UFC
Conor McGregor reportedly meets Dennis Siver on Jan. 18 card expected for Boston, Mass.
Oct 23, 2014 - 4:05:35 PM Conor McGregor reportedly meets Dennis Siver on Jan. 18 card expected for Boston, Mass.

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

In addition to the previously reported Donald Cerrone vs. Myles Jury bout targeted for Jan. 18, MMAJunkie.com reports that Conor McGregor will return to action on that card against Dennis Siver.

It seems there's a very good reason the UFC is targeting that Sunday for an event, as it's heading to Boston's TD Garden, and will take place on Fox Sports 1 following the NFL's NFC Championship game on Fox.

McGregor, the outspoken Irish featherweight, got a hero's welcome in Boston last August when he fought on the debut card on Fox Sports 1, so him returning to action in the city makes sense. This does take him out of the running as the next title challenger in the division, though, opening the door for the winner of Frankie Edgar vs. Cub Swanson to take their well-earned slot opposite the winner of Saturday's Jose Aldo-Chad Mendes title bout.

Siver returned to action earlier this month after a failed drug test out of his win last September, and took all he could handle from Charles Rosa despite emerging with a decisive decision victory.

Penick's Analysis: It's a slight step back from Poirier for McGregor, but it's still a sensible fight. It's a ranked opponent who has had a lot of success in the UFC, and a win will still be meaningful for him. Giving him another fight in Boston could lead to another superstar-like reaction from the heavy Irish-identifying population in the city, and the more he picks up legitimate wins in exciting fashion, the more the UFC can sell him as the real deal successor to the throne at 145 lbs.