In defeat, Conor McGregor offers a humble, modest, reflective outlook far removed from the typically brash, cocksure and altogether divisive persona that has carried him all the way to global fame.
‘It’s heartbreaking, it’s hard to take, highest highs and the lowest lows,’ he said as he congratulated Dustin Poirier following his latest defeat at UFC 257 on Fight Island.
For McGregor, the lowest lows don’t last too long. The Irishman bounced back immediately from his first UFC loss, to Nate Diaz, avenging that defeat just four months later.
Conor McGregor is at a crossroads after suffering a major setback on his return to the UFC
The Notorious suffered his first ever knockout defeat in losing to Dustin Poirier at UFC 257
So too did he manage to emerge from his resounding defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov with his reputation seemingly in tact amongst his fervent fanbase.
But last weekend’s defeat raises difficult questions as to where the Notorious goes from here. The 32-year-old had hoped his showing in Abu Dhabi would be the beginning of another run to the lightweight title.
Those plans have fallen at the first hurdle, but McGregor has vowed to make a swift return in a bid to return to the summit of the sport.
Hobbling into his post-fight press conference on crutches, the Irishman made all the right noises for someone looking to get back on the horse as soon as possible. ‘I will keep my eyes on the prize, don’t write me off yet,’ he said.
McGregor had hoped that victory would have onset a run to the lightweight title this year
However, last weekend’s defeat on Fight Island has naturally limited the Irishman’s options
McGregor’s ring rust makes fights with the likes of in-form Michael Chandler a massive risk
Yet last weekend’s defeat has naturally limited McGregor’s options. A win would have surely paved the way for a shot at the title held by Khabib Nurmagomedov, although the Dagestani is currently retired, and he would have had his pick of the likes of Justin Gaethje, Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira.
That trio could of course still be in play, with each likely to be eager to gain the attention that fighting McGregor inevitably brings.
The Notorious spoke of ring rust after his defeat to Poirier, insisting that he needs a string of fights in order to reach the levels of some years ago. To put him in with sharks like Gaethje, Chandler and Oliveira could prove devastating.
McGregor, understandably, said he would like to run back the fight with Poirier. The pair have a win each over the other, so a money-spinning trilogy would make sense.
McGregor and Poirier both spoke of the possibility of a trilogy in the aftermath of UFC 257
Intriguingly, both McGregor and Poirier named Nate Diaz as a potential future opponent after the fight on Saturday. Despite having not fought since November 2019, the fan-favourite remains a top name that a number of top fighters want on their record.
For the Irishman, the attraction is obvious: the pair were involved in two blockbuster clashes in 2016 with Diaz winning the first and McGregor snatching a controversial points decision win later that year. That rivalry is a score that needs settling.
Diaz, 35, would also prove a good option for McGregor to get the octagon time necessary to take on Poirier once more. Although the Notorious wasn’t completely outfought, having won the first round, Poirier displayed the resolve and nouse that comes with consistent fight time.
A trilogy bout Nate Diaz could prove the perfect chance for octagon time for McGregor
A win over Diaz would provide a strong platform for McGregor to take on Poirier again
For Poirier, a fight with Diaz would be an eyebrow-raising move. The duo were scheduled to meet in November 2018 but Poirier pulled out with an injury and he revealed after the fight that he’s ‘always wanted to whip his a**’. But the Diamond is surely set for a title shot, and Diaz is nowhere near that level right now.
While he did mention Poirier and Diaz as future opponents, McGregor was keen to stress that he is keeping his options open moving forward, insisting that he wants to take time to regroup and assess what went wrong on Fight Island.
McGregor clearly yearns for a rematch with arch rival Nurmagomedov, having campaigned strongly for a follow up to the October 2018 grudge match that saw the Dagestani extend his unbeaten record.
The Irishman remains hopeful he can secure a rematch with arch rival Khabib Nurmagomedov
However, Khabib has no desire to return having defeated the strongest lightweights out there
Despite his latest setback, the Irishman stressed that a fight against the all-conquering mauler remains a possibility, saying ‘styles make fights’.
But Nurmagomedov has no appetite for another fight against McGregor, in spite of the obvious financial rewards that comes with a clash with the Notorious.
Dana White revealed that Khabib told him he remains ‘so many levels above’ his lightweight colleagues.
‘He said to me “Dana, be honest with yourself, I’m so many levels above these guys, I’ve beaten these guys”. It doesn’t sound very positive. We’ll see.’
McGregor’s next move may not be confined to the parameters of an octagon, though. Speculation that the Irishman would return to boxing for a mega-money bout with Manny Pacquiao have been rife for some time, with the Filipino multi-weight champion signing to the same management company as McGregor an indication that the fight would be easy to make.
The Notorious could return to boxing amid speculation of a fight with Manny Pacquiao
McGregor lost to Floyd Mayweather in a mega-money crossover bout back in August 2017
However, the manner of McGregor’s defeat means the public may not back the mega-fight
Yet the manner of McGregor’s defeat to Poirier – his first ever knockout defeat in MMA – casts doubt as to whether the public will get behind a crossover bout.
The Irishman entered his fight with Floyd Mayweather off the back of one of the greatest striking displays in his lightweight title victory over Eddie Alvarez, but if he can get knocked out by a UFC fighter, what sort of hope would he have against one of the best boxers of all time?
Pacquiao, 42, is reportedly close to agreeing a deal to fight Ryan Garcia next, signalling a change of direction for the legendary boxer.
YouTuber Jake Paul has been chasing a fight with McGregor since his knockout victory over former NBA star Nate Robinson, but the Irishman has already ruled out a clash with the American.
Ultimately, wherever McGregor goes next he needs to rediscover his fire and motivation
Dana White questioned McGregor’s ‘hunger’ having achieved all there is to achieve in the UFC
This latest humbling defeat could be the trigger for a crucial change for the Irishman
Ultimately, for all the talk of potential opponents and routes to the lightweight title, it is whether McGregor can rediscover his motivation and hunger that will determine where he goes from here.
White questioned McGregor’s desire in stinging remarks following UFC 257.
‘Look, there is two ways this goes – hungrier or I’m done, he’s got the money,’ he said in the post-fight press conference.
‘This is like Rocky III, when you get offered a 300 foot yacht, it is tough to be a savage when he is living like he is.
‘When he was a young kid he was hungry, now he has got everything he ever wanted so I don’t know, it goes this way or that way.’
McGregor is at a crossroads. At 32, with the mind-boggling wealth accrued from his career, does that fire still remain in the Irishman?