Matt Brown prepares to speak to the media and fans during the UFC's Go Big launch event inside MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 4, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC / Contributor) UFC interim featherweight champion Conor McGregor looks on during the UFC's Go Big launch event inside MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 4, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Conor McGregor will move up two weight classes for his main event fight against Nate Diaz at UFC 196 and there's chatter that with a win he could potentially battle for the 170-pound title later this year against champion Robbie Lawler.
The sheer notion of McGregor leaping from featherweight to welterweight is crazy enough, but there are more than a few contenders who would have a big problem with him jumping the line to get an immediate title shot at 170 pounds.
One fighter who is actually on McGregor's side is top-10 ranked welterweight Matt Brown, who says the Irishman is the one bringing in the biggest paydays for the sport so he should be able to fight for whatever title he wants.
Brown also notes that other fighters like Tyron Woodley would be better served to actually go out and compete for the chance to get a shot at the belt rather than talk about it.
"I can understand them giving it to Conor," Brown said on the latest Great MMA Debate podcast. "He's the money man. That makes sense. (Tyron) Woodley, he shouldn't even be getting a title shot. This guy, he beat Kelvin Gastelum and he didn't even beat Carlos Condit. His last fight was Gastelum. That's a (expletive) joke. He's just a business man. Just trying to play the business and not actually fight and earn it like other people are.
"If Conor beats Nate, there's no reason he shouldn't be able to fight for whatever title he wants. He's the money man."
Brown equates McGregor's popularity and success in similar fashion to former boxing pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather, who would routinely move up and down in weight for the biggest fights of his career.
It's no different for McGregor as he looks to pursue multiple title belts in several divisions in the UFC.
Brown knows it's not technically fair to the fighters who have been clawing their way to a title shot, but McGregor brings in the most attention and that ultimately means the most to the UFC.
"I wish that it wasn't the truth. Floyd (Mayweather) could go fight any weight he wants and fight any guy he wants and Conor's in the same boat. That's where the money is," Brown said.
"There's no reason not to give him the money fights. I guarantee (Robbie) Lawler would rather fight Conor and break out the red panties."
To hear the rest of the podcast where Brown, Damon Martin and Jeremy Loper break down and make picks for UFC 196 and much more, tune in via Soundcloud or download and subscribe via iTunes.
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