UFC lightweight champion and division GOAT Khabib Nurmagomedov says he is retired, and gives no indication he will ever defend the title again. There is talk of a superfight vs. welterweight GOAT Georges St-Pierre, but in the unlikely event that happens, GSP reasonably called for it to be at their walkaround weight, in the 180s. Thus the title appears to be vacant.
Conor McGregor lost the rematch to Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 257, but his camp has been calling for a trilogy fight, ideally with the title on the line. Although getting a title shot off a loss is audacious in the extreme, it is the fight that will make the money, and thus could well happen.
McGregor has now explicitly called for it in a recent message on his social network, that accompanied a video marvelously edited to show McGregor dominating Poirier.
“Some highlights from my last fight! What a trilogy I now have on my hands,” began McGregor. “Exciting! With a handle on the leg kicks I will get back to having fun in there. I was in second gear cruising this fight. Best condition I’ve ever been in. After the wrestling and clinch exchanges my shots still held their pop. First time for me with this so I am very encouraged to keep going. It was the first time I did not use/nor need the stool between rounds also. I did need the stool after tho that’s for sure.
McGregor then segued to an enthusiastic sponsor shout out.
“As well as to this day loads and loads of @tidlsport recovery spray. This stuff is truly magic by the way! All the swelling, bruising, and pain on my leg has literally vanished using it! Try this stuff if you are in pain or banged up. Doesn’t work? I’ll personally refund you. THIS STUFF IS MAGIC! @tidlsport! Plant based cryotherapy spray. FIRST AND ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND. Magic!”
Then it was back to the regularly scheduled programming.
“I am extremely happy I did not need to use the stool between rounds here anyway,” he wrote. “Another first for me! I am most certainly on the right path. Despite the loss, I am on the correct path of evolution.
“Thoughts on the bout: I enjoyed racking up some more time inside the famed UFC Octagon. 40 seconds in 3 years is all I’d had up to this bout. I was savoring every second and enjoying my work. A little single disciplined in my approach and stance with mostly boxing. It’s what I get for picking this bout and opponent as a precursor to a boxing match against Pacman. I deserved to get the legs kicked off me going in with this thinking. This is not the game to play around with. Besides this tho my shots were sharp and I was in full control. Albeit the leg attacks were building up on me throughout the course. 18 in total thrown at me, with the final one buckling my leg fully, that was that. The peroneal nerve compromised. Fascinating! First time to experience it. Then a tremendous finishing flurry by my opponent. Hats off! A well-fought fight by The Diamond. 1 a piece now with a Trilogy bout for all the marbles! Wow! Exciting! Not a trilogy I was expecting, nor the tactical affair I was anticipating, but I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t meant to be. This is exactly how this was always meant to be! Buzzing!!”
Some fighters social network pages are run wholly or in part by managers or media pros, but based on the typos typical of a real post made on a phone, for what it’s worth, it appears this is all Conor himself.
And Poirier responded positively.
https://twitter.com/dustinpoirier/status/1357074687457648644
UG, who do you want to see McGregor and Poirer fight next, and why?
