Conor McGregor has options, but it doesn’t seem like he cares.
A former UFC two-division champion, McGregor (22-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) dismantled Donald Cerrone in 40 seconds Saturday at UFC 246. The victory attracted attention from both the 155-pound and 170-pound division counterparts.
In a post-fight news conference, UFC president Dana White made one thing clear: Khabib Nurmagomedov is the frontrunner to face McGregor next.
Shortly after White left the podium, it was McGregor’s turn. Unlike his boss, the Irish superstar voiced indifference. At this point in time, a specific opponent is a much less important detail to McGregor than a date or location.
“I don’t think the ‘who’ matters,” McGregor said. “… The who doesn’t matter for me now. I’m looking at dates now. I know March was there. I’m going to have a look at a calendar and see where we’re at. … I’ll be ready. I’ll have a celebration tonight. I’ll chill with my kids tomorrow. I’ll show Junior the fight on the tele and see how he reacts. I’ll see what he thinks of it. Then (I’m) back to training.”
Despite his unwillingness to single out a lone challenger, McGregor commented on a number of potential next foes. First up, McGregor analyzed Nurmagomedov (28-0 MMA, 12-0 UFC). Then he addressed four others fighters.
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Khabib Nurmagomedov
The rivalry between McGregor and Nurmagomedov is well documented. The two engaged in one of the most vicious, personal build-ups to a fight in the promotion’s history. Since he was submitted by Nurmagomedov in October 2018, McGregor has been adamant about a rematch. Sure, he’d like a second crack at the Russian champion, but McGregor isn’t willing to risk preparation for impulsiveness.
“I think, ‘OK, the lightweight title will be there.’ That will be there,” McGregor said. “You see the difference in the physique – the preparation in that. That will come back around that (title) shot. I’m certainly not going to, if (Nurmagomedov vs. Ferguson) goes ahead, sit out and wait and then wait through holidays and injuries and all these these things that go with it. I’d be excited to get that one back.”
Tony Ferguson
The other half of the UFC 249 main event, Tony Ferguson (25-3 MMA, 15-1 UFC) could be McGregor’s next fight should he defeat Nurmagomedov. Ferguson’s name has begun to creep further onto McGregor’s radar, which was evident during UFC 246 fight week. McGregor referenced Ferguson’s departure from management team Paradigm Sports, which they used to share.
“We’ll see what happens,” McGregor said. “We’ll see what happens in the Tony fight. Tony is another interesting foe for me. We’ll see what happens. If something happens, I’ll be here.”
Floyd Mayweather
Any combat sports fan not living under a rock would know McGregor and Floyd Mayweather already have competed against each other once. In August 2017, McGregor crossed over into boxing to take on the undefeated superstar in is own combat sport.
While Mayweather finished McGregor in Round 10, it was the boxer who called out the MMA fighter on Saturday night. On Instagram, Mayweather posted a fake poster of “Mayweather vs. McGregor 2.”
“He forgot ‘McGregor Sports and Entertainment’ on the poster,” McGregor said. “That right there cuts him out, so it’s me and Manny. Let’s see what happens. That Floyd, he’s a funny man, that Floyd. We’ll see what happens. The discussions are always on going. They never stop. You know Floyd is going through money fast. He’s far from retired, and that rematch will happen at some stage.”
Jorge Masvidal
A seemingly unanimous choice for the 2019 “Breakout Fighter of the Year,” Jorge Masvidal is close to entering superstar status – if he hasn’t already. Since he defeated Nate Diaz last November at UFC 244, Masvidal (35-13 MMA, 12-6 UFC) has slowly but surely entered the conversation as a potential McGregor rival.
At UFC 246, Masvidal sat cageside, dressed in a Versace bathrobe. The attire got the attention of McGregor, who poked fun at Masvidal on the microphone in the cage – and then a second time at the post-fight news conference.
“Talk about blowing,” McGregor said. “If you ask me, that was ridiculous. I didn’t know what was going on there. The old ladies in Ireland, they wear house coats watching the soap operas. I’m like, ‘Why’s this guy sitting in a (bathrobe)?’ Whatever. All the best. …
“Of course, of course (I’d want the fight.) Let’s see what happens. I’d like to scoop up that (belt). That’s not a great belt, is it? But I’ll still take it (and) add it to the list, you know? It wasn’t a good night for Jorge, if you ask me. All the best to him.
Nate Diaz
McGregor’s back-to-back fights against Nate Diaz are nothing short of legendary. So when McGregor defeated Cerrone on Saturday night, it came to no surprise that Diaz (20-12 MMA, 15-10 UFC) took to Twitter to comment on the events that had just transpired.
McGregor’s response?
“Let’s go, Nathan,” McGregor said. “Let’s go, brother. Number three is always here. We’re right here, Nathan.”
Conor McGregor's options are abundant after UFC 246, but what does he think of them?
