The champ is here! Conor McGregor reminds everyone he’s still UFC’s lightweight (and featherweight) king

With all the hoopla surrounding Conor McGregor’s upcoming boxing match against Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Aug. 26, 2017, “Notorious” wants to remind everyone he is still the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight champion, who just so happened to be the Featherweight kingpin when he hoisted the 155-pound strap.

On that note, while he was the first-and-only man to hold two separate division titles simultaneously, it didn’t last long, as McGregor was stripped of his 145-pound strap a few weeks later, paving the way for Max Holloway to win the interim strap, and then subsequently unify the title by defeating Jose Aldo.

McGregor, though, says no one will convince him he’s still not the true Featherweight king.

“I mean, how can I not consider myself the UFC Featherweight world champion and the UFC Lightweight world champion?” McGregor said during a media conference call (via MMA Fighting).

“The current UFC Featherweight world champion is Max Holloway, a man who I dismantled, and the former was Jose Aldo. I still reign supreme over that division,” he added. “And then also, the 155-pound division, I know there’s talks of an interim belt — I’d only won that belt, and literally a month later there was an interim scheduled.”

And while many have questioned whether or not “Notorious” returns to the cage, the fiery Irishman put an end to the doubt.

“But, it is what it is, everyone knows I am the multiple-weight world champion of the UFC’s featherweight division and Lightweight division, and I look forward to going back and continuing where I left off.”

I’m sure this guy is happy.

Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee are expected to face off for the interim 155-pound title at UFC 216 (details), with the winner facing “Notorious” down the road. And while Conor is open to that fight, he also says if Floyd Mayweather lives up to his word and steps into the cage, he’ll gladly put his belt on the line against him.

“If he would do that, he would have my respect,” McGregor said. “Anyone who is willing to step into a game like that when their limitations are so short deserves respect, and that’s at all levels, whether it’s at club levels in a small hall or a big stadium filled full of fans, or any combat sport for that matter. But, if he was to follow through with his word on that, then great, I’ll be here to grant him his rematch.

“Maybe he can come over and after he gets his ass whooped, he can try and challenge for my Lightweight belt,” he added.

In other words, the circus will be ready to roll for an encore ... for better or worse.