LAS VEGAS -- After Conor McGregor's stunning 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo Jr. on Saturday night at UFC 194 to claim the featherweight title, the next obvious question became "what's next?"
The UFC communicated its thoughts at the post-fight press conference at the MGM Grand, as UFC PR head Dave Sholler said that UFC president Dana White saw two potential paths for the new champion: To stay at 145 pounds and defend his title against Frankie Edgar, or to vacate his crown and challenge the winner of next weekend's Rafael dos Anjos vs. Donald Cerrone lightweight championship fight.
The new 145-pound king isn't against either potential fight. Or an Aldo rematch, for that matter. But he's got a major bone to pick with the idea of relinquishing the the belt he just won.
"I'll tell you one thing that won't be happening," McGregor said. "If I go up to that lightweight division, there's no way in hell that I'm vacating my belt. That's not happening. There will be a belt on one shoulder, and a belt on the other."
McGregor, fresh off his 15th consecutive victory, has long spoken of becoming the first simultaneous dual weight-class champion in UFC history, and is not about to give up on his dream for convenience's sake.
"I understand why, previously, other fighters wouldn't do it," McGregor said. "But look how many fights I've had in the last year. I stay busy. I stay fresh. So when I go to lightweight and take that lightweight belt, I will stay the featherweight champion also. I will be a dual weight champion. There's no going up and vacating. The belt will still be active because I am active."
If McGregor does go after the lightweight title without vacating the featherweight belt, it will make for the first UFC champion vs. champion fight since then-welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre defeated reigning lightweight champ B.J. Penn at UFC 94 in 2009.