Conor McGregor is set to return to mixed martial arts after a three-year break, headlining UFC 303 against Michael Chandler in just over a month. This return is highly anticipated, especially since McGregor’s last victory over a ranked opponent was in November 2016 when he won the lightweight title against Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205. His last fight victory came over four years ago, highlighting a period of significant inactivity.
Meanwhile, Islam Makhachev is preparing to defend his lightweight title for the third time against Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 302, which will take place in a little over two weeks. This sets the stage for a potential clash between McGregor and Makhachev in the future.
Daniel Cormier, a UFC Hall of Famer, discussed this possibility on his podcast. He noted that recently, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team made a rare positive comment about McGregor, acknowledging his role in popularizing the concept of the double champ.
Cormier speculates that this could be an early move to set up a fight between McGregor and Makhachev. He pointed out that McGregor’s fight with Khabib significantly boosted Khabib’s star power, and a similar match-up with Makhachev could do the same for him. According to Cormier, even Makhachev recognizes the financial and promotional benefits of fighting McGregor.
McGregor has previously tried to lure Khabib out of retirement for a rematch, but it seems now the focus might shift towards a fight with Makhachev instead. However, McGregor has indicated that he is unlikely to return to the lightweight division, which adds an element of uncertainty to this potential match-up.
Islam Makhachev has expressed his willingness to fight McGregor. In a conversation on the Pound 4 Pound podcast with Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo, Makhachev stated that he would be open to a quick turnaround for a fight with McGregor. He emphasized the financial incentives and acknowledged the current state of McGregor, contrasting it with his peak condition when he fought Khabib. Makhachev suggested that McGregor’s lifestyle, including his alcohol consumption, has affected his performance level.
The discussions and comments from key figures in the MMA community indicate a brewing interest in a potential Makhachev vs. McGregor fight. This could create significant buzz and financial gain for the fighters and the UFC, though McGregor’s division choice remains a question.
