If Owen Roddy was UFC matchmaker, we’d be seeing Conor McGregor’s ascent through the weight classes continue next time out.
McGregor’s striking coach is responsible for cultivating one of the most feared weapons in all of MMA – McGregor’s left hand – and he has seen it claim the championship belts of both Jose Aldo and Eddie Alvarez.
McGregor’s UFC 205 victory over Alvarez was likely the finest hour for ‘The Notorious’ and it left no doubt that his power translates seamlessly to the lightweight division.
But can it do the requisite damage against a legitimate welterweight? Roddy certainly wants to find out.
The former fighter, who is now best known for holding pads for the first ever two-weight UFC champion, was asked who he’d like to see McGregor fight after his scheduled break from the sport and immediately Roddy’s mind went to the potential welterweight title bout with reigning 170lbs champ Tyron Woodley.
“Maybe Woodley,” Roddy said on the MMA Hour. “For me, for him to go up and go for three belts, maybe Woodley.
“Diaz again is another great one because I think it’s what fans would want to see. They want to see something special again, the Diaz fight again is special. The Woodley fight is special.”
Top-ranked lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov has made it impossible to discuss McGregor’s next move without at least mentioning the undefeated Russian.
The Eagle's been sending DMs https://t.co/0ZwnoSWA7E
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) November 22, 2016
A perfect professional record of 24-0, with wins over the likes of Michael Johnson and former 155lbs champion Rafael dos Anjos, has many crying out for ‘The Eagle’ to be given the next shot at the lightweight title.
Joe Rogan reckons McGregor vs. Nurmagomedov could take place in the latter’s native of Russia and the legendary Dan Henderson has predicted that Nurmagomedov would have his way with the Irishman.
And Roddy believes that he’s undoubtedly done enough in the Octagon to warrant a title shot but is unsure of Nurmagomedov’s drawing power.
“You can’t really doubt Khabib at this stage,” Roddy added. “He’s a phenomenal grappler and a phenomenal wrestler but I don’t know whether the excitement is there. Obviously for Conor it’s about the pay-per-views. It’s about the money. Whether Khabib will hit the pay-per-views for him, I don’t know.
“He’s definitely there or thereabouts. He poses a different threat so it would be good to try to work out what strikes are going to land on him. He can be hit as well, I will say that. He got hit a bit in his last fight.
“I believe that if you give Conor a chance to land once, I don’t know whether people can come back from that. But it would definitely be an interesting fight.”
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