himself in another high-profile matchup in the octagon, perhaps against a top-ranked lightweight contender or even a trilogy bout with Nate Diaz.
Conor McGregor’s alternate timeline in 2021 would have seen him continue his boxing aspirations with a matchup against Manny Pacquiao after defeating Dustin Poirier in their rematch. However, facing the Filipino legend would have presented significant challenges for McGregor, given Pacquiao’s footwork, angles, and relentless pressure.
Despite McGregor’s accuracy and ability to land straight lefts, Pacquiao’s style and strategy would likely have exploited McGregor’s vulnerabilities, including his tendency to lead with his chin and struggle on the back. Pacquiao’s feints and movement would have disrupted McGregor’s rhythm, potentially leading to a decisive victory for the boxing legend.
In this alternate timeline, McGregor’s boxing venture would have spared him from the injury he sustained in his trilogy bout with Poirier, thus avoiding the subsequent conflict with USADA and the absence from UFC 300. Instead, McGregor would have returned to MMA with renewed focus and potentially engaged in further high-profile matchups within the UFC lightweight division.
Ultimately, while McGregor’s boxing aspirations may have offered him new challenges and opportunities, the realities of facing elite competition like Manny Pacquiao would have presented formidable obstacles for the Irish superstar to overcome.
