Conor McGregor tipped for ‘crazy’ route to UFC lightweight title by former champion and Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier

FORMER two-weight UFC champion Daniel Cormier has predicted a 'crazy' route back to lightweight glory for Conor McGregor.

McGregor has not won a fight at 155-pounds in nearly six years, after beating Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 back in November 2016.

Despite this, Cormier believes McGregor could see himself back in contention for a lightweight title fight due to his unrivalled star power and simple process of elimination as Charles Oliveira sweeps the division.

Cormier, who was recently inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, said: “It’s crazy to say it but knowing the ins and outs of this business, if Conor McGregor is truly pushing for a championship fight, and things don’t change, it becomes more and more likely that he could do that"

"As Charles continues to go through the division, beating (Michael) Chandler, Dustin (Poirier), beating Tony Ferguson, now Justin Gaethje, after Islam (Makhachev), who is the next clear guy?"

“He starts to find himself on the shortlist because of his name recognition, not because of merit. Because he’s the biggest star in the game still, he’s like yo, I wanna fight for the belt."

Cormier feels the McGregor fight would be an appetising prospect for Oliveira, who would not only be fighting an inactive fighter, but be in line for the biggest payday of his career.

He added: "Charles Oliveira understands that the money is in the McGregor fight, and he could go to the powers that be and say if there’s a chance for McGregor, I’d like to take it.”

“It sounds crazy, but he could potentially find himself in a title fight.”

McGregor and Cormier have had their run-ins in the past, with Cormier being a long-term team-mate of McGregor's lightweight rival Khabib Nurmagomedov.

McGregor and Oliveira have already exchanged words, with the Dubliner calling the Brazilian 'a bum' after Oliveira claimed on Twitter that he could knock McGregor out and submit Nate Diaz in the same night.

33-year-old McGregor responded swiftly to Oliveira's post, saying "Shut up you bum and get back to that favela and pay your piece."