Dana White: Conor McGregor Will Defend 145-Pound Title, Stephen Thompson Gets Welterweight Title Shot

Conor McGregor won the featherweight title in December. He’s fought one time since capturing the belt, and it was outside of the 145-pound division. At UFC 202, McGregor will fight for the second time outside of the weight class that he holds the title. After that, UFC president Dana White expects “The Notorious” to defend his crown.

“I fully expect Conor to come back and defend his 145-pound title,” White told UFC.com.

McGregor rematches Nate Diaz on Aug. 20. Diaz believes his older brother, Nick, should get a title shot in the welterweight division against newly crowned champion Tyron Woodley. White revealed that Woodley will faces Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson in his first title defense later this year.

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“I think that Nate feels his brother should have the fight at 170, but Nick is not going to come back and fight for the title right away,” said White. “There are other guys deserving of a title shot. Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson is going to fight for the 170-pound title and then we’ll see what happens with Nick and Nate.”

Nick Diaz hasn’t fought since January 2015.  He was suspended for 18 months for testing positive to marijuana metabolites at UFC 183.  That suspension ended on August 1.

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