5 fights Conor McGregor should take before his career ends

#4. Conor McGregor vs Islam Makhachev

UFC 242 Khabib v Poirier

Conor McGregor's most famous, violent, and ugliest rivalry has been against Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Before Khabib retired in October 2020, the Irish superstar was making it known he had come back to the UFC for a rematch against his fiercest foe.

Khabib has now become a coach to the many fighters his late father Abdul Nurmagomedov once had. A fight against his close friend and rising star pupil Islam Makhachev, who is now ranked fifth in the division, would be intriguing.

To Abdulmanap..I respect your training methods and what you have done.But I laugh at water boy and team nutritionist Islam Makhachev as an opponent.I do not engage in sport combat with convicted steroid cheats.It is your son Abdul! Your middle son. I already got your eldest.

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 26, 2019

Islam, much like Khabib, is a nightmare match-up for the UFC star due to his exceptional ground skills. Conor McGregor has had to suffer from that weakness throughout his career.

But imagine if Conor McGregor was able to knockout the Dagestani prodigy; that could just be the push needed to bring Khabib back for a rematch against McGregor.

#3. Conor McGregor vs Tony Ferguson

UFC 262: Tony Ferguson v Beneil Dariush

A fight between Conor McGregor and Tony Ferguson has been four years in the making. After their last couple of performances, now is the time to pair these two former lightweight champions up.

Currently both men are on losing streaks with Tony Ferguson losing his last three fights and Conor McGregor losing his previous two.

In 2017 the two were destined to meet. Ferguson defeated Kevin Lee for the interim lightweight title, while Conor McGregor left to go box against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

'El Cucuy' was stripped of the belt in the months after his title win due to a bad leg injury that sidelined him for a few months. Conor McGregor was stripped of his belt as well; it was later picked up by Khabib in a win against Al Iaquinta.

I love Tony. We represented him amazingly at Paradigm sports and were betrayed for a promise of a baseball contract. But frame and preparation here was just embarrassing. His methods and conversation are humorous/enjoyable but he was never the level perceived. Although tough.

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) May 11, 2020

Now that both men are out to prove they have more in their respective tanks, this fight makes sense from a rankings and old rivalry standpoint.