Conor McGregor says Jose Aldo should be stripped of belt, wants spot on Dublin card

Conor McGregor

Sure, he’s got one heck of a challenge ahead of him first, but if all goes to plan, Irishman Conor McGregor could be fighting in his home country later this year.

Earlier today, the UFC announced an Oct. 24 show at 3Arena in Dublin, likely to be UFC Fight Night 77. Although it’s expected to be one of the organization’s smaller UFC Fight Pass-streamed events, McGregor wants a spot on the lineup.

Up first, though, is next week’s interim title fight. With featherweight champion Jose Aldo (25-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) recently forced off the card with a rib injury, McGregor (17-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC) meets replacement Chad Mendes (17-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) for an interim belt at UFC 189, which takes place July 11 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena and airs on pay-per-view.

However, McGregor said his upcoming title shot should be for the primary belt and that Aldo should be stripped of it.

Jose Aldo

“I don’t know whether he’ll be back,” McGregor said today during a UFC 189 media call. “Like I said, he’s gone running, and I don’t think he’ll be back.

“If a man pussies out, and he’s pussied out time and time again, (then he should be stripped). He’s pulled out of contests time and time again. I mean, the medical reports state he is fit to fight, so there’s no more questions. If you’re fit to fight and you’re not going to fight, the belt rightfully should be stripped, and this (should be) for the regular featherweight belt.”

As for plans after UFC 189? McGregor said he recently spoke to UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Feritta. Originally, the UFC had hoped the fall show in Dublin would be at a major stadium, not a smaller arena.

“He wants me on a bigger one,” McGregor said. “But I’m saying, you don’t have a show in my hometown and not have me on it. Most certainly I want to be on that card, so we will see which way it plays out.”

Unfortunately for McGregor, who could help UFC 189 be one of the bigger PPV shows of the year, he’s unlikely to be fighting on UFC Fight Pass cards, especially if he wins the interim belt and sets up a potential title-unification bout with Aldo later this year.

However, if he comes up short against Mendes, perhaps a rebound fight in a UFC Fight Pass headliner would make more sense, though it remains a long shot.

For more on UFC Fight Night 77 and UFC 189, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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