Who will want to step in and face the Dubliner after Saturday nights demolition job? We look at the fighters in the firing line.
Unless you have been living under a very big rock for the last few days, you will know that Conor McGregor lit up the world of UFC with a convincing win over his Brazilian opponent Diego Brandao.
The win places McGregor in line to fight a top ten ranked opponent next time he enters the Octagon and there has been a lot of speculation already about who that fighter will be.
There is already talk of a September bout for McGregor, possibly on the Jon Jones undercard (UFC178). Although it may seem surprising to many people that McGregor will be returning action so soon after winning last weekend, he has just returned from a lengthy injury layoff and his fight with Brandao could not be considered taxing by any stretch of the imagination. Therefore he will be hungry to return to action and try to fulfil his vision of being UFC champion by the end of this year, although this target seems a little out of reach at this moment, maybe the end of next year is more realistic…
A top ten opponent would be a much tougher prospect than any fighter McGregor has faced so far in his career but this is unlikely to worry the Dublin man who has promised to take out the competition ‘one by one’.
McGregor is likely to get high profile opponent in his next bout not just because of his performances but also because of his ‘Hollywood’ status within the UFC. Any fight cards containing McGregor are sure to sell successfully on pay-per-view, with fans around the world intrigued by the swagger and combative style of the Irish fighter.
With this in mind, we have decided to take a look at the potential opponents that McGregor may face next in the UFC.
Dustin Poirier
A match-up with the American seems to be the most likely fight for McGregor next time out. Poirier is the #6 ranked contender in the featherweight division and he is coming off the back of a three-fight win streak which includes a first round knockout against McGregor’s last opponent Brandao. Poirier seemed to agree to face McGregor on Twitter following the fight on Saturday night, and many are chalking down UFC 178 in Las Vegas as the date and venue for the bout.
“@dc_mma: Nice job @TheNotoriousMMA , DP you got next? @DustinPoirier” I’m not impressed.
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) July 19, 2014
“@MurrayRitchie96: @DustinPoirier who’s your next fight against ?” Hopefully @TheNotoriousMMA
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) July 20, 2014
It seems like the logical choice for the UFC due to the pay-per-view revenue it will earn because both McGregor and Poirier are aggressive and exciting fighters. The pair are destructive fighters who will advance rather than retreat and both fighters aim to take control of their fights early and set the pace. The prospect of this fight will prompt salivating from UFC fans worldwide and JOE is really hoping that the bout materialises.
Video and image via ortiz567
Frankie Edgar
Frankie ‘The Answer’ Edgar is a star of the UFC and a former lightweight champion. He dropped down to the featherweight division in 2012 and he is now the #2 ranked contender in the division. A match-up between McGregor and Edgar is a possibility because Edgar is coming off the back of a convincing victory over BJ Penn at The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale and is looking for another opponent.
The bout would be good for the UFC because a win for McGregor would allow the UFC to give their rising star a shot at the featherweight title against Jose Aldo. While a win for Edgar would set up a rematch against Aldo which would excite fans and delight the UFC. It is a win-win situation for UFC President Dana White and even a McGregor loss would not be a travesty as he is still a star in the franchise and it would not damage his career irreparably.
While I’m sure McGregor would love a chance to face the UFC legend that is Edgar, it would no doubt be a huge step up from his earlier victories. Edgar has the heart of a lion, a solid chin as well as very impressive footwork which could cause problems for McGregor. While JOE would love to see Poirier v McGregor, the thought of Edgar facing McGregor is just that bit more appealing and we are praying to the UFC gods that this bout is given the green light.
Video via King CK
The winner of Clay Guida and Dennis Bermudez
Clay Guida at a UFC open workout. Image via Getty
This is not exactly definitive on who his next opponent is but the winner of #7 ranked Clay Guida versus the #11 ranked Dennis Bermudez is in a pole position to face McGregor in their next bout. Bermudez is on a six-fight win streak with his last defeat coming almost three years ago against… you guessed it Diego Brandao. Bermudez is somewhat of a rising star in the division so a match-up between him and McGregor may appeal to the UFC.
Guida won his last bout against Tatsuya Kawajiri and will have aspirations about climbing up the featherweight rankings. A fight with Guida seems the most likely if the American prevails this weekend as he has previously stated his desire to fight McGregor.
Video via UFC- Ultimate Fighting Championship
