Conor McGregor’s got goals. Big goals. The UFC Featherweight Champion explained during Wednesday’s UFC 197 press conference why he chose to come up after Rafael dos Anjos’ belt, and he’s got even loftier goals for when he takes that UFC Lightweight Championship.
“I chose this one because I came into this promotion as a two-weight world champion and I had always wanted to replicate that. That was the goal: create history and continue to create history,” he said. “This man across from me has a title, he has nothing else but that. He is a free TV fighter. He has nothing else to offer me except that gold belt, so that was the simple decision.
“I am an active champion, I will fight in many weight divisions. As it grows and all of this forms now, I like the sound of that 170 lb. Title as well, to be honest with you. I feel I can take down those three gold belts, and I feel I can do it by the year’s end.”
As to concerns over his activity level should he hold more than one title, McGregor doesn’t expect there to be any issues whatsoever.
“Look, cut out all this other stuff and I go through the whole roster in four months,” McGregor said. “And I tell them that right now, I’ll whoop every single one of them inside four months if you wipe out all this other shit. Bring me in, weigh me in, and I’ll fight the next night, and wipe out the entire game inside four months.
“…I’ll be fresh after 197, I believe I will dust Rafael inside one minute. He is a slower, sloppier version of Aldo, he’s like a bum version of Aldo. I’ll be fresh, I will cash the check, I will sign the next contract for UFC 200, brand new MGM, and we’ll go again. 2015 was my year, 2016 is also my year. Every year is my f***ing year.”
Penick’s Analysis: McGregor was in fine form on Wednesday, and he had dos Anjos out of his element entirely. His confidence is infectious, and he continues to make people believe he can pull off exactly what he says he can pull off. If he takes that title from dos Anjos and turns around to defend the Featherweight Title at UFC 200, who’s to put it past him to make a move up to welterweight? At this point with McGregor, anything may be possible, and if he continues to back it up in the cage, he’ll get more and more opportunities to prove that.
[Photo (c) Gary A. Vasquez via USA Today Sports]
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