Conor McGregor can hold two UFC titles, says Dana White
By Michael Kelleher
Last Updated: 07/01/16 12:01pm
UFC president Dana White is open to featherweight champion Conor McGregor holding two belts, if he elects to move up in weight to challenge for the lightweight title.
McGregor made history in December when he finished long-time featherweight king Jose Aldo in 13 seconds - the fastest ever knockout in a UFC title fight - to become the undisputed champion.
After the fight, McGregor made it clear he has his sights set on moving up to 155 lbs to challenge for the lightweight belt and become the third man in UFC history to win titles at different weight classes, following Randy Couture and BJ Penn.
Speaking on Wednesday's episode of UFC Tonight, White said: "Conor has said that he would like to win the 155-pound belt and fight four times a year and defend both belts.
"If anybody can do it, Conor McGregor can. This guy has pretty well done everything he said he would do. I'm interested."
In the past, the UFC has stated it would rather a champion vacates his title if he intends to move up or down a weight class.
"That is true that normally I would say if you're going to move up in weight, you have to give up the belt," White said.
"But Conor has done everything he said he would do. He loves to fight. He really likes money, so if anybody could do it, it's probably him."
McGregor's next opponent has been the subject of much speculation with a move up to challenge lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos or a featherweight title defence against Frankie Edgar appearing to be the most likely options.
Edgar has been loudly campaigning for a shot at McGregor but the Irishman's coach John Kavanagh is on record as saying he wants his fighter to take a break from what is a severe weight cut down to featherweight.
"I definitely did think his body could do with a break for a little from 145 lbs," Kavanagh said, speaking on The MMA Hour in December.
"So, do the lightweight belt next, and maybe just alternate lightweight belt and featherweight belt defences.
"He is a busy fighter. Any time I would like him to take a break I notice the next day he's tweeting about some fight that just got dropped and he wants to be in that weekend. I have to run with it now.
"This is the way he is, this is how he prefers to be. So let's take both belts. It's only a 10-pound difference."
