Yes. Red panty night HAS to happen. It has to. And the UFC has an opportunity to make McGregor vs. Diaz 2 look like an off night in PPV buys. Let me break it down for you.
Conor McGregor is the ONLY UFC fighter to ever hold two belts at one time. And one of three to ever hold two belts at any point. Randy Couture did it first. He claimed both the heavyweight and light heavyweight titles in 1997 and 2003. Although, they weren’t at the same time, it was an incredible accomplishment. Next up was BJ Penn. Penn nabbed the welterweight in 2004 and lightweight in 2008. Then, as mentioned before, Conor McGregor.
Rafael Dos Anjos has that opportunity next (given Georges St. Pierre falls to Michael Bisping in November). Being the former lightweight champion, he was the first tapped to fight Conor McGregor in his lightweight debut.
Dos Anjos pulled out due to an injury, and we got three of the most iconic UFC fights in history because of it. McGregor vs. Diaz 1, McGregor vs. Diaz 2, and McGregor vs. Eddie Alvarez is a fair trade off to me.
Being on a tear at 170, Dos Anjos defeated Neil Magny and improved his welterweight stock. THEN there was the news that Dos Anjos was in line to fight Tyron Woodley for the belt if Damien Maia didn’t take the fight. It’s obvious that Dana White is taking Dos Anjos very seriously at welterweight.
What needs to happen for McGregor-RDA?
So we need to see McGregor and Dos Anjos battle. But there are a couple things that have to happen. Let’s list the timeline.
1. Conor McGregor needs to fight and defeat the winner of UFC 216 lightweight interim fight between Tony Fergueson and Kevin Lee
2. Rafael Dos Anjos needs to beat a contender at welterweight. Robbie Lawler is my preference. That would be a brawl
3. Rafael Dos Anjos needs to fight and win the title from welterweight champ, Tyron Woodley
4. McGregor vs. Dos Anjos at catchweight between 155 and 170. Possibly around 168.
Never before has two dual title holders fought and that is what this master plan hinges on. There has never been two fighters dominant enough to hold two belts that are able to fight each other because of size.
Building Dos Anjos stock at welterweight will inevitably happen. He has to come through and get the title if he wants an opportunity to make history twice over.
It will make so many UFC fans angry because of the “defend muh belt” crowd. But Dana White and the UFC are in the entertainment business, and THIS is entertainment. Four belts. That’s what is at stake here.
This is the right move, Dana, let’s make it happen.
