Conor McGregor is set to return to the UFC for a much-awaited fight after a lengthy break. But, which division will he join during his comeback? Rumors suggest that Dana White is set to introduce a brand new weight class for “The Notorious.” Before that, we shall discuss which is the perfect Conor McGregor weight class.
Since stepping into the UFC ring for the first time in 2013, Conor McGregor has already achieved victories in three different weight classes. He was also the first-ever dual-division UFC champion when he held the Featherweight and Lightweight titles simultaneously. His legacy inside the octagon is simply unmatched.
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Conor McGregor Weight Class Explored:
Conor McGregor has fought in three different weight classes throughout his MMA career (and in the UFC). He has been a part of the Featherweight division (145 lbs), Lightweight division (155 lbs), and the Welterweight division (170). Surprisingly, he has achieved victories and accomplishments in all of these.
The Irish fighter, famously known as the “Notorious,” had his last fight in the Lightweight division against former Interim UFC Lightweight Champion Dustin Poirier in a losing effort. The bout completed the trilogy between the two archnemesis with Poirier getting the better of it, and McGregor suffering a fractured leg.
Between his debut in 2008 and his last fight in 2021, McGregor has managed to write a record of 22-6-0. We’ve explored McGregor’s battles in various weight divisions below:
Conor McGregor in the Featherweight Division:
Conor McGregor made his debut in the Featherweight division against Gary Morris at the Cage Fight 2 event in his hometown of Dublin, Ireland. He won the bout via TKO. He defeated Mo Taylor in his next fight but received his first loss against Artemij Sitenkov after that.
McGregor then moved up a division for a brief period before returning to Featherweight to fight Connor Dillon in a dominating fashion. After defeating the likes of Mike Wood, Paddy Doherty, and Steve O’Keefe, McGregor won the Cage Warriors Featherweight Championship by submitting Dave Hill in June 2012.
The following year, McGregor made his UFC debut against Marcus Brimage and he completely demolished his opponents. He then went on a seven-fight winning streak and defeated the likes of Diego Brandão, Dustin Poirier, and Dennis Siver. McGregor also defeated Chad Mendes at UFC 189 to win the UFC Featherweight Championship.
After that, McGregor knocked out José Aldo in 13 seconds to unify the WEC and UFC Featherweight titles at UFC 194. This finish was recorded as the fastest knockout in a title bout in UFC history. However, McGregor was later stripped of the title, which promoted Aldo to the undisputed champion.
Conor McGregor in the Lightweight Division:
During his run in the Featherweight division, McGregor was simultaneously fighting in the Lightweight division too. He later moved to the 155 lbs weight class full-time. McGregor made his Lightweight debut in Dublin, Ireland, against Stephen Bailey in a stunning fashion with a TKO victory.
He also defeated Artur Sowinski before defeating Ivan Buchinge to capture the Cage Warriors Lightweight Championship in December 2012. McGregor then had his first Lightweight fight in the UFC against Eddie Alvarez for the UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 205.
McGregor dropped Alvarez several times in the first round before scoring a TKO in the second round. It’s widely regarded as McGregor’s best UFC performance. However, McGregor was stripped of the title due to inactivity after UFC 223, and Khabib Nurmagomedov was crowned the undisputed champion.
McGregor and Nurmagomedov then locked hours for the UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 229. It was considered one of the biggest and the most drawing fights in the history of MMA. Khabib Nurmagomedov submitted McGregor with a neck crank in the fourth round.
Following the fight, McGregor announced his retirement via social media. However, he returned a year later and fought Dustin Poirier twice in the Lightweight division, both in losing attempts.
Conor McGregor in the Welterweight Division:
Conor McGregor made his Welterweight debut against Nate Diaz at UFC 196 where the Ultimate Fighter Season 5 winner handed the “Notorious” his first UFC loss. Diaz submitted McGregor at 4:12 in the second round. The two then met in a rematch at UFC 200, which McGregor won via majority decision.
McGregor had one more fight in the Welterweight division when he came back from his retirement in 2020. He faced Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 and won the fight via TKO at 40 seconds in the first round. This was McGregor’s first and only victory till now in the Welterweight division.
How Much Does Conor McGregor Weigh Now?
Before his injury, Conor McGregor weighed around 155 lbs (70 kg) but he gained a lot of mass during recovery. Recently, his pictures went viral on social media looking extremely jacked yet ripped. According to MMA analysts, McGregor weighs around 180 to 200 lbs (81 to 91 kg) right now.
Is Conor McGregor Set to Join Middleweight Division?
Conor McGregor announced that he will be joining the Middleweight division upon his return to the octagon for his fight against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 on June 29, 2024, during the International Fight Week. “And the weight Mr. Chandler, 185 pounds,” McGregor said at the end of the announcement teaser with his iconic notorious laugh.
Former UFC Flyweight and Bantamweight Champion Henry Cejudo recently discussed the possibility of McGregor fighting in the Middleweight division on his YouTube channel. “Since the beginning, he said we’re going to be fighting at 185 pounds,” Cejudo said. ”
“I had actually mentioned, if you guys recall, Conor has the ability to go 155, 170, and guess what guys? Even 185 – and that’s exactly what he just pulled. Conor McGregor – will he win? I’m not sure.”
Cejudo added:
“But the simple fact that Conor has fought at 145, 155, 170, and now 185, I mean, those are four different weight classes. Maybe Conor wants to be the first person to say, ‘Hey I fought in four different weight classes in the UFC’ – which is absolutely crazy, which is absolutely nuts.”
Which Division will Conor McGregor Fight in his Comeback?
Conor McGregor announced that he’ll be fighting at 185 lbs in the teaser announcing his next fight, which will be against Michael Chandler at UFC 303. However, rumors are floating amidst the MMA universe that Dana White could be introducing a new weight class for Conor McGregor between the Lightweight and Welterweight divisions.
If rumors are to be believed, the new weight class where McGregor and Chandler would fight would be 165 lbs or 170 lbs. Previously, fighters like Tyson Fury and Nate Diaz have also criticized the UFC for a big gap between the Lightweight and Welterweight divisions.
UFC fighter Rafael Fiziev recently addressed the rumors of the new 165 lbs division. “It’s not a rumor, I’m hearing that it’s already for sure, as far as I know. I’ve heard that they have the UFC already identified something there,” he said. So, it’s highly possible that McGregor vs Chandler would take place in an all-new division.
Final Verdict:
Conor McGregor has tasted success in three different weight classes but most of his victories were in the Featherweight division. He was ferocious in the division due to the combination of his speed, skills, and power. He still moved up to the Lightweight division full-time in the later stages of his career.
This didn’t go fully well as Dutin Poirier defeated McGregor in back-to-back bouts. The Notorious is now looking to move up further and fight in the Middleweight division. It could be a fruitful move as McGregor’s speed has declined with age and he can make better use of his power and skills in this division.
So, Featherweight is the best weight class for McGregor historically but Welterweight and Middleweight could be his best options going forward. That’s it for this post. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What weight classes did Conor McGregor fight in?:
Conor McGregor has fought in three different weight classes including the Featherweight division (145 lbs), Lightweight division (155 lbs), and the Welterweight division (170). However, he’s expected to move to the Middleweight division (185 lbs) for his comeback fight against Michael Chandler at UFC 303.
Has Conor McGregor fought at Welterweight?:
Nate Diaz has fought in the Welterweight division three times during his UFC career. He fought against Nate Diaz twice. The first one ended in a losing attempt but McGregor won the rematch. His third Welterweight bout came against Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 which he won in a dominating fashion.
Is Conor McGregor a Middleweight now?:
Conor McGregor announced that he’s coming back to the octagon to fight Michael Chandler during International Fight Week at UFC 303 via a teaser video. He also claimed that the fight would take place at 185 pounds. McGregor has put on a significant amount of muscle during recovery to fight at Middleweight.
Has Conor McGregor retired from UFC?:
No, McGregor hasn’t retired from the UFC. He was out of action due to a tibial fracture which he suffered during his last fight against Dustin Poirier. The “Notorious” is set to come back at UFC 303 to fight Michael Chandler. Previously, McGregor announced his retirement via social media in 2019 but came out of it later.
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