Conor McGregor claims featherweight GOAT status ahead of UFC 329

Conor McGregor says his seven-fight featherweight win streak makes him the best 145-pounder ever, even though he never defended the title.

The Irishman, who headlines UFC 329 against Max Holloway this Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, told ESPN MMA that his résumé at featherweight outweighs concerns about longevity. "The greatest Featherweights of all time … I've beaten these men and hadn't been in the list," McGregor said, per MMA Mania. "How have I beaten these men easily and yet be kept from the list?"

McGregor's featherweight run versus Aldo and Volkanovski

McGregor won the undisputed belt in 2015 by stopping Jose Aldo in 13 seconds. That capped a run that included wins over Holloway, Dustin Poirier, and Chad Mendes. But he vacated without a defense after moving to lightweight, and his UFC record since leaving 145 pounds sits at 3-4.

Most observers place either Aldo or Alexander Volkanovski atop the featherweight pantheon. Aldo's WEC-to-UFC reign stretched nearly a decade unbeaten, while Volkanovski twice beat Holloway at his peak and defended the belt four times across two reigns. When pressed on the length of his own stay, McGregor conceded the point but doubled down. "I understand the [reasons] why. But you cannot get caught in all of this! Who is the best? Who is the greatest? It is me. The results show this," he said.

McGregor fights Holloway at welterweight on Saturday night. A win would pull him back to .500 in the octagon since his featherweight exit.

Original reporting:

• mmamania.com — UFC 329’s Conor McGregor claims Featherweight GOAT status: ‘The results show this’ | MMA Mania