Conor McGregor will have his chance to make history at UFC 205, where he will challenge Eddie Alvarez for the UFC lightweight title, and fight to become the first person to hold two UFC belts at the same time. That doesn't sit well with a number of people, but for anyone who isn't down with that, Mystic Mac has just two words: too bad.
Speaking with the assembled media at a press conference promoting UFC 205 (Warning: NSFW Language), McGregor was asked what he had to say about UFC President Dana White's discussion that, if he wins, he would be forced to vacate one of the titles. Suffice it to say, he did not toe the company line on that topic.
"I'm going to wrap one [belt] on one shoulder, and I'm going to wrap the other on the other shoulder and they're going to need a f---ing army to take them belts off me," he shouted to raucous applause. He would double-down on this later in the presser saying "they're going to have to gather an army to take one of them off me and that's out straight...I'm going to be picking and choosing who I want to destroy next, and that's it!"
(Warning: NSFW Language)
So if @TheNotoriousMMA has two belts, where will he put them? ?? #UFC205 #UFCNYC https://t.co/BYmHg7FvyB
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2016
It's the latest chapter in what has been a yearlong tug-of-war between McGregor and UFC brass over control of his career. White has been leaning on McGregor to vacate the UFC featherweight title ever since he won it at UFC 194 and has threatened to strip him of it on numerous occasions since. Add to that the drama surrounding UFC 200 and subtle slights like White no-selling Conor's chances of beating Rafael Dos Anjos at UFC 196 and venting his frustration about McGregor's unwillingness to fall in line for press events and it's easy to speculate that there is a lot of behind-the-curtain animosity.
As is tradition at this point, however, while White spoke in certainties in one-on-one interviews with the media, he wasn't willing to push Conor in front of cameras. When asked directly about the company's plans if McGregor wins, White was noncommittal, simply saying "we'll figure it out if and when it happens."
Despite the uncertainty surrounding McGregor's long-term standing as 145-pound champ, the UFC 205 main event is shaping up to be an exciting bout between two of the sport's best action fighters.
