McGregor weighing Ferguson-Lee winner, other options for next move
The UFC lightweight title picture is shifting, and Conor McGregor is weighing his options accordingly.
During a Friday speaking engagement in Glasgow - his first public appearance since his August superfight with Floyd Mayweather - the reigning divisional champ stated he won't decide what's next for him until Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee duke it out for the interim divisional title next week at UFC 216, according to Peter Carroll of MMA Fighting.
The Irishman should - in theory - unify the lightweight crown against the interim champ in his next fight, although a rubber match with bitter rival Nate Diaz looms large.
"I’m happy they’re fighting," McGregor told Caroline Pearce. "This is what I wanted because they’re all bums at the end of the day, make no mistake about that. I’m just happy they’re fighting. I just want to see them compete.
"Too many of them pull out right at the wire and we’re still not at this fight yet, so I’m just going to pray that this one goes ahead. Of course Nate is still there waiting, but he’ll be left waiting until we figure something out."
McGregor has acknowledged he and Diaz have unfinished business on more than one occasion, but after UFC president Dana White and head coach John Kavanagh shot down rumblings of a trilogy bout for Dec. 30, the lightweight king said he'd only fight on the date if his pre-bout obligations were limited to weighing in, says Carroll.
The 29-year-old McGregor hasn't seen the Octagon since he knocked out Eddie Alvarez to win the lightweight strap at UFC 205 last November, but his boxing foray did little to shorten his laundry list of takers. He doesn't appear to be in a hurry to lace up the four-ounce gloves again, however, having floated a litany of potential dance partners without committing to a single name.
Reigning featherweight champ Max Holloway, Alvarez, Justin Gaethje, Khabib Nurmagomedov, retired boxer and disgruntled former sparring partner Paulie Malignaggi, and Mayweather were also cited as potential foes, as was two-time welterweight titleholder Georges St-Pierre. However, McGregor doesn't see St-Pierre getting past middleweight king Michael Bisping at UFC 217.
"It’s another money fight, even though he’s been retired," he said. "I don’t know, I think he’s going to get his assed whooped by Bisping. To be honest I think it’s a mistake for him to step in at that weight after so long out."
As for his greatest nemesis, Diaz hasn't entered the cage since falling to him by majority decision in their rematch at UFC 202 last August.