Conor McGregor Must be Praying That Dustin Poirier Beats Khabib Nurmagamedov… That’s According to Michael Bisping Who Believes That a Win for the Diamond is the Easiest Road Back to a Title Shot for the Notorious…
Conor McGregor has had a strange couple of years in the fight world. He’s made a tonne of money, but his stock is arguably lower than it has been in the past four years. Sure, he could probably walk into any main event he wanted, but his aura of invincibility has been well and truly punctured.
He last fought in October 2018, when he was well and truly beaten by Khabib Nurmagamedov in a lightweight title fight. Since then he’s been active on social media, breaking down the parts of the fight he felt he won – there aren’t many – and slamming the Russian for his wrestling based style.
Now Michael Bisping has commented on the situation and he believes that the Irishman is desperate for Dustin Poirier to beat Khabib when the pair fight at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi.
Thoughts and Prayers
Dustin Poirier is the current interim lightweight champion. He’s on a tear, beating the likes of Justin Gaethje, Eddie Alvarez and Max Holloway to win the strap. He’ll have a chance to get his hands on the real belt when he takes on Khabib, who hasn’t fought since beating McGregor. Michael Bisping believes that McGregor’s previous win over the Diamond will give him confidence.
“He’s probably hoping and praying that Poirier beats Khabib in Abu Dhabi,” Bisping said on his Believe You Me podcast. “If Poirier beats Khabib, obviously we all know Conor has that massive win over Poirier. He did it very, very easily. He made short work of Poirier back in the day. Alright, it was back in the day, it was at [145 pounds], but even still, if Poirier wins, there’s a possibility of setting up that rematch. That’s his shot — and easier shot at the title.”
Rematch
Bisping thinks that time is paramount with McGregor. Khabib is rich and stubborn. He’s not just going to hand McGregor a rematch. It’s also all the more difficult for the UFC to justify it when you’ve Tony Ferguson waiting impatiently for his own shot at the title. A Poirier clash might freshen things up.
“I don’t think he gets that fight (with Khabib),” Bisping said. “The Poirier fight, definitely, I can see them doing that.
“From the UFC’s perspective, they’re going to do it (rematch with Khabib). The first fight]was the biggest pay-per-view ever, the rematch is going to be even bigger. Rematches sell, especially with the amount of bad blood, especially with what happened after the fight outside the Octagon. The rematch is going to be huge. I just think Conor has to win another fight first.”
Return
All the signs are pointing to a McGregor comeback in early 2020. It remains to be seen who he fights. If Nate Diaz can beat Anthony Pettis, then that would be the fight to make. The winner of Donald Cerrone v Justin Gaethje would be another awesome match-up.
One potential opponent who doesn’t look like he’ll be getting a shot at McGregor is Jorge Masvidal. Dana White has said that the Cuban-American is too big for the Notorious.
