Video: Did Conor McGregor deserve shot at 2nd UFC belt? Fellow fighters discuss

BOSTON – Conor McGregor will soon try to make history by becoming the first fighter in the promotion’s history to simultaneously hold two belts. But did he deserve that opportunity?

That’s the question we posed to fellow fighters from this weekend’s UFC Fight Night 81 event.

McGregor (19-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC), who recently won the featherweight belt with a UFC 194 quick victory over longtime titleholder Jose Aldo, next meets lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos (25-7 MMA, 14-5 UFC) on March 5 at UFC 197. While McGregor hasn’t even yet defended his featherweight belt, fellow fighters – for the most part – clearly support his shot at the lightweight belt.

In fact, UFC Fight Night 81 headliner and bantamweight champ T.J. Dillashaw (12-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC), who meets ex-champ Dominick Cruz (20-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) in Sunday’s FOX Sports 1-televised headliner at Boston’s TD Garden, said it could open doors for other champs like himself.

“It’s kind of crazy he gets a title shot right away,” Dillashaw said. “But I do like it. I like the fact they’re giving champions opportunities because now they’re going to have to let other champions do it.”

Check out all the reactions above.

And for more on UFC Fight Night 81 and UFC 197, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.