Conor McGregor, in his estimation at least, is one clattering left hand away from creating history come UFC 205. Not only is the ultra-stacked card expected to blow away all UFC PPV records till date, but the fact that it is the promotion’s first ever venture into New York only adds to the spectacle come November 12th.
Set in the modern day Coloseum of combat sports that is Madison Square Garden, winning the Lightweight Title against Eddie Alvarez in the feature headlining bout would cap off an unprecedented year for McGregor, where he has consolidated his standing as the biggest superstar in the UFC during Ronda Rousey’s hiatus.
And 2017 promises to be no different for the Irishman, who has garnered a reputation of aiming high and eclipsing his targets with an unique blend of panache in the Octagon and brashness outside of it.
In a recent interview that he did, McGregor alluded to the fact that the MMA world will be taken by storm when he reveals what his future holds after UFC 205. Although we assume that he is taking a victory against a very game UFC Lightweight Champion for granted, we couldn’t help but have our curiosity piqued.
On that note, here are 5 possible opponents for Conor McGregor in 2017.
#5 Jose Aldo
The former UFC Featherweight king and pound-for-pound great has been feeling rather rebellious of late, even threatening to tap out voluntarily in his remaining fights or lose on purpose, just so that he can see out his UFC contract.
While the reason for this is likely that the division’s undisputed Champion is busy going up in weight and pursuing history, one can make sense of the situation when they weigh up that Jose Aldo’s course to redemption remains uncharted without that elusive rematch against the Irishman.
Had Aldo not been knocked out in just 13 seconds in their UFC 194 bout, or McGregor not been choked out by Nate Diaz at UFC 196 for that matter, this title unification fight between the undisputed Featherweight Champion and the interim Champion could well have materialised by now.
However in 2017, should Aldo possibly have braved the challenge of the up-and-coming Max Holloway and retain his Interim belt, this rematch does look like a distinct possibility. Especially if McGregor loses to Alvarez at 205, he wouldn’t have anywhere else to go but to turn back and defend his Featherweight belt.
#4 Nate Diaz
It would be a disservice to the sport of MMA should the trilogy fight between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz never come to pass. Diaz sent ripples across the world of MMA when he choked out the Irishman in their first fight at UFC 196, thereby also elevating his cult status into the sphere of superstardom.
That ensured that their second fight at UFC 202 was not only a blockbuster affair, but one that also lived up to all the pre-fight hoopla in terms of the back and forth war that both men waged inside the Octagon.
Conor McGregor may have limped away with the victory, and a bloodstrewn Nate Diaz with the purists’ hearts, but both men earned the other’s respect and we as fans surely deserve a trilogy fight in 2017, to settle their rivalry once and for all.
#3 Khabib Nurmagomedov
UFC’s answer to the reverential status that the Undertaker inspires in the WWE, Khabib Nurmagomedov is by far one of the most highly touted fighters in the MMA world today.
Undefeated and unchallenged, his scary grappling supremacy and laser-focussed, no-nonsense approach to fighting has earned Khabib the reputation of a phenom, in what is already considered one of the most talent stacked divisions in UFC.
Unfortunately for Conor McGregor, provided that he defeats Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205, he is also next-in-line for a Lightweight Title shot.
Stylistically this is a nightmare match-up for the Irishman. Khabib’s ground game is widely considered to be head and shoulders above the competition by those in the know. However, whatever other allegations one can level against Conor McGregor, he has never really shied away from a tough fight thus far.
And should he capture the Lightweight Title at UFC 205, that’s exactly what he could end up getting.
#2 Max Holloway
The young Hawaiian has been on a tear ever since he lost a decision to Conor McGregor in 2013, winning 9 fights on the bounce. While he has, however, been knocking on the door of Title contention in Featherweight for some time now, the landscape of the division still remains murky due to McGregor’s expeditious nature.
Although should the Irishman be – literally as well – cut down to size against Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205, a return to greener pastures at the 145 pound weighclass seems inevitable. And should Jose Aldo (god forbid) carry out his threat of leaving the UFC, Max Holloway would only be too eager to step up to the challenge.
This is a vastly improved Holloway from the one that fought McGregor 3 years ago and coupled with burgeoning momentum that 9 victories on the trot generate, the rematch should be a treat to watch for neutrals and fanatics alike.
#1 Floyd Mayweather
Post-fight press conferences after a McGregor fight, especially if he emerges with his hand raised, are spectacles in their own rights. He usually provides us an astute insight into how the fight played out in his head, as well as outlining his plans for the immediate future.
His body may have been smarting from the bruising encounter with Nate Diaz at UFC 202, but McGregor’s intellect was as keen as ever. He left us hanging with an ominous statement; “sh*t is about to hit the fan around here.”
What exactly he was referring to is still unclear, but rarely has there been this much smoke without a fire somewhere. As every MMA and boxing news outlet has speculated thus far, a super fight against Floyd Mayweather, the biggest name in combat sports today, seems to be more than just a publicity stunt as initiallly believed.
Floyd has been open, if a tad non-committal, while McGregor has been at his brash and compelling best about it. Now, rumours abound about a ‘left field’ announcement that is forthcoming from McGregor after UFC 205.
Some contend that it has to do with taking time off, or even retirement. While some others feel that this could be the seeds sown for a superfight the likes of which has never been witnessed before in MMA history.
Which is it? Only time would tell.
