Conor McGregor views his upcoming bout with Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 is the perfect opportunity to return to action and get the ball rolling ahead of a big year in 2020. And his decision to take the fight at welterweight made total sense for the Dubliner as he bids to kick off his personal fighting “season” with a win on Jan. 18.
McGregor admitted that he had options to consider, with no shortage of potential opponents, plus the choice of weight class, ahead of his octagon return. And, in an interview with ESPN, the Irishman said the decision to fight at 170 pounds was the perfect one for him as he returns for just his second UFC fight since 2016.
McGregor, who said he weighed at “160, 160 and a bit” a week out from his main event clash with Cerrone, admitted he could have called for the fight at 155 pounds, but said he had no qualms about facing “Cowboy” at welterweight.
“I know, I could have (made his life more difficult),” he admitted. “I just don’t think he looks well at 155. He’s a 170 fighter. I’d beat him at any weight. I’d beat him if I had the flu. I don’t need that. I just want to focus on my training and keep me sharp. I don’t want to cut and then build, and then cut. I’m happy where I’m at.”
Former featherweight and lightweight champion McGregor also said that he sees his return as a welterweight as one that could open up more options for him as 2020 progresses.
“170 is an exciting one for me,” he explained. “I like 170. I like what’s going on in the 170 division at the minute. You’ve got Jorge with that (“BMF”) belt, you’ve got the other guys fighting for the belt. I like all of what’s going on at 170, and I feel good at 170. I feel energetic – it’s what I weigh and that’s it. It opens up so many more options, right?”
And although he’s looking at welterweight options with interest, McGregor made clear that a return to lightweight is always on the cards.
“No, I’m not done at 155. No way,” he said. “I could make 155 for this fight, no problem. But I just want to go in fresh and ‘as it is’. Let the fight play as it is, and then open up all of my options.”
As for the decision to face Cerrone, McGregor said it was a case of returning in a fan-friendly matchup against a fighter he respects.
“Well, I said I would fight him, right?” he said. “Me and Donald have a history. Not a long history, but we’ve had a history. It’s an exciting bout. It’s a fan-friendly bout. It’s a fight that excites me.
“I appreciate Donald, I have to say. He’s fought a lot of times since the last time I saw him, at the Aldo press conference many, many years ago. He’s gone on and fought so many times. He’s also a family man, with his grandmother and these things. I appreciate that. And I also appreciate his method he went about it, with the Proper whiskey. So much work goes into these things – to see that bit of respect, I appreciate that. I look forward to having a good bout.”
And the returning Dubliner, who has produced a plethora of unforgettable moments inside the octagon during his career, promised another spectacular performance as he looks to kick off the 2020 with a bang in Las Vegas.
“I’m happy to come back and have my comeback fight in the beginning of my season against Donald, and I look forward to it,” he said. “It’s going to be a good night, and I’m going to shine here on Jan. 18. I’m going to create magic inside the octagon, like I have done many times before. But this time it’s going to be something special.”