In many ways, it’s hard to imagine Conor McGregor every truly adding to the legacy he’s already carved out in MMA. The first man to win simultaneous title belts in two divisions. Easily the highest paid mixed martial artist of all time. And undoubtedly the biggest, most notable star the sport has ever seen.
Even with all his legal troubles (and troubling accusations) outside the Octagon, it’s pretty obvious that the day McGregor walks away from mixed martial arts, he’ll be walking straight into the UFC Hall of Fame. As much as that accolade can define greatness, he’s surely earned it.
Nonetheless, in a recent interview with ESPN, Dana White was asked to envision a universe where McGregor not only beats Dustin Poirier this coming Saturday, at UFC 264, but then goes on to win back the lightweight title from Charles Oliveira. In that potential future, the UFC president feels McGregor would truly solidify his status as one of the all time great fighters in MMA history.
“He’ll go down as one of the greatest of all time,” White expounded (transcript via Middle Easy). “To have lost the belt, gone through the things that have happened to him personally, professionally. Then to come back again, beat the the number one contender who just beat him, and then fight for the title and win…”
“Financially, it’s off the charts and professionally, it’s off the charts. It would make him go down in history as one of the all-time greats.”
UFC 264 takes place on July 10th, at the T-Mobile arena in Las Vegas, NV. Alongside the lightweight main event, the card is expected to feature a welterweight top contender’s bout between former title challengers Gilbert Burns and Stephen Thompson. Stay tuned to Bloody Elbow for more news and notes as Fight Night approaches.
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