights.
And while he’s only been stopped by strikes once in his entire career, I’m not so sure he’s faced someone who hits with the power and accuracy that McGregor brings.
Alvarez may start well, using his wrestling to put McGregor on the back foot, much like Chad Mendes did in their bout at UFC 189 last summer.
But I think McGregor is at his optimum weight class, he looks in outstanding physical condition and his power will eventually come to bear as the fight starts to move into the middle rounds.
And as the Dubliner starts to land cleanly on the lightweight champ, I think he’ll have the power and the accuracy to rock, then drop, then finish the Philly man and make UFC history in the process.
Conor McGregor: Two-weight world champion? I think the dream is about to become a reality.
Strap yourselves in. This could be one for the ages.
Latest MMA stories
Leave a comment