Conor McGregor is calling for a UFC title shot, but boss Dana White has other ideas
- Charles Oliveira successfully defended his UFC lightweight championship Saturday.
- Conor McGregor wants to challenge Oliveira for his 155-pound title.
Conor McGregor is calling for a UFC title shot, but boss Dana White has other ideas.
The lightweight landscape was initially in a state of flux in the post-Khabib Nurmagomedov era, but it is now becoming increasingly clear that Charles Oliveira is the undeniable king of the division.
Late-blooming Oliveira won the vacant 155-pound title with a knockout win over Michael Chandler in May 2021, and then defended the belt with a submission win Saturday over Dustin Poirier.
Having also beaten Tony Ferguson, Kevin Lee, and Jared Gordon in a 10-fight winning streak, the Brazilian 32-year-old is in the midst of building an extraordinary resume in the world of MMA.
He is also not shy of challengers for his crown, with former two-weight UFC champ McGregor the latest man to call him out.
"So what date am I fighting Oliveira?" — McGregor tweeted Monday.
Oliveira seems happy to take on all-comers, particularly the one man who can draw box office money like no one else in UFC history.
"What do you think about this weekend? I'm ready, I'm still in town, and there's an upcoming event," Oliveira told McGregor.
"Let's go, baby."
Dana White has other ideas
But an Oliveira and McGregor world championship main event is not something we're likely to see any time soon as the UFC's president said there's a more suitable challenger in the roster.
Justin Gaethje's name was brought up at the post-UFC 269 press conference Saturday in Las Vegas.
"Yeah, it makes sense," White said.
It is a fight Gaethje would seemingly take in an instant.
"Can't wait," he tweeted.