What's Next For Conor McGregor? The Game Answers To Him Now
What's Next For Conor McGregor? The Game Answers To Him Now
Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor may have put on one of the greatest UFC fights of all time last evening, but what's next? We take a look.
Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor may have put on one of the greatest UFC fights of all time last evening, but that hasn't stop the talk moving swiftly on to what's next for the Irishman?
After last night's performance, McGregor more than so ever has the world at his feet. One of his most common soundbites recently has been 'The game answers to me now', following what transpired last evening, who could possibly argue with him?
According to UFC president Dana White at least, the most likely next step for McGregor is to make a return to the featherweight division to face Jose Aldo in a title unification fight.
"Conor has to defend his title or make a decision to give it up or whatever he wants to do. I don't know," White told ESPN. "I gotta sit down and see what's next."
White then later added: "If I was Conor, I'd defend my title".
Things don't appear to be this straight forward though. McGregor just minutes later reaffirmed a comment he'd made in the pre-fight build up and said that a rematch with the Brazilian wasn't something that appealed to him right now.
"How long was I going back and forth with Jose? That must have been a two-year build up," McGregor said post-fight UFC 202. "He pulled out last minute. I continued to fight someone else. Then we rescheduled, two-year, round-the-world deal with that boy and then he stepped in and I beat him in 13 seconds.
"It's hard for me to get excited about that, especially after his last performance. It was a decision, he didn't go out and get it. He didn't go out and get it like I wanted him to get it. So I don't know, we'll see."
While they may not have been seeing eye-to-eye about the possibility of a rematch with Aldo, the UFC and McGregor were more aligned in their thinking about a potential third rubber match with Diaz.
"We're definitely not doing this a third time right now," White told FS1. "I don't think there's anybody that doesn't want to see this fight again, but Conor's either going to go defend his title or give his title up and then we'll figure out where to go from there."
McGregor confirmed in the Octagon afterwards that he'd take a third fight with Diaz, but next time around it'd be done at lightweight--a weight class more familiar to both men.
"All I know is that it's 1-1," McGregor told BT Sport. "Let's regroup and do it again. This time I want to do it at 155 pounds. I came in at 170 with him as the bigger man and I overcame that adversity. Now this trilogy is on my terms, come back down to 155 and we'll do it."
Another outside option if McGregor doesn't return to featherweight or rematch Diaz right away is the UFC lightweight champion, Eddie Alvarez.
The Irishman was supposed to face the former champion Rafael dos Anjos for the belt back in March, however, that plan fell through following the Brazilian's late injury.
The New Jersey native has been very outspoken about wanting a fight with the Irishman, and if McGregor is fit enough to do so, it could set up a memorable title fight at UFC 205 in the UFC's first ever show in New York City on November 12.
Alvarez wasted no time yesterday confirming he'd be interested in facing McGregor or Diaz after the conclusion of their UFC 202 war.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/Ealvarezfight/status/767223813088088064" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
After his win last evening, it feels more so than ever that McGregor is the master of his own destiny.
Speaking at the post-fight press conference, the Irishman wasn't showing his hand just yet and he even referred to perhaps looking outside of the Octagon for his next big move.
"There's a lot of options," McGregor said cryptically. "Some might not be this sport. I'm in a beautiful, beautiful position right now and that was built through hard work. I'm going to capitalize on that."
After last night's performance, McGregor more than so ever has the world at his feet. One of his most common soundbites recently has been 'The game answers to me now', following what transpired last evening, who could possibly argue with him?
Jose Aldo
According to UFC president Dana White at least, the most likely next step for McGregor is to make a return to the featherweight division to face Jose Aldo in a title unification fight.
"Conor has to defend his title or make a decision to give it up or whatever he wants to do. I don't know," White told ESPN. "I gotta sit down and see what's next."
White then later added: "If I was Conor, I'd defend my title".
Things don't appear to be this straight forward though. McGregor just minutes later reaffirmed a comment he'd made in the pre-fight build up and said that a rematch with the Brazilian wasn't something that appealed to him right now.
"How long was I going back and forth with Jose? That must have been a two-year build up," McGregor said post-fight UFC 202. "He pulled out last minute. I continued to fight someone else. Then we rescheduled, two-year, round-the-world deal with that boy and then he stepped in and I beat him in 13 seconds.
"It's hard for me to get excited about that, especially after his last performance. It was a decision, he didn't go out and get it. He didn't go out and get it like I wanted him to get it. So I don't know, we'll see."
Nate Diaz
While they may not have been seeing eye-to-eye about the possibility of a rematch with Aldo, the UFC and McGregor were more aligned in their thinking about a potential third rubber match with Diaz.
"We're definitely not doing this a third time right now," White told FS1. "I don't think there's anybody that doesn't want to see this fight again, but Conor's either going to go defend his title or give his title up and then we'll figure out where to go from there."
McGregor confirmed in the Octagon afterwards that he'd take a third fight with Diaz, but next time around it'd be done at lightweight--a weight class more familiar to both men.
"All I know is that it's 1-1," McGregor told BT Sport. "Let's regroup and do it again. This time I want to do it at 155 pounds. I came in at 170 with him as the bigger man and I overcame that adversity. Now this trilogy is on my terms, come back down to 155 and we'll do it."
Eddie Alvarez
Another outside option if McGregor doesn't return to featherweight or rematch Diaz right away is the UFC lightweight champion, Eddie Alvarez.
The Irishman was supposed to face the former champion Rafael dos Anjos for the belt back in March, however, that plan fell through following the Brazilian's late injury.
The New Jersey native has been very outspoken about wanting a fight with the Irishman, and if McGregor is fit enough to do so, it could set up a memorable title fight at UFC 205 in the UFC's first ever show in New York City on November 12.
Alvarez wasted no time yesterday confirming he'd be interested in facing McGregor or Diaz after the conclusion of their UFC 202 war.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/Ealvarezfight/status/767223813088088064" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
.... so what does happen next?
After his win last evening, it feels more so than ever that McGregor is the master of his own destiny.
Speaking at the post-fight press conference, the Irishman wasn't showing his hand just yet and he even referred to perhaps looking outside of the Octagon for his next big move.
"There's a lot of options," McGregor said cryptically. "Some might not be this sport. I'm in a beautiful, beautiful position right now and that was built through hard work. I'm going to capitalize on that."