Conor McGregor is 8/11 favourite to beat Rafael dos Anjos on March 5.
But, if it were to happen, it wouldn’t be just any regular victory.
With one more win, McGregor can make history by becoming the first man to simultaneously hold two titles in two different UFC weight divisions.
And, as the price suggests, many are backing him to do so.
The 10lb jump-up in weight isn’t insane but the fact that ‘The Notorious’ has hinted that he has plans to subsequently move up to welterweight – 25lbs heavier than his typical fighting weight – has many fans concerned.
Top welterweight challenger Stephen Thompson, who took down Johny Hendricks in the main event of UFC Fight Night 82 on Saturday, doesn’t share those concerns…
“I heard he walks around at about 180lbs anyway,” Thompson told Boxeo Mundial. “So he walks around fairly big and the cut to 170 wouldn’t be hard. He’s used to cutting to 145 lbs.
“I think he’d be strong in the division, to be honest with you. People are saying that he’s short but the 170 lb division is full of shorter guys, guys who are 5 ft 9 in or 5 ft 10 in. I think he would do fairly well.”
As is going to be the case with every fighter with a microphone in front of them over the next 27 days, ‘Wonderboy’ was also asked for his thoughts on the upcoming super-fight between McGregor and lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos.
Thompson said: “I think Conor McGregor, if he works on his distance management, which is what he was working on with Jose Aldo. (If he) Keeps from getting taken down… I understand that everybody watched the Chad Mendes fight, he was taken down like crazy.
“I don’t feel that he has terrible takedown defence. I just think that he wasn’t prepared for the pace of Chad Mendes and I know that dos Anjos has a pace fairly similar.
“So I think Conor McGregor has got to watch out for that and dos Anjos has got to keep that pace up, work the takedown and put it all together if he’s going to defeat Conor McGregor.”
