Conor McGregor is aware of what it’s wish to be a “champ champ,” and he believes Alex Pereira might do him one higher.
The UFC mild heavyweight champion efficiently defended his title a 3rd time this previous Saturday at UFC 307 with a powerful knockout of Khalil Rountree Jr. Pereira’s success has solely heightened buzz round the potential for him transferring up another division to seize one other belt, having beforehand held UFC gold at 185 kilos as properly.
McGregor has usually mentioned he’d wish to be the UFC’s first three-division champion, however it’s a aim that can be in attain for “Poatan.”
“I feel that will be a viable subsequent transfer for him,” McGregor instructed The Schmo. “Perhaps he’s wonderful at mild heavyweight. There may be another matchup for him at mild heavyweight that I’d be inquisitive about, him vs. the Dagestani. However apart from that, I’d wish to see him go for it. Somebody has to go for the three belts. It’s myself or himself. I’m certain one in all us will aspire to it sooner or later.”
Although McGregor has struggled lately with poor performances and inactivity, in his prime he was a dual-division menace, memorably successful UFC championships at featherweight and light-weight. His success not solely vaulted him to the highest of the pound-for-pound charts, it made him one of many largest stars within the historical past of fight sports activities.
At present, the pound-for-pound dialogue swirls round Pereira, seemingly indomitable light-weight champion Islam Makhachev, and all-time nice Jon Jones, the latter of whom turned a two-division champion when he defeated Ciryl Gane to earn a vacant heavyweight title. Requested for his tackle the checklist, McGregor had a definitive reply.
“2024 has been Alex Pereira’s 12 months,” McGregor mentioned. “Nobody can deny that. And if we go by that, overlook belts, overlook any of that, in competitors he has 4 fights this 12 months, 4 KOs, and his most spectacular one was most lately. I’d put Alex No. 1. I’d put Alex as No. 1.
“I feel he poses lots of issues for Jon, additionally. That’s a harmful type for Jon. Nevertheless it’s an honest one for him as a result of he’s not so huge. Jon is new to the heavyweight division. Jon had a pleasant one in opposition to Ciryl Gane, however he’s nonetheless untested at heavyweight, and I’m certain at the back of his thoughts he has that thought, ‘A few of these guys are actually huge.’ Alex is a pleasant one. It’s nonetheless a harmful one although. On the core of it, it’s most likely much more harmful. I’d be very excited to see that bout happen for certain.”
McGregor nonetheless awaits his subsequent reserving after an damage prompted him to withdraw from a grudge match with Michael Chandler at UFC 303 this previous June. Each fighters continued to debate a re-booking, however for now Chandler has moved on to a rematch with Charles Oliveira on Nov. 16 at UFC 309.
Alexander Okay. Lee contributed to this story.