Conor McGregor is slated to make his return to the UFC for a highly anticipated bout following an extended hiatus. However, which weight division will he be competing in for this comeback? Speculations are circulating that Dana White might unveil a new weight class specifically for The Notorious. Before delving into that, let’s determine the ideal Conor McGregor weight category.
Since entering the UFC arena in 2013, Conor McGregor has already claimed victories across three different weight divisions. He made history as the first simultaneous dual-division UFC champion, holding both the Featherweight and Lightweight titles. His impact in the octagon is unparalleled.
Conor McGregor Weight Category Analyzed:
Throughout his MMA career, including his UFC tenure, Conor McGregor has fought in three distinct weight classes. He has competed in the Featherweight division (145 lbs), Lightweight division (155 lbs), and the Welterweight division (170 lbs). Amazingly, he has secured victories in all these categories.
Known globally as the “Notorious,” the Irish fighter’s last bout was in the Lightweight division against former Interim UFC Lightweight Champion Dustin Poirier, which ended in a defeat. This fight concluded the trilogy between the two adversaries, resulting in a victory for Poirier and a leg fracture for McGregor.
From his debut in 2008 until his latest fight in 2021, McGregor has amassed a record of 22-6-0. We have dissected McGregor’s performances across various weight divisions below:
Conor McGregor in the Featherweight Category:
Conor McGregor made his Featherweight debut against Gary Morris at Cage Fight 2 in Dublin, Ireland, claiming victory via TKO. His subsequent bout saw him triumph over Mo Taylor, but he then suffered his first defeat to Artemij Sitenkov.
McGregor briefly moved up a division before returning to Featherweight where he faced Connor Dillon with a dominant performance. Following victories over Mike Wood, Paddy Doherty, and Steve O’Keefe, McGregor clinched the Cage Warriors Featherweight Championship by submitting Dave Hill in June 2012.
The next year saw McGregor debut in the UFC against Marcus Brimage, where he overwhelmed his opponents. This victory kicked off a seven-fight winning streak, with wins over Diego Brandão, Dustin Poirier, and Dennis Siver. McGregor emerged victorious over Chad Mendes at UFC 189, securing the UFC Featherweight Championship.
Following this, McGregor famously knocked out José Aldo in a mere 13 seconds to unify the WEC and UFC Featherweight titles at UFC 194. This feat remains the quickest knockout in a title fight in UFC history. However, McGregor was later stripped of the title, making Aldo the undisputed champion.
Conor McGregor in the Lightweight Category:
While dominating the Featherweight division, McGregor simultaneously competed in the Lightweight division. Eventually, he transitioned to the 155 lbs weight class full-time. McGregor’s Lightweight debut took place in Dublin, Ireland, against Stephen Bailey, where he won with a TKO.
He then conquered Artur Sowinski and defeated Ivan Buchinger to obtain the Cage Warriors Lightweight Championship in December 2012. McGregor’s first UFC Lightweight bout was against Eddie Alvarez for the UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 205.
During the fight, McGregor dropped Alvarez multiple times in the first round before achieving a second-round TKO. This match is widely recognized as McGregor’s best performance in the UFC. However, due to inactivity, McGregor was stripped of the title post-UFC 223, with Khabib Nurmagomedov claimed as the undisputed champion.
McGregor then faced Nurmagomedov for the UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 229, a match which was one of the most anticipated and viewed in MMA history. Khabib secured victory by submitting McGregor with a neck crank in the fourth round.
Post-fight, McGregor announced his retirement through social media. Nonetheless, he returned a year later to engage in two lightweight matches against Dustin Poirier, both of which he lost.
Conor McGregor in the Welterweight Category:
Conor McGregor’s debut in the Welterweight division was against Nate Diaz at UFC 196, where Diaz handed him his first UFC loss by submission in the second round. They rematched at UFC 200, with McGregor winning via majority decision.
Upon coming out of retirement in 2020, McGregor fought once more in the Welterweight division against Donald Cerrone at UFC 246. He claimed victory via a TKO in 40 seconds of the first round, marking his only win in the Welterweight category so far.
What is Conor McGregor’s Current Weight?
Before his injury, Conor McGregor weighed about 155 lbs (70 kg), but he added significant muscle mass during his recovery. Recently, viral social media photos showcased McGregor looking notably muscular yet lean. MMA experts estimate his current weight to be approximately 180 to200 lbs (approximately 81 to 91 kg) at the moment.
Is Conor McGregor Ready to Enter the Middleweight Class?
Conor McGregor has confirmed that he will be stepping into the Middleweight division upon his return to the octagon for his bout against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 on June 29, 2024, during the International Fight Week. “And the weight Mr. Chandler, 185 pounds,” McGregor stated at the end of the teaser, delivered with his characteristic notorious laughter.
Former UFC Flyweight and Bantamweight Champion Henry Cejudo recently brought up the possibility of McGregor competing in the Middleweight division on his YouTube channel. “From the start, he mentioned that we’re going to compete at 185 pounds,” Cejudo said. “
“I had actually pointed out, if you recall, Conor has the capacity to fight at 155, 170, and guess what folks? Even 185 – and that’s precisely what he’s done. Conor McGregor – will he triumph? I’m uncertain.”
Cejudo added:
“Yet the mere fact that Conor has fought at 145, 155, 170, and now 185, is incredible. He might aim to be the first person to state, ‘Hey, I competed in four different weight categories in the UFC’ – which is absolutely unbelievable, absolutely insane.”
Which Division will Conor McGregor Compete in During His Return?
Conor McGregor declared that he would fight at 185 lbs in the teaser announcing his next bout, which will be against Michael Chandler at UFC 303. However, there are speculations within the MMA community that Dana White might be introducing a new weight class for Conor McGregor between the Lightweight and Welterweight divisions.
If these rumors hold true, the new weight category for McGregor and Chandler could be either 165 lbs or 170 lbs. Fighters like Tyson Fury and Nate Diaz have previously criticized the UFC for the large gap between the Lightweight and Welterweight divisions.
UFC competitor Rafael Fiziev recently addressed the speculations regarding the new 165 lbs division. “It’s not mere hearsay; to my knowledge, it’s already confirmed. I’ve heard that the UFC has already established something there,” he stated. Therefore, McGregor vs Chandler might occur in an entirely new category.
Final Judgment:
Conor McGregor has achieved victories in three distinct weight categories, but most of his triumphs came in the Featherweight division. His combination of speed, skills, and power made him a dominant force in that class. Later in his career, he transitioned full-time to the Lightweight division.
This didn’t turn out well as Dustin Poirier defeated McGregor in consecutive matches. The Notorious is now intending to move up even further and compete in the Middleweight division. This might be a beneficial move as McGregor’s speed has reduced with age, enabling him to better use his strength and skills in this division.
Thus, historically Featherweight is McGregor’s most successful weight class, but moving forward, Welterweight and Middleweight might be his best opportunities. That’s it for this article. Feel free to express your opinions in the comments.
Common Queries:
What weight classes has Conor McGregor competed in?:
Conor McGregor has fought in three distinct weight categories: the Featherweight division (145 lbs), Lightweight division (155 lbs), and the Welterweight division (170 lbs). However, he is expected to move to the Middleweight class (185 lbs) for his return fight against Michael Chandler at UFC 303.
Has Conor McGregor fought in the Welterweight division?:
Conor McGregor has competed in the Welterweight division three times in his UFC career. He faced Nate Diaz twice, losing the first match but winning the rematch. His third Welterweight battle was against Donald Cerrone at UFC 246, where he emerged victorious with a commanding performance.
Is Conor McGregor now a Middleweight fighter?:
Conor McGregor declared his return to the octagon to fight Michael Chandler during International Fight Week at UFC 303 via a teaser video. He also mentioned that the bout would occur at 185 lbs. McGregor has gained a significant amount of muscle during his recovery in order to compete at Middleweight.
Has Conor McGregor retired from the UFC?:
No, McGregor has not retired from the UFC. He was sidelined due to a tibia fracture he suffered during his latest fight against Dustin Poirier. The “Notorious” is set to return at UFC 303 to compete against Michael Chandler. Previously, McGregor announced his retirement on social media in 2019 but later reversed that decision.