Daniel Cormier needs to boost the stakes for Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler.
After greater than a yr of false begins, McGregor’s octagon return in opposition to Chandler is lastly on the books for June 29 at UFC 303. The battle might be McGregor’s first in additional than two years — the previous two-division UFC champion has not competed since breaking his leg in a July 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier — and Cormier believes such a long-awaited second warrants the introduction of a long-debated new UFC title.
“Right here’s my thought course of, proper? When it comes all the way down to championship alternatives, I’ve mentioned this time and time once more — a variety of occasions it comes all the way down to being on the proper place, on the proper time,” Cormier mentioned Monday on Good Man / Dangerous Man.
“Even going again to me, they’d no intent of giving me my first championship alternative [in 2015]. However then Alexander Gustafsson obtained damage, they referred to as me in, I stepped in. I by no means left the title image after as a result of I used to be dependable. They might all the time name me and say, ‘Hey, do you wish to battle this man for the belt?’ It was additionally the identical means with Dustin Poirier proper now, we see it occurring [at UFC 302], the place, should you’re in the best place on the proper time below the best circumstances, typically it occurs sooner.
“I imagine that in the event that they’re going to do a 165-pound division, it ought to have a reputation hooked up to the load class that’s so huge that it attracts folks’s consideration,” Cormier continued. “Conor McGregor being that title. Michael Chandler, then again, will profit from being in the best place on the proper time, the place these guys would then battle for the tremendous light-weight championship of the world, as a result of that’s what I imagine it’s. As a result of it’s solely 10 kilos heavier than 155, so let’s name it the tremendous light-weight division. Transfer 170 to 175, transfer 185 to 195, hold 205, [keep] heavyweight.”
McGregor and Chandler coached reverse each other on The Final Fighter 31 in early 2023. Each fighters have misplaced three of their previous 4 UFC appearances.
Cormier’s proposal is nothing new. Many UFC athletes have lengthy pushed for the promotion to introduce a 165-pound weight class, arguing that the 15-pound leap between light-weight and welterweight leaves too many fighters caught within the center with out a really perfect division. Proponents of the transfer have additionally pointed to the abundance of expertise between the 155-pound and 170-pound divisions as purpose for the UFC to open up a ninth males’s weight class — and together with it, a ninth belt that might probably headline pay-per-views.
The largest hurdle within the debate has all the time been one title: Dana White. The UFC CEO has lengthy stood in ardent opposition to introducing a 165-pound division.
And in that respect, White has a supporter in Cormier’s co-host Chael Sonnen.
“There isn’t any want for a 165-pound title, for one,” Sonnen mentioned.
“Half two, the fee doesn’t sanction 165-pound fights. Half three, the UFC doesn’t contest a 165-pound division. Half 4, these guys [McGregor and Chandler] mixed are coming off of extra losses than I’ve had in my whole profession.
“So if anyone’s coming again to battle for a legendary belt, it will likely be yours really.”
