Conor McGregor will need to be patient as he looks to bounce back from a quite disastrous 2021.
After taking out Donald Cerrone in January 2020, the ‘Notorious’ set up a blockbuster bout at UFC 257 against Dustin Poirier, the man who he first beat in 2014, but lost in devastating fashion.
Less than five months later, McGregor and Poirier went at it for a third time but the Irishman lost again after suffering a horrific broken leg in the process.
While McGregor is stepping up his recovery from injury, speculation is building over his next opponent.
Here’s everything we know so far about his potential next fight.
Conor McGregor next fight: Who could he face?
While no opponent is yet confirmed, McGregor certainly won’t be short of offers upon his return from injury.
With two fights left on his UFC contract, it’s likely that the 33-year-old could field calls from significant figures in the worlds of both MMA and boxing.
Nate Diaz, Justin Gaethje and Rafael dos Anjos are all contenders to face the ‘Notorious’ as he looks to get back to winning ways in the UFC.
However, Poirier is certainly the most popular choice of opponent as the prospect of a fourth bout gathers pace.
If that is to be McGregor’s next fight then it will now have to wait though with the American now set to face Charles Oliveira at UFC 269 on December 11 for the lightweight championship.
Should McGregor opt to step into the boxing ring again, a mega-money fight with Jake Paul could be an option, something that Eddie Hearn has thrown his backing behind.
Conor McGregor next fight: What has been said?
McGregor revealed on Twitter that he expects to return to fighting in 2022 with his injury ‘improving rapidly’.
He said: “2022. I’m improving rapidly!
“Working with the best team money can buy! I’ll be back in no time, lock loaded!”
McGregor then hinted in September that his recovery is going better than he anticipated, telling Adam Glyn: “I feel like I could kick right now.
“I honestly feel like I could kick right now. But I’ve just got to listen to the doctors and listen to the people that guided me, that’s what I’ve done so far.
“I’ve committed myself to the work. I’m back on the feet. It feels so good to be back on the feet.”
Dana White has also weighed in on McGregor’s next opponent, telling the Australian Daily Telegraph: “Conor seems to be healing up pretty well.
“The question is: When can he start kicking again?
“If he could take kicks, then he’d be looking at a fight before the end of the year again, so it all depends on how fast that leg heals.”
With two fights left on his UFC deal, Michael Bisping has urged McGregor to consider a ‘tune-up fight’ in the shape of Nate Diaz before looking to a fourth contest with Dustin Poirier.
Speaking on his podcast, Bisping said: “Hopefully, we see that fight.
“I’m not sure if he wants to come back, Conor I’m talking about, after what’s probably going to be about a year’s lay-off and fighting Dustin for the third time.
“You kind of want to get your whistle wet. Find your mojo, blow off that ring rust.
“Nate would be the guy. Then, if Conor beats Nate, then he fights Dustin, because, you know, they are going to do a fourth fight.
“The fourth fight will be absolutely massive, but I think if I was Conor’s manager, if I was advising him, I would say ‘take a tune-up fight,’ you know what I mean?”