LAS VEGAS — The euphoria that would normally follow a surprise Thanksgiving Day announcement that Conor McGregor had signed to fight Donald Cerrone was mysteriously absent on Thursday when the UFC confirmed the news that the ex-featherweight and lightweight champion would return to meet “Cowboy” in the main event of UFC 246 at T-Mobile Arena on Jan. 18.
There were some complaints that McGregor will fight Cerrone instead of — insert your choice of Khabib Nurmagomedov, Tony Ferguson, Justin Gaethje, Jorge Masvidal, Nate Diaz or Dustin Poirier here — and would also do it at welterweight instead of at lightweight.