CONOR McGREGOR is ready to make his fighting return – and has a stack of options waiting for him.
UFC president Dana White revealed the 31-year-old Irishman has been texting him confirming he wants to compete on ‘Fight Island’.
Conor McGregor is ready to make his fighting returnCredit: Getty
But McGregor is momentarily frozen out of the lightweight title picture, with No1 contenders Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje fighting for the interim title at UFC 249, with the winner then unifying against Khabib Nurmagomedov.
McGregor’s manager Audie Attar told ESPN that The Notorious feels he will face the winner of Ferguson and Gaethje – but White has already promised the victor will challenge Nurmagomedov.
With a shot at the 155lb crown out of the picture, SunSport details six other alternatives for the Irish superstar.
JORGE MASVIDAL
After McGregor made his return at welterweight in January, beating Donald Cerrone in 40 seconds, remaining at 170lb to face Masvidal – who had just beaten Nate Diaz – seemed like the logical next step.
Instead McGregor looked destined to chase Nurmagomedov and the lightweight title, with Masvidal instead lined up to face welterweight champ Kamaru Usman.
But with Masvidal’s title shot postponed amid the coronavirus pandemic and McGregor facing a lengthy wait for his own crack at a belt, it paves the way for the two to meet in a mega-fight.
Masvidal has made it clear he wants to fight McGregor and similarly the Irishman fancies a crack at the ‘Baddest Mother F***er’ crown ‘Gambred’ won against Diaz in November.
White recently confirmed his interest in the fight should the duo agree terms.
Dana White recently confirmed his interest in Jorge Masvidal fighting McGregor
NATE DIAZ
McGregor and Diaz are tied with one win each since their two fights in 2016.
But the trilogy has since eluded fans with McGregor going on to win the lightweight belt before making a boxing crossover to face Floyd Mayweather.
The Notorious seemed to be focusing more on his rivalry with Nurmagomedov, but with the Russian now otherwise occupied it leaves the door open for McGregor to finally settle the score with Diaz.
Diaz suffered a cut against Masvidal causing their fight to be stopped in November but White already said a rematch was not on the cards.
With Masvidal going down a different route, McGregor emerges as the most profitable and favourable opponent for Diaz.
Nate Diaz and McGregor both have a win against each other
DUSTIN POIRIER
McGregor took out Poirier in just a round of their 2014 clash at featherweight.
But since then the American has moved up to lightweight, winning nine of his last 12 fights and despite capturing the interim title he was beaten by champ Khabib.
Poirier is currently the No2 ranked lightweight with McGregor a place below him.
Should The Notorious need a win against another challenger before fighting for the belt, Poirier acts as the perfect opponent.
The pair have recently traded words online fuelling speculation of a rematch.
Dustin Poirier was beaten by McGregor at featherweight in 2014Credit: Sportsfile – Subscription
UFC 249 LOSER
Clearly, whoever captures the interim title at UFC 249 will then go on to face Nurmagomedov.
But the loser, either Ferguson or Gaethje, would still be the biggest name in the lightweight division outside of Khabib and the soon to be interim champion.
McGregor facing Gaethje or Ferguson is a huge fight and the perfect way to earn a shot at the unified title.
He was already in talks to face Gaethje before the American was called up on late notice to main-event against Ferguson.
And Ferguson has long rivalled McGregor, with their clash of styles making the fight one of the most compelling in the UFC.
Tony Ferguson, left, fights Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight belt at UFC 249
KAMARU USMAN
Before and after McGregor piled on the pounds to beat Cerrone at welterweight, he said challenging for Usman’s title was in his plans.
If he was successful it would make him the UFC’s first ever three-division champion, with the Irishman already becoming the first fighter to hold two belts at the same time.
As Usman’s fight against Masvidal loses momentum, it leaves McGregor in a good position to challenge for the title.
Usman has already called out The Notorious, saying in January: “You can’t take anything away from Conor. He has put himself in that status to be that guy. But can you imagine me fighting Conor? Like that would not be fair. It would not be fair.
“You saw what Khabib did to him at 155. Now imagine doing that to me at 170. Now I am not just gonna take him down. I am gonna march forward, I am gonna hit this guy, I am gonna beat on him, I am gonna take him down. I would do some bad things to Conor.”
UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is open to facing McGregorCredit: Getty – Contributor
BOXING MATCH
UFC president White has made it clear he wants McGregor to rematch Nurmagomedov at some point – in a fight he predicts would smash their PPV records.
A loss in the cage for the Irish puncher could wipe out hopes of facing Khabib again, meaning to keep active and his title hopes alive, making another boxing switch is not out of the picture.
McGregor has returned to his first ever boxing coaches at the Crumlin amateur club, and has since called for a rematch against Mayweather.
But bouts against Manny Pacquiao, sparring rival Paulie Malignaggi and even retired champion turned promoter Oscar De La Hoya have all been suggested by The Notorious.
Aside from another fight against Nurmagomedov, McGregor’s biggest purse could actually be made back in the boxing ring.
McGregor tweeted to accept a boxing match against retired fighter now promoter Oscar De La Hoya
Conor McGregor releases never-before-seen footage of his final spar before beating Donald Cerrone on his UFC comeback
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
