THERE’S LIKELY TO be quite a few disgruntled fighters if Conor McGregor skips the long queue for a shot at UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler.
However, Matt Brown won’t be one of them. According to the seventh-ranked 170lbs fighter in the UFC, McGregor has earned the right to call the shots.
Recent speculation suggests that the Irish superstar — who fights Nate Diaz at 170lbs in Las Vegas on Saturday night — could be in line to challenge Lawler at UFC 200 on 9 July.
McGregor expressed his interest in doing so at last night’s UFC 196 open workouts at the MGM Grand: “Yeah, that [welterweight title fight ] is there. I mean, why not? That’s probably the leading option,” he said, when quizzed about his next move after facing Diaz.
Advertisement
McGregor, the reigning featherweight champion, was already catapulted straight into a lightweight title shot without ever competing in that division in the UFC. Should the same happen at welterweight, he’ll overtake top contenders such as Stephen Thompson and Tyron Woodley, as well as Rory MacDonald and Carlos Condit, who are both angling for a rematch with Lawler.
Matt Brown — who’s set to take on Demian Maia at UFC 198 on 14 May — rebounded from defeats to Lawler and Johny Hendricks with a first-round stoppage of Tim Means in his most recent outing. However, the 35-year-old is still a win or two away from being back in title contention
Nevertheless, Brown told the Great MMA Debate podcast that if McGregor overtakes the chasing pack to move to the head of the championship queue, he won’t have a problem.
“I can understand them giving it to Conor,” Brown said. “He’s the money man. If Conor beats Nate, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to fight for whatever title he wants. He’s the money man.”
UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor. Raymond Spencer / INPHO
Raymond Spencer / INPHO / INPHO
Money talks in the UFC and although Brown doesn’t entirely agree with that approach — “I wish that it wasn’t the truth” — he admits to understanding the logic, comparing McGregor to dominant former world boxing champion Floyd Mayweather.
He said: “Floyd [Mayweather] could go fight any weight he wants and fight any guy he wants and Conor’s in the same boat. That’s where the money is.”
Brown added that Robbie Lawler is probably equally as keen on the sizeable cheque that accompanies a bout against McGregor — or ‘red panty night’, as the Dubliner likes to call it.
“There’s no reason not to give him the money fights,” said Brown. “I guarantee [Robbie] Lawler would rather fight Conor and break out the red panties.”
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
McGregor skipping the queue at welterweight? He deserves to, says contender Matt Brown
THERE’S LIKELY TO be quite a few disgruntled fighters if Conor McGregor skips the long queue for a shot at UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler.
However, Matt Brown won’t be one of them. According to the seventh-ranked 170lbs fighter in the UFC, McGregor has earned the right to call the shots.
Recent speculation suggests that the Irish superstar — who fights Nate Diaz at 170lbs in Las Vegas on Saturday night — could be in line to challenge Lawler at UFC 200 on 9 July.
McGregor expressed his interest in doing so at last night’s UFC 196 open workouts at the MGM Grand: “Yeah, that [welterweight title fight ] is there. I mean, why not? That’s probably the leading option,” he said, when quizzed about his next move after facing Diaz.
McGregor, the reigning featherweight champion, was already catapulted straight into a lightweight title shot without ever competing in that division in the UFC. Should the same happen at welterweight, he’ll overtake top contenders such as Stephen Thompson and Tyron Woodley, as well as Rory MacDonald and Carlos Condit, who are both angling for a rematch with Lawler.
Matt Brown — who’s set to take on Demian Maia at UFC 198 on 14 May — rebounded from defeats to Lawler and Johny Hendricks with a first-round stoppage of Tim Means in his most recent outing. However, the 35-year-old is still a win or two away from being back in title contention
Nevertheless, Brown told the Great MMA Debate podcast that if McGregor overtakes the chasing pack to move to the head of the championship queue, he won’t have a problem.
“I can understand them giving it to Conor,” Brown said. “He’s the money man. If Conor beats Nate, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to fight for whatever title he wants. He’s the money man.”
Money talks in the UFC and although Brown doesn’t entirely agree with that approach — “I wish that it wasn’t the truth” — he admits to understanding the logic, comparing McGregor to dominant former world boxing champion Floyd Mayweather.
He said: “Floyd [Mayweather] could go fight any weight he wants and fight any guy he wants and Conor’s in the same boat. That’s where the money is.”
Brown added that Robbie Lawler is probably equally as keen on the sizeable cheque that accompanies a bout against McGregor — or ‘red panty night’, as the Dubliner likes to call it.
“There’s no reason not to give him the money fights,” said Brown. “I guarantee [Robbie] Lawler would rather fight Conor and break out the red panties.”
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
Saturday could spell the beginning of the end for Conor McGregor’s time as a featherweight
‘I would beat Robbie… That’s probably the leading option’ – McGregor keen on 170lbs title next
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Conor McGregor mixed martial arts MMA Nate Diaz Red panty night UFC UFC 196 Ultimate Fighting Championship