RDA (left) and Conor (right) ended up not facing each other. Photo: Jeff Bottari/UFC
Current UFC featherweight champion, Conor McGregor believes that he would be in a completely different situation in his career if Rafael dos Anjos, former lightweight title holder, had not been injured before their fight in March at UFC 196.
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The two athletes would face each other in an attempt for McGregor to become the only fighter in UFC history to win two belts simultaneously. However, the Brazilian was injured weeks before the fight, which made room for the arrival of Nate diaz to the card – the American ended up submitting McGregor.
In a press conference, McGregor believes he would have knocked the Brazilian down if the fight had taken place. “Realistically speaking, I should have been UFC champion in two divisions if I had fought with Rafael dos Anjos without him having chickened out and shown up. The blows I landed on Nate in the first eight minutes of the fight would have knocked him out. Rafael dos Anjos. I have no doubts. I would be sitting here as a world champion in two categories,” he said, in an excerpt reproduced by the “MMA Fighting” website.
Regardless, McGregor guarantees that he is highly focused for the rematch with Diaz. “But I don’t think about it. I'm glad this happened, because it forced me to reevaluate my preparation, look at the path I was taking. This fight is worth a lot to me, more than any money or gold. I gave up a lot of money, opportunities in Hollywood for this fight,” he said.
Dos Anjos lost the lightweight belt in July when he was knocked out by Eddie Alvarez. Diaz and McGregor, in turn, will rematch on August 20th, in the main fight of UFC 202.
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