Conor McGregor: What Now? Khabib, Tony, 155 & The Next Money Fight

Written By: Morgan Slade

With the announcement of Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Tony Ferguson in April social media is drowning with Conor McGregor hot takes. Eminent retirement, a stripped title, a return to boxing - for fucks sake people - and cheers that the UFC is finally “moving on” from the Irish superstar seem to be the biggest takeaways from the announcement. It’s funny the fight that’s being credited with making McGregor the “odd man out” is creating more headlines for him then either guy actually fighting in it.

I envision McGregor sitting in a mansion somewhere, draped in a Versace robe, sipping a very large glass of over priced tea and sporting that trademark shit eating grin. This is a no lose situation for McGregor. There’s simply no way any of this plays out that it doesn't in some way benefit McGregor. Tony and Khabib go out and have an absolute war? Great, they both just became a little bit more marketable, especially the winner who Conor can then fight when he decides to come back.

The UFC strips McGregor of his 155 belt and award an undisputed title to Tony or Khabib? Beautiful, Conor has something to get back, a throne to reclaim; one that he can bemoan was taken in an unjust manner. Conor is a master marketer and an underdog narrative is one he probably never thought he’d get to sell in the UFC ever again. Champions love to look for perceived slights to further indent the permanent chips on their shoulders, when you have completely dominated and changed an entire sport they are hard to come by. I genuinely think this scenario would benefit McGregor more than any other.

No matter what happens in April, if and when McGregor decides to come back he’ll call his shot. With or without a belt his comeback fight will be the biggest event in mixed martial arts. Whether it’s Tony or Khabib, it will undoubtedly be a massive pay day for a man who has shown time and time again that his bank account is his biggest motivator.

A McGregor Khabib showdown feels inevitable. Something about the contrasting styles of the men both inside and outside of the octagon just make it fascinating on so many levels. It already feels as if Khabib is filling this sort of anti-Conor space. His no nonsense attitude and indifference towards McGregor has really galvanized people looking for someone to get behind. Even before his recent shows of dominance his name would be whispered when people wondered who would take down McGregor. His brute style and smothering wrestling are the antithesis of McGregor's “flowy” rangy striking. Watching Khabib fight its as if you are seeing the perfect antidote to neutralize McGregor before your eyes. Something about the two of them just seems made to be, the stoic, dominant Russian. The brash, loud, superstar puncher. It all just seems a bit “Rocky 4” and who didn't really love “Rocky 4”. Well, film critics aside.

No matter what happens the fight between Tony and Khabib should be a delight, a very violent and bloody one. One of them will win the Light Weight belt and the much more valuable ticket aboard the Conor McGregor money train.