5 potential opponents for Conor McGregor when he returns

#2. Conor McGregor vs. Jorge Masvidal

Photo credit: UFC 239 Masvidal v Askren

Another possible opponent for Conor McGregor that'd make for an interesting matchup is Jorge Masvidal. McGregor vs. Masvidal in a main event would be massive for the UFC. Many believe that McGregor vs. Masvidal would set new pay-per-view buyrate records for the promotion.

McGregor has expressed interest in fighting 'Gamebred' after UFC President Dana White famously shot down the idea of the two fighting. During a press-conference, White mentioned that he felt Masvidal is too big for McGregor and that the former two-division champion doesn't belong at welterweight.

Both McGregor and Masvidal are two of the promotion's biggest draws and their personas would make for an entertaining spectacle. Masvidal is currently on a two-fight losing streak that saw him come up short against UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.

Depending on what the promotion does with Masvidal next, it wouldn't be such a bad idea to book a fight between the two. Perhaps the UFC could make things more interesting by adding Masvidal's BMF title into the mix.

---

#1. Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 3

UFC 263: Adesanya v Vettori 2

Topping this list of opponents for Conor McGregor when he's cleared to return is Nate Diaz. The trilogy bout between McGregor and Diaz has been talked about since their rematch at UFC 202. McGregor won the rematch by a close majority decision with the judges scoring the bout 47-47, 48-47, and 48-47.

It was believed that the trilogy bout was inevitable since both had one win over each other. The rubber match has always been an option for the UFC. Much like the previous two bouts, the trilogy would most likely be contested at 170 lbs.

The timing is interesting because Diaz only has one fight left on his contract. If he decides to fight out the contract soon and test free agency, McGregor-Diaz 3 could be a missed opportunity. On the other hand, if Diaz signs a new deal with the UFC, the trilogy would make the most sense. The UFC may view the trilogy as the perfect return bout for McGregor, which could persuade Diaz to re-sign.