THE RETURN of Conor McGregor is imminent – that we know.
But what’s not clear is who The Notorious will face on his return to action – but being the sport’s biggest star ultimately means he will never be short of options.
Just when it looks nailed on Dana White has secured an opponent for McGregor, an arrest, dispute over main-event, or opponent fall-out disrupts plans.
McGregor looked set to face Donald Cerrone, but after McGregor found out the fight would not be the main event these plans were scrapped, and instead Cowboy will meet Al Iaquinta.
Here SunSport suggests the five most likely opponents McGregor will face when he graces the fight world again this year.
Last month, this fight may not have made the top five – but with the fall out of Cerrone, mixed in with Diaz showing his face around the UFC again, the trilogy has picked up pace again.
Both McGregor and Diaz have indirectly addressed each other on Twitter, with fans and media fuelling the rivalry to continue.
And with Khabib Nurmagomedov still suspended, Max Holloway and Dustin Poirer fighting, and Tony Ferguison otherwise occupied, Diaz is the biggest lightweight name left.
The UFC 196 and 202 fights are rated in the top five UFC pay-per-views of all time, and money talks.
Ultimately McGregor has not won in the UFC since 2016, the same amount of time since Diaz last fought, and the company are desperate for The Notorious to get back to winning ways.
So Diaz is the most winnable, mega-money fight McGregor can confidently return against.
McGregor often gets what he wants, and we know he wants a rematch against Nurmagomedov, having been comfortably beaten at UFC 229 in October.
Just like when he lost against Diaz in March 2016, McGregor will not rest until he has attempted put right that wrong, and Dana White revealed the Irishman wants to get this loss back.
The fight at UFC 229 was the company’s biggest PPV of all time – so though McGregor may not deserve an immediate rematch, the $ signs mixed in with the Irishman’s power could override what is morally right.
True McGregor does not deserve a rematch straight away, but with an ego and confidence as big as his, he will not shy away from the prospect of once again being outmatched by Nurmagomedov.
The man who should be facing Nurmagomedov for the title next is Tony Ferguson, but he’s not – nor will he fight for the interim lightweight belt, after rejecting that call last month.
While battling personal problems, mixed in with the experience of already winning an interim title, only for that to be stripped of him, Ferguson finds himself without an opponent.
A matchup between McGregor and Ferguson, to decide who faces Nurmagomedov upon his UFC return, could make the most sense – with the interim champion then facing the winner of that triangle.
Also, a fight between the electric and unpredictable Ferguson and McGregor is the sort of thing UFC fans care not for whether a title is at stake.
McGregor recently offered his support to his fellow Paradigm Sports managed athlete – and the two have a prior history, a less friendly one.
McGregor beat both Max Holloway and Dustin Poirer, with a year between both victories – which years later have blossomed into highly commendable results.
However, Holloway was 21 and Poirier has vastly improved in the division above – as the two former McGregor foes meet for the interim lightweight strap next month.
With Nurmagoemdov suspended until July, the eventual interim champ could meet McGregor the right to face the champion when he returns.
It would be the first time an interim title has been defended, but it would be the most effective way of giving the belt a meaning, while offering the fans a genuine title worthy fight.
Floyd Mayweather likes money, and so does Conor McGregor.
This matchup in the boxing ring made no sense two years ago, and a rematch makes even less sense now – but it’s watchable.
McGregor is the competitive character to try and box again, because he failed in his first attempt – mixed in with the chance to rematch the fighter who beat him.
The first time around there was a sense of unknown around how McGregor’s punching could fare in the ring, but after now having evidence, this one-time special should remain without a sequel.
