Getty Conor McGregor is interviewed by UFC's Joe Rogan during a ceremonial weigh-in for UFC 246 at Park Theater at Park MGM on January 17, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The party is only starting, according to former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor. The Irishman was active on social media Tuesday morning sharing multiple thoughts.
“Notorious,” who last fought in January against Donald Cerrone at UFC 246, is sitting at No. 4 in the promotion’s official lightweight rankings. The Irishman is also ranked on the male pound-for-pound list at 11, something he pointed to on Twitter Tuesday morning, writing, “Yes! Double 1 on the pound for pound list! Awesome! #ChampChamp.”
He followed up that tweet by posting a doctored picture on Instagram of himself on a jet ski lurking in the background of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje’s UFC 254 pre-fight press conference. The photo was changed to have both fighters wearing a Proper No. 12 Whiskey t-shirt, McGregor’s famous whiskey. Gaethje is also holding a bottle of whiskey and there are bottles all throughout the beach.
In the caption, Notorious wrote, “Party’s only startin, kid.”
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Notorious Is Seemingly Preparing for a Fight With Dustin Poirier for January 2021
A few weeks back, McGregor publicly accepted a fight with No. 2 ranked lightweight Dustin Poirier. Since then, the Irishman has shared photos and videos of himself training, seemingly preparing for “The Diamond.” The two have been linked to a bout on January 23, 2021. McGregor also hopes to have the fight at the AT&T Stadium, formerly known as Cowboys Stadium, in Arlington, Texas.
On October 14, Notorious tweeted, “I accept, Jan 23rd is on! My goal is to see this fight take place in Cowboy stadium. Proper Style! Jerry Jones is a friend and the stadium can hold our crowd. I will be ready for Texas and Texas will be ready for my fans! Then Manny.”
With Nurmagomedov retiring on Saturday, the lightweight championship will be up for grabs soon and the UFC could decide to make McGregor vs. Poirier for the strap. Notorious has also shown interest in boxing Manny Pacquiao after fighting The Diamond.
McGregor seems motivated to get back to competing after only fighting once in over two years. On Monday, Notorious shared of photo of himself training with the caption, “Half a billi still committed. #Trenches #NeverStop #FightingIrish.”
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The UFC Lightweight Division Became Wide-Open After Nurmagomedov Announced His Retirement
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Nurmagomedov shocked the MMA community on Saturday after he defeated then-interim champion Justin Gaethje. “The Eagle” only needed two rounds to take out a fighter who many billed as the Russian’s biggest test. He submitted Gaethje with a triangle choke.
After the UFC lightweight belt was wrapped around his waist for the fourth consecutive time, Nurmagomedov spoke with commentator Jon Anik. He revealed that he was retiring from the sport, leaving his gloves inside the Octagon and walking away from the sport with an undefeated record of 29-0.
Because The Eagle is retiring, the belt will be vacated and it’s anyone’s guess who will become the next lightweight king. Lightweight is arguably the most stacked division in the UFC with a plethora of stars and elite-level fighters.
Fighters like McGregor, Poirier, Gaethje, Tony Ferguson, Dan Hooker, Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveria could find themselves in a title fight in the next year or two, depending on the direction the UFC goes with the division.
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