Conor McGregor will have to give up a title, after all. Just not until after UFC 205, according to Dana White.
The UFC president said Tuesday on SportsCenter that McGregor will go into the lightweight title fight with Eddie Alvarez on Nov. 12 as the featherweight champion — with the chance to make history and become the first fighter to hold two UFC belts at the same time. If McGregor wins, though, one of those belts will have to be forfeited.
"He wants to try to gain both belts and he will give up one of the titles after that fight in New York," White said.
Which one? White wasn't telling, replying "good question."
"He's got some stuff going on right now, some personal stuff that I'm sure he'll announce when he's ready," White said. "But this fight made sense."
White announced Monday night on SportsCenter that Alvarez would defend his lightweight belt against McGregor in the main event of UFC 205 on Nov. 12 at the promotion's first-ever card in New York City. McGregor is coming off a majority decision win over Nate Diaz at UFC 202 in August and came away with a banged-up foot.
White said he and McGregor argued about him coming back for UFC 205 due to the injury, but McGregor told him "I know my body better than you do," White said. White was asked what's it like negotiating with a guy like McGregor.
"It's not that bad," White said. "He's an intelligent guy. And the thing that I love and respect about Conor McGregor is that he wants to fight everybody. He's my kind of guy."
And fight he will again. It'll be McGregor's third fight of 2016 and fourth bout in the last 11 months. At the end of it, McGregor could hold two title belts if he beats Alvarez. But one of them will be dropped before long, according to White.