4 UFC wishes for 2020

#2 Conor McGregor fights more than once

Will Conor McGregor fight more than once in 2020?

2019 saw the UFC sign a lucrative deal with ESPN that meant that their pay-per-views could only be purchased through the ESPN+ streaming service, and while that meant that the process became tricky for some fans, it proved to be a winner for the promotion – who now make as much money as they would’ve done for a buy rate close to 500k regardless of the actual number of buys.

That was a massive plus for the UFC last year as their biggest drawing card – Irish superstar Conor McGregor – did not fight at all following his 2018 loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov. However, 2020’s first pay-per-view will change that as ‘The Notorious One’ will step back into the Octagon to face-off against Donald Cerrone in the main event of UFC 246.

Will McGregor win the fight? It’s hard to tell, but one big wish for the UFC in 2020 must be that the Irishman returns to the Octagon on at least one more occasion before the year is out. That’s probably more likely if he beats Cerrone, as UFC President Dana White has suggested a Lightweight title shot would be within his grasp with a win – but even if he loses, it’d be nice to see him back in action against someone like Jorge Masvidal.

The UFC will definitely hope that this is a wish that comes true – particularly due to the financial impact it’d have – but it’d be cool for the fans too, as nobody else on the roster brings the kind of “big event” feel that McGregor does to a UFC show.