There's one thing missing from Conor McGregor's impressive record.
Despite only being 29, Conor McGregor's storied combat sports career has already solidified his place as a future Hall of Famer.
He's a two-weight world champion. He's beaten elite wrestlers, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts and devastating strikers. He's steamrolled legends such as Jose Aldo and Eddie Alvarez. Hell, he even lasted 10 rounds with Floyd Mayweather.
While McGregor's always talked about as the biggest superstar in the history of the sport and is consistently ranked high in the P4P rankings, he's just not quite in the greatest of all time discussion... yet.
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There are a lot of factors contributing McGregor not being considered one of the greatest ever. Firstly, he just hasn't been fighting at the top level long enough. Fortunately, he's still quite young and has plenty of time to cement an even better legacy in this regard.
Secondly, and this is a big one, he has never defended a belt in his life. All the 'greatest of all time' candidates have had long reigns as champions with multiple defences against top contenders.
McGregor is a man who likes to use hacks to propel himself to the top, though. That's how he fought the greatest boxer of our generation in his professional debut, it's how he became the UFC lightweight king in his divisional debut for the promotion and that may be how he can fast-track his name into the greatest of all time discussion.
One way of jumping the queue is by taking someone else's place in it. Anderson Silva's too big and past his prime, Jon Jones is way too massive and god knows what will become of him, Demetrious Johnson is too diminutive, but Georges St Pierre might just be the guy.
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Completing the trilogy against Nate Diaz appears to be McGregor's next move. It will undoubtedly be another lucrative red panty night for 'The Notorious.' If he breezes past the Stockton native, the UFC could have an issue finding an intriguing fight to tempt the Dubliner back to the Octagon.
Freddie Roach has previously stated that the McGregor fight is firmly in
GSP's sights, preferably for the Canadian legend's retirement fight. However, as St-Pierre told the
New York Post, he could bow out of the sport for good before that conversation even begins.
“If I ever lose, I’m retired, it’s finished for me. I’m one fight away from retirement. I don’t plan on losing but if I do, it’s finished.”
GSP is set to take on Michael Bisping for the middleweight championship in UFC 217's headliner. It will mark the first time the welterweight great has fought at 185 lbs, although he has indicated in the past that he would be willing to come down as low as lightweight.
If he becomes middleweight champion, perhaps he would target a catchweight prizefight against McGregor. The incentives for both fighters are obvious, while it could easily be the biggest fight in the history of the sport. Admittedly, McGregor's on course to claim that accolade every time he enters the Octagon, but a fight against GSP would be an opportunity he would surely jump at.
That's a once in a lifetime fight.
