Media Do you credit the rise of two x division championship fights to Conor McGregor?

[Sean_wongster_wongmastter]

This weekend, we will once again see history attempted with Volk vs. Islam in a champion vs. champion match.

Prior to McGregor vs. Eddie Alvarez there was only 1 champ vs champ and that was Penn vs GSP nearly 10 years ago.

However, since we had the legendary fight between Eddie and Conor, we’ve been blessed with much more champ vs. champ fights (likely due to the huge success that was Conor vs. Eddie).

We’ve had:

Stipe vs Cormier
Nunes vs Cyborg
Israel vs Jan
TJ vs. Cejudo

And… once again this weekend with Alex vs. Islam
A History Of UFC Champion vs Champion Fights | UFC

 

[20falarVerdades]

Here's what Dana White says about it, and he's usually right:

“That’s the thing — nobody wants to do it. GSP would never move up to 185 to fight Anderson Silva. He wouldn’t do it,” White said when speaking to Russillo and Kanell on Tuesday. “That’s what makes Saturday so fun. You know how many times we wanted to do the GSP-Anderson Silva fight? GSP would not do it. Would not do it. Guys don’t do that stuff. That’s what makes Conor McGregor so unique, so fascinating and so fun.

“For GSP he was moving up one weight class. Conor McGregor jumped up two weight classes.”

 

[Sean_wongster_wongmastter]

Here's what Dana White says about it, and he's usually right:

“That’s the thing — nobody wants to do it. GSP would never move up to 185 to fight Anderson Silva. He wouldn’t do it,” White said when speaking to Russillo and Kanell on Tuesday. “That’s what makes Saturday so fun. You know how many times we wanted to do the GSP-Anderson Silva fight? GSP would not do it. Would not do it. Guys don’t do that stuff. That’s what makes Conor McGregor so unique, so fascinating and so fun.

“For GSP he was moving up one weight class. Conor McGregor jumped up two weight classes.”

Where's that quote from?

 

[RockyLockridge]

yes conor made it common place, before that it was just something that was talked about conor made it look doable and proved that it can be good business

 

[20falarVerdades]

Where's that quote from?

A 2016 interview

https://bloodyelbow.com/2016/03/09/...diaz-georges-st-pierre-vs-anderson-silva-mma/

 

[Smato_rules]

They wouldn’t let Aldo do it unless he vacated the 145lb belt

 

[JustOnce]

Entirely so. Aldo should've been the first to claim 145 and 155 belt. I think he had more than enough to do that at that time.

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

Hendo would have been a three division champ if Pride didn't fold...

 

[GrantB13]

"Credit" makes it sound like an achievement that everyone else gets to benefit from. The UFC used to deny other fighters this opportunity and had they not surely there would have been other before Conor. Aldo would have beaten Edgar if a fight at 155 went as their 145 fights did for example.

 

[DougieJones]

I don't remember Conor ever holding that title....

Spoiler

 

[Sean Ryan]

To be fair this was only announced after Charles got injured.
Otherwise I'd have been against it as it's screwing two divisions over. Again.

 

[HNIC215]

I credit the rise of alcoholism and addiction to Conor McGregor...

 

[WoozyFailGuy]

When I think two division champ, I still think of BJ first, but Conor is 100% the reason so many champ-chmap fights are happening, at least partially, but I'd like it to be two reigning, defending champs. I don't think Islam having his first and second defenses against a FW (no matter how amazing Volk is) is a step in the right direction, as it holds divisions up.

 

[BigOlJeet]

Here's what Dana White says about it, and he's usually right:

“That’s the thing — nobody wants to do it. GSP would never move up to 185 to fight Anderson Silva. He wouldn’t do it,” White said when speaking to Russillo and Kanell on Tuesday. “That’s what makes Saturday so fun. You know how many times we wanted to do the GSP-Anderson Silva fight? GSP would not do it. Would not do it. Guys don’t do that stuff. That’s what makes Conor McGregor so unique, so fascinating and so fun.

“For GSP he was moving up one weight class. Conor McGregor jumped up two weight classes.”

Jumped 2 weight classes my ass, FW was never his natural weight.

 

[Frank Kain]

Credit Dana White for allowing it. He’s just being petty and trashing GSP, as usual. Conor was a meteor, and Dana and Conor capitalized on it. Conor was a great fighter and did challenge himself, no doubt; but, really Randy Couture was the first to really be able to fight 2 different weight classes. Well, and BJ Penn deserves a nod, too. But he really struggled as he went up. Couture didn’t.

 

[b00tysweat]

Jumped 2 weight classes my ass, FW was never his natural weight.

View attachment 1006624

none of the guys at FW are walking around at 145 buddy. Conor never missed weight, can't say that for everybody

 

[CerebralKnievel]

Jumped 2 weight classes my ass, FW was never his natural weight.

View attachment 1006624

That's just a healthy young Irish lad in the prime of his life.

 

[Prince Nephilim]

I always considered BJ Penn the pioneer of jumping up in weight as Champ and challenging the weight above, despite the fact he lost.

He earlier went up from LW to beat the then WW champion in Huges first but he didn’t have the LW belt at the time

 

[BFoe]

I always considered BJ Penn the pioneer of jumping up in weight as Champ and challenging the weight above, despite the fact he lost.

He beat Hughes for the WW belt though.

 

[CrimsonFan]

Hendo would have been a three division champ if Pride didn't fold...

That Gif really makes that stoppage look weak

Still it's crazy how much power Hendo has to faceplant Fedor from that angle.