The 5 Potential Fights That Conor McGregor Could Take Next

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After not making an appearance in the Octagon for almost two years, Conor McGregor returned to the UFC in typical McGregor fashion — loud, arrogant, and boisterous — for UFC 229.

But despite all of his in-ring fighting skills (and out-of-ring promotion skills), McGregor was second best this time arond as he was essentially dominated by Khabib Nurmagamedov, who remained undefeated and retained his light heavyweight title.

However, luckily for MMA fans, McGregor won’t be disappearing back into the wealthy wilderness this time, as he signed a six-fight deal with the UFC prior to the bout.

But who could McGregor possibly take on next? The last time McGregor lost a fight — against Nate Diaz at UFC 196 — he was back in the Octagon against that same opponent just six months later. Will he take that same route with Khabib or will he try and get a few fights under his belt before trying to take down The Eagle?

Max Holloway

McGregor has previously fought and defeated Max Holloway at Fight Night 26 on Saturday, August 17, 2013.

Since that time, Holloway has become one of the most respected fighters in the business and is the current featherweight champion, which is the weight class that McGregor originally made a name for himself in.

Anthony Pettis

While McGregor has no previous history or beef with Anthony Pettis, mixed martial arts analysts have predicted that a fight between the two would be an electric one.

Pettis was most recently defeated by Tony Ferguson at UFC 229, who has since turned his sights on McGregor or Nurmagamedov.

Tony Ferguson

Ferguson — who headlined the co-main event at UFC 229 by defeating Anthony Pettis — has won eleven straight fights at 155 pounds and deserves a shot at fighting for the Undisputed Lightweight Championship. While Ferguson may be next in line to fight Nurmagamedov, a bout with McGregor down the line is not outside the realm of possibility.

Plus — similar to most fighters trying to make a name for themselves in the UFC — Ferguson called out McGregor following his UFC 229 victory.

Nate Diaz

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McGregor has always been adamant about completing a trilogy with Diaz, and while Dana White has shot down the idea in the past, it’s only a matter of time before this one happens.

“I’ve got that trilogy with Diaz. I will give that man that rematch. He gave me a rematch. I will give him a rematch,” McGregor said in the lead up to UFC 229.

Khabib Nurmagamedov

Just hours after his UFC 229 defeat, McGregor took to Twitter to say “Good knock. Looking forward to the rematch.”

Now, while the post-fight actions of Nurmagamedov and his team complicate a potential rematch between the two, McGregor’s coach John Kavanagh has already indicated that Conor was “screaming and shouting” for a rematch “within minutes”.

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