Michael Johnson Thinks Conor McGregor Vacated His Belt When He Decided to Fight Floyd Mayweather

In an interview with MMA Junkie, Michael Johnson said that he thinks UFC lightweight champion vacated his rights to the belt when he agreed to fight Floyd Mayweather. Here are highlights:

On the status of the lightweight belt: “We don’t have a champ in this division. Once Conor signed that contract to go box, to me, he vacated the title. That’s how it should be. I’ve beaten two of the top guys up there. I want to make a strong case for fighting for a title or an interim title. I think that’s in my future.”

On why he’s fighting Justin Gaethje: “I feel like they looked at the top 10 and were like, ‘We want Michael Johnson, he’s the easiest guy in there to fight.’ I feel tested. That’s my motivation, that’s where it’s coming from. It’s his first fight in the UFC. I don’t need to make him nervous. He’s nervous enough already. He’s fought guys who have been everywhere around the world, who have been in promotions, who have been champions, but he’s fought them at the end of the rope. I’ve fought the best of the best in the middle of their prime. I’ve lost to some, I’ve beaten some. He’s been around the corner, but I have as well. My competition blows his out of the water.”

On letting more of his personality out: “I’m starting to release more of Michael Johnson. I think I’ve kind of played the good guy slash company role whose not really going to start much (expletive). But now I just did (some talking) to get under his skin a little bit and show my personality a little bit more. I just wanted to see how he would react and he did exactly what we thought he was going to do.”