At the turn of the year Conor McGregor set out to become the first simultaneous two-weight UFC world champion.
On November 12, at UFC 205 in the main event of the promotion’s momentous New York debut, the divisive Irishman will get the opportunity to fulfill that ambition as it was confirmed today the featherweight champion will take on lightweight king Eddie Alvarez.
The pair head up a loaded card which will also feature Tyron Woodley’s maiden defence of the welterweight title against Stephen Thompson while Polish compatriots Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Karolina Kowalkiewicz meet for the women’s strawweight belt.
Despite reports last week that McGregor was no longer expected to fight at Madison Square Garden because of a foot injury, UFC president Dana White confirmed he will have his shot at history while also revealing, should he emerge victorious, that the 28-year-old will have to surrender one of the belts.
“So this fight’s coming up and he wants to try to gain both belts. He will give up one of the titles after that fight in New York,” White told ESPN.
It’s not the first time McGregor has been scheduled to add the 155lbs strap to his featherweight belt. He was initially due to face then-lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 196 on March 5 but the Brazilian was forced to withdraw from the clash a couple of weeks out due to a broken foot
Nate Diaz stepped in on short notice and choked McGregor out in the second round before the Irishman exacted revenge at UFC 202 in August with a majority decision win.
McGregor was said to still be feeling the affects of that five-round war but despite White’s advice was keen to fight in November.
“Conor and I were going back and forth about the foot and I said ‘listen you’re not a doctor’ and he told me ‘I know my body better than you do’,” White said. “So I’ll give him that and we made the fight. It’s the reason we all love Conor McGregor.”
