Conor McGregor forced to vacate UFC featherweight title

Conor McGregor holds up his title belts after he defeated Eddie Alvarez during their lightweight title. photo / AP

Conor McGregor's reign as a dual-weight world champion has lasted little more than a fortnight after the UFC announced that the Irish fighter has been forced to vacate his featherweight title.

McGregor made history earlier this month after claiming the lightweight title with victory over Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 in New York.

In the process he became the first fighter in UFC history to simultaneously hold titles in two different weight divisions.

However, less than three weeks after his victory at UFC 205, McGregor has been forced to relinquish his UFC featherweight title, which he won back in 2015, due to a lack of activity in the weight division.

McGregor's last fight at featherweight was his title victory over Jose Aldo at UFC 194 in December last year.

Interim featherweight titleholder Aldo has now been elevated to undisputed champion, UFC announced on Saturday night.

The interim UFC featherweight title will now be contested between Max Holloway and Anthony Pettis at UFC 206, with the winner being awarded a unified title fight against Aldo at some point in 2017.

Holloway against Pettis has become the main event of UFC 206 in Toronto.

That fight replaces Daniel Cormier's light heavyweight title defence against Anthony Johnson, which was called off on Friday following an injury to Cormier.

Aldo is only one of two fighters in UFC's history to hold the undisputed featherweight title, with the other being McGregor. He was awarded the belt in November 2010 and held it until December 2015, when he was beaten by McGregor in Las Vegas at UFC 194.