What's Next For Conor McGregor?
The dust has settled from UFC 202 and it is Conor McGregor (20-3) that reigns victorious. "The Notorious" one was set to avenge his only loss in the UFC to Nate Diaz, and that is exactly what he did.
The first bout between McGregor and Diaz took place back in March for UFC 196. Diaz was quick to step up to take the fight on just 12 days notice, and ended up walking away with a second round victory via rear-naked choke.
This Saturday, McGregor was able to even the score, beating Diaz in probably the best fight of 2016 so far. The bloody brawl went back and fourth for all five rounds and ended in McGregor walking away with a majority decision.
Now that the king of the UFC is back on top, many wonder what is next for Conor McGregor. Needless to say, future opponents for "The Notorious One" are in no short supply.
1. Nate Diaz (20-11)
Who doesn't love a good trilogy? After Saturday, the score now stands even for McGregor and Diaz. McGregor has already made it clear that he wants to meet Diaz again as a Lightweight, according to MMA Insight:
"All I know is that it's 1-1," McGregor said. "I came up to 170 [pounds] to test the bigger man, face adversity. I want the trilogy, but it's on my terms. Come back to 155 [pounds]. Let's do it."
UFC President Dana White has already gone on record with TMZ to confirm that McGregor vs Diaz 3 isn't happening anytime soon. But with UFC 196 quoted as the biggest pay-per-view in UFC history and UFC 202 likely to surpass it, a trilogy seems inevitable for these two fighters.
2. Jose Aldo (26-2)
If you want to see bad blood in the UFC, look no further than Conor McGregor and Jose Aldo. This bitter rivalry started in 2015 when the two were set to face off for UFC 189.
The two embarked on a world press tour, which included creative insults, physical threats, and concluded with McGregor actually stealing Aldo's (then) championship belt from the press table. Video here.
Unfortunately Aldo was forced out of UFC 189 due to a rib injury. When the two finally met in the cage for UFC 194, it was McGregor that left the cage with an epic 13-second knockout, and claiming Aldo's Featherweight belt in the process.
Since then, McGregor has not fought at 145 lbs and has met criticism for not defending his title. Dana White has already gone on record at the UFC 202 Pre-Fight Press Conference to say McGregor will either defend the Featherweight belt in his next fight, "or he'll give it up".
And what does newly crowned Interim Champion Jose Aldo have to say about this?
Where you at @TheNotoriousMMA? Come back down and I'll see you at UFC205 or drop the belt! #hitandrun
— Jose Aldo Junior (@josealdojunior) August 21, 2016
Odds are we may be seeing a McGregor/Aldo rematch very soon.
3. Eddie Alvarez (28-4)
McGregor was all set to face (then) Lightweight Champion Rafael Dos Anjos for UFC 196 and be a two-division champion. However, a wrench was thrown into that plan when Dos Anjos was forced out of the competition due to a foot injury and was replaced with Nate Diaz.
Fast-forward to July 7th, 2016 for UFC Fight Night Dos Anjos vs Alvarez, and it was Alvarez who walked away a new champion with a stunning first round TKO.
Alvarez has been very vocal about facing McGregor and has also said on the Anik and Florian Podcast that McGregor is "not a five 5-minute round fighter. Never has been, never will be".
Now that UFC 202 is over and done with, McGregor can not only continue on his quest for the Lightweight belt, but also birth a new rivalry with a very dangerous opponent in Eddie Alvarez.