Highlights
- 'Mystic Mac' McGregor is still the biggest name in MMA with immense drawing power.
- Fighters like Masvidal, MVP, and Edwards could offer McGregor thrilling matchups.
- Potential fights against Usman, Holloway, Gaethje, and others promise intense rivalries.
Without a shadow of a doubt, the 35-year-old Conor McGregor is the biggest name in MMA. Even fans and promoters outside the UFC want 'Mystic Mac' to appear in their crowds, generate some social media buzz, and create organic marketing to the tune of millions of views -- just ask Mike Perry and BKFC. That's the drawing power of the 'Notorious' McGregor. Interestingly, UFC fans have been clamoring for his return from a leg injury after fighting Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
10 Best Flyweight Fighters In UFC History, Ranked
While the UFC's flyweight division has been overlooked, flyweight fighters are some of the best and most talented MMA fighters in the world.While many expected him to face Michael Chandler after 2023's The Ultimate Fighter 31, it hasn't materialized. There are conflicting reports with UFC CEO Dana White saying McGregor isn't ready, or he has too much money. Conversely, McGregor said he is training and inspired, although it feels like he wants bigger, more exciting names with brand value. With that in mind, here are some fighters McGregor would surely enjoy fighting outside the incessant Chandler callouts.
10 Jorge Masvidal Is An Elite Name For The Résumé
'Gambred' Loves Talking Smack As Well
Date of Birth | Nov. 12, 1984 |
Overall MMA Record | 35-17 |
Biggest MMA Victories | Nate Diaz (TKO), Ben Askren (KO), Darren Till (KO) |
Jorge Masvidal is another popular name in the UFC. The welterweight is most famous for that knee that knocked out Ben Askren, creating the fastest KO in UFC history. However, Masvidal couldn't generate hype after losing to the likes of Colby Covington and Kamaru Usman. To the point, many dubbed him a 'journeyman' or 'gatekeeper.'
Masvidal has since retired and is due to box Nate Diaz. However, he has said if he comes back, he wouldn't mind a big name like McGregor. The Miami resident stated in the past, even in his prime, that should McGregor want it at welterweight, he could get it. Both may be a bit long in the tooth, but the press conferences and boxing in the cage with fighters who don't like wrestling would be quite the show.
9 Michael Page Would Invite McGregor's Striking
MVP Can Create A European Spectacle
Date of Birth | Apr. 7, 1987 |
Overall MMA Record | 22-2 |
Biggest MMA Victories | Kevin Holland (decision), Goiti Yamauchi (TKO), Evangelista Santos (KO) |
Michael 'Venom' Page has made the transition from Bellator to a UFC superstar successfully. He beat Kevin Holland at UFC 299 and is earmarking a contest with some of the UFC's best strikers. Many believe Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson is the best bet.
However, what's better than a Brit in 'Venom' fighting the biggest Irishman in the game? MVP, as Page is also called, can fight McGregor in Ireland or England, in a clash that would have massive European appeal. MVP isn't into grappling at all, giving McGregor the kind of slugfest and kickboxing he thrives on.
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14 Best Heavyweights In MMA History, Ranked
The Heavyweight division in MMA is home to many of the best fighters in the sport's history. Many of these have been UFC champions.8 Leon Edwards Is A Welterweight King
'Rocky' Would Enjoy A Striking Payday Vs. McGregor
Date of Birth | Aug. 25, 1991 |
Overall MMA Record | 22-3 (1 NC) |
Biggest MMA Victories | Kamaru Usman (KO), Colby Covington (decision), Nate Diaz (decision) |
Leon Edwards, the current welterweight champion, shares the same management team with McGregor. But both have said once the spotlight is right, and the money, they will fight each other. McGregor might not deserve a shot, having only beaten Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone at welterweight. But merit doesn't matter, as long as the title fight draws.
'Rocky' has risen to prominence after beating Usman twice and Covington. Plus, the UFC seems like it wants any fighter besides Belal Muhammad competing for the title. McGregor can slip in and fight Edwards if the opportunity presents itself. That would generate PPV points for both, be another enticing fight against a Brit, and surely give the welterweight division the pop it needs with two guys who love precision, timing and accurate sniping.
7 Kamaru Usman Is An Underrated Striker
The 'Nigerian Nightmare' Wants Big Scalps
Date of Birth | May 11, 1987 |
Overall MMA Record | 20-4 |
Biggest MMA Victories | Jorge Masvidal (KO), Gilbert Burns (TKO), Colby Covington (TKO) |
Kamaru Usman is a former welterweight champ, and one of the most dominant fighters the division has ever seen. To the point, many thought he could surpass GSP's record. While Usman isn't holding the strap, his stock is still high after a nail-biting middleweight loss to Khamzat Chimaev in 2023.
Whether it's at 185 pounds (which McGregor teased Chandler to come up to) or the 170-welterweight class, Usman would be a very intriguing fight. He loves to wrestle, but seeing as McGregor is vulnerable to strikes, Usman wouldn't mind playing that game like he did with Masvidal. Usman can box, shut up the UFC's biggest loudmouth, get a massive payout, and prove to fans he doesn't have "pillow hands." It would be the perfect win to capstone his legacy as the first Nigerian-born welterweight king.
6 Max Holloway Has Unfinished Business With McGregor
'Mystic Mac' And 'Blessed' Have Evolved Since Their First Duel
Date of Birth | Dec. 4, 1991 |
Overall MMA Record | 25-7 |
Biggest MMA Victories | José Aldo (TKO, twice), Yair Rodríguez (decision), 'Korean Zombie' (KO) |
When McGregor defeated Max Holloway by decision in 2013, both were different fighters. Holloway was so young, at just 21 years of age. Since then, both have changed dramatically. Holloway has put on size, fought at lightweight, won the featherweight title and staked his claim as one of the UFC's best boxers. The 'Blessed Express' has always talked of getting that one back as well.
Holloway is a star, so seeing as McGregor can't come down to featherweight, it's easy to envision them scrapping at, say, lightweight -- which Holloway is doing against Justin Gaethje for the BMF belt. This fight would be a puncher's delight and one that may not have as much trash talk, with the in-cage brawl doing the talking. Both respect each other a lot, which would make it one of the purest rematches in UFC history. And more so, a fight McGregor can win and rebuild some buzz.
Conor McGregor Admits To Drinking After Losing Interest In UFC Return
Conor McGregor gives an update on his UFC return at the Road House premiere in London.5 Justin Gaethje Loves Making Highlight Reels
Gaethje And McGregor Can Put On A Boxing Clinic
Date of Birth | Nov. 14, 1988 |
Overall MMA Record | 25-4 |
Biggest MMA Victories | Dustin Poirier (KO), Tony Ferguson (TKO), Michael Chandler (decision) |
Justin Gaethje has tempered his style recently, but he can still batter opponents in masterclass style, as seen when he drubbed Tony Ferguson to a bloody pulp. Wins over Dustin Poirier and Rafael Fiziev reiterated as much, too. With his style of boxing, he'd be perfect for McGregor. Both are fan-favorites, plus there is extra heat as McGregor hates Gaethje's manager, Ali Abdelaziz.
This is one of those fights McGregor could take for the lightweight title or as an eliminator. Sure, he wouldn't like Gaethje's leg kicks, but it would be high-risk, high-reward. Anyone who beats the 'Highlight,' is seen as a legend. McGregor is already that, but such a scalp on the C.V. would be too sweet to pass up.
4 Islam Makhachev Can Continue Khabib's Legacy
Team Dagestan Will Never Be Done With McGregor
Date of Birth | Oct. 27, 1991 |
Overall MMA Record | 25-1 |
Biggest MMA Victories | Alexander Volkanovski (KO), Charles Oliveira (submission), Dan Hooker (submission) |
McGregor is no fan of the Dagestani fighters as the fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov's camp showed: before and after he lost to the 'Eagle.' McGregor has been very disrespectful personally and professionally to Makhachev, so it won't be a surprise if White wants to cash in on one last brawl.
Abdelaziz would surely push for another of his clients to fight McGregor, not for the money, but to show he is overrated. While it might not be competitive in the cage due to Makhachev's elite striking, grappling and submission game, the pre-fight build and revenge energy could create one of the UFC's most popular fights. It would get nasty, but the UFC doesn't mind once it rakes in the bucks and chatter. The Embedded docuseries with the Dagestani camp, and McGregor having teammates like Dillon Danis, would generate millions of views and set the stage.
3 Ilia Topuria Is The New Devastator On The Block
McGregor Can Turn In A 'Y'all Must Have Forgot' Performance
Date of Birth | Jan. 21, 1997 |
Overall MMA Record | 15-0 |
Biggest MMA Victories | Alexander Volkanovski (KO), Bryce Mitchell (submission), Ryan Hall (KO) |
Ilia Topuria can be viewed as recency bias after winning the featherweight title from Alexander Volkanovski. But the stocky featherweight has that punching power and boxing energy McGregor loves. If Topuria can come up to lightweight, chances are McGregor will meet him. Topuria is very popular in Europe at the moment, due to his aristocratic fashion vibe and KO power.
This makes him 'El Matador' perfect dragon for McGregor to slay. Topuria loves trash-talking and has already called McGregor out, so if the UFC can pull this off by debuting in Spain, it would do big numbers. With the size discrepancy, it is a scrap McGregor can win. It would allow the Irishman to steal back that Euro flair and shine and remind the world that the mocking pretenders cannot take his place.
UFC Produced Record Revenue Of $1.3 Billion Without Conor McGregor
The UFC had his biggest year financial without it's biggest star, Conor McGregor.2 Dustin Poirier Can End His Twilight On A Bang
McGregor Wants One More Chance To Pressure And Crack 'El Diamante'
Date of Birth | Jan. 19, 1989 |
Overall MMA Record | 30-8 (1 NC) |
Biggest MMA Victories | Michael Chandler (submission), Conor McGregor (TKO), Anthony Pettis (submission) |
McGregor beat Poirier (TKO) when they were coming up as featherweights in 2014. But then he lost to the 'Diamond' at UFC 257 via TKO and broke his foot a few months later when they tried to end the trilogy. Fans want that historical tiebreaker to be conclusive and decisive. While Poirier is eyeing a Makhachev fight in June, win or lose, that sets up a timeline where he could leapfrog Chandler and call McGregor out at lightweight or welterweight to settle their feud in the tailend of 2024.
It would be a dirty press conference, but Poirier knows how to drown the noise out and beat brawlers, as he did with Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299. This is one of the biggest fights the UFC can add closure to, with two of its most prized athletes. The story is there to be finished, as McGregor reminded everyone when he left the fight on a stretcher: defeated but not deflated. He was adamant he had that resilient dog in him as he cursed out Poirier and his wife, Jolie.
1 Nate Diaz Has A Score To Settle
Diaz Has One More 'Stockton Slap' For 'Notorious'
Date of Birth | Apr. 16, 1985 |
Overall MMA Record | 21-13 |
Biggest MMA Victories | Conor McGregor (submission), Tony Ferguson (submission), Gray Maynard (TKO) |
While Diaz is off boxing, White has said whenever he wants to come back, he can. Diaz is 1-1 with McGregor, submitting him in 2016 and then losing a decision a few months later. It left purists thirsty for them to determine who is the true winner. Sure, the pre-fight build will be profane and probably filled with violence, but this is the nature of these two beasts.
They may not have been title-worthy for the last few years. But the media adores them, they pull big PPV numbers, and love them or not, they are UFC icons. McGregor would love to pull this trigger quickly as they are going down in age. Once the money is right, Diaz would get a chance to show McGregor once and for all, he is the better welterweight. And more so, that no Irish gangster is tougher than a California one from the 209.
