It seems like Conor McGregor’s time as the lightweight champion may be numbered if he doesn’t defend the title. Speaking on Sunday night’s FOX Sports 1 UFC Fight Night St. Louis post-fight show, UFC President Dana White made it clear that if the current lightweight champ doesn’t defend the title sooner than September, he’ll be stripped of the belt and will book Ferguson vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov for the real title.
“Conor has said he’s thinking about coming back in September,” White said. “If he comes back in September, that’s almost two years - that can’t happen. It’s not fair to everybody else. Love Conor, respect Conor, love everything that he’s done for this company, everybody knows that, I say it all the time. The belt would have to move on."
“You do Khabib vs. Tony, we’re working on that fight now. If and when Conor comes back, he would get the first crack at the title.”
McGregor won the lightweight title back at UFC 205 in November 2016, but hasn’t competed in the UFC ring since then. White did not confirm a date for the potential lightweight title clash but rumors have been circling online that the UFC is targeting UFC 223 in April.
Check out the video below of White's statement.