Conor McGregor is the biggest name in professional mixed martial arts that ever lived. He no longer competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), with injury and countless retirements keeping him out of the octagon. Will he return to light up the UFC again? Perhaps you fancy him to return and complete the fairytale by winning back the championship belt. Stranger things have happened in combat sports.
The UFC is one of the biggest professional sports organizations in the world and, arguably, the biggest name in the fight game. But it all seems a lonely place without the Irishman. Notorious once claimed to be bigger than the UFC, and there was a time that was correct. But not anymore. Conor has been inactive for so long that some MMA fans don’t know his story. They don’t appreciate just how big a name he is in this field.
The only way to change that is for McGregor to return to the octagon and fight. He won’t return at championship level following too long on the sidelines. But there are interesting bouts for him if the Dubliner is determined to try and win back his crown and crowd. What McGregor does next has become so interesting that the leading apps offering UFC bets have odds on who he will fight following his return from injury.
In this article, we look at three potential moves for McGregor, including a bout that would capture the imagination of the fans and get the buzz back around Conor’s career. There is nothing to say he will make a comeback to prizefighting with his team keeping their cards close to their chest. But until Conor releases a statement clearing up his future, all fans can do is make predictions.
Google Images Creative Commons Licenses
Contents
Jake Paul
Boxing could be the way forward for McGregor. He suffered a broken leg in his last bout against Dustin Poirier, which has kept him out of action for over a year. Boxing is a sport much kinder to the legs than MMA, and that might help make Conor’s decision for him. He’s already a big name in combat sports with top-level experience in boxing.
McGregor famously took on Floyd Mayweather in the boxing ring, losing by a late stoppage. The Irishman held his own for long periods of that bout against Pretty Boy before the pace of the action caught up with him. There was enough in his fight with Mayweather to suggest McGregor could hold his own against most boxers.
He wouldn’t be short of possible opponents if returning to the boxing ring with Jake Paul near the front of the queue. The YouTube star turned professional boxer remains undefeated, but he is yet to face a credible boxer. McGregor doesn’t fit the bill on that one, but he does have more experience in the squared circle than Paul’s previous opponents. Everyone connected to the fight would make huge sums of cash and, as fight fans already know, that is often the deciding factor behind bouts being confirmed these days.
WWE
WWE has always been a possibility for Conor, and now, with his injuries, it seems a perfect fit. No real strikes are used in the sport, and that’s good news for his damaged legs. There are also millions of dollars to be made, and Conor knows how to sell.
He’s a promoter’s dream and has the talk needed to ensure he fits into the world of WWE without fuss. WWE is the next logical step for Notorious, following in the footsteps of Ronda Rousey. Many boxing champions have also made the leap to WWE over the years, including current WBC heavyweight champ Tyson Fury. Conor’s old foe Mayweather even made the leap to WWE. They don’t call him Money Mayweather for nothing. He knows how to make easy money from his fighting skills and we know the same can be said about McGregor.
Dustin Poirier
Who would watch a fourth fight between these two with the scores locked at 2-1 in Poirier’s favor? We certainly would as excuses could be made for McGregor’s last loss against Dustin when he suffered damage to his leg early. We’ll never know what would’ve happened if Conor’s leg had stood the test and kept him upright. But there’s only one way to find out.