Who should Conor McGregor face in his final UFC fight? Going over his options

Conor McGregor's comeback at UFC 329 wasn't the triumphant octagon return he had hyped it up to be. Instead, it ended in the most disastrous way possible, with his body failing him and condemning him to walk, no pun intended, another long road to recovery. But when he does return, and he will, who should he face?

There aren't many options for Conor McGregor

It's safe to say that Conor McGregor isn't who he once was. His body has been through the wringer these last few years. Back in mid-2021, at UFC 264 'The Notorious' snapped his shin in round one of his rubber match with Dustin Poirier. It's an injury that fighters either don't come back from or never look the same if they do. In McGregor's case, he first tried to return as soon as 2024 at UFC 303 in a long-awaited fight with ex-Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler. Unfortunately, 'The Notorious' withdrew from the bout due to a broken toe, and only returned two years later at UFC 329 against Max Holloway in a rematch 13 years in the making.

Instead of the generational performance he had promised, McGregor tore both his ACL and meniscus in the opening seconds, losing via first-round TKO. It's a string of injuries that will only be compounded by his age, as he is 38 years old and nowhere near his prime. To make matters worse, he is 1-4 in his last five fights, and on a three-fight losing streak. With one fight remaining on his UFC contract, what does the promotion do with an aging, over-the-hill McGregor whose body is held together by tape and glue? Who can he be matched up with now that the luster is gone and expectations are at an all-time low? There are just three options, none of which include Holloway, who is still at the top of his game and has no business calling for a rematch with someone as shot as McGregor.

So, the first option is the man McGregor was booked to face back at UFC 303. Chandler is also an aging fighter on a rough patch. He's 40 years old, 1-6 in his last seven fights, and on a four-fight losing streak. He's been gunning for a McGregor fight for years and they have history, having filmed 'The Ultimate Fighter 31' together. It's a winnable matchup for the Irishman, given Chandler's poor fight IQ and equally bad chin. It would, at least, end in a finish or five-round war if neither man finds the knockout. Though on the topic of five-round wars, there's also his old rival Nate Diaz.

The only roadblocks to the much-teased McGregor vs. Diaz trilogy bout are the fact that Diaz hasn't been part of the UFC roster since 2022, and that signing him on a one-fight deal would be difficult, as he's a tough negotiator. But Diaz is 41, coming off a loss, and much slower than before. His durability has also waned, so it isn't exactly a dangerous fight for 'The Notorious' anymore. Neither is the last option, Jorge Masvidal, who once hoped to face the Irishman in a BMF title fight that never materialized and who keeps campaigning for a UFC return.

Both men are old by MMA standards, and Masvidal's last UFC fights were indicators of how much he's declined. There's still some history that the UFC can cash in on and McGregor can't be fed to a young up-and-comer who would demolish him. Instead, he should be allowed to ride off into the sunset after a fight with a big name or fellow legend of the game.