Conor McGregor has one wish if he wins a second title belt
Featherweight champion Conor McGregor is on the precipice of history heading into UFC 205 at Madison Square Garden, looking to win the lightweight championship against Eddie Alvarez. Not only would McGregor join a short list of fighters who have won titles in two weight classes, but also he'd be the only person in UFC history to hold title belts in two weight classes simultaneously.
UFC president Dana White has allowed McGregor to pursue this bit of history in part because it is a huge selling point for the promotion. But he also has been adamant that McGregor will relinquish one of the two belts if he wins.
McGregor is in agreement, but with one stipulation.
"Let me see the pictures on publications with a belt on each shoulder first," he recently told SI by phone. "Let me go onto the side of that Octagon and raise two world titles, what's never been done before, before talking about stripping me. Let me get the f------ things, let me do it.
"I'll always listen to the correct business move and I'll always do what is the correct move," he added, "but let me do it and let me go back and look at some pictures of me with two belts and let me embrace it for half-a-day."
While the debate about the two belts has been fueled in part by the back and forth between McGregor and White, McGregor also is quick to point the finger to the media for its role.
"It's the media that's making this," he said. "Let me look at the historic images we're going to get on this night, me with these two belts. That's what everyone should be excited about, this is history."
The detractors claim McGregor will be holding up two divisions should he win, something he's aware of and addresses by pointing out that no one besides him is active enough to defend two belts.
"Everyone wants to see you do good, but not better than them," he said. "That's what's happening here. I'm just looking forward to raising the belts, and doing what has not been done before.
"Don't be trying to take away the historic moment before I've even experienced it."
