Conor McGregor set to fight for UFC lightweight title in March

Conor McGregor looks set to get his shot at becoming only the UFC’s third ever two-division champion - with overnight reports in the US claiming he will get his lightweight title shot on March 5th.

That means the Crumlin native could make history before St Patrick’s day - with the reports claiming he will fight reigning lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos at the Mandalay Bay hotel, Las Vegas, rather than in his usual hunting ground in the MGM Grand - less than two weeks before the celebration of Ireland’s patron saint.

The featherweight champion, fresh from his 13 second KO of Brazilian José Aldo, will be joined on the UFC 197 card by Holly Holm who will make her first defence of the bantamweight crown she took from Ronda Rousey, against fellow American Miesha Tate.

For McGregor, a featherweight defence against Frankie Edgar would then likely follow.

UFC president Dana White had initially seemed hesitant to allow McGregor the chance to simultaneously fight in the two divisions, without vacating his featherweight title, although earlier this week he made clear his plans for making exactly that possible -

“Conor has said he would like to win the 155-pound belt and fight four times a year and defend both belts,” White said on the ‘UFC Tonight” show.

“If anybody can do it, Conor McGregor can. This guy has done pretty much everything he said he would do so I’m interested.”