CONOR McGREGOR HAS dismissed speculation linking him with a hiatus from competing in 2017.
However, the Irish mixed martial arts star is remaining tight-lipped over what his next move might be after he bids to become the first fighter in history to hold two UFC belts at the same time.
A recent media report claimed that the reigning UFC featherweight champion is planning to take a year out after he takes on lightweight title-holder Eddie Alvarez next weekend at UFC 205 in New York. McGregor has also admitted that he has a big announcement to make once his clash with Alvarez at Madison Square Garden is out of the way.
“I don’t know whether you can take time off with this life. I just stay working, stay creating history, stay changing the game. That’s what I’ve been doing since day one,” McGregor said from New York last night via a UFC media conference call.
Advertisement
He added later: “There’s a lot of avenues I can take, there’s a lot of paths I can head down. But again, I must focus on this [fight]. This is the main thing for me and my life — that second world title, to hold two UFC world titles consecutively, do what’s never been done before. Then we’ll see what path presents itself at the final hurdle. Then we’ll go from there.”
McGregor’s bout against Alvarez on Saturday week will mark his first visit to the UFC’s 155lbs division. UFC president Dana White has insisted that if McGregor takes the lightweight belt from Alvarez, he’ll be forced to vacate one of the two titles. This fight will be McGregor’s third outside of the division where he is already the reigning champion.
But the 28-year-old doesn’t appear to have any intention of letting go of what he’s earned, insisting that he may not be finished with the featherweight division just yet in spite of the difficult weight-cut that’s required to get down to 145lbs.
McGregor defeated Jose Aldo to become the UFC's featherweight champion last December. AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
“Vacate? I don’t know, we’ll see about that,” McGregor said. “Why not defend them both? I fight every week. I only fought last week. I can defend them both.”
McGregor, who knocked out Jose Aldo in just 13 seconds to win the featherweight title at UFC 194, added: “Obviously it’s tougher to get to featherweight but I think it’s crazy the way they say I can’t get to featherweight no more — like I’m not the undisputed champion, like I haven’t gone in there and taken out that whole division as early as last year. December last year that was. It’s not even a year ago.
“And then they’re talking about stripping and vacating and all this type of stuff. It’s like, ‘Hang on a minute, what did I just go and do there? Did I not just take out that division? Am I not that champion?’
“Wherever I sign, I’m going to fight. You best believe I’m going to show up and be prepared. At 145 [pounds] I’m the world champion. I took out them all. I’m damn good at 145 and I’m even better at 155, so wherever.”
McGregor’s fight against Alvarez will be his 10th in the UFC and the 24th overall in a professional career that began in 2008. Nevertheless, the divisive Dubliner says his appetite for the sport is as strong as it’s ever been.
“Of course I love it. It’s all I do. I don’t do nothing else. I continue to show up, I continue to fight, I continue to put on these amazing events for the amazing fans of this sport. Of course I love what I do. Not only am I not getting tired at it, I’m actually getting better at it.”
'There's a lot of avenues I can take, there's a lot of paths I can head down'
CONOR McGREGOR HAS dismissed speculation linking him with a hiatus from competing in 2017.
However, the Irish mixed martial arts star is remaining tight-lipped over what his next move might be after he bids to become the first fighter in history to hold two UFC belts at the same time.
A recent media report claimed that the reigning UFC featherweight champion is planning to take a year out after he takes on lightweight title-holder Eddie Alvarez next weekend at UFC 205 in New York. McGregor has also admitted that he has a big announcement to make once his clash with Alvarez at Madison Square Garden is out of the way.
“I don’t know whether you can take time off with this life. I just stay working, stay creating history, stay changing the game. That’s what I’ve been doing since day one,” McGregor said from New York last night via a UFC media conference call.
He added later: “There’s a lot of avenues I can take, there’s a lot of paths I can head down. But again, I must focus on this [fight]. This is the main thing for me and my life — that second world title, to hold two UFC world titles consecutively, do what’s never been done before. Then we’ll see what path presents itself at the final hurdle. Then we’ll go from there.”
McGregor’s bout against Alvarez on Saturday week will mark his first visit to the UFC’s 155lbs division. UFC president Dana White has insisted that if McGregor takes the lightweight belt from Alvarez, he’ll be forced to vacate one of the two titles. This fight will be McGregor’s third outside of the division where he is already the reigning champion.
But the 28-year-old doesn’t appear to have any intention of letting go of what he’s earned, insisting that he may not be finished with the featherweight division just yet in spite of the difficult weight-cut that’s required to get down to 145lbs.
“Vacate? I don’t know, we’ll see about that,” McGregor said. “Why not defend them both? I fight every week. I only fought last week. I can defend them both.”
McGregor, who knocked out Jose Aldo in just 13 seconds to win the featherweight title at UFC 194, added: “Obviously it’s tougher to get to featherweight but I think it’s crazy the way they say I can’t get to featherweight no more — like I’m not the undisputed champion, like I haven’t gone in there and taken out that whole division as early as last year. December last year that was. It’s not even a year ago.
“And then they’re talking about stripping and vacating and all this type of stuff. It’s like, ‘Hang on a minute, what did I just go and do there? Did I not just take out that division? Am I not that champion?’
“Wherever I sign, I’m going to fight. You best believe I’m going to show up and be prepared. At 145 [pounds] I’m the world champion. I took out them all. I’m damn good at 145 and I’m even better at 155, so wherever.”
McGregor’s fight against Alvarez will be his 10th in the UFC and the 24th overall in a professional career that began in 2008. Nevertheless, the divisive Dubliner says his appetite for the sport is as strong as it’s ever been.
“Of course I love it. It’s all I do. I don’t do nothing else. I continue to show up, I continue to fight, I continue to put on these amazing events for the amazing fans of this sport. Of course I love what I do. Not only am I not getting tired at it, I’m actually getting better at it.”
Fired-up McGregor promises to punish Alvarez for ‘easier fight’ claims
Gallagher vows to elevate Bellator to the same level as the UFC in Ireland
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Conor McGregor Eddie Alvarez Future Index MMA UFC ufc 205