It's expected that Conor McGregor will leapfrog over the top lightweight contenders to fight Rafael dos Anjos for the official championship at UFC 197.
McGregor, who knocked out Jose Aldo to unify the featherweight titles at UFC 194, vows to become the company's first-ever simultaneous two-division weight champion. That means Anthony Pettis and Eddie Alvarez will have a longer road to a title shot, but they're not bitter about it.
"Showtime" and Alvarez, who will collide at UFC Fight Night: Dillashaw vs. Cruz, are impressed with the Irishman's meteoric rise to the top and believe he's good for the sport.
Pettis, who at one point was almost booked to fight Jose Aldo for the 145 lbs. title, understands why the UFC are expected to grant McGregor with an immediate shot at lightweight champion, Rafael dos Anjos.
"I was going to move down to 145 and fight Jose Aldo when I was the No. 1 contender, so I guess the champion moving up to fight the champion makes sense," Pettis said on Friday during a media conference call, per FOX Sports.
"I feel like the lightweight division's always been marketable. We have some great champions, we have some great guys that came out of the division. It's not based on just talk, it's based on performance. I think the division's always been a tough division. The 145 division was dominated by Jose Aldo the whole time, so you got a guy that takes out Aldo and he moves up a weight class, of course everybody's going to want to watch it. I welcome it. Hopefully he stays and we see how good he really is."
Alvarez is excited about the potential turnover the lightweight division will receive with McGregor's arrival.
"I think anything or anybody who brings more money to the sport is a good thing. It's hard for me to say anything bad about it," Alvarez stated. "Regardless of whether people think he deserves this or he deserves that, the truth is when one fighter gets paid more, it's good for all of us. Every, single one of us.
"So I'm happy he brings marketability to the division and it's not up to me or any fighter to say what he deserves or doesn't. Our bosses make that decision no matter how we perform out there. Happy to see money coming in."
Conor McGregor is anticipated to challenge Rafael dos Anjos for the 155 lbs. title at UFC 197 on March 5th and Anthony Pettis vs. Eddie Alvarez will serve as the co-main event for UFC Fight Night 81 on Jan 17 in Boston, Massachusetts.