In an interview released on his "The Mac Life" YouTube channel, the former featherweight and lightweight champion wants a crack at welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in his first fight after horrifically breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. McGregor says he could be ready for a "late summer" return to the Octagon against the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC.
"Myself versus Usman for the 170-pound title in my comeback fight is the one I'm eyeballing at the minute," McGregor said in the interview. "Why cut the weight? I've already won the 155-pound title. I got myself to a lightweight frame, but you know, I'm big now. I feel big. I feel strong. I feel healthy. I've got good energy. I'm coming back from a gruesome injury. I don't want to be depleting myself. There should be no need to deplete myself.
"And I feel confident against Usman -- a jab-happy, sloppy, orthodox wrestler with no submissions whatsoever. What's he going to do? Where's the danger here? I don't see danger. ... No one has ever obtained three titles in three divisions like I will do if we make this fight."
UFC president Dana White hasn't commented on who plans to match McGregor up with when he's ready to return to action. White's stated that he is open to pairing McGregor up with the winner of the lightweight title fight between champion Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje, as they meet at UFC 274 in May.
Since notching a second-round TKO win over Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 to win the 155-pound title to become the first person in UFC history to hold two belts simultaneously, McGregor's (22-6) gone 1-3. The losses have come to then-lightweight titlist Khabib Nurmagomedov and Dustin Poirier on two occasions. McGregor wants to make history and do it quickly despite his recent skid.
"Late summer, I could [return], but I want to be true to myself and bring out the best in myself. I want to do this for my fans and the people supporting me. I want to show the best I can possibly be. I'm very excited. There is history to be made. This game needs to be shook up. Again. The triple crown has never been done."
Usman (20-1) is currently out with a hand injury but has also has earmarked a late-summer return.