Conor McGregor made his return to the octagon at UFC 229, but nothing went according to plan as he was submitted in an explosive encounter with Khabib Nurmagomedov in Las Vegas recently. McGregor returned after being away for almost two years but was completely outclassed by ‘The Eagle’, whose rear-naked choke on McGregor forced a submission during the fourth round of the fight. The end result caused havoc at UFC 229 as Nurmagomedov jumped out of the cage and caused a riot within the arena, while McGregor was attacked in the octagon as Nurmagomedov’s team members jumped over the octagon during the riot. The aftermath will certainly see fallouts on both sides where Nurmagomedov might be stripped of the lightweight title. Despite the devastating loss, McGregor continues to be a star attraction and has multiple options ahead of him. So what will McGregor do next? The riot that was caused by Nurmagomedov after the fight might preclude a rematch should the Nevada State Athletic Commission decide to come down hard on Khabib. McGregor is certainly keen on the idea after his tweet on Sunday stating that he is eager for a rematch. Should McGregor want to continue fighting when it comes to the UFC, Tony Ferguson is the most logical choice to make. They both have a mutual dislike towards each other, but nothing close to the enmity between Nurmagomedov and McGregor. Ferguson has been eager to fight McGregor for a long time and is currently ranked second in the lightweight division. In addition, McGregor will earn himself the right to face Nurmagomedov again should he be able to defeat Ferguson. McGregor was asked about any future opponents he would like to face prior to his fight against Nurmagomedov. Surprisingly, McGregor mentioned Silva who is considered the greatest fighter in the UFC of all time. Silva dominated the middleweight division between 2006 and 2013 and boasted with a 16 fight winning streak at one stage. However, Silva’s best days are behind him, and the discrepancy with weight between the two fighters will undoubtedly create a bout between them. This is probably even more unlikely than McGregor facing off against Anderson Silva. However, it should be an option for McGregor who is set for life financially after another extraordinary payday where he took home nine figures after being defeated by Nurmagomedov. Why on earth should McGregor risk his health over the long term in a brutal sport that can cause instant irreversible damage? Well, there’s no denying that he loves the sport and that will surely keep him in the fighting game for many years to come.
Khabib Nurmagomedov
Any rematch between these two fighters will undoubtedly be a very lucrative affair for all parties involved, but after the riot that took place this weekend, the UFC might be halted in their tracks. The fact that Nurmagomedov is still unbeaten also needs to be considered. So does McGregor actually deserve a rematch against the current champion?Anderson Silva
Retirement