Ok, so Conor McGregor isn’t going to challenge for the welterweight, or even lightweight belt anytime soon - if ever. You can thank Nate Diaz for derailing the Irishman’s grandiose dreams.
He did state that it makes sense for him to defend his featherweight title, and there are two fights waiting for the champion: a rematch with Jose Aldo or a bout with No. 1 contender Frankie Edgar. You can bet on both of these fights right now in our Future Events section.
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IRELAND VS. BRAZIL, PT. 2
Conor McGregor - 200
Jose Aldo +160
This seemed to be the fight McGregor was leaning towards, stating that it made sense to give the former featherweight champion of 10 years an immediate rematch. Aldo epically trolled McGregor on Instagram after his loss to Diaz, and that seemed to infuriate the featherweight champ.
In terms of the actual fight, it’s hard to say how the rematch would play out. The 13-second KO punch seems like an outcome that would repeat itself maybe one out of a hundred times. With Aldo a bit wiser and McGregor handily beaten, it’s likely that another go-round would be a lot closer. Having said that, Mystic Mac proved that Aldo cannot take his left hand clean.
In terms of fan interest, Brazilian fans would be ecstatic to this booking. But the general thinking in fight forums and comment sections trends toward the opinion that Aldo had his chance - and it wasn’t even close. What’s more, Aldo has done little to improve his standing with the stateside fans, refusing to learn English or hype his fights.
While talent alone should be enough for a fighter to be successful, the reality is that the most successful fighters know how to promote themselves. In this regard, Aldo is a relative amateur.
QUESTIONING THE ANSWER
Conor McGregor -175
Frankie Edgar +145
“The Answer” has won five straight, and his most recent victory was a sensational knockout of former title challenger Chad Mendes. While Aldo is correct to point out that former champions have received immediate rematches with a far less impressive resume than his own, Edgar is no less deserving of a shot at McGregor.
What’s more, Edgar might just be the worst matchup stylistically for the champ. His well-rounded skillset can exploit the holes that McGregor has been showing. Edgar possesses elite wrestling, and Mendes showed that Conor’s takedown defense could use work. The New Jersey native is extremely durable with endless cardio - two characteristics that Nate Diaz embodies in spades.
In terms of promotion, Edgar has the advantage of being a new puzzle for McGregor. There is a bit of rematch fatigue in the promotion, from Rockhold-Weidman, Jones-Cormier and now Tate-Rousey. A new face - and a deserving one - would add to the intrigue. Plus, in terms of personality, Edgar and McGregor are polar opposites, and a storyline between the humble, hardworking fighter against the brash, arrogant Irishman would be easy to create.
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