Connect with us

MMA

Conor McGregor can return to lightweight with the right plan, says former foe Jose Aldo: "Anyone can come in and snatch the title"

Published

on

Conor McGregor can return to lightweight with the right plan, says former foe Jose Aldo: "Anyone can come in and snatch the title"

Jose Aldo doesn't subscribe to the theory that Conor McGregor can never return to lightweight.

McGregor hasn't had a lightweight bout since fracturing his fibula and tibia in a trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier back in 2021. His short-lived return to the Octagon against Max Holloway, which also ended in an injury, was contested at 170 pounds.

While many believe McGregor is far past the days of competing at 155 pounds, Aldo isn't convinced. In an interview with Guilherme Cruz of MMAFighting, the UFC Hall of Famer said McGregor can return to lightweight if he has the right plan in place.

“Yeah, I think first he needs to go through some dietary re-education to see if he can get back down and be lighter again,†Aldo said. “I think, in my opinion, he has the frame for 155, so it would be good. And I'll tell you this: today, if Conor fights at 155 and beats a name [that isn't necessarily at the top], the division is wide open again. To me, the division has kind of stalled there. Ilia [Topuria] moved up and lost to [Justin] Gaethje, so it's a bit of a mess there, and anyone can come in and snatch the title.â€

McGregor is vowing to make a strong comeback after suffering a knee injury during his UFC 329 return. The rematch with Holloway ended just past the one-minute mark. The “Notorious†one suffered ACL and meniscus injuries, and he will be out until at least the summer of 2027.

Over the years, McGregor and reigning UFC lightweight titleholder Justin Gaethje have traded barbs. Gaethje has admitted that fighting McGregor before he eventually retires is his preference. Some fans are skeptical of the bout ever coming to fruition.

Do you think there is any chance Conor McGregor returns to the lightweight division? Sound off in the comments below.

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM


Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

MMA

Morning Report: Dana White shoots down $10M Misfits Boxing rumor, tells Eddie Hearn to meet in gym ‘and we can f*cking do it’

Published

on

Morning Report: Dana White shoots down $10M Misfits Boxing rumor, tells Eddie Hearn to meet in gym ‘and we can f*cking do it’

UFC 334 goes down this Saturday with two pretty damn intriguing title fights.

In the main event, undisputed* heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane goes for his first defense against, yes, one of the most talked-about fighters of 2026, the undefeated Josh Hokit. Folks, there’s a well-above zero chance that Hokit closes out the year as the UFC’s heavyweight king. Wowza.

Then you have the bantamweight matchup of destiny between champion Kayla Harrison and the GOAT herself Amanda Nunes. Where these two legends and the division go after UFC 334 is anybody’s guess, but this fight had to happen and it’s finally going down in Madison Square Garden.

So what’s your level of excitement as we kick off fight week?

Continue Reading

MMA

Andre Galvao says rules changed after he accepted Rousimar Palhares rematch

Published

on

Andre Galvao says rules changed after he accepted Rousimar Palhares rematch
Andre
Galvao is embracing a daunting challenge as he prepares to face
Rousimar
“Toquinho†Palhares at ACBJJ 23 on Nov. 13 in Rio de
Janeiro.

The Brazilian grappler will face Palhares in a rematch of their
2011 ADCC final, this time under rules that permit strikes to the
body.

Andre Galvao prepares for Rousimar Palhares at ACBJJ 23 under
rules allowing body strikes

Galvao, 44, told Sherdog that a renewed desire to compete and an
attractive offer from the promotion prompted his return. He
initially expected the rematch to follow the rules of their
previous encounter, but the format changed as plans developed.

“First they got my yes, then came the surprises,†Galvao said.
“Later on they told me it would be up to 100kg (220 pounds); then
that it would be nine minutes of fighting instead of seven; and
finally they informed me that punches and kicks would be
allowed.â€

The prospect of facing Palhares under those conditions concerned
some of Galvao's friends and students. However, the Atos Jiu-Jitsu
leader believes his MMA experience has prepared him for the
challenge.

“Several friends came to me and said, ‘You're crazy, coming back
right away against Toquinho and with strikes allowed?'†Galvao
recalled. “The fact is that since I built my career more in
Jiu-Jitsu and Grappling, the youngsters forget that I've already
had seven MMA fights, and during that period I was training with
champions like Anderson, Rafael Feijão and Ronaldo Jacare, so
taking punches isn't exactly something that scares me that
much.â€

Galvao nevertheless recognizes the threat Palhares poses.

“Toquinho is a monster, he's incredibly strong. I joke that I'm
prepared to face a monster on Friday the 13th,†Galvao said. “That
fight of ours in the ADCC final in London in 2011 is still
considered one of the best in history. I'm sure we're going to put
on another great fight and make history again.â€

Galvao won their first meeting 9-4 in the under-88-kilogram ADCC
final in Nottingham, England. Their rematch will headline ACBJJ 23
at Farmasi Arena.

Continue Reading

MMA

Johnny Walker wanted to take it slow at heavyweight, then UFC called

Published

on

Johnny Walker wanted to take it slow at heavyweight, then UFC called
Johnny
Walker's heavyweight run is going faster than he planned.

Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweights Sean Brady
and Gabriel
Bonfim were originally scheduled to headline
UFC Vegas 124 on Nov. 7 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas. However,
Brady pulled out because of a severe staph infection and the
promotion didn't book a replacement to keep Bonfim on the card.
Walker then accepted the headlining matchup against Waldo
Cortes-Acosta on nine days' notice.

What a victory over Waldo Cortes-Acosta could mean for Johnny
Walker

Walker (23-10, 1 NC) made his heavyweight debut against Mick Parkin
in October, scoring a bonus-winning first-round knockout. The
former light heavyweight recently revealed he originally wanted to
take things slow in his new weight class.

“I was thinking to take small steps and go slow in the division,â€
Walker said at media day ahead of UFC Vegas 124. “See how I feel at
heavyweight. That was my plan. God had different plans than me. God
has better plans for me.â€

Cortes-Acosta (17-4) was riding a three-fight win streak before
losing to Alexander
Volkov and Curtis
Blaydes this year. A win over “Salsa Boy†will launch Walker
into the heavyweight Top 10 in just his second appearance in the
division.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe Us To Receive Our Latest News Directly In Your Inbox!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Trending