IT LOOKS LIKE Conor McGregor’s move up to the lightweight division is going to happen sooner rather than later.
On tonight’s media conference call with Jose Aldo ahead of their fight at UFC 194, McGregor said he intends to fight the winner of the upcoming UFC lightweight title bout next.
Defending champion Rafael Dos Anjos will put his title on the line against challenger Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone, in Orlando on 19 December.
McGregor will aim to become the undisputed featherweight champion when he takes on Aldo a week from Saturday in a title unification bout in Las Vegas. After that, the Irish fighter says he wants to move straight up to the 155lbs division.
“I will KO Jose Aldo and I will face the winner of the lightweight [title fight], which takes place a week after. Then I will fight for that, so within the next two fights I will be a two-weight world champion,” said McGregor.
When asked if he’ll give Aldo an opportunity to regain the featherweight belt if he’s victorious, McGregor said: ”We’ll have to see how the contest plays out. If he gives me a war and he can earn a rematch, then we’ll do a rematch. But I just don’t see him answering the bell for the second round.”
McGregor is seeking to replicate his achievements with the Cage Warriors promotion, where he won both the featherweight and lightweight titles in 2012 to secure a UFC contract.
The 27-year-old has spoken often about the difficulties of the weight-cut to 145lbs in order to compete in the featherweight division, so a move back to lightweight has long been on the agenda.
Alluding to the possibility of competing in both divisions simultaneously, McGregor added: “I’m looking to emulate what I achieved in my previous promotion and collect two belts, two different weight divisions, hold them consecutively, defend them consecutively and carry on.”
Celtic are just not clinical enough at this level. It’s an issue domestically also but they can get away with it.
The amount of chances they are creating and only having two goals to show for it are criminal.
There wasn’t much between the sides for large parts of the game but Leipzig took their chances well.
@Ciarán Rice: While I agree with you on the clinical edge side, I think it’s hard to say there wasn’t much between the sides tonight. Jota, Kyogo, and Hatate had their odd half moments.. maybe Taylor too. Likes of Nkunku and Szoboszlai tore it up tho and Simakan, who isn’t even a natural right-full, ran Celtic ragged up their left flank which was justified by his assist. Most of Celtic’s chances just fell to them when RB were sloppy coming out from the back and the press worked well.
Wasn’t up for RB either, would have happily enjoyed Celtic winning had they done so. Record away to German opposition is poor tho so I kinda knew what to expect… 14 without a win in EC/UCL history. Game in Parkhead will be interesting tho!
@Ultan Corcoran: the first half there was nothing between the sides. The stats point to that also. Pretty much 50/50 in possession and think Celtic slightly edged the amount of chances in the first.
The second half however, was poor from Celtic when McGregor went off injured. It was 1-1 at that point and still fairly balanced. Once he was subbed Celtic completely gave up the midfield.
Think you’re dismissing Celtics pressing stating that it was poor play from Leipzig at the back. Celtic deliberately forced Leipzig into the those errors. That’s the game they play. Leipzig, of course, did similar to Celtic.
By ‘dented’ you mean ‘over’?
@David Lawlor:
Why would you think they are over? Two winnable games to come at home. RM will be already through.
Not over yet as two home wins would really set it up travelling to Madrid who would already be qualified presumably, wishful thinking but could 7pts qualify them maybe, just maybe
@Noel Doherty: it’s over. They haven’t a chance of qualifying.
@Stephen Foster: I think you’ll find they still have a chance of going through. To say they have no chance proves how thick you really are.
Uphill battle from here on , it could have been a bit different if Celtic had a finisher in the team , Carter vickers was a loss also .
@Tricksy: completely agree. Losing our two centre backs it was always going to be difficult but the game was evenly matched. Then McGregor went off injured and Celtic completely lost the midfield.
As much as Kyogo is a brilliant player, he’s not a top class finisher. Giakoumakis is a brilliant finisher but isn’t as good a player as Kyogo and doesn’t really suit the system. Major issues up front.