5 UFC welterweights Conor McGregor can beat if he returns to the 170-lbs division

As of late, former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor has been struggling in terms of consistency. The days of his undefeated run in the UFC's featherweight division are well in the past, with the Irishman's future set in either the lightweight or welterweight divisions.

Conor McGregor's record at lightweight currently stands at 1-3, with his last three fights in the division all ending in defeat. His UFC welterweight record is slightly more favorable, with two wins and one loss.

Should Conor McGregor move back up to 170-lbs to find some form, he must be incredibly selective in who he faces. The talent within the top five of the welterweight division is of such a high level that the Irishman would likely be a heavy underdog against any of them.

A tune-up fight could help him regain some of the respect he once held and re-establish his image as 'Notorious' into the minds of UFC fans. In the following list, we will detail five opponents Conor McGregor could potentially defeat should he move back up to welterweight.

#5. Conor McGregor vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio

While a fight between Conor McGregor and Santiago Ponzinibbio is not one that fans are calling out for at the time of writing, it is an intriguing matchup all the same.

UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik v Sakai Weigh-in

'The Argentine Dagger' has been a part of some incredible fights in the past and has defeated the likes of Mike Perry, Neil Magny and Gunnar Nelson. However, he was forced to spend an extended period out of the sport due to several health matters.

He returned in 2021 and was knocked out by Li Jingliang at UFC on ABC 1. Many attributed this loss to ring rust. Ponzinibbio then competed again against an upcoming prospect in Miguel Baeza, and after falling behind in the first round, 'The Argentine Dagger' rallied in the second and third. He won the fight by decision in one of the gutsiest performances of the year.

Ponzinibbio is currently ranked thirteenth in the welterweight division. Should he pick up another victory in 2021, he would likely move into the top ten, which may be enough to entice Conor McGregor into accepting a fight with him, although it is still incredibly unlikely. But Ponzinibbio's love of striking and his tendency to take a hit to land a hit would arguably play right into Conor McGregor's fighting style.

#4. Conor McGregor vs. Belal Muhammad

UFC 258: Muhammad v Lima UFC 183: Silva v Diaz

Another option for Conor McGregor at 170-lbs is Belal Muhammad, a solid, well-rounded fighter fully deserving of his ninth-placed ranking in the UFC's welterweight division. However, it may be this jack of all trades approach Muhammad has that makes him more susceptible to how Conor McGregor fights.

Many of the most dangerous fighters are specialists in one area of MMA and have built the rest of their game around it. As a result, it is hard to see an area of the fight that Muhammad would be able to give McGregor trouble with.

Muhammad also has a following on social media that significantly surpasses that of the number five pick, Santiago Ponzinibbio. He might need another win to boost his profile slightly higher, but if Conor McGregor did want to make a run at the 170lb title, he could do worse than starting the Belal Muhammad.

#3. Conor McGregor vs. Nick Diaz

Nick Diaz was once considered one of the best welterweight fighters in the UFC. However, he has not competed since 2015, when he lost via unanimous decision to Anderson Silva. The result was later changed to a No Contest on account of Silva testing positive for PEDs.

However, 2021 is the year UFC fans will see Nick Diaz return to the octagon. The iconic Stockton scrapper will face off against a fellow legend, 'Ruthless' Robbie Lawler.

If Nick Diaz wins this fight, the fan excitement around him will be huge. Maybe enough to warrant a fight between him and the 'Notorious' Conor McGregor. We haven't seen Nick Diaz fight in a long time, and a lot of questions will be answered when he competes against Lawler. But, considering he is at the age of 38, one would have to give the Irishman the edge if they fought.

#2. Conor McGregor vs. Jorge Masvidal

UFC Fight Night Till v Masvidal UFC 263: Adesanya v Vettori 2

Possibly the most contentious pick on this list is a potential matchup between Conor McGregor and Jorge Masvidal. 'Gamebred' is considered one of the best strikers at 170-lbs.

However, there is a case to be made in favor of McGregor. Jorge Masvidal revels in the striking realms of MMA. He is a boxer, first and foremost, and rarely utiles low leg kicks. As of late, Conor McGregor's two biggest weaknesses have been his ground game and possibly compromised shins.

If Masvidal went out and competed in a striking war with McGregor, it would be the style of fight that the Irishman embraces. That is not to say he would be guaranteed a victory by any means, but McGregor is a lethal striker who would certainly fancy his chances at the very least.

#1. Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 3

The fight that fans have been calling out forever since the resolution of UFC 202. Both Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz have wins over the other on their record. Both men are also currently on losing streaks, so it would really appear to be a fight that makes sense to book right now.

Fans will always pay to watch Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz compete against each other. The pre-fight trash talk, in-cage combat, and post-fight respect make this matchup compelling for hardcore and casual MMA fans.

What likely makes the fight compelling for Conor McGregor, however, is the fact that he has already defeated Diaz. There will also be less size discrepancy between them compared to any other fight on this list. Diaz is a former lightweight and certainly has an undersized physique compared to the welterweight top 10.

McGregor has repeatedly stated that he needs to finish the trilogy with Diaz, and now would be the perfect time to do so.