Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor recently received an invitation to train with Khamzat Chimaev and Darren Till.
The invitation came after McGregor made headlines about his intention to skip the line at welterweight and challenge 170-pound champion Kamaru Usman for his belt.
Speaking with The Mac Life’s Oscar Willis, McGregor said: “I believe that’s the fight to make. I believe myself versus Usman for the 170-pound title for my comeback fight is the one I’m eyeballing at the minute. Now, I haven’t really said that to anyone, to be honest. I’ve only been thinking that the last couple days.”
“Notorious” speaking of his desire to become the first fighter ever to earn three divisional titles sparked reactions from several UFC combatants.
Chimaev and Till have been training together in Sweden for the past few weeks, and they’ve rapidly become the MMA community’s favorite duo. Both men are big personalities in the sport, and their unexpected friendship has been very entertaining to watch.
Taking to Twitter, Chimaev shared of a photo of himself and Till, writing: “If you want to come back we will help you, we are waiting for you in our camp @TheNotoriousMMA.”
See the tweet below via the embed:
If you want to come back we will help you, we are waiting for you in our camp @TheNotoriousMMA 🥷🏼
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McGregor Said He’s Moving On From the Lightweight Division
Notorious doesn’t have plans to move back down to 155 pounds, according to his interview with Willis.
“I got myself down to a lightweight frame, McGregor continued. “But, I’m big now. I feel big, I feel strong, I feel healthy. You know, I’ve got good energy. I’m coming back after a gruesome injury.
“I don’t want to deplete myself. There’s no need to deplete myself. And I feel confident against Usman. Jab happy, sloppy, orthodox wrestler with no submissions whatsoever. What’s he going to do? Where’s the danger here? I don’t see a danger with him. His ground and pound isn’t strong. Plus, he’s on the older side.”
There’s another reason why welterweight is so enticing to McGregor. He has a dream of becoming the promotion’s first-ever fighter to earn three different divisional belts.
“The triple crown,” McGregor continued. “No one’s ever obtained three knockouts in three weight divisions moving up like I have already. But no one has ever obtained three UFC world titles across three divisions like I will do also, if we make this fight.”
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Chimaev Is Set to Fight Gilbert Burns Next Month
On Chimaev’s end, he’s also pursuing a fight with Usman. “Borz” is currently ranked No. 12 in the 170-pound division, and he’s got a date with No. 2 contender Gilbert Burns next month.
Chimaev and Burns will fight during UFC 273, which takes place on April 9, 2022, at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. Chimarev is 4-0 as a UFC combatant and if he can get past “Durinho,” he’ll line himself up for either a title shot or a No. 1 contender bout.
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Conor McGregor Pitched Partnership From Polarizing UFC Up-and-Comer