Mcgregor may be stripped of belt — again
UFC lightweight title not defended in 2017
Conor Mcgregor became the first fighter in UFC history to hold belts in two weight classes when he defeated Eddie Alvarez in 2016 to add the lightweight belt to the featherweight title he had won a year earlier.
Now, he may become the first fighter to have a title stripped in two different weight classes.
UFC president Dana White indicated during an appearance on the UFC Fight Night 124 postfight show Sunday on Fox Sports 1 that Mcgregor doesn’t appear ready to return in the first half of 2018.
White believes that scenario would force his hand in stripping Mcgregor of the belt in order for the division to move forward.
“If he comes back in September, that’s almost two years (since his last MMA fight),” White said. “That can’t happen. It’s not fair to everybody else.”
Mcgregor’s only competition of 2017 was an August boxing match against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
His absence from MMA has created a logjam at the top of the lightweight rankings.
Tony Ferguson holds the interim title and undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov is the unquestioned top contender.
Both fighters are essentially stuck in neutral until Mcgregor makes a move.
Stripping him of the title would promote Ferguson to undisputed champion and he could defend the belt against Nurmagomedov, a fight that is rumored for April.
Mcgregor also had the featherweight belt stripped in November 2016 when it became clear he didn’t intend to defend the belt as he pursued opportunities in other weight
classes and, eventually, another sport.
“(I) love Conor and respect Conor,” White said. “(I) love everything that he’s done for this company. Everybody knows that. I say it all the time. (But) the belt would have to move on. You do Khabib vs. Tony; we’re working on that fight now. If and when Conor comes back, he would get the first crack at the title.”
Vanzant injured in loss
Paige Vanzant’s women’s flyweight debut resulted in a loss and a
broken arm.
The 23-year-old posted a hospital photo on social media hours after Sunday night’s unanimous-decision loss to Las Vegan Jessica-rose Clark, complete with an X-ray of her right arm.
Vanzant believes she suffered the injury while attempting a spinning back fist in the first round.
“I was able to finish the fight but as you can see, had a hard recovering and throwing my right,” she said. “Thank you to the UFC and to my opponent (and my coaches). I’ll be back better and stronger than ever! It’s all a part of the fight game. God had other plans for me. Darn spinning back fist.”
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@ reviewjournal.com or 702-277-8028. Follow @Adamhilllvrj on Twitter.