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In a little over three weeks Conor McGregor will attempt to do something no one in the history of the UFC has ever done: hold UFC belts in two different weight classes, simultaneously.
But should he be successful in accomplishing this feat, what happens next? Fans and fighters alike are already upset over McGregor "holding up a division" with his almost steadfast refusal to take a featherweight fight, the division he's currently champion over. With this in mind, UFC president Dana White - who has previously declared a willingness to allow McGregor to reign in two divisions simultaneously - has said that after UFC 205, McGregor will be forced to relinquish one of the belts. At the UFC 205 press conference though, McGregor declared, "they're going to have to gather an army to try and take one of them (belts) off me."
Well now it appears McGregor is backing off this statement. Speaking with Sports Illustrated's Mike Dyce recently, McGregor says he will accept White's terms, but on one condition.
"Let me see the pictures on publications with a belt on each shoulder first. 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**king things, let me do it. I'll always listen to the correct business move, and I'll always do what is the correct move, 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.
"Don't be trying to take away the historic moment before I've even experienced it."
But despite the historic nature of McGregor's quest, his fellow fighters are starting to get restless. Jose Aldo has said he intends to leave the UFC, in part due to the company's refusal to grant him a title shot against McGregor which has been promised to him several times. No. 1 lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov has echoed Aldo's sentiments; unhappy at being passed over for a title shot against Alvarez and being used as a leveraging tool, Nurmagomedov says he too will leave the UFC if he doesn't get a title shot after his next fight.
McGregor has very little patience for these complaints though.
"Tell me one time that crying and moaning, tell me one time that's good for progression. It's not. Where would you be if I wasn't here? Be grateful that you're even in the conversation.
"Keep your head down, keep working, stay focused, stay positive, that's the way to go forward. Not crying, moaning, complaining. I can't engage in that. I wish them well, but I'm on something different here."
Should McGregor beat Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 and win the lightweight championship, it would indeed be something different. Only B.J. Penn and Randy Couture have ever belts in multiple weight classes in the UFC and each of their respective championship reigns were several years apart. Dan Henderson did hold the 185 lb. and 205 lb. Pride FC championships simultaneously but at the time neither was considered the premier title in the world, and that is the only thing McGregor cares about.
"Everyone wants to see you do good, but not better than them. That's what's happening here. I'm just looking forward to raising the belts, and doing what has not been done before."
MUST-READ STORIES
Contract. Georges St-Pierre's lawyer calls UFC contract "something out of the 1940's."
Leverage. Jose Aldo says meeting with Dana White hasn't changed anything yet but calls it a good first step.
Executive. Long time UFC executive comments on his layoff after ten years with the company.
Layoffs. For the third straight day, the UFC continued to layoff employees.
Number 2. Michael Bisping says "nobody gives a shit" about Luke Rockhold or Chris Weidman.
MEDIA STEW
Cormier and Robin Black
Forrest is an absolute savage.
Gegard's recent Chael Sonnen style revelation is my favorite thing in MMA right now.
Chael on GSP's free agency.
LISTEN UP
Heavy Hands
Press Row
JBS
TWEETS
Angry Jonny is the best Jon Jones.
Can't wait to get back and slap one of these light heavyweights, even on the sidelines I'm more relevant than anyone in that division.
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) October 20, 2016
You boys know when we all retire you will just be known as one of my contenders, easy for y'all to talk that shit when daddy ain't home
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) October 20, 2016
Never stop going in Jon!
Eye pokers turned twitter fingers
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) October 20, 2016
But you are a heel Jon. Embrace it.
I'm not even trying to be a heel sometimes I just get tired of listening to these clowns have a free for all https://t.co/MKYLYDY2kh
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) October 20, 2016
DC I'll always be that "normal guy" who worked your ass
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) October 20, 2016
Cold. Blooded.
And AJ you calling my out of the cage problems amazing is almost hysterical. Trying to shit on me doesn't make you look anymore like a saint
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) October 20, 2016
Yall better put some respect on my name and I'm not going to say it no moe
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) October 20, 2016
Rumble and I have actually shown great respect over the years that's why I'm so taken back by his comments https://t.co/P31ZKnfggN
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) October 20, 2016
Don't start no shit won't be no shit
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) October 20, 2016
Don't talk to me like that, I won't be known as one of your contenders. I probably won't be known at all, so back offhttps://t.co/ad0rrTPpUX
— Tom Lawlor (@FilthyTomLawlor) October 20, 2016
Weird but I'd watch.
Who wants to see this fight?#MousasiVDiaz@danawhite @ufc @nickdiaz209 @arielhelwanipic.twitter.com/S9GlbZXhCM
— Gegard Mousasi (@mousasi_mma) October 20, 2016
Having Fun Getting It Done! #TeamViral on the map @teamrocbiggie @Jaypee_Toomuch #JuJuOnThatBeat#WorkHard #PlayHard @ufc #ufc205 #AndStill pic.twitter.com/L7j1snMJkM
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) October 19, 2016
@ChaelSonnen congrats on the big fight
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) October 19, 2016
Chael never gonna lose the schtick.
Tnx buddy. Couldn't have happened to a better guy. https://t.co/f6PHYKwPxJ
— Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) October 19, 2016
Thank you to all @UFC_CA staff who have been so great to work with over the years...and even better people. Best wishes moving forward
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) October 19, 2016
It's the promoters job to make the biggest fights for the fans when the most people want to watch them.https://t.co/G7Q9bNW47g
— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) October 19, 2016
Throw me to the wolves and I will return the leader of the of the pack.
— Albert Morales (@Warrior135UFC) October 19, 2016
Warrior it's time to play. #ufcfightnight100 pic.twitter.com/sA6SjgsMal
I've never understood the Type Every Word With A Capital Letter Like They're All Proper Nouns. It's difficult to do and makes no sense.
Ya'll Seem To Forget What I Did To @TheRealPunk @EdsonBarbozaJR • I Left The Knives At Home vs@GroovyLando • He Didn't Earn My Ferocity EC
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) October 19, 2016
You're a fucking idiot. I'm going to put your head on a spike the next time we meet.@TonyFergusonXT@THEREALPUNK @EdsonBarbozaJR
— Lando Vannata (@GroovyLando) October 19, 2016
@GroovyLando @THEREALPUNK @EdsonBarbozaJR Don't Bite The Hand That Fed U Son. Obviously U Forgot My Advice. Couldn't Even Finish Me w/ Spies
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) October 19, 2016
Retirement?
Damn.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Keri Anne Taylor-Melendez (0-0-0) vs. Sheila Padilla (2-0-0); Bellator 165, November 16.
Alexis Davis (17-6-0) vs. Sara McMann (9-3-0); UFC The Ultimate Fighter 24 Finale, December 3.
TODAY IN MMA HISTORY
2002: Pride FC: The Best, Volume 3 was held in Tokyo, Japan. It was not the best. Not by a long shot.
2007: Anderson Silva rearranged Rich Franklin's nose for the second time, stopping the former champion with knees in the second round of the main event at UFC 77. This was also the event at which the UFC announced they had signed former WWE superstar Brock Lesnar. And it also featured the UFC debut of Demian Maia who submitted Ryan Jensenwith a rear-naked choke.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I would be pretty shocked if they actually made him vacate a belt before getting to make the walk to the cage with both at least once. Unless of course, the rumors are true and he's going to take a year off after 205. Which, honestly, could be a really good thing and no one can say Conor doesn't deserve it.
Anyway, that's it for today y'all. Once more til the weekend. Have a good one.
If you find something you'd like to see in the Morning Report, just hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew and let me know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting because we post dope things and you should enjoy them.
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