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Conor McGregor is calling for a sweeping, self-titled change to MMA rules after Jose Aldo suffered a controversial split decision loss at UFC 307


Conor McGregor is calling for a sweeping, self-titled change to MMA rules after Jose Aldo suffered a controversial split decision loss at UFC 307

Conor McGregor has called on MMA officials to start punishing fighters who overuse the cage in their game plans.

The legendary two-weight world champion made the intriguing rule suggestion after watching his original UFC rival Jose Aldo suffer a split decision loss to Mario Bautista at UFC 307 on Saturday night. The Brazilian struggled with the speed of his younger rival and lost 29-28 after two goals.

But McGregor believes that if fighters constantly put their opponents in the same spot in failed attempts to knock them out, they should be given less time to hold the position with limited action. And if this rule were implemented in Aldo's fight, he believes his old enemy would have won.

Conor McGregor wants a new 'McGregor Watch' rule introduced after Jose Aldo lost split decision

After watching his former rival Jose Aldo compete on Saturday night, Conor McGregor was clearly excited about the opportunities veterans still have in the UFC. He just celebrated his 36th birthday and, after a three-year break, is still confident that the Octagon will be successful again next year.

But he was outraged when Mario Bautista made the decision to move into the top 10 bantamweight division after thwarting his rival with grappling attempts later in the fight. McGregor believes that a position that has no impact but is still regularly used to eat up time should be punished.

“As a referee, if the fighters keep going to the same stand, I would put the position on a clock,” he wrote to his more than 10 million fans on X, formerly Twitter. “And every time they end up there, the time gets shorter.

Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor speaks during the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) presentation in Marbella on July 18, 2024, ahea...
Photo by JORGE GUERRERO/AFP via Getty Images

“30 second clock. 20 second cycle, 10 seconds, 8 seconds, 6 seconds etc. etc. etc. Separate, separate, separate. There is no point in prolonging these positions as if they had not happened before in exactly the same way and nothing but stasis had taken place. My opinion.”

When a fan noted that failing a takedown still counts as “effective wrestling with the referees,” McGregor noted that his rule change would stop such activity. “This is bad form, but a simple solution!” he wrote. “Referees must implement the 'McGregor Clock' method. Check out my tweets about it here.

“Furthermore, these were not failed takedowns, but direct pinning,” he said after the interview. If people shake back and forth a bit, this is to prevent the referee from intervening. REFEREES HAVE TO BE ON POINT HERE. For the fans! #TheMcGregorClock #EndStawlingQuicker.

“Some referees won't like the fact that I named this watch after myself, but whatever, call it what you want. But implement it! Dana (White, UFC CEO, who doesn’t dictate the rules of the sport) tells them.”

Conor McGregor wants Jose Aldo to get another shot at UFC bantamweight gold

While watching the fight, McGregor noticed Aldo's legendary status. And he claimed that the UFC should push to host a fight between him and current bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili at a future event.

Aldo was famously the UFC's first and only featherweight champion after they bought out the WEC. McGregor took the title from him after years of reigning supreme at UFC 194 in 2015. That evening, he knocked out the Brazilian with a 13-second stunner that changed the course of MMA history.

Since then, Aldo reclaimed the 145-pound belt as McGregor moved up to lightweight and even temporarily switched to boxing. After losing the title, he then dropped down to 135 pounds and made several runs for the second belt before retiring for a brief period and returning this year.

(LR) Jose Aldo of Brazil beats Mario Bautista in a bantamweight bout during the UFC 307 event at Delta Center on October 5, 2024 in Salt Lake City...
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

“One of our true all-time greats!” McGregor wrote after watching his old rival compete at the highest level decades after his debut. “I made a name for myself through Jose. Aldo versus Merab for two-weight champion status would be special! Motivation! I hope it stays. Discipline must be implemented!”

But he was appalled by the decision, reacting strongly to the judges' call, writing: “Rogan said the judges didn't even look. That was Jose's story. Bulls*** decision.

“He just said he shot in just to have him pinned against the fence. That's not good enough. The referees have to intervene here. This sport is a fan sport. Remember this and act accordingly, referee. Thank you.

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