LAS VEGAS, NV - AUGUST 25: UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor poses on the scale during his official weigh-in at T-Mobile Arena on August 25, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. McGregor will meet boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a super welterweight boxing match at T-Mobile Arena on August 26. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Conor McGregor has been out of action for a year since he injured his leg against Dustin Poirier in round one of his UFC 264 trilogy bout.
McGregor is currently 1-3 in his previous four UFC fights dating back to 2018 and is coming off back-to-back losses to Dustin Pourier in 2021.
Rumors have it that the former UFC two-division champion and Irish MMA star is looking to return to the UFC. Many observers speculate on the ‘Notorious One’ path to get back to the cage.
McGregor’s performance as a former champion is unlikely to improve significantly while he has been away from the cage. It would be in his best interests to choose his next opponent carefully.
McGregor could lose three consecutive fights if he does not take precautions.
Let’s look at three possible opponents for Conor McGregor’s return.
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Tony Ferguson Makes For An Intriguing Match-Up Vs McGregor
Ferguson is currently on a four-fight losing streak. His last loss was a devastating front kick knockout against Michael Chandler in May.
Ferguson is well-known for his eccentric personality and sometimes controversial comments made during and before fights.
McGregor is a similar candidate.
Both fighters are facing possible exit from UFC if they lose their next fight. It seems appropriate that these two most visceral trash talkers would end each other’s careers by going head-to-head in what will be an exciting bout.
Michael Chandler: A tough test for the former UFC champion
Michael Chandler, a former Bellator lightweight champion and one-time UFC lightweight title contender, arrived at the UFC hoping to face Khabib Numagomedov for lightweight gold in 2020.
Nurmagomedov, however, called it a career after his father’s death.
Chandler was then defeated by Charles Oliveira, the current UFC lightweight champion.
Chandler, a former lightweight contender, is now stuck in a bind when it comes time to find his next opponent.
Chandler handed Tony Ferguson his fourth consecutive loss. He used a brutal front kick knockout at UFC274 in May.
Chandler is a UFC fan favorite and has won the respect of observers despite losing to Justin Gaethje and Charles Oliveira.
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Conor McGregor IV vs Dustin Poirier is Must-See TV
Although it is highly unlikely, Dustin Poirier may offer Conor McGregor a chance to win redemption in a bout between these two legendary rivals.
McGregor beat Poirier by knockout in 2014. He then achieved legend status with title wins in the UFC men’s featherweight and lightweight divisions.
However, McGregor and Poirier met again almost seven years later on Fight Island, in January 2021. Poirier won the huge upset with a second-round knockout.
Six months later, the two would face each other again at UFC 264. This time, they were on more hostile terms. McGregor made remarks toward Poirier’s spouse in the days leading up to the trio bout. The fight sold 200,000 more pay-per-view than the rematch.
Poirier defeated McGregor in the second round after breaking his leg. In a post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, McGregor continued to make controversial remarks about Poirier’s wife after the fight.
Although it is unlikely that Poirier will grant McGregor an opportunity to even the series, McGregor has been inactive since his UFC loss against Charles Oliviera in December 2021. He has spoken many times about the possibility of retiring.
There is a possibility that Poirier will take a big payoff against McGregor to close his MMA career.
McGregor’s next opponent will be announced, although it is unclear when he will return to the octagon.
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