McGregor targets Islam Makhachev's welterweight title in bid to become first UFC triple champion

Conor McGregor has set his sights on Islam Makhachev's welterweight title, publicly declaring his intention to pursue a third UFC championship belt — a feat no fighter in the promotion's history has ever accomplished. McGregor made the declaration ahead of UFC 329, framing the pursuit in his trademark fashion and referring to himself as the "OG champ-champ going for the triple crown."

McGregor, 37, carries a 22-6 record and represents SBG Ireland out of Dublin. The Irishman previously held both the featherweight and lightweight titles simultaneously, cementing his place as one of the sport's most recognizable figures. Standing five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach, he averages an eye-catching 5.32 significant strikes per minute, though his striking accuracy sits at 49 percent.

Makhachev, meanwhile, is the reigning welterweight champion and the current pound-for-pound number one fighter in the world. The 34-year-old Russian carries a 28-1 record and trains out of Eagles MMA. Standing five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach, Makhachev is a technically suffocating fighter who lands 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and connects at a 58 percent striking accuracy rate — among the highest in the division.

Why it matters

• A McGregor victory would make him the first UFC three-division champion, a historic milestone for the sport
• Makhachev holds the pound-for-pound top spot and brings elite grappling that contrasts sharply with McGregor's striking-first approach
• The reach and style contrast is notable: McGregor holds a four-inch reach advantage but would face a dominant wrestler and submission threat in Makhachev, who averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes
• The callout arrives on the eve of UFC 329, ensuring the narrative enters the conversation at a high-visibility moment