As rumors about Conor McGregor’s long-awaited comeback to the UFC continue, there is still disagreement about who the Irish superstar should face if he ever returns to the Octagon. While some believe McGregor’s long-awaited fight with Michael Chandler is the logical choice, others believe another bigger fight exists. Among them is former “BMF” champion Jorge Masvidal, who believes the UFC is passing on a more lucrative opportunity. However, Chael Sonnen recently joined in on the discussion, claiming that ‘Iron’ is still the only viable opponent for the former UFC double champion’s comeback.
Sonnen took to Instagram and posted a video in which he claimed that the UFC has already created a lot of buzz around their fight, especially since they were paired as competing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter, the biggest marketing tool for the Dana White-led promotion. So, according to him, switching opponents at this point would be pointless. He said, “There is no marketing vehicle in our sport that has ever been created that is more powerful than The Ultimate Fighter. They did The Ultimate Fighter. Why would you possibly switch opponents?”
As per ‘The American Gangster,’ Chandler’s absence from the Irishman’s comeback talks confirms that a return is unlikely. However, Jorge Masvidal fully disagrees with Chael Sonnen’s choice. Speaking with MMA Fighting, the former welterweight contender dismissed Chandler as McGregor’s best choice, positioning himself as the biggest possible bout. “He (Conor) doesn’t want the damn fight,” ‘Gamebred’ stated. “He never mentions my name, but we’re the biggest fight possible. You think Michael Chandler sells more than me vs. Conor?”
Despite leaving MMA in 2023, Jorge Masvidal plans to return in 2025 and is still open to high-profile fights. He is unconvinced that Conor McGregor will ever fight again, joining an increasing number of competitors who have questioned the Irishman’s dedication. However, it is possible that ‘The Notorious’ will return, but not to the UFC. Conor McGregor recently expressed an interest in fighting in his co-owned BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship). So he might look for a fight there instead. In fact, a UFC fighter has called him out and offered to challenge him in the BKFC. So, who is this mysterious opponent?
Paulo Costa joins the list of fighters to face Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor has made headlines for his growing involvement in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), where he is now a part-owner. While fans continue to speculate about his long-awaited UFC return, McGregor has hinted at a potential bare-knuckle fight instead. At a recent BKFC press conference, he stated that he is not satisfied with only promoting the sport; he wants to compete in it himself. He even mentioned former UFC fighters Mike Perry, Jeremy Stephens, and Eddie Alvarez as potential opponents. But now, out of nowhere, an unexpected name emerged: Paulo Costa.
The UFC middleweight sparked shockwaves across social media when he made a cryptic challenge to ‘The Notorious’ on X, simply tweeting, “McGregor, I want bkfc u.” In typical McGregor style, the Irishman answered with nothing but teary-eyed laughing emojis, dismissing the challenge with humor rather than trash talk. Costa’s tweet surely puzzled fans. Is he serious about fighting McGregor bare-knuckle, or is this just another case of “The Eraser” mocking the internet? Given Costa’s history of odd online behavior, it’s difficult to say.
While Costa’s challenge may not be that significant, McGregor’s BKFC ambitions appear a lot more legitimate. During the same news conference, he even mentioned winning a title bare-knuckle, calling it a prestigious accomplishment. “I would wish to be the Bare Knuckle world champion. That is a significant belt to hold in your career,” McGregor said. With the Irishman’s UFC future still in doubt, his increased interest in BKFC has fans guessing where he will fight next. What do you think? Will he make a return to the UFC to defy Chael Sonnen‘s claims, or will Conor McGregor make a comeback in the BKFC instead? Let us know in the comments.
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