Conor McGregor put on a flawless performance at UFC 205. For the first time ever, we have someone holding two belts at the same time. That said, the featherweight and lightweight champ has many options ahead of him. I’m going to break down these different options, and give my take on who Conor McGregor’s next opponent should be.
When will Conor McGregor fight next?
Before we get to Conor McGregor’s next opponent, let’s talk a realistic timeline for when we may see him fight next.
It was announced that McGregor will be having his first kid next year. With a due date of May, it’s likely McGregor will be taking a short hiatus around that time, and likely won’t return until late Summer or Fall of next year. However, there’s still time for McGregor to squeeze one more fight in before the baby arrives.
Looking at the UFC’s calendar, we have UFC 208, 209, and 210 as possible PPV events; Anaheim, Brooklyn, and Las Vegas, respectively. UFC 211 has not been announced yet, but it’s likely to take place late March or early April. I doubt we’ll see McGregor take any fight close to May though.
We know McGregor dislikes the long flight across the states, so UFC 209 in Brooklyn is the best choice based on location. This is scheduled for the Barclays Center on February 11, 2017.
Conor McGregor’s Next Opponent
Conor McGregor vs Jose Aldo II
McGregor is in a tough spot regarding his featherweight belt. It’s coming up on a year now with no title defense even though he went out and got another one. A year plus with no defense is unacceptable though. I’m expecting McGregor will be stripped of his featherweight belt if he decides not to defend it for his next bout.
There are some snags to this though. Jose Aldo, the interim featherweight champ and rightful #1 contender, has gone on record saying he is no longer interested in fighting for the UFC. This is largely because of the way he was denied a shot at McGregor for UFC 205.
Even though this fight seems like the most logical decision, it’s not realistic. Aldo has apparently had enough with the UFC, and McGregor doesn’t like the idea of fighting someone he KO’d in 13 seconds. However, as I’ll point out later, this is not the only option for McGregor at 145 lbs. Obviously, I’m sure he wants to defend both, but he needs a willing dance partner. If Aldo is unwilling to step up now, there are other options for Conor McGregor’s next opponent.
Conor McGregor vs Nate Diaz III
McGregor and Diaz are 1-1 against each other, and the fans need the trilogy fight. It appears Nate Diaz is willing to hold out until this happens too. Theoretically, it’s up to McGregor whether he wants to do this fight next or not. Interestingly, John Kavanagh (McGregor’s head coach) voiced that he prefers this fight next for McGregor. It would be very fitting if McGregor vs Diaz III could take place at UFC 209.
However, if McGregor decides to defend his lightweight belt against Nate Diaz, then he will almost certainly have to give up his featherweight belt. This may prompt McGregor to put this fight off until he returns from his paternal duties, and opt to defend his featherweight belt next. It all comes down to whether or not McGregor is wanting to try and hold onto to both belts, or if he’s willing to surrender featherweight.
Conor McGregor vs Khabib Nurmagomedov/Tony Ferguson
I must also highlight the fact that Nate Diaz is not the true #1 contender at lightweight. That title belongs to either Khabib Nurmagomedov or Tony Ferguson. Both contenders are coming off amazing performances; Nurmagomedov dominated and submitted Michael Johnson at UFC 205 while Ferguson soundly defeated Rafael dos Anjos a couple weeks ago. An argument can be made for either fighter, but I would personally rank Nurmagomedov above Ferguson.
However, Nate Diaz’s star power and context surrounding his rivalry with McGregor might be enough to leapfrog these contenders and get the crack at McGregor’s lightweight belt. If this happens, I think it’s likely we’ll see Nurmagomedov and Ferguson fight each other. There’s rumors of the UFC making its debut in Russia next year – maybe we’ll see Nurmagomedov vs Ferguson headline that event.
If, for some reason, McGregor vs Diaz III is not an option, and McGregor still wants to defend his lightweight belt next, then I expect we’ll see McGregor vs Nurmagomedov. I just don’t see the UFC choosing Nurmagomedov over Diaz though. I know Nurmagomedov deserves the title shot and is adamant about getting it, but Diaz would be a much bigger event.
Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway/Anthony Pettis Winner
In the scenario where McGregor defends his featherweight title next, Jose Aldo is the obvious choice. However, Aldo may no longer want to continue fighting for the UFC based on recent interviews. If this is the case, and McGregor still wants to defend his featherweight belt, then it will come down to a pivotal battle taking place at UFC 206 – Max Holloway vs Anthony Pettis.
Holloway is on a 9-fight win streak, and Pettis is a former lightweight champion who is 1-0 at featherweight. If either man wins impressively, they would be a suitable challeger. I especially like this idea if Pettis pulls off an impressive upset. Not only do I think he is more marketable than Holloway, but he represents a fresh style of opponent that McGregor has not faced. We have already seen McGregor fight and soundly beat Holloway (given, it was a few years ago).
Conor McGregor vs Tyron Woodley
After UFC 205, it’s clear that McGregor and Woodley have started some beef with each other. I highly doubt it will ever materialize to the point where we see this fight, but it does sound like something McGregor would attempt. After all, there were rumors of the UFC trying to set McGregor up for a fight against the likes of Robbie Lawler and Georges St-Pierre.
Size differences aside, this fight would derail a lot of things. First, it would mean McGregor giving up his featherweight belt (sorry Conor, no three belts simultaneously for you). Second, it would mean denying Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson a shot at McGregor’s lightweight belt. Finally, it would mean putting the 170 lb division on hold. Right now, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson is expected to get an immediate rematch against Woodley. Demian Maia is a rightful #1 contender too who is already past his due for a title shot.
This fight would be outlandish, silly, and completely unnecessary … but that’s also ever more reason to do it. Be surprised, but don’t be blown away if Tyron Woodley becomes Conor McGregor’s next opponent.
