July 9th in the new MGM-AEG Arena in Las Vegas. We're marking it down in our calendars already as the biggest night in MMA history. Holly Holm has already been pencilled in to defend her title against Ronda Rousey at UFC 200 and, according to John Kavanagh, the other fight we all want to see could soon be added to that card. But that doesn't mean we'll have to wait until July to see Conor McGregor in action again.
It seems very likely that McGregor will now move up to lightweight for his next fight. Dos Anjos vs Cerrone next weekend will get an awful lot of new viewers considering the winner is set to defend the lightweight title against the undisputed featherweight champ.
McGregor's comments in the aftermath of UFC 194 were exactly what we expected. He was moving up to take the lightweight belt but there's no chance he's vacating the title he's worked so hard to get his hands on. His coach John Kavanagh has now expanded on those hopes and he has fans dreaming of a title defence against Frankie Edgar at UFC 200.
Before that however, will be a move to lightweight and that title shot at the winner of Dos Anjos vs Cerrone. Speaking to Ariel Helwani on the MMA Hour, Kavanagh confirmed that there had been talks with UFC matchmaker Joe Silva, who effectively told him that McGregor can do whatever the hell he wants now.
I do think the next one will be lightweight for the belt. Maybe that's going to be around April. March, April, something like that. Maybe that and then July, UFC 200. Maybe he'll defend the featherweight belt against Frankie on that card.
We'd thoroughly like that 'maybe' taken away but we'll take it as it is for the time being. The move to lightweight will be great to see, however, the featherweight division has really turned into the McGregor show and the chance to see the Dubliner defend that title against the only real contender he's yet to beat would be absolutely huge.
The fact that it's looking possible that it could be on the biggest card in UFC history just makes it all the more special. In terms of PPV numbers that title is easily held by UFC 100 back in 2009. Dana White and co. put on a hell of a show to mark that landmark event and you have to think there's something similar in the pipeline this time around.
Holm vs Rousey and McGregor vs Edgar would certainly go some way to ensuring the numbers get close to that record.
You could listen to Kavanagh's thought from 7.37 below.
