This probably won’t come as a surprise to most mixed martial arts (MMA) fans.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight titleholder Conor McGregor is still parading around town with a pair of championship belts in tow, despite the fact that promotion president Dana White was forced to “strip” him last week.
Stripped, surrendered ... whatever, the featherweight title has returned to Jose Aldo — who lost it at UFC 194 by way of “Notorious” beatdown — while Max Holloway and Anthony Pettis collide for the interim strap at UFC 206 this weekend in Toronto (details).
And here you thought this title was “tarnished.”
McGregor is likely to remain sidelined until spring 2017 while his longtime girlfriend welcomes their first child. During his absence, top contenders Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson are expected to duke it out for first dibs upon the champ’s return.
Until then, all we can do is wait (and watch).