Conor McGregor vs. Dennis Siver targeted for Jan. 18 UFC event in Boston

Conor McGregor may not get an immediate title shot, after all.

Multiple sources with knowledge of the negotiations told MMAjunkie that McGregor (16-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC), the popular Irish featherweight, is targeted to meet Dennis Siver (22-9 MMA, 11-6 UFC) at a yet-to-be announced fight card on Jan. 18, which could take place at Boston’s TD Garden.

The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the fight card or pending booking.

Although bout agreements are not yet in place, the promotion plans to keep McGregor active rather than reserve him for a fight with the winner of an upcoming title bout between champ Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes, which is set for Saturday’s UFC 179.

The Jan. 18 event, which falls on a Sunday, would follow the NFL’s NFC Championship Game on FOX and air on FOX Sports 1, sources close to the event told MMAjunkie. A lightweight matchup is already rumored for the event; according to FOX’s “UFC Tonight,” Donald Cerrone will face off with Myles Jury.

UFC President Dana White previously indicated that McGregor was on the fast track for a shot at the belt despite just four appearances in the octagon. McGregor, though, recently said he would gladly fight again before a title shot.

On Tuesday, McGregor added another potential opponent for his future, teasing Mendes during an appearance on “Beyond the Octagon.”

Siver, 35, previously expressed in fighting McGregor, earlier this month telling KammakazeTV he would knock out the outspoken fighter. In August, he expressed dismay at McGregor’s higher spot in the UFC’s official rankings despite a lack of experience against top competition.

Siver returned to the cage earlier this month at UFC Fight Night 53, where he earned a unanimous decision in his first fight since a nine-month suspension for a positive drug test. His previous win over Manny Gamburyan at UFC 168 was overturned and he was also fined when the commission found human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in his system post-fight.

In September, McGregor took steps to silence critics when he took on the top-10 ranked Dustin Poirier and delivered a first-round TKO to pick up his fourth straight UFC win.

McGregor, 26, will be sitting cageside when Aldo and Mendes face off in Rio de Janeiro, and as he reported to Mendes, enjoying the royal treatment.

For more on UFC in Boston, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.