Advertisement

Conor McGregor coach Owen Roddy: Tony Ferguson title fight starting to look 'more logical'

[jwplayer 0ueJ6l9g-FLu19iir]

Maybe it’ll be Tony Ferguson after all.

Speculation continues to run rampant on UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor’s next move following his boxing TKO loss to Floyd Mayweather in August.

Will McGregor choose a trilogy fight with Nate Diaz? Will he stick with boxing and fight sparring partner-turned bitter rival Paulie Malignaggi?

Or will McGregor (21-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC) decide to do “the right thing” and unify his championship with interim title holder Ferguson (23-3 MMA, 13-1 UFC)?

That last option at least seems to be gaining steam among the McGregor camp, with striking coach Owen Roddy on Thursday explaining why a Ferguson showdown might make the most sense.

“It’s exciting,” Roddy told the “Talking Brawls” podcast. “When the word goes out like that, and people start talking about it, it’s usually not far off of the deal being done. It could be a good one. Ferguson is the interim champion and rightfully so. He had a good performance against (Kevin) Lee, and he’s had a lot of good performances.

“I’d like to see it. People, including myself, were talking about the Diaz fight, but who knows that may come again. But if it’s Ferguson, that’s going to be a cracker, as well.”

Roddy’s words send a different message than earlier this month, when he said fans “would rather see Conor vs. Diaz.” That was in line with head trainer John Kavanagh, who last month gave his vote for Diaz as his fighter’s next opponent.

“I’ve said for a long time that the Nate Diaz trilogy fight at lightweight is what I’d personally like to see next,” Kavangh wrote in a guest column. “That still needs to be put to bed.”

But that was before Ferguson’s third-round submission win over Lee earlier this month at UFC 216 to claim the interim title. No lightweight has been more impressive over the last few years than “El Cucuy,” who is on a 10-fight winning streak.

Ferguson, who’s been railing McGregor all throughout his run of dominance, immediately called out “The Notorious,” imploring him to “defend or vacate” – a common refrain as McGregor has never defended his crown since winning it last November. During the UFC 216 post-fight press conference, UFC President Dana White said McGregor vs. Ferguson “has to happen” next.

Ever since then, momentum has been building.

“That’s what Dana White is saying and because Ferguson is picking at Conor and stuff like that, it’s starting to look like the more logical fight, but who knows?” Roddy said. “It’s an exciting fight, isn’t it? He definitely brings problems, and people are asking for it. That’s the most important thing. …

“Obviously money talks at the end of the day, and whatever makes the most money is what both people would go for. But because people are asking for it and posting about it, that’s starting to gain the momentum that’s needed to get that big fight. It’s starting to build. It’ll be a good fight. It’ll definitely be a good fight.”

As good a fight as it might be, if it happens, Roddy sees McGregor putting on a clinic in the striker vs. striker affair.

“I still see the same outcome,” Roddy said. “I still see Conor — if they’re standing for any sort of extended period on the feet, it’ll be a quick one and that’s it. He’s just not as tidy as Conor. You play the percentages, and Conor’s the cleaner, more refined striker. Ferguson is tough. He’s unorthodox. But in my opinion Conor’s just the superior striker, most definitely.”

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, visit the UFC Rumors section of the site.

[jwplayer VwEnbyWc-RbnemIYZ]

Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.

More Featured