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28th September 2020
01:53pm BST

'Pick someone for a hidin', Bob Chapek,' McGregor declared. 'On the house for the mouse, my pleasure'.McGregor claims he still wants a rematch with UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, who defeated him in October 2018, but he appears to be more intent on fighting what he would see as legends of the fight game. He has already stated that he wants to close out his trilogy with Nate Diaz, he accepted Donald Cerrone's call-outs and gave him the biggest pay-day of his career, at UFC 239, and was actively campaigning to fight Anderson Silva earlier this year. The Dubliner was even willing to travel to Brazil to take on 'The Spider' in a catch-weight bout. The latest potential benefactor of a McGregor money fight is Sanchez. The New Mexico native is 38 now and his best years are well and truly behind him [he fought for the UFC lightweight belt back in 2009]. Sanchez lost to Jake Matthews at UFC 253, on Saturday, to fall to 31-13 in his pro career and 9-11 in his last 20 fights. He is set to lay down his gloves in the coming months but would dearly love to do so with a massive pay-per-view event against McGregor. [caption id="attachment_217090" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Diego Sanchez punches Jake Matthews of Australia in their welterweight bout during UFC 253 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)[/caption]
At this stage, with Tony Ferguson, Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje and the recently signed Michael Chandler all lining up as potential Nurmagomedov title defences, the UFC should just embrace McGregor's new role. They have already sanctioned a B.M.F [Baddest Motherf*****] belt for Jorge Masvidal to claim after he defeated Nate Diaz, so why not give 'The Notorious' free rein too?
Nurmagomedov's comprehensive triumph over McGregor has installed him as the dominant champion in the lightweight division and McGregor's comeback fight was at welterweight. It would make sense to just line up money fights for McGregor at this stage, if that is what is motivating him.
He grew up as a fan of the UFC and glued to his screen when the likes of Silva, Diaz and Sanchez went to work. Many would rightly point to these fighters being near the end of downward curves, but millions would still tune in to see McGregor see them out the door, and with plenty of smack being talked along the way.
The dream of a UFC fighters' union is stuck in neutral and may never get off the ground. What better retirement plan, we would argue, would there be for many of the retiring greats than to go down swinging against McGregor?
So many fight fans want to see Conor McGregor reach the mountain-top again. It could yet be possible.
If not, killing off some legends and filling pockets may not be a bad way to go for McGregor 3.0.
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