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Conor McGregor: Options everywhere, but what makes money and sense?

UFC is reportedly about to change ownership hands. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Roar Guru
30th August, 2016
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Conor McGregor wasted no time telling the world, “The King is back!” after getting the win over Nate Diaz at UFC 202 in what will be pushing for fight of the year.

The two men engaged in a brutal war over the full five rounds in which McGregor got his redemption.

The fighting Irishman also positioned himself to be able to take an enviable position at the bargaining table when next fight discussions come around.

McGregor has not defended his 145 pound belt since knocking out Jose Aldo in December 2015 within 15 seconds.

Aldo is the interim champ after beating Frankie Edgar in a fight many thought Aldo was lucky to get the win in.

After beating Aldo, McGregor wanted a shot at the 155 pound belt. But after Rafael dos Anjos pulled out a few weeks before the fight Diaz stepped up and a fight was scheduled for 170 pounds.

McGregor had the better of Diaz in the opening round but faded away quickly and was eventually submitted.

Diaz is one of the most durable and tough fighters on the planet and McGregor pounded him with shots that would have sent most 145 pounders and a lot of 155 pounders to sleep.

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Now that McGregor has proven himself to be able to step up substantially in weight where does the next big fight come from?

Option 1: McGregor v Diaz III
McGregor and Diaz know that this is a big money fight. McGregor has called Diaz out at 155 pounds for the third fight.

155 is a weight I think Diaz would struggle to make these days. Diaz looked like he struggled to a certain degree to cut the weight at UFC 202. With the new laws around no use of IV drips after weigh-in to rehydrate, Diaz is likely to struggle to make 155 pounds.

McGregor is unlikely to want to face Diaz at 170 pounds again. McGregor looked like a much improved fighter at UFC202.

He fought a lot smarter – he chopped the legs repeatedly early on and this slowed Diaz down and allowed McGregor to land a lot of shots. Many of these were power shots to the head and body but Diaz has a head like a cement block and just kept coming.

McGregor was more patient but still gased in the third. McGregor’s much improved Brazilian jiu-jitsu, evident after bringing in world class training partners like Dillon Danis, was a huge advantage to him.

Diaz spent a lot of time with McGregor parked up on the cage trying to get him to the ground but he only managed to do it once, late in the fifth round and to no effect.

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UFC President, Dana White, has also publicly advised that Diaz fight can wait.

Option 2: McGregor v Aldo II – 145 pound Title Fight

While this appears the most likely fight for McGregor next, he does not seem that interested in making it happen right now. Aldo pulled out of their first title fight. I question whether this was partially deliberate as a great way to vanquish a foe you really don’t want to face is have someone else do it.

Chad Mendes, a noted wrestler, was the late call up and everyone figured his ground game would get the better of McGregor but it did not go that way and McGregor came away with a TKO in Round 2.

McGregor then went on and put Aldo away in no time. McGregor won the mental game and the physical one.

I can see why McGregor is not that keen to make this fight again right now. He needs to cut from an effective 170 pounds to 145 which is a big cut.

The public interest is not massive as Aldo provides nothing promotional wise.

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McGregor, the driver of media and hype, is also brushing it aside. It would still be a big PPV draw, especially if at MSG in New York but lacks a real ‘wow’ factor.

McGregor vs Alvarez – 155 pounds
This is the fight McGregor wants as it is the second belt he is after and he wants a shot at history in being the first fighter to hold two belts at once.

Eddie Alvarez wants the fight as he knows it will be his big pay day.

For McGregor, and the UFC, where is the real downside?

McGregor fights and wins – he has two belts and another huge PPV take.

He can then defend the 145 pound belt or give it up and allow Nate to have a shot at 155 and a title – this is likely the draw card McGregor needs to get Diaz down to 155 pounds.

If McGregor loses he can still defend his 145 pound belt and win, or lose and fight Diaz a third time. Both fights will still bring him solid money and all this before he is 30.

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Given Jon Jones is still suspended and Ronda Rousey is yet to officially announce her come back, the UFC and its new owners, really need some big pay days. They will give McGregor what he wants.

The king is back!

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