Conor McGregor Next Fight Odds: Michael Chandler Leads the Way to Be McGregor’s Return Opponent

Conor McGregor Next Fight Odds: Michael Chandler Leads the Way to Be McGregor’s Return Opponent

Who will Conor McGregor's next opponent in either the UFC or Boxing? According to oddsmakers, relative UFC newcomer and fan-favorite Michael Chandler is the favorite to clash with the former two-weight UFC Champion. Let's take a closer look at who could be next for Conor McGregor.

Perhaps the biggest attraction in the history of Mixed Martial Arts is none other than Conor McGregor. The brash Irishman burst onto the UFC scene in 2013 and never looked back. McGregor quickly dispatched Marcus Brimage in his debut bout and would follow it up by dominating a young Max Holloway (before Holloway's Hall of Fame resume was put together). McGregor defeated Holloway via unanimous decision after tearing his ACL in the first round, which may be even more impressive than any sort of finish. McGregor would return 11 months later and headline the company's first show in Dublin, Ireland, and McGregor would knock Diego Brandao out inside of the first round.

Conor McGregor Next Opponent Prediction

McGregor would defeat Dustin Poirier (more on him soon) and Dennis Siver to earn a shot at UFC gold. However, 145-pound king Jose Aldo would be injured, and an interim title bout was scheduled between McGregor and Chad Mendes. After being thoroughly rag dolled by Mendes in the opening frame, McGregor knocked out Mendes in the second round to secure the interim title and a shot at Aldo once and for all.

McGregor and Aldo would famously meet at UFC 194, where McGregor knocked out Aldo in just 13 seconds. McGregor then made his case to become a two-weight champion as he challenged UFC Lightweight Champion Rafael dos Anjos. However, like Aldo, RDA would suffer an injury and pull out of the bout less than a week before UFC 196. In steps Nate Diaz, who would shock the world and submit to McGregor, leading to a rematch between the pair at UFC 202. McGregor would dominate Diaz en route to a unanimous decision win over the fan favorite. McGregor would finally get his hands on a second title after obliterating Eddie Alvarez via second-round TKO to become the first-ever UFC two-weight World Champion.

However, things started to go downhill following his second title win. McGregor ran into the buzzsaw that is Khabib Nurmagomedov and would be submitted by 'The Eagle' at UFC 229, which infamously led to a brawl between both fighters' teams in the crowd post-fight. McGregor would get back on track after walloping veteran Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone at UFC 246, but McGregor would be knocked out by the aforementioned Dustin Poirier at UFC 257. McGregor and Poirier would engage in a trilogy bout at UFC 264, however, after a dominating opening frame by Poirier, McGregor would break his leg at the very end of the first round and the fight would be called off.

Let's take a look at who oddsmakers predict will be facing the brash Irishman upon his long-awaited return.

Claim over $5000 worth of betting promotions for any sport including the UFC by clicking here.

Conor McGregor Next Opponent Odds

Conor McGregor Next Fight

8. Khabib Nurmagomedov (+2000)

Let's keep this one short and sweet...it's not happening. However, in the very, very off chance that the rematch between these two blood-boiling rivals was to ever occur, it'd be the biggest fight in the history of combat sports in any metric you want to look at. It's unfortunate, but it's just not happening.

7. Jorge Masvidal (+1200)

This one is another questionable one from oddsmakers, as a fight between Conor McGregor and Jorge Masvidal may make more sense now than it ever previously has. The BMF Champion hasn't won a fight since his BMF Championship win over Nate Diaz at UFC 244 in 2019 (more on Diaz later). However, Masvidal's massive run in 2019 propelled him to superstardom following his viral flying knee KO of Ben Askren at UFC 239, which followed a TKO victory over Darren Till just months prior. Masvidal would follow up the Askren KO with the aforementioned win over Diaz for the BMF Title, which wrapped up a historic 2019 for Masvidal. However, unfortunately for Masvidal, he hasn't secured a victory since the Diaz fight, losing three-straight to Kamaru Usman (twice) and, most recently, Colby Covington at UFC 272 this past March.

6. Anderson Silva (+1000)

Our first probable boxing bout is on the list as future UFC Hall of Famer Anderson Silva comes in at number six. The 47-year-old former UFC Middleweight Champion has fully transitioned to boxing following his historic run in the UFC following his loss against Uriah Hall in October 2020. Since his UFC departure, Silva has competed twice inside the boxing realm, compiling a 1-1 record, defeating former UFC star Tito Ortiz before dropping an extremely competitive unanimous decision against Jake Paul this past October. A matchup between McGregor and Silva isn't likely, but it would certainly be fun, especially inside the squared circle.

5. Kamaru Usman (+800)

Another preposterous name on this list is former UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman. However, maybe oddsmakers have seen some of McGregor's latest posts on social media and see how swollen the brash Irishman has gotten as of late, and a return to 155 may be completely out of the question for McGregor if those photos are to be taken on face value. Perhaps a title fight between Usman and McGregor would seemingly be a bigger deal for UFC brass (especially UFC President Dana White) but Usman now not being a champion and having at least a bit of a past back-and-forth with McGregor is more of a reasonable return bout for McGregor if you're of the belief 'The Notorious' shouldn't be competing for UFC gold so quickly after returning from injury on the back of back-to-back losses.

4. Justin Gaethje (+600)

Maybe the most fun name on this list is a man who lives up to his nickname more than anyone in MMA history, Justin 'The Highlight' Gaethje. Upon his arrival in the UFC back in the summer of 2017, Gaethje immediately lived up to the hype with a come-from-behind KO of Michael Johnson. However, Gaethje would run into some trouble with back-to-back losses against Eddie Alvarez and Dustin Poirier, but 'The Highlight' would seemingly right the ship when he rattled off four-straight victories over the likes of James Vick, Edson Barboza, Donald Cerrone, and Tony Ferguson, the last of which, earning him the interim UFC Lightweight Championship. Unfortunately for Gaethje, he'd lose in his bid to become an undisputed champion when he was submitted by UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov in what would be Nurmagomedov's final bout of his illustrious, undefeated professional Mixed Martial Arts career. Gaethje would come back with a victory over Michael Chandler in what was 2021's UFC Fight of The Year before being submitted by Charles Oliveira in his (Gaethje's) second bid for undisputed UFC gold at UFC 274 this past May.

3. Nate Diaz (+450)

Another name that perhaps shouldn't be this high on the list is now (technically) former UFC lightweight and welterweight contender Nate Diaz. The fan-favorite contender fought out his latest UFC deal when he submitted Tony Ferguson at UFC 279 this past September. If Diaz were to never step inside of the UFC octagon ever again, it would end a 15-year run in the company for the Stockton, California native, who compiled a 16-11 record in the promotion, with just one opportunity at UFC gold when he came up short in his bid for the 155-pound title back in 2012, against then-champion, Benson Henderson via unanimous decision. Perhaps the only reason Diaz is even on this list, especially this high, despite not even being currently contracted by the UFC, is due to the pair being 1-1 against one another during their lengthy rivalry, which occurred over the span of 2016 where Diaz shocked the world and submitted McGregor at UFC 196 after only being booked for the bout when he replaced the injured Rafael dos Anjos just days before the pay-per-view. However, McGregor would get revenge on Diaz at UFC 202 just a few months later when he defeated Diaz via unanimous decision.

2. Charles Oliveira (+200)

Perhaps the first extremely realistic name on this list is former UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira. The Brazilian star secured his first taste of UFC gold when he knocked out Michael Chandler at UFC 262 to become the promotion's 155-pound king. Since his victory over Chandler, Oliveira successfully defended his title when he knocked out Dustin Poirier at UFC 269. However, Oliveira would suffer his first defeat as champion...to the scale. That's right, Oliveira was officially stripped of his title just 24 hours before his encounter with Justin Gaethje at UFC 274. Oliveira would still finish Gaethje at UFC 274, earning himself a showdown against Islam Makhachev at UFC 280 for the 155-pound title. Unfortunately for Oliveira, he'd be submitted by Makhachev, which makes the potential showdown with McGregor more of a realistic option.

1. Michael Chandler (+125)

Oddsmakers favorites to be the return opponent for Conor McGregor is none other than former Bellator MMA Champion and current UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler. The 36-year-old fan-favorite contender signed with the UFC in 2021 after being the face of Bellator MMA for well over a decade. Since his arrival in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Chandler spent just over two minutes inside the UFC octagon before he knocked out Dan Hooker, earning him a title shot against the previously mentioned Charles Oliveira. ”Iron Mike” would be knocked out by the aforementioned Brazilian champion. Following the title bout shortcoming, a showdown with the fan-favorite knockout artist Justin Gaethje was now on the books for Chandler. The bout between Chandler and Gaethje ended up as the 2021 Fight of The Year, but Chandler would lose via unanimous decision.