5 of the most intriguing storylines to watch heading into UFC 264

UFC 264 is right around the corner. Headlined by a high-stakes trilogy bout between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier, the pay-per-view event is expected to produce the next title challenger in the UFC lightweight division.

But looking at the lineup, there's a lot at stake at UFC 264 beyond the lightweight title picture. With many high-profile fighters returning for the July 10 PPV at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, UFC 264 could be a career-defining moment for several fighters on the card.

For all the marbles! 💎🇮🇪#UFC264 | July 10 | BT Sport Box Office pic.twitter.com/xGmAKwF1RX

— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) July 4, 2021

While there won't be any title fights that night, the presence of consequential fights makes UFC 264 as significant as any other event this year.

With that in mind, let's have a look at five intriguing storylines that could unfold at UFC 264:

#5 Will Ryan Hall get more fights after UFC 264?

Ryan Hall will face Ilia Topuria at UFC 264

Ryan Hall is one of the biggest cult heroes among hardcore MMA fans. Despite his popularity, however, he only has four UFC fights under his belt after spending over five years with the promotion.

What gives? Hall believes he's one of the most avoided fighters on the UFC roster. Known for his patented Imanari roll-heel hook combo, Hall thinks his reputation as one of the best leg lock specialists in promotion scares off his potential opponents.

Hall's signature move, the heel hook, is considered one of the most dangerous submissions in Brazilian jiu-jitsu as it yields a high injury rate, especially to ligaments in the knee. In fact, it is banned in many BJJ and Sambo tournaments, except in high-level competitions and in professional MMA.

On top of that, Hall's status as an unranked featherweight doesn't make him an enticing matchup for up-and-comers. Simply put, the risk of fighting him outweighs the reward of beating him.

At 36-years-old, however, Hall is running out of time to make strides in the UFC's 145-pound division. If 'The Wizard' can get past an equally skilled grappler in Ilia Topuria, the fanfare that follows him should hopefully translate into more fights in the UFC moving forward.

#4 Greg Hardy's test at UFC 264

Greg Hardy fights Tai Tuivasa at UFC 264

Greg Hardy went from being one of the hottest UFC prospects to a possible bust. After a dominant run at Dana White's Contender Series, Hardy's stint at the UFC has been inconsistent at best.

That's not to say, however, that the former NFL pro-bowler has no business fighting in the UFC. His record has been marred by disqualification and a no-contest due to errors that can be chalked up as rookie mistakes. But there's no doubt that Hardy would've beaten Allen Crowder and Ben Sosoli had he been more knowledgeable of the rules.

However, Hardy has also proven himself incapable of beating ranked heavyweights. Hardy crumbled against one of the most technical heavyweight strikers in Alexander Volkov. Marcin Tybura, meanwhile, taught Hardy that you mostly live and die by the knockout punch in the heavyweight division.

At UFC 264, Greg Hardy will take on fellow heavy-hitter Tai Tuivasa. If he can display a tremendous level of improvement, Hardy might get an opportunity to fight another heavyweight in the top 15. If the former NFL pro loses at UFC 264, we might be seeing what his peak looks like.

#3 Stephen Thompson's final run

Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson returns at UFC 264

Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson has had two shots at Tyron Woodley's UFC welterweight title. He was unsuccessful both times, with the first fight ending in a draw and the second fight ending in a majority decision win for Woodley. However, either fight could have gone Thompson's way had a judge seen it differently.

After back-to-back losses to Darren Till and Anthony Pettis, however, Thompson has been forgotten as a legitimate threat to the welterweight title. But of late, 'Wonderboy' has enjoyed a resurgence with notable wins over contenders Vincente Luque and Geoff Neal. And just like that, he's back in the mix.

If Thompson prevails against former title challenger Gilbert Burns at UFC 264, it should only be a matter of time before he gets his date with Kamaru Usman. As tremendously as Usman's striking has improved, Thompson still poses an interesting stylistic challenge to the reigning champ.

Usman has already beaten Colby Covington and Leon Edwards, two fighters currently in the title picture. But the same can't be said about 'Wonderboy,' who Usman hasn't met in the octagon yet. In that sense, 38-year-old Thompson could emerge as the most credible threat to Usman's reign of terror.

#2 Dustin Poirier could have made a mistake

UFC 242 Khabib v Poirier

There's no doubt that Dustin Poirier will pursue the UFC lightweight title should he emerge victorious in the main event of UFC 264. He could have fought for it earlier, but, of course, he opted for a more lucrative trilogy bout with Conor McGregor.

If Poirier can shut the door on his rival, then taking a detour on his championship path would be worth his while. Grabbing a few extra million dollars on his way to a collision with Charles Oliveira would be seen as a wise business move on Poirier's part. But if Poirier loses, he might have squandered a golden opportunity.

Let's play this out: McGregor beats Poirier and then loses to Oliveira. In this scenario, the Lafayette native might still get his opportunity down the line after a win or two. But if McGregor wins at UFC 264 and then goes on to recapture the lightweight crown, that's a nightmare situation for 'The Diamond.'

#1 UFC 264 is do-or-die for Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor v Donald Cerrone

It's dumbfounding that Conor McGregor could find himself fighting for the title if he defeats Poirier. Even if he snatches a victory over his rival at UFC 264, his lightweight record would only go up to 2-2. Then again, McGregor is still the UFC's biggest star and cash cow, and that status comes with some exceptional perks.

McGregor is at a crossroads in his career. He can either redeem himself by earning an opportunity to reclaim gold or begin a new phase in his career in which he's more of a special attraction than a top contender.

Of course, McGregor will not disappear from the spotlight all of a sudden if he loses at UFC 264. A third fight with Nate Diaz is a possible option for the Irishman if he falls short on his quest to return to the mountaintop.

Outside of money fights, going against a murderers' row of 155-pounders, or moving up to welterweight are the only other routes 'Notorious' could take. But would that be an enticing career path for McGregor? We'll find out soon.