Conor McGregor’s Final UFC Fight: The 3 Most Likely Opponents — And What Each Matchup Means for His Legacy and MMA Rankings

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Conor McGregor’s failed comeback at UFC 329 didn’t just raise questions about his performance – it reshaped the conversation around his future. With only one fight left on his UFC contract, the promotion faces a high-stakes decision: book a blockbuster farewell, a legacy-defining rivalry, or a competitive test that gauges whether McGregor still belongs anywhere near the top of MMA rankings.

The UFC doesn’t just need a fight. It needs the fight – one that sells, one that matters, and one that fits the moment.

After analyzing divisional dynamics, promotional incentives, and McGregor’s current competitive level, three matchups stand out as the most realistic and impactful.

1. Nate Diaz: The Trilogy That Defines an Era

Why It’s the Top Option

The McGregor–Diaz rivalry is the UFC’s most iconic modern saga. Their first two fights (UFC 196 and UFC 202) remain among the highest-selling PPVs in company history. The trilogy is the rare matchup that:

Doesn’t require McGregor to be elite
Doesn’t depend on divisional relevance
Guarantees massive global interest

Even after Diaz’s departure to boxing, the UFC has repeatedly signaled openness to bringing him back for one final mega-event.

Competitive Reality

At this stage, both fighters are past their primes — which actually helps the matchup. McGregor’s diminished reflexes and Diaz’s mileage create a stylistic balance that feels fair and compelling.

Key dynamics:

McGregor’s early power vs. Diaz’s late-fight durability
Diaz’s volume boxing vs. McGregor’s precision counters
The psychological warfare that made their first two fights legendary

Legacy Impact

A win gives McGregor:
A clean narrative ending
A rivalry-closing moment
A final PPV monster

A loss would sting, but it wouldn’t damage his standing in MMA rankings, because the fight is more about history than competition.

Why It’s #1

It’s the perfect blend of spectacle, nostalgia, and business. For McGregor’s final contracted fight, the UFC wants guaranteed numbers — and nothing guarantees numbers like Diaz.

2. Michael Chandler: The Unfinished Business Fight

Why It’s Still on the Table

The UFC spent nearly two years promoting McGregor vs. Chandler through The Ultimate Fighter, only for the fight to collapse repeatedly. Chandler has remained loyal, patient, and publicly committed to making it happen.

The UFC loves tying up loose ends, and this matchup is the biggest unresolved storyline of McGregor’s late career.

Competitive Reality

Chandler is explosive, athletic, and dangerous – but also hittable and sometimes reckless. That makes him:

A real threat
A real opportunity

McGregor’s diminished speed was exposed at UFC 329, but Chandler’s style gives him windows to land counters even with slower timing.

Key dynamics:

Chandler’s blitzes vs. McGregor’s pull-counter left
McGregor’s cardio concerns vs. Chandler’s tendency to fade
The wrestling threat (even if Chandler rarely uses it)

Legacy Impact

A win over Chandler would:

Reinsert McGregor into lightweight relevance
Give him a top-10 victory that affects MMA rankings
Validate that he can still beat elite competition
A loss would be decisive — and likely push him toward retirement or non-UFC ventures.

Why It’s #2

It’s the most competitive, divisional, and storyline-rich option. If the UFC wants McGregor’s final fight to matter in the rankings, Chandler is the pick.

3. Jorge Masvidal: The Blockbuster Striking Showcase

Why It’s Realistic

Masvidal has teased a return, and the UFC has always viewed him as a “big-fight specialist.” He’s a former BMF champion, a massive draw, and stylistically perfect for McGregor.

This matchup is:

Fan-friendly
Violence-friendly
Marketing-friendly
And crucially, it doesn’t require either fighter to be in peak form.

Competitive Reality

Masvidal is older, slower, and coming off multiple losses – but he still carries:

Dangerous boxing
Elite fight IQ
Strong takedown defense

McGregor vs. Masvidal would be a pure striking battle, with both men comfortable staying on the feet.

Key dynamics:

Masvidal’s counter-boxing vs. McGregor’s precision left
McGregor’s early explosiveness vs. Masvidal’s late-fight savvy
Both fighters’ tendency to fight emotionally

Legacy Impact

A win gives McGregor:

A victory over a former top-5 welterweight
A highlight-reel opportunity
A PPV headliner with mainstream appeal
A loss would be damaging — but not catastrophic, because Masvidal is still viewed as a dangerous veteran.

Why It’s #3

It’s the most entertaining option and one the UFC can sell easily. If Diaz isn’t available and Chandler negotiations stall, Masvidal becomes the next best blockbuster.

Final Verdict: Which Fight Makes the Most Sense?

If the UFC wants:

Guaranteed PPV success → Nate Diaz
Competitive relevance and rankings impact → Michael Chandler
A striking showcase with mainstream appeal → Jorge Masvidal

All three are viable, but Diaz remains the most likely because it delivers the cleanest narrative ending to McGregor’s UFC chapter.

McGregor may never return to the top of MMA rankings, but his final fight can still be massive — and these three opponents offer the clearest path to a farewell worthy of the sport’s biggest star.