Conor McGregor receives chilling message from the ‘Boogieman’ ahead of UFC return
CONOR MCGREGOR has once again been told to vacate the UFC lightweight title by Tony Ferguson.
McGregor, 29, reached the summit of the UFC’s 155lbs division 15 months ago in the main event of UFC 205, a card which saw him etch his name into the promotion's history books.
‘The Notorious’ claimed the lightweight crown with an emphatic second-round TKO victory over Eddie Alvarez, a triumph which saw him become the first fighter in UFC history to hold two titles concurrently.
McGregor hasn’t set foot inside the Octagon since that historic night at Madison Square Garden, much to the frustration of many in the lightweight division.
His lengthy hiatus from the cage resulted in the UFC introducing an interim title into the mix, which Ferguson claimed last November in the main event of UFC 216.
Ever since becoming the interim ruler of the UFC’s 155lbs division, Ferguson has repeatedly called for McGregor to ‘defend or vacate’ his title.
McGregor has yet to relinquish his title or give any indication when he will fight next. Ferguson, who will face Khabib Nurmagomedov for the ‘real’ lightweight title at UFC 223, has grown tiresome of McGregor’s hiatus and has urged him to vacate the title and stop holding the division to ransom.
"Still my b***h, @thenotoriousmma, Mexican boogieman got you, & the team scared Hombre #SetItDownAndWalkAway McNuggets," he tweeted.
Shirtless Richard Branson squares off with Conor McGregor
Still my b***h, @thenotoriousmma, Mexican boogieman got you, & the team scared Hombre
“Tryin’ to stay in the MMA spotlight is irrelevant now, go cash a check boy & let the men defend - TheeChamp #AndTheNew bushido my mat MF’er.”
Less than 24 hour after Ferguson sent his chilling message to McGregor, UFC president Dana White confirmed that the promotion will strip the Irishman of the lightweight crown.
“I said in the last press conference, that fight (Ferguson vs Nurmagomedov will be for the title,” White told TMZ.
“It’s not for the interim title, that fight is for the title.
When told that decision would mean he’d have to strip McGregor of his belt, White added: “Right.”
At this moment in time, it’s currently unknown when McGregor will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon.However, the Irishman is currently discussing his comeback fight with the UFC brass.
"I'm currently in negotiations to face my next opponent," McGregor told Adam Glyn earlier this month. “We have many options.
“There's current interim lightweight champion [Tony Ferguson]. There's an undefeated Dagestani [Khabib Nurmagomedov]. There might be a big Russian event.
"There's obviously the [Nate] Diaz trilogy. Of course, the Mayweather fight is there. We're just at the table at the moment. Times are good."
When pressed on Floyd Mayweather’s antics on social media, he added: “Of course I’m seeing all the stuff Floyd is putting out and I’m seeing all the stuff in the media.
“I’m here with my coach, we’re going to go train tomorrow.
"The mind is clear, the body is sharp and we’re staying ready.”