The Champ Champ… Champ? It could be just two fights away.
Conor McGregor has been linked with Dustin Poirier, Nate Diaz, Donald Cerrone, Max Holloway and a rematch against Khabib Nurmagomedov in the past few months. There has even been talk of a return to the boxing ring to face Paulie Malignaggi.
UFC president Dana White seemed to be pressing Poirier’s case, late last year, but recently told TMZ that a rematch with Nurmagomedov would probably take place in 2019. McGregor stoke those embers, on Friday, by calling the Dagestani a ‘broke bitch’, but the 155lbs champ responded with this argument-ender.
https://twitter.com/TeamKhabib/status/1084081429083049986
Former UFC welterweight title challenger Darren Till has tossed his name into the hat, and many Irish fans would love the suggested venue for the 170lbs bout.
Back in October, not long after McGregor had lost his undisputed UFC lightweight title fight with Nurmagomedov, Till raised the possibility of taking on ‘The Notorious’.
“Anfield has just confirmed the rights to have boxing and music events for the first time ever,” Till told Paddy Power News.
“I lost my last fight, Conor lost his. We’re both from Europe, he’s a Liverpool fan, I’m a Liverpool fan. I’ve spoken in the past about how I want to sell out a stadium in my home town. He spoke about Croke Park but I think Croke Park will be for the final fight of his career, his retirement fight.”
In an interview with iFL TV, published Thursday, Till was standing beside Ireland boxing star Michael Conlan when he made his latest play for McGregor.
After describing the Dubliner’s whiskey as “shite”, Till declared, “I want the McGregor fight in April.
“I’m still ranked No. 3 [at welterweight],” he added, “and I want like a number two or the number one to get back into it.
“McGregor, he’s the f***ing biggest name in the world so why would I not push it? It’s a possibility. Anfield, I’m from Liverpool. You’ve seen what happened at Liverpool.
“There’s bigger dreams ahead now. Anfield, it’s never been done.”
Dublin to Liverpool would be a short hop and it would mean McGregor, who became a father again over the festive period, could do most of his training close to home before jetting across to Merseyside.
Beat Till, tough as it would be, and McGregor would surely be in line for a summer tilt at 170lbs champion Tyron Woodley. Having become the first fighter to hold consecutive UFC titles, in November 2016, McGregor could end 2019 as the first ever fighter to win titles in three different weight classes.
