Who will Conor McGregor’s next opponent be?
Following his majority decision win over Nate Diaz at UFC 202, the score is even between McGregor and Diaz. Now, the Irish superstar has many options in front of him. Will there be a trilogy fight with Diaz? What about his featherweight belt? Or will he go after the lightweight belt? All of these are likely at some point in the future, but let’s take a look at the different options for Conor McGregor’s next opponent:
Conor McGregor vs Nate Diaz III
After the drama-filled blockbuster event that was UFC 202, many fans are desperately calling for a trilogy between McGregor and Diaz. It could be the biggest rivalry in MMA history. Now that the score is even, a trilogy certainly has to happen. The question is: will Nate Diaz be Conor McGregor’s next opponent, or will the resolution be later down the road?
One thing is certain – Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz will meet for one last scrap. The hype, drama, and magnitude of a trilogy is too big for the UFC to ignore. However, I don’t think it will happen next. I expect Diaz will take some time off, recover from the damage he sustained, and spend his millions like the superstar deserves to be. McGregor will do the same, but regarding Conor McGregor’s next opponent, I don’t think it will be Nate Diaz. It’s what the fans want, but it’ll be better if the UFC puts this off until next year.
Conor McGregor vs Jose Aldo II
According to UFC President Dana White, Conor McGregor has a mandatory obligation to defend his featherweight belt, or he will be stripped. If McGregor is stripped, then Jose Aldo will either become the new UFC featherweight champion or he will fight Max Holloway for it. Both Aldo and Holloway have fallen to McGregor.
I’m sure the UFC will be pulling for a Jose Aldo rematch in order to restore some order in the featherweight division. However, it’s a fight that McGregor’s team does not seem interested in.
Team McGregor spent nearly two years in total preparing for Jose Aldo because of Aldo’s late-notice injury which pulled him off UFC 189. The two finally met at UFC 194, and McGregor KO’d him in 13 seconds. Has Jose Aldo done enough to warrant a rematch? The Brazilian chalked his embarrassing loss up to a fluke, and rebounded by decisioning top contender Frankie Edgar. According to McGregor, he doesn’t deserve another shot at his belt, but many fans want to see the two go at it again.
Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez
We all know Conor McGregor will eventually make his debut at lightweight. It’s the weight class that is most appropriate for him. He was supposed to face Rafael dos Anjos for the lightweight belt at UFC 196, but when RDA pulled out, Nate Diaz stepped in and the rest was history. With Conor back in the win column, he has the option of going after the lightweight belt again.
But a new king sits atop that thrown.
Eddie Alvarez finished Rafael dos Anjos in the first round of their scrap, and has been calling for a McGregor fight for a while now. With UFC 205 coming up at Madison Square Garden, Alvarez sees it as the perfect opportunity. Even though there is a plethora of other contenders worthy of contending for Alvarez’s lightweight belt, none would be a bigger fight than Conor McGregor at MSG.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear McGregor will be ready to go in time for November 12th. John Kavanagh, McGregor’s head coach, spoke on The MMA Hour and told us how McGregor had to “put a lot of business on hold” for UFC 202. It looks like he’ll need to take some time to catch up on his other extra-curriculars activities over the next few weeks. UFC 205 is just two and a half months away.
Of course, McGregor could fight Alvarez at a later date. In which case the UFC would likely strip McGregor of his featherweight belt, and have Jose Aldo face Max Holloway for the new 145 lb strap. Kavanagh spoke about how he’d like to see McGregor win the lightweight belt, but then defend it against Nate Diaz to complete their trilogy. Afterwards, regardless of the outcomes, Conor could then drop back own and attempt to reclaim his featherweight belt. I lean towards this idea as well.
Conor McGregor vs Floyd Mayweather
Speaking of extra-curriculars, we all know how McGregor and Mayweather have gone back and forth discussing a potential superfight. After McGregor’s win against Diaz, Mayweather made this tweet likely in reference to setting up a date with McGregor. It’s silly to speculate anything more at this stage, but I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of these two throwing down at some point. The amount of money it would generate is too much to ignore. But do you think Floyd Mayweather will be Conor McGregor’s next opponent? I doubt it. Look for fantasty match to happen some time down the line – if the business is right.
