Well, we didn’t see that one coming…
By now, everyone is aware of the recent business dealings of ONE Championship.
Former lightweight champion, Eddie Alvarez recently signed an eight figure contract with the Asian based organisation, and Miesha Tate was appointed as vice-president.
https://twitter.com/YODCHATRI/status/1060401578824261632
The biggest piece of business without a doubt though was the history making trade deal between ONE and the UFC that saw Ben Askren finally get a shot in the Dana White run organisation.
As a result of the trade, ONE acquired the services of Demetrious Johnson. The long-time flyweight champion jumped shipped to the Singapore based company two months after losing his title to Henry Cejudo.
It’s important to note that since the UFC introduced the flyweight division six years ago, it has been dominated by “Mighty Mouse”. So much so, that after he lost his title and got traded to ONE, rumours started to circulated that Dana White would be getting rid of the weight class.
BREAKING: We're hearing the #UFC men's flyweight division is 100% being dissolved, likely done by the end of 2018.
THE KICKER: Not all flyweights are being asked to move up to bantamweight. They're just getting cut. Unreal.
We'll update you as we receive more info.
— FloCombat (@FloCombat) November 7, 2018
Those rumours now look to be true, as it was reported last night that the UFC are set to shut down the flyweight division and release many of its fighters.
As a result of this, MMA’s biggest star Conor McGregor has stepped forward and claimed that ONE Championship’s CEO Chatri Sityodtong should sign the entire flyweight division because his greed has cost a lot of fighters the chance to compete in the UFC.
You must now take all the 125lbers that have been let go, Chatri.
You talk all of this Martial Art and respect talk, yet your greed has directly cost more than half a fighting division it’s chance to earn income for their family.
Have respect @YODCHATRI.
Sign the division.— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 8, 2018
McGregor is clearly placing the blame on Chatri Sityodtong for not signing the entire division rather than Dana White who has shut down the division totally, which may seem strange.
This could be McGregor trying to strong arm ONE into signing those flyweights that are set to be cut.
McGregor’s SBG team mate, Blaine O’Driscoll fights for a flyweight World title at Cage Warriors 99 in London next week. O’Driscoll told SportsJOE that he sees himself as one fight away from signing with the UFC.
Maybe McGregor is upset that his team mate’s opportunity may be gone.
At this point in time, we are not sure. However, one theory floating around is that by the UFC dissolving the 125lb weight class, that this will pave the way for a 165lb weight class, which would be right down the Dubliner’s street.
