With Conor McGregor’s comeback fight against Michael Chandler finally announced for UFC 303 on June 29th, Daniel Cormier wants to see the integration of a new weight class.
When Dana White officially announced the Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler fight – set for International Fight Week – at the UFC 300 post-fight press conference earlier this month, he announced that it’d take place at welterweight.
The Irishman’s first fight against Nate Diaz was contested at 170lbs, and his 2020 fight against Donald Cerrone was also at welterweight.
‘Iron’ Mike on the other hand began his career at welterweight before moving down to lightweight. Despite that, the 37-year-old has competed at a catchweight of 165lbs three times and won on all three occasions.
Daniel Cormier proposes a 165lb division be added to the UFC
Before the official announcement, there were several rumors that the fight would be contested at 165lbs and it would mark the inaugural fight in a newly created weight class.
Despite that not being the case – at least yet – Michael Chandler recently admitted that he wouldn’t be surprised if the bout agreement was sent over and it said the fight was for the 165lb title.
UFC commentator, Daniel Cormier, believes this should still happen and that the UFC should add a ‘super lightweight’ division, with McGregor and Chandler fighting for the title.
“We see it happening where if you’re in the right place at the right time under the right circumstances, sometimes that happens faster. I believe that’s what Michael Chandler is saying may happen right now.” Cormier said on the recent episode of Good Guy/Bad Guy.
The former two-weight world champion went on to explain how the new division should be added, only if it has a big star attached to it, which in this case, it does.
“I believe if they’re going to do a 165lb division, it should have a name attached to the weight class that is so big that it draws people’s attention.
“Conor McGregor being that name, Michael Chandler on the other hand will benefit from being in the right place at the right time where these guys will then fight for the super lightweight championship, because that’s what I believe it is.” Cormier added.
New weight divisions are something that have been desired by fans for several years now, however, there have never been serious considerations, with it being something that’d have to be approved by separate commissions.
Michael Chandler believes Conor McGregor is ‘not what he used to be’
By the time McGregor and Chandler finally step in the Octagon, it’ll have been three years since the Irishman last competed.
After suffering a career-ending leg break in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264, Michael Chandler believes ‘The Notorious’ won’t be ‘what he used to be’ and that he is the better fighter.
“What I need to work on for this fight is continuing to be the best version of myself, maybe becoming more tactical, realizing that I’ve earned this, and realizing that I am the better fighter and the tougher fighter.
“I think I hit harder than he does, I would venture to say his time out of the cage has lent itself to his timing not being what it used to be, his movement not being what it used to be, his reflexes not being what they used to be.” Chandler said on the Shawn Ryan Show.
If the fight is contested at the announced 170lbs, both fighters could earn themselves a welterweight title shot with an impressive win, simply due to the significance of the fight and the name value attached to it.
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