What if Conor McGregor never fought Floyd Mayweather? 5 possible turns the Irishman's career could've taken
Back in 2017, Conor McGregor faced Floyd Mayweather in a historic boxing match. The bout was a crossover spectacle unlike anything fight fans had seen prior, given the UFC's long-running aversion to its fighters competing outside of the octagon.
Moreover, there was high anticipation for the pre-fight press conferences. After all, both McGregor and Mayweather had defined themselves as over-the-top, peacocking trash-talkers who flaunt their wealth. The duel on the mic was just as compelling as the battle in the ring.
But what if it had never happened? What if McGregor had never pursued a boxing match with Mayweather? How differently would his career have panned out?
#5 Conor McGregor would have been a more active fighter
When Conor McGregor made the decision to box Floyd Mayweather, there was a two-year gap between his last UFC fight and his octagon return. At UFC 229, he faced Khabib Nurmagomedov, after which he disappeared for over a year. It was a spell of inactivity caused, partially, by the reported purse from boxing.
He'd grown too rich to bother with wanting to fight like he once did, slept in sheets too silken to frequently put himself through the rigors of a training camp. However, without the massive wealth from boxing Mayweather, McGregor would have likely fought more.
There would have been no boxing match to prepare for that would have led to a two-year disappearance, nor would his motivation be so sapped by wealth that he would vanish for more than a year following a loss to Nurmagomedov.
#4 Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov wouldn't have been as big
UFC 229 was, and still is, the biggest PPV in the promotion's history. The feud between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov drew more eyeballs than any other. However, some of what made the rivalry compelling was, undoubtedly, the Irishman's time away and Nurmagomedov's championship ascension.
Before the two men locked horns, it had been two years since fans had seen McGregor fight. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Additionally, part of the draw for the fight was whether Nurmagomedov was the real deal, given that he had captured UFC lightweight gold against Al Iaquinta.
Fans were eager to see if McGregor could reclaim his old belt, if he could set things right and banish the pretender from his kingdom. It's a narrative that would have been nonexistent if Nurmagomedov had merely been the challenger to McGregor's title.
#3 Conor McGregor may have fought Tyron Woodley
Conor McGregor has made it no secret that he has thought about becoming the UFC's first three-division champion, eyeing the welterweight title. During his peak, and around the time he embarked on his quest to box Floyd Mayweather, the UFC welterweight champion was Tyron Woodley.
"Currently watching Woodley Wonderboy 1 on BT Sport. I should have went for that treble real quick."
Not long ago, the Irishman expressed regret over not challenging Woodley for the 170-pound belt. There was already talk about the matchup at the time, and McGregor is always thinking about his next great accomplishment. A third belt wouldn't have been unthinkable, especially with their history.
He was considering it, still thinks back to it, and had he never faced Mayweather, there would have been no bigger feat or opportunity than beating Woodley, whose tendency to back up in a straight line until his back hits the cage made him a tailor-made matchup for McGregor.
#2 The Conor McGregor-Nate Diaz trilogy would have already happened
A Conor McGregor who commits to fighting in the UFC and nowhere else would have almost certainly faced Nate Diaz for a third time by now. After dispatching Eddie Alvarez, 'The Notorious' would have either pursued a third belt against Tyron Woodley or opted for a different welterweight bout.
Diaz was disgruntled by the majority decision loss to McGregor, who he felt he had beaten. He was determined to rematch him. In fact, he outright refused to fight anyone else for the next three years, eventually returning to face former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis.
Had McGregor stuck around in the UFC, it is likely that he and Diaz would have settled their 1-1 rivalry with a trilogy bout at welterweight. However, an even more ludicrous option would have been available: Diaz vs. McGregor for the lightweight title.
#1 Conor McGregor would have been booked for a title defense
Whether it's in Cage Warriors or the UFC, Conor McGregor has never defended a world title. He has never bothered to. After knocking out José Aldo to capture the featherweight title, he subsequently challenged Eddie Alvarez for lightweight gold, winning the belt in legendary fashion.
Thereafter, he boxed Floyd Mayweather and was ultimately stripped of both belts due to inactivity. Had he stuck around instead of boxing, he would have eventually had to defend a title, whether it would have been at lightweight against Nate Diaz or in a different division.
Even had he captured the welterweight belt by beating Tyron Woodley, there would be nowhere else for him to go. A middleweight belt would have been out of the question given the size difference. He would have either moved back down to lightweight or defended his welterweight throne.