UFC 264 will likely produce the next challenger for lightweight champion Charles Oliveira as Dustin Poirier (Conor McGregor) complete their trio in the main event. Could there be a flaw in these plans?There is no doubt that Poirier will fight for the title, if he wins. Although he could have fought for gold, he chose to face McGregor three times. What if McGregor wins? He could challenge Oliveira or he could choose to finish the trilogy against Nate Diaz. He could still challenge for the lightweight title at his next fight, even if he loses to Diaz at a heavier weight.The title picture for heavyweight got more interesting, but not necessary. UFC president Dana White made the announcement last week that an interim belt would be created. This will be the case for Derrick Lewis, Ciryl Gane and others in the main event at UFC 265. This was a smart move considering Francis Ngannou won the title just a few days ago.The UFC 264 panel, which includes Jeff Wagenheim, Marc Raimondi, Marc Okamoto and Carlos Contreras Legaspi from ESPN, separates the real and the fake.McGregor will be fighting for the title next if he wins.Conor McGregor may fight for the UFC lightweight title if he beats Dustin Poirier during their trilogy match on July 10. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesRaimondi: It's not a question, because Conor McGregor is the greatest star in UFC history and can call his own shots. The UFC would likely support McGregor completing his trilogy with Diaz -- regardless of whether he loses to Poirier -- if McGregor was determined. McGregor is a fascinating man. McGregor may decide to box again. However, it appears that the Manny Pacquiao matchup has been cancelled by McGregor's representative Paradigm Sports Management.The fight for the Diaz Trilogy might come down to McGregor losing to Poirier. If McGregor wins, however, it is logical to challenge Charles Oliveira in the fight for the belt. McGregor is already a UFC featherweight and lightweight champion. But McGregor seems motivated by the possibility to become the first UFC lightweight champion more than once.Since his losses to Floyd Mayweather and Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2017, McGregor seems to have been more popular than an elite fighter. McGregor would surely love to regain the title he held and prove many people wrong. It's title or bust if McGregor beats Poirier.Poirier won't regret losing a title fight in order to complete the Conor trilogy.Conor McGregor was defeated by Dustin Poirier (left) in January's rematch. Their series is now 1-1. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLCLegaspi: It's definitely real. Poirier made it clear that he wanted to end the trilogy with McGregor and fight for a vacant title. Poirier even played matchmaker, suggesting that Michael Chandler should face Charles Oliveira - which was eventually done four months later. He was not interested in the 155-belt and was very clear about this from the beginning.Poirier accepted his brief stint as interim champion in 2019 and saw the moment when he equaled the score with McGregor as one of the highlights of his long career. He knew McGregor would push for the third fight, which was the first time he had won the money fight in more than 25 UFC fights.Conor would have had a new path if he had not opted for the trilogy fight. He could have fought Justin Gaethje, Nate Diaz and possibly Jorge Masvidal. They all have a greater PPV selling potential than Poirier against any deserving lightweight competitor (and there is no guarantee that he would win that fight which would have been the ultimate disaster: no big prize, no title).Poirier believes he is the best fighter in the division. He will fight again for the belt sooner or later. But opportunities like these rarely come around once in a lifetime.Las Vegas' Conor McGregor show is larger than any boxing event currently on the marketConor McGregor fight in Las Vegas is always a huge attraction for fight fans. PA Wire/PA Images via Getty ImagesCoppinger: Real. McGregor is currently the most prominent star in combat sports. Canelo alvarez is second, followed by Manny Pacquiao (heavyweight champ) and Tyson Fury (heavyweight champ).These three boxers are major draws on The Strip but none have the star power of McGregor. He is a true crossover attraction and takes over Vegas each time he fights.No matter the competition, his events sell out instantly. What about a fight with Cowboy Cerrone, the underdog? It's still a huge event.McGregor is the perfect choice to become the first star to benefit from full capacity, especially now that Las Vegas has recovered from the pandemic.The fact that it is a three-fight fight with Dustin Poirier, a popular fighter makes the event more extraordinary.The stakes are high as McGregor tries to recover from his January KO loss to Poirier. McGregor will still be a star despite another loss. However, Alvarez, the top Vegas fighter, is on his heels and wants to fight Caleb Plant in Las Vegas Sept. 18 for all four of his belts.UFC made the right decision by booking an interim title fight for heavyweightsFrancis Ngannou (left) won the title of heavyweight by defeating Stipe miocic at UFC 260 in Las Vegas on March 27, 2017. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLCOkamoto: It's not real. It was a puzzle decision by UFC and one that caught most of us off-guard.It was a long journey for Ngannou to win the UFC title. He was essentially a No. He was a No. 1 contender for many years, but was forced to wait to get his shot due timing and circumstances beyond his control. He never had the opportunity to fight for an interim title in all of that time. But now, after three months, the UFC has created one for Lewis and Gane.This seems like an impossible thing to justify. It is possible that this will have a very minor impact on him. Yes, there will be an interim champion in his division on Aug. 7. But what does that mean? Ngannou will be considered more champion than Lewis or Gane. The winner will be considered a No. The winner will be essentially a No.Two interim champions were crowned by Khabib Nurmagomedov during his reign as UFC's lightweight champ. But did anyone ever consider his title less than "undisputed?"Since Lewis and Gane are fighting for interim titles, it isn't a problem for me. Ngannou will ultimately come out of this fine. However, he may feel that the UFC has disrespected him or what he accomplished by making this decision. That's fine. It doesn't seem like the UFC was forced to make it.The UFC should not look at interim titles but instead, look to the BMF belt as inspirationJorge Masvidal was presented with the BMF belt after he defeated Nate Diaz. Alex Menendez/Getty ImagesWagenheim: It's not a problem to be able to see Lewis and Gane pound each other. Yet, everyone has reacted negatively to the Aug. 7 fight. Fans, media, managers and promoters all criticized it. It all comes down to that interim belt.UFC seems to like topping the UFC's marquee with a title bout. Sometimes, however, they just make one up if there isn't a champion available at a given time. We see it that way. The problem with this business plan is that they distort reality. We all know that Ngannou is the best heavyweight in the entire world. So why pretend that someone else is?Instead, use your imagination to create more. Think of Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal, who understood the importance of infusing their 2019 fight with a storyline that was bigger than them. They decided that the BMF would be the winner. The idea was loved by fans and the UFC created a belt. It was great fun. It was very lucrative.There is only one BMF, and that includes one Jorge and one Nate. There are many fighters on the UFC roster who aren’t yet at a championship level, but may be involved in quirky “title” bouts that could resonate. Nicest MF. Ground-and-pound, pound-for pound. King of the leg kick. This approach is a bit gimicky, but it feels much more real than trying to manipulate weight class hierarchies. A gimmick title may have its own story, such as Lewis and Gane fighting for the Third-Baddest Man on Planet.
