As the torchbearer of the previous generation’s legends, Conor McGregor has completely reshaped the goals of UFC champions for the past seven years.
UFC 295 was the event that saw the 9th two-weight champion in tournament history, when former middleweight king Alex Pereira defeated Jiri Prochazka to win the welterweight championship. The coronation took place on the 30th anniversary of the UFC broadcasting its first event on television.
The moment Alex Pereira raised the second belt he won at Madison Square Garden, New York, the MMA world suddenly realized that it was here, 7 years ago, that Conor McGregor created a historic moment for the UFC. .
At UFC 205, after sweeping the featherweight division with 7 wins and settling his debt with Nate Diaz, Conor continued to defeat light heavyweight champion Eddie Alvarez in an extremely easy match. The victory that people often say is “It’s a walk in paradise”.
Conor McGregor created a historic throne 7 years ago, with a two-weight championship belt in his hand.
Conor McGregor became the first boxer in history to win two weight classes at the same time, in the first time the UFC landed in America’s most populous city. However, the “hot trend” he created is the most valuable asset to UFC over the past 7 years.
Since then, the UFC has witnessed 6 more two-weight champions, three times the number that the tournament witnessed during the previous 23 years, when only two legends Randy Couture and BJ Penn achieved it. this.
Conor’s achievements even influenced a welterweight legend who announced his retirement, Georges St-Pierre. “GSP” decided to return after four years to defeat Michael Bisping, capturing the main middleweight championship where Conor did it, Madison Square Garden.
Following the two million-dollar stars of the UFC, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, Henry Cejudo, Jon Jones and most recently Alex Pereira also sought to do this. Along with that, a series of names are sad when they cannot “follow the trend” successfully such as TJ Dillashaw, Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, Israel Adesanya, Joanna Jedrzejczyk…
What Conor McGregor has done has become a new goal at UFC.
Not stopping at a trend, Conor’s achievement has caused UFC champions to change their standards. In the previous era, the kings of the UFC always competed for greatness in terms of the number of title defenses. From Anderson Silva, Demetrious Johnson, Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre or Jose Aldo, all are trying to extend their winning streak as much as possible to rise in the great race.
However, since UFC 205, the champions have had a new goal. The first question they receive every time they win the throne is whether they can move up the rankings to take the second title?
In fact, in the previous period, UFC tried to have “champ vs. champ” matches take place. Anderson Silva had a fight at welterweight, or the rumors about Aldo vs. Pettis, GSP vs. Siva, Silva vs. Jones appeared. However, it all stops at the story discussed in the fan community.
Without having to wait like the previous generation, Alex Pereira won the title after only 7 matches in the UFC.
Now, Conor McGregor’s achievements have become the target of new kings.
From Alexander Volkanovski, Islam Makhachev, Leon Edwards, the current champions of the tournament are on a mission of their own. In their eyes, the belt in the upper weight class is always in sight. That is the vision that Conor McGregor has revived over the past 7 years.
UFC is about to enter its fourth decade in less than two months, and with what is happening in all weight classes, the prospect of the tournament welcoming a 10th two-weight champion is only a matter of time. The question “Who will prevail in the race” is being asked by the current champions?
