McGregor wants ‘good stint’ at lightweight, Diaz trilogy

Former two-division champion Conor McGregor wants to remain at lightweight for his next few fights in the UFC.

Conor McGregor has found success in three separate weight classes in the UFC, but there is one he wants to revisit and stick around for in the near future.

McGregor returns to action against Dustin Poirier at UFC 257 in a rematch that is to be contested at 155 pounds, signifying the first time since 2018 that he competes in the lightweight division.

McGregor has only competed twice at 155 pounds in the UFC, making his divisional debut and winning the lightweight championship against Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 before being stripped of it years later due to inactivity. He would vie for the championship again at UFC 229 against Khabib Nurmagomedov, but lost the fight by way of fourth-round submission.

His career at lightweight may be short as of right now, but McGregor plans on changing that in his next couple of fights.

“I would like to put a stint in at 155 pounds, for sure,” McGregor told Oscar Willis of The Mac Life. “I came into the UFC as a featherweight and I went through the division. I gave it my all in that division and I tore through it like a chainsaw through butter. Interim title, then unified title. Then I went up and reached for greater heights, went to the lightweight division, became lightweight champion and became the first dual-weight champion in the company’s history.

“And then, obviously, other things presented themselves regarding the Floyd [Mayweather] fight and everything went where it went. I never really got a good stint — and then I went to the welterweight division also. I never got a good stint at 155 pounds, a consecutive stint like I’ve done in the featherweight division. I’d like to do the same here in the lightweight division that I’ve done in the featherweight division. Give it a good run and tear through the division. There’s many good competitors, good fighters in there and I feel levels above them all. So, I would like to put that stint in.”

With his intentions clear on sticking around at 155 pounds, there are several options for McGregor after he competes at UFC 257. He recognizes names such as Dan Hooker and Michael Chandler — the duo fighting in the co-main event of the same card as McGregor — as potential opponents, but one name floats higher above the rest.

McGregor is especially interested in finally completing the trilogy against Nate Diaz, who is said to have a fight being worked on for his long-awaited return. McGregor and Diaz are 1-1 after fighting at welterweight in back-to-back pay-per-view outings at UFC 196 and UFC 202 respectively. UFC President Dana White recently said Diaz is also planning on coming back at lightweight, which McGregor sees as a good opportunity now that both men are in the same division again.

“There are dangling carrots, or whatever way you would say it,” said McGregor. “Treasure chests that get presented to me. We’ve got world titles in boxing now. In addition, I hear Dana talking on The Mac Life interview also was Nate Diaz coming back down to lightweight. I love that. I’d love to compete against Diaz. We will compete again. If that happens at lightweight, you know, for a title that would be something special also. So, there’s many great options that are in the works and let’s see what happens. I am ready.”