Conor McGregor Would be Down to Face Rafael dos Anjos After Dustin Poirier Fight

At last night’s UFC on ESPN+ 41 event, former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos was successful in his return to lightweight against Paul Felder, winning a five-round split decision. In a post-match interview with ESPN, dos Anjos noted his interest in a fight with another former UFC lightweight champion, Conor McGregor. McGregor is currently slated to fight former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier at UFC 257 257 on January 23.

Following his win over Paul Felder, dos Anjos told the ESPN broadcast team on what’s next for him: “I think I wanna face whoever is on the line for that belt. At 36 years old, tonight was my 30th UFC appearance. If Khabib is really retired, it will leave the division wide open. If you look at the division, me and Conor, we are the only champions in that division. I think if the championship is open, me and Conor is the fight to make.”

Speaking on last night’s UFC main event, McGregor stated via his Twitter account, “Respect to both men for making this fight and event happen tonight. Good fight! I’m in for sure.” He later added on a dos Anjos fight, “Dustin first, but I’m down for it all. Throwback to this classic lol. Look at Dana hahahah Vintage MMA entertainment. El Chap!”

McGregor and dos Anjos were previously scheduled to face each other in the original scheduled main event for UFC 196 for dos Anjos’ lightweight title at the time. However, dos Anjos was forced to withdraw about two weeks before the fight was scheduled to take place due to injury. Instead, McGregor faced Nate Diaz, who he lost to.

Later on, dos Anjos returned to the Octagon at UFC Fight Night 90 in July 2016, where he lost his lightweight title to Eddie Alvarez. Conor McGregor then faced and beat Nate Diaz in a rematch at UFC 202 in August 2016. McGregor would then go on to win the lightweight title from Alvarez at UFC 205 in November to become the first two-weight champion in UFC history.

The state of the UFC lightweight title is currently up in the air after current champion Khabib Nurmagomedov announced his retirement from MMA after beating Justin Gaethje. However, the UFC lightweight title has not yet been officially stripped or been declared vacant. You can view McGregor’s tweets on the subject below:

Respect to both men for making this fight and event happen tonight.
Good fight!
I’m in for sure.

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 15, 2020

Dustin first, but I’m down for it all. Throwback to this classic lol.
Look at Dana hahahah
Vintage MMA entertainment.
El Chap! pic.twitter.com/GiC3yl8HB6

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 15, 2020