While the remainder of the card has yet to be finalised, there’s no doubt about the headline act of UFC 264. Conor McGregor steps into the octagon, looking for revenge over Dustin Poirier after the two men met at the start of the year.
Poirier emerged triumphant back in January after a second round TKO but the forthcoming battle, set for July 10, looks too close to call. It’s hoped that spectators will be allowed back into the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada and there couldn’t be a better fight with which to welcome them back.
Third Time’s The Charm
UFC 264 is being billed as Poirier vs McGregor 3 as this is the third time that the two lightweights will do battle. First time out, back in 2014, Conor McGregor was enjoying a dominant period and the man known as ‘Notorious’ came through following a first round TKO.
Poirier had to wait nearly seven years for his revenge and it was earned via that 2nd round TKO at UFC 257. It’s one-all going into this third fight and, with two evenly matched fighters, the sportsbooks are also finding this to be a tough prediction. Early UFC 264 betting odds show that McGregor is a very narrow favorite but the odds are exceptionally tight.
The ‘decider’ will sort out this particular grudge match but what does it specifically mean for McGregor at this stage of his MMA career?
A Notorious Career
For whatever reasons, Conor McGregor has been out of the Octagon for long periods throughout his professional career. When he returned to take on Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 at the start of 2020, a win inside 40 seconds suggested that the Irishman could still compete at this level.
Sadly, another year’s hiatus followed: Professional sport around the world went into an enforced absence but it’s unlikely that McGregor would have been competing even if there had been a full MMA schedule. When he did return, in January 2021, a swift defeat to Dustin Poirier suggested that he was some way away from his best.
Crucial Showdown
It may be no exaggeration to suggest that UFC 264 represents the pivotal moment in Conor McGregor’s career. Throughout his pro fighting days, the Irishman has been a champion, ready to compete for belts in his weight divisions.
Forget the issues away from the sport, every time he’s returned he’s been focused and has generally been a match for any opponent. Following the sideshow of his boxing debut against Floyd Mayweather in 2017, ‘Notorious’ hasn’t been quite so convincing.
A title defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 225 saw McGregor take it deep into the fourth round but he was ultimately just not good enough for a strong opponent. But the biggest concern came at the end of his weak display against Dustin Poirier back in January 2021.
If McGregor wins the rematch, he will prove that he still has a future inside the Octagon. In contrast, another early defeat may suggest that this is the end of the road, certainly as far as the UFC is concerned.
What Next for Conor McGregor?
A headline act such as Conor McGregor will certainly have options, even if he does lose to Poirier at UFC 264. It’s unlikely that the biggest division in the sport would want to cut ties with such a big name and he can continue to battle against a series of willing opponents.
The question would be whether any championship belts would remain on the line: If not, the Irishman could potentially move into another MMA organisation if he wanted a crack at another title.
There are options for other combat sports: McGregor’s boxing career may have been a brief and unsuccessful one but he was taking on one of the best in Floyd Mayweather. Notorious showed just enough in that 2017 encounter to suggest that he may yet have a chance in the boxing ring.
With such a high profile, it’s no surprise that Conor McGregor has been linked to the showbiz world or professional wrestling. He has hinted at a stint with the WWE organisation and, in typical ‘Notorious’ style he has called out every wrestler and suggested that he could beat each one with some ease.
Unlike Tyson Fury who would be something of a ‘pantomime villain’ in WWE, McGregor has an edge to his character that might not fit the organisation.
Been There, Done That
In many ways, Conor McGregor has nothing to prove at this advanced stage of his professional MMA career. He’s a world champion and has been an important part of the UFC line up since he made his debut here in 2013.
He’s now 32 which is still relatively young when you consider that many MMA fighters carry on into their late 30s and beyond. That’s always an option but it’s difficult to see McGregor hanging on to past glories in the octagon if he can no longer compete at the top level.
A switch to another combat sport could be a possibility with boxing and wrestling open to offering the Irishman a cautious welcome. His next step is likely to be defined at UFC 264 and that’s why the contest with Dustin Poirier represents such a pivotal moment. However, in terms of Conor McGregor having to prove himself, that moment is long past.
