​Conor McGregor appears to feel snubbed in the ongoing debate over who deserves the title of the greatest UFC featherweight of all time. Ahead of Saturday’s UFC 329 main event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) is set to rematch Max Holloway (27-9 MMA, 23-9 UFC), the Irish star reflects on his early career at 145 pounds. McGregor’s ascent at featherweight featured notable wins over Holloway and Dustin Poirier, culminating in an interim title challenge against Chad Mendes. After defeating Mendes, he knocked out Jose Aldo in a stunning 13 seconds to capture the undisputed featherweight belt in December 2015.
Yet in the public conversation about the greatest featherweight of all time, many rankings pit Aldo against current champion Alexander Volkanovski, with Holloway sometimes included, and McGregor often left out. “The greatest featherweight of all time, this ranking system of the greatest featherweights, that I’ve beaten these men and hadn’t been in the list—how have I beaten these men easily and handily and yet be kept from the list?” McGregor told ESPN. He questions the exclusion despite his victories and dominant performances against highly respected rivals.
McGregor’s tenure at featherweight ultimately did not see a defense of the UFC title, and he was stripped due to inactivity. He later became the UFC lightweight champion before returning to welterweight competition. “That’s a fair shout for sure, and I understand the whys of it, but you cannot get caught in all of this,” he added. “What is the skill? Who is the best? Who is the greatest? Who was the best? And it is me. The results show this. It’s not like the fights weren’t there. It was just elsewhere.” He explained that divisional changes and external circumstances—fighters pulling out or organizational shifts—contributed to the perceived gaps. “There were changes, which originally was not me. It was a fighter pulling out or things of that nature that kind of led to it. So, I understand it. However, I don’t agree with it. I am the greatest featherweight since Bruce Lee, and on Saturday night I will show it.”
This perspective comes as part of a broader narrative McGregor has been crafting about his legacy and the surpassing impact of his results. The sentiment underscores his belief that his wins over elite featherweights, the speed and precision of his finishes, and the enduring impact of his performances warrant recognition as the GOAT at 145 pounds. The debate persists, with fans and analysts weighing the records, title defenses, and the historical context of each fighter’s era. As UFC 329 approaches, McGregor’s assertion adds a combustible layer to the discussion about who truly sits at the pinnacle of the featherweight lineage. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Conor McGregor says ‘the results show’ he’s UFC featherweight GOAT for better SEO.