Conor McGregor won’t give up his championship belt with or without a fight.
That’s what the mixed-martial-arts superstar insists after UFC president Dana White threatened to strip him of his undisputed lightweight championship title at midnight this Saturday.
White confirmed Wednesday at a press conference Khabib Nurmagomedov and Max Holloway will fight for the lightweight championship title at UFC 223, which will take place Saturday night in Brooklyn, N.Y. Tony Ferguson, who withdrew from the bout after tearing a ligament in his knee, will remain the No. 1 contender in the division.
“There is no stripping,” White said, per MMAMania.com. “Tony Ferguson isn’t being stripped. The only person losing his belt on Saturday is Conor. These two (Nurmagomedov and Holloway) are fighting for that belt. The interim these two were supposed to fight for, fight doesn’t happen, now one of these guys will be the champion. Tony is still the number one contender.”
McGregor defiantly declared Thursday morning via Twitter he’ll remain the lightweight champion regardless of whatever action UFC takes.
“You’s’ll strip me of nothing you’s do nothing c–ts,” he wrote.
McGregor hasn’t fought in UFC since November 2016 when he beat Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205, making history as the first UFC fighter to win belts in two weight classes: featherweight and lightweight. UFC forced McGregor to vacate the featherweight title weeks later due to rules prohibiting fighters from holding belts in two weight classes.
The promotion now will strip McGregor of his second title amid his lengthy absence, adding drama and tension to his UFC story ahead of his potential return in September.
