Conor McGregor: Who Next?

Conor McGregor: Who Next?

After his comprehensive and humbling defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov the question is who does Conor McGregor fight next.

McGregor has suggested via social media he is looking forward to the rematch with Khabib. Although nothing surprises me anymore, I would be astonished if an immediate rematch is made.

The highly toxic build up and the unsavory post fight riot should make the UFC think it’s just not worth it, at least for now. If you put the whole out of proportion comments and actions we have seen leading up to the fight and the way McGregor was handily defeated at UFC 229, is there really the same interest in a return fight, or more importantly does McGregor even deserve the rematch.

I doubt the rematch would have anywhere near the same anticipation, and I think the UFC will take the view of let’s leave it for now and calm it all down and let both fighters go on a different path for the immediate future.

You have to be fair to the other contenders in the division, and nobody can seriously argue Tony Ferguson doesn’t deserve the next opportunity at Khabib.

Obviously if Khabib is stripped of his UFC lightweight title for his involvement in the fracas in Las Vegas, that changes everything of course. Then a whole different set of options rise to the surface and the possibility of Ferguson vs McGregor emerges.

The trilogy fight with Nate Diaz is there of course, but if Diaz beats Dustin Poirier and Khabib does get stripped then Ferguson vs Diaz for the belt might be a preferred option for Diaz.

If Diaz loses against Poirier would the UFC make the 3rd fight with McGregor with both coming off losses, would it be the same attraction. They might have course take the view it might be a case of now or never and do it anyway.

Georges St-Pierre has talked about returning and testing the lightweight waters and a fight with McGregor must be of immense interest. It’s a big enough fight to tempt GSP back and would be a fresh match-up with much intrigue. The experience of fighting another wrestler like GSP would be of great value if he wants any Khabib rematch to end in a different way.

Hopefully any talk of the Floyd Mayweather rematch in boxing or anywhere else has been put to bed now, and hopefully a fight with Anderson Silva is just talk, an utterly ridiculous and pointless fight.

There were worrying signs for McGregor on Saturday that he just isn’t the same fighter anymore, and whoever he does fight next it could be that another loss spells the end.

Photo Credit: Fox Sports