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Former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor made a bold statement on social media early Saturday morning.
“Notorious” returned to action after more than a year layoff, competing at UFC 257 against Dustin Poirier on January 24. It was a rematch six years in the making with McGregor winning their first clash via first-round TKO.
The fight went entirely different than the first, however. “The Diamond” brutalized McGregor’s lead leg with calf kicks, and with his high-level boxing, put the Irishman away in the second round via TKO. Since then, both fighters have stated that they want a trilogy match and it appears that’s the direction the UFC is heading.
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s vacant lightweight title will be put up on May 15 and No. 3 Charles Oliveira and No. 4 Michael Chandler will compete for it.
But McGregor’s gaze has not left the belt. Notorious wrote, “The 155lb World Champion. Book it!” See below:
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Lightweight Title Up For Grabs at UFC 262
UFC lightweight king Khabib Nurmagomedov is officially vacating the belt and on May 15, a new champion will be crowned. At UFC 262, former multiple-time Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler will look to earn the 155-pound belt in MMA’s most prestigious promotion.
Chandler made his debut in January when he knocked out Dan Hooker in the first round of the co-main event of UFC 257. “Iron” is riding a three-fight win streak and is 6-1 in his last seven bouts. With a record of 22-5, 10 of his wins have come via (T)KO and seven by submission.
He will meet the surging Brazilian, Charles Oliveira. “Du Bronx” is fresh off the most high-profile victory of his career, defeating former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson at UFC 256. Oliveira is on an eight-fight win streak, finishing seven within the run. He has a professional MMA record of 30-8, with 8 wins via (T)KO and 19 by submission.
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McGregor & Poirier Could Potentially Fight in July, According to a Recent Report
According to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, there were talks of Notorious and The Diamond fighting their third match on May 15, but negotiations shifted to a later date. Helwani also suggested that the earliest possibility for the fight is on July 10.
“There was once a hope McGregor-Poirier 3 fight would get done for May 15 but it’s taken longer than hoped/expected so they moved on from that a while ago, sources say. Won’t happen on June 12 (Figueiredo-Moreno on that card), so latest hope is the July 10 card. We’ll see.”
It shouldn’t be a surprise to fans if the fight between McGregor and Poirier determines the next contender to fight for the lightweight title, taking on the winner of Oliveira vs. Chandler.
McGregor is the most popular fighter in the sport and Poirier, should he win, will be riding a three-fight win streak and will be 7-1 in his last eight.
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