[autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag]’s plan of waiting for another title shot will likely have to change if he wants a swift return.
The new UFC 249 main event between [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] and [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] will crown a new interim lightweight champion, meaning the UFC’s 155-pound title will likely be unified in a bout with current champion Khabib Nurmagomedov by the end of the year.
So where does that leave McGregor?
Speaking to ESPN, UFC president Dana White said it’s hard to gauge what happens next with McGregor (22-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC), who’s been eager to avenge his loss to Nurmagomedov.
“This impacts everybody,” White said. “There’s three (events) that have already been postponed that we’re going to work out over the next several weeks, and I don’t know where this puts anybody, because Conor really wants that rematch with Khabib, while Khabib and Tony or Gaethje won’t fight now until probably September. So yeah, nobody saw this coming. This is one of those things you can’t predict, or see coming, but it happened, and we’re rolling with it and we’re gonna get it figured out.”
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Nurmagomedov was forced out of the UFC 249 main event after finding himself stranded back home in Dagestan. With Ramadan approaching at the end of April, “The Eagle’s” projected return is likely to be around September.
McGregor made a statement in his return to action when he finished Donald Cerrone in just 40 seconds at UFC 246. There were rumors linking McGregor to a summer matchup with Gaethje, but with Gaethje now stepping in to challenge for the interim title, McGregor’s route back to the gold may have just gotten a little longer.
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