No McGregor? No problem
DREAM BOUTS: There are several scenarios that could salvage the UFC 200 card
Conor McGregor is retired and the UFC is actively searching for a new main event to top the marquee for UFC 200, the company’s blowout show scheduled for July 9 at the brand new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Expected to be a fighting extravaganza, fans have been underwhelmed by the initial collection of bouts scheduled for the event, and now that McGregor’s forced rematch with Nathan Diaz has been scrapped because he refused to travel from Iceland to Las Vegas for promotional events this weekend, there is now an Irish clover-shaped void atop the card.
So what can the UFC do to remedy the situation? Here are some options.
DANIEL CORMIER VS. JON JONES II
The fight that was supposed to headline this weekend’s event in Las Vegas could be put back together as the new main event of this summer’s blockbuster event, provided Jones comes away from Saturday’s bout with Ovince Saint Preux unscathed.
“Bones” wants to get his title back and Cormier, who was forced out with a leg injury, doesn’t want to wait too long to get back in the Octagon. Facing Jones in Vegas in July probably sounds better than waiting to face him in New York in November.
THE RETURN OF GEORGES ST-PIERRE
No matter the opponent — Nathan Diaz, Robbie Lawler for the welterweight title, Anderson Silva in the UFC’s version of Mayweather-Pacquiao — having the French-Canadian superstar end his self-imposed sabbatical to return to the Octagon would cause quite a stir. GSP has said he’s in talks about a return, and a comeback fight for one of the greatest in MMA history would certainly ease the pain of losing McGregor.
NATHAN DIAZ VS. ROBBIE LAWLER FOR THE WELTERWEIGHT TITLE
After Diaz beat McGregor in March, this fight felt like one of the best options for the compelling antihero from Stockton, Calif. Lawler hasn’t been booked since his win over Carlos Condit at UFC 195, and while there has been talk of a bout with Tyron Woodley following UFC 200, having him headline against Diaz would be a bigger draw and more compelling bout.
PAGING RONDA ROUSEY
Miesha Tate is currently booked to defend the women’s bantamweight title at UFC 200 against Amanda Nunes and the promotion has said Rousey won’t be returning until the end of the year — but that was before everything transpired with McGregor this week. Rousey has a deep, tense history with Tate, and if she can be convinced to move her comeback up a couple of months, a fight between these two could help save the day.
MAKE AMENDS WITH MCGREGOR
While making the media rounds Wednesday, UFC President Dana White said this wasn’t about money and that he didn’t believe McGregor was actually retiring. Given that the event is still two months and change away, there’s still time to mend the fences.
Maybe he fights St-Pierre. Maybe he fights Lawler. Maybe he still fights Diaz. Adding him back would cause as much of a stir as removing him Tuesday did, if not more.