White promises that Conor McGregor is returning to featherweight after he's finished with his fight at UFC 200
For the second fight in a row, Conor McGregor will compete as a welterweight when he takes on Nate Diaz in the main event at UFC 200 on July 9 in Las Vegas.
While McGregor is certainly staying busy, his activity outside of the featherweight division forced the UFC to make an interim title fight between Jose Aldo faces Frankie Edgar on the same card.
With McGregor competing regularly but still not defending his title, many have called for the Irishman to be stripped of the belt all together but UFC president Dana White defends him holding onto the belt while getting the rematch he wanted with Diaz.
"Conor McGregor is a guy who has had fights fall out seven days before he's supposed to defend his title and he steps up and he takes on all comers," White said on "SportsCenter" on Wednesday.
"The guy fights anybody, anywhere, any time. He's stepped up late notice and done these things, he wants this Nate Diaz fight, we'll give it to him. We'll make Frankie and Jose the interim title. Whoever wins that fight will then fight Conor McGregor for the true 145 pound title."
Now it might seem suspicious to make Aldo vs. Edgar for the interim title if the winner is only going to move forward to fight McGregor anyways.
Rumors have swirled for months that McGregor may never return to featherweight after bulking up so much for a fight that was originally scheduled at lightweight before eventually taking back-to-back matchups at 170 pounds.
McGregor has always faced notoriously tough weight cuts to get down to 145 pounds, but White says no matter what happens at UFC 200, the Irishman will return to featherweight to defend his title after finishing with Diaz.
"Yes, he will (return to featherweight)," White said. "Win, lose or draw in this fight against Nate Diaz, he will go in and he will fight either Jose or Frankie, whoever wins at (UFC) 200."
For the second fight in a row, Conor McGregor will compete as a welterweight when he takes on Nate Diaz in the main event at UFC 200 on July 9 in Las Vegas.
While McGregor is certainly staying busy, his activity outside of the featherweight division forced the UFC to make an interim title fight between Jose Aldo faces Frankie Edgar on the same card.
With McGregor competing regularly but still not defending his title, many have called for the Irishman to be stripped of the belt all together but UFC president Dana White defends him holding onto the belt while getting the rematch he wanted with Diaz.
"Conor McGregor is a guy who has had fights fall out seven days before he's supposed to defend his title and he steps up and he takes on all comers," White said on "SportsCenter" on Wednesday.
"The guy fights anybody, anywhere, any time. He's stepped up late notice and done these things, he wants this Nate Diaz fight, we'll give it to him. We'll make Frankie and Jose the interim title. Whoever wins that fight will then fight Conor McGregor for the true 145 pound title."
Now it might seem suspicious to make Aldo vs. Edgar for the interim title if the winner is only going to move forward to fight McGregor anyways.
Rumors have swirled for months that McGregor may never return to featherweight after bulking up so much for a fight that was originally scheduled at lightweight before eventually taking back-to-back matchups at 170 pounds.
McGregor has always faced notoriously tough weight cuts to get down to 145 pounds, but White says no matter what happens at UFC 200, the Irishman will return to featherweight to defend his title after finishing with Diaz.
"Yes, he will (return to featherweight)," White said. "Win, lose or draw in this fight against Nate Diaz, he will go in and he will fight either Jose or Frankie, whoever wins at (UFC) 200."
