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On his meteoric rise in the UFC, 'The Notorious' laid waste to many high caliber featherweights. Conor McGregor has never lost a 145-pound contest in the UFC. After making his way across multiple divisions, the superstar relinquished his 145-pound strap. Then, in 2018, the promotion stripped him of his lightweight gold and cited inactivity as the primary reason.
The former champion has been lauded for shedding blood, scoring knock-downs and finishing opponents across three different weight classes (featherweight, lightweight and welterweight). Many are hopeful that one day McGregor will start another campaign in his original weight class, the featherweight division.
En route to his vacant interim title opportunity, Conor McGregor earned five straight Performance of the Night bonuses. After securing his first title, the superstar moved up to welterweight temporarily. The Irish superstar nabbed two more bonuses against Nate Diaz. Since his payback win against the Stockton native in their 2016 rematch, McGregor has remained a public phenomenon.
Let's take a closer look at a five of reasons why Ireland's MMA king should return to his old 145-pound stomping grounds in the UFC.
#5. Conor McGregor and José Aldo have unfinished business
It was the epic title fight that started it all. After a year-long media tour, José Aldo met Conor McGregor at UFC 194. While many expected a war, 'The Notorious' transcended to new heights after knocking Aldo out in a mere thirteen seconds.
While Aldo called for an immediate rematch, it was clear from that point on that McGregor was holding all of the cards. The two strikers carry some of the most respected featherweight records to date.
Years later, the two are no longer titleholders. While Aldo moved down to 135 pounds, McGregor has fallen from grace and lost twice to Dustin Poirier at lightweight in 2021. With McGregor healing his wounds, he acknowledged his former nemesis and praised him for remaining a perennial contender in the UFC.
For the time being, it looks like they are unlikely to face each other anytime soon. As Aldo continues his bantamweight onslaught, Conor McGregor will always have that exciting rematch in his back pocket.
#4. Conor McGregor is closer to gold at 145 pounds
After losing to Dustin Poirier for the second time in July, Conor McGregor has further distanced himself from the title picture at 155 pounds. McGregor dropped to the No.9-ranked lightweight in the world after losing back-to-back contests to 'The Diamond'. The defeat also marked two losses in a row for the enigmatic superstar.
It's hard to ignore the domination he showed during his time as the featherweight titleholder. Since the superstar left the 145-pound weight class with gold and an unblemished record, he certainly has a claim to the division he once ruled over. Currently, Alexander Volkanovski wears gold as the undisputed featherweight champion.
#3. Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2
Since their initial encounter was so long ago, a rematch against Max Holloway at featherweight would be an enticing holiday gift. When 'Blessed' and McGregor fought over eight years ago, McGregor shockingly implored his wrestling skills to control the fight despite dealing with ACL injuries during the contest.
Of course, the 2013 matchup between Holloway and Conor McGregor took place prior to the Irishman's explosion into the limelight. After the fight was over, the Crumlin native's MRI revealed severe damage to his ACL.
Recently, Holloway regathered himself after two close decision defeats to featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. After being paired with Calvin Kattar, Holloway showed why his boxing skills rank among some of the best in the UFC. According to UFC Stats, Holloway landed a UFC record of 445 significant strikes (beating his previous record against Brian Ortega by 290 strikes).
Conor McGregor is obsessed with shattering records, so perhaps a fight with the Hawaiian slugger could materialize given their history.
#2. Conor McGregor is disciplined at featherweight
During Conor McGregor's 2015 war with Chad Mendes, he secured the interim featherweight title. At the time, his length posed serious problems for the smaller-framed fighters at 145 pounds.
In his fight with Mendes, the superstar found himself on the receiving end of a blast double-leg takedown. Once on the canvas, McGregor used his length to tie Mendes' legs in order to take less punishment. During the scramble, the Irishman managed to switch into side position to advance his defense while stuck on the bottom.
The extra length and ability to land shots from different ranges were potent weapons during McGregor's time as a featherweight fighter. In particular, the accuracy and distant management set him apart from his peers in his early UFC days. Perhaps a return to that would also see a return to success inside the octagon for him.
#1. Conor McGregor's power translates at featherweight
Of McGregor's seven featherweight bouts, six ended courtesy of his power. During his time at 145 pounds, the only fighter not to succumb to his venomous left hand was a young Max Holloway.
With notable victories against Holloway, Poirier and Mendes, it's clear the Irish megastar was a nightmare to deal with at a lighter weight class. While his age raises questions about a potential move to featherweight, Conor McGregor has never had an issue when it comes to hitting the scale.
Dustin Poirier recently claimed McGregor is the hardest hitter he's faced in the UFC. Despite going through a rough patch, 'The Diamond' suggested the Irish star's hands were as dangerous as ever in their rematch and trilogy fight this year. Should he be able to make the drop back to featherweight, McGregor's immense power could really aid his return to form.
The world will be watching McGregor's next venture in the UFC. The 33-year-old is even eyeing a potential welterweight run. With knockouts recorded at 145,155 and 170 pounds, it will be exciting to see which weight class 'The Notorious' calls home in his next outing.
