Daniel Cormier suggests introducing a new UFC title for the long-awaited fight between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler, proposing the creation of a 165-pound division, despite opposition from UFC CEO Dana White and others.
Daniel Cormier’s got a proposition. He reckons the McGregor-Chandler bout needs higher stakes.
McGregor’s return to the octagon against Chandler is finally happening. It’s set for June 29 at UFC 303. It’s been over two years since McGregor’s last fight. Remember when he broke his leg in that 2021 loss to Poirier? Yeah, it’s been a while.
Cormier thinks this long-awaited comeback deserves something special. Like a new UFC title.
Cormier shared his thoughts on Good Guy / Bad Guy. He’s always said that championship opportunities often boil down to being in the right place at the right time.
He knows it firsthand. Back in 2015, he wasn’t even considered for a championship opportunity. But then Gustafsson got injured. Cormier stepped in. And he never left the title picture after that.
He sees the same thing happening with Poirier at UFC 302. Sometimes, it just happens faster if you’re in the right place at the right time.
Cormier’s got an idea. If UFC is introducing a 165-pound division, it needs a big name. Like Conor McGregor. Michael Chandler would also benefit from this. They could fight for the super lightweight championship of the world.
McGregor and Chandler were coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 31 in 2023. Both have lost three of their last four UFC fights.
This 165-pound weight class idea isn’t new. Many UFC fighters have been pushing for it. They argue that the 15-pound gap between lightweight and welterweight is too big. It leaves many fighters without an ideal division.
The biggest obstacle? Dana White. The UFC CEO has always been against a 165-pound division.
Chael Sonnen, Cormier’s co-host, agrees with White. He doesn’t see the need for a 165-pound title. Plus, the commission doesn’t sanction 165-pound fights. And the UFC doesn’t have a 165-pound division.
And let’s not forget, McGregor and Chandler have more losses combined than Sonnen’s entire career.
So, if anyone’s fighting for a mythical belt, Sonnen thinks it should be him.