LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] has never been someone to head into something without a long-term plan, so it should come as no surprise that the ebullient Irishman is already assessing his options for a run at a title belt at 170 pounds.
McGregor is all set to face [autotag]Donald Cerrone[/autotag] in the welterweight main event of UFC 246 on Jan. 18 at T-Mobile Arena. But, as he explained to the assembled media and fans during the pre-fight press conference at the Pearl Theater at Palms Casino Resort, he is hoping to one day face off with the two current champions at 170: “BMF” belt holder [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag] and undisputed UFC champ [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag].
Masvidal defeated former McGregor rival Nate Diaz via doctor stoppage at Madison Square Garden at UFC 244 last November to capture the UFC’s “BMF” title, and although the belt was supposedly a one-off, McGregor says he’s keen on getting his hands on the rarest title in the UFC.
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“That’s an interesting one, what I’d be interested in more,” he mused. “I’d take both. I would like that ‘Bad Mother(expletive)’ title, that belt. Then I’d like the (UFC) gold. For me, the gold has a bit more significance to it. The ‘BMF’ fight finished – I thought we were robbed of a classic contest there. I thought it was only kicking into gear for rounds four and five.”
McGregor suggested that a matchup with Masvidal would capture the imagination more than a title tilt at Usman, but said he’d be keen on both fights further down the line as he bids to become a champion in a third weight class.
“The more exciting of the bouts would probably be myself vs. Jorge from a stylistic standpoint,” he offered. “Usman kind of has the similar style of Khabib with the sniff-the-jockstrap-style. I’m interested for both. We’ll see what happens. I’m at 170, I’m at the right weight. I feel good. I feel fast, accurate and precise. I feel good here.”
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