Conor McGregor, often regarded as the biggest name in MMA, doesn’t enjoy unanimous support within the MMA community. A notable instance of this occurred when UFC fighter Edson Barboza criticized McGregor and called for the UFC to strip him of his championship title.
Barboza voiced his frustrations during an appearance on the Fight Society podcast in July 2017, expressing dissatisfaction with McGregor’s prolonged absence from defending his lightweight title.
The Brazilian fighter questioned McGregor’s commitment to both the UFC and the 155-pound division, suggesting that McGregor showed a lack of respect towards other fighters and the promotion itself. Barboza stated,
“Conor stay out for a long long time. I think he don’t worry about UFC, don’t worry about the division. He don’t respect us and the UFC [still] doesn’t get his belt… Take the belt [away from] Conor. I really don’t understand.”
McGregor had won the lightweight championship at UFC 205, held at Madison Square Garden in New York in November 2016. He secured the title by defeating Eddie Alvarez with a second-round knockout, making history as the first UFC fighter to hold two championships simultaneously.
However, after winning the belt, McGregor never defended it, which eventually led to the UFC stripping him of the title due to inactivity.
Looking ahead, both Conor McGregor and Edson Barboza are set to return to action soon. McGregor is scheduled to fight Michael Chandler at UFC 303 after a three-year hiatus, marking his first appearance since his severe leg injury at UFC 264. This bout is scheduled for June 29 during International Fight Week at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Meanwhile, Edson Barboza is preparing for a fight against Lerone Murphy on May 18 at UFC Vegas 92. This featherweight clash will headline the event at the UFC APEX Facility in Enterprise, Nevada.
