The last time Conor McGregor found himself an underdog was when the opening betting lines emerged for his clash with Dustin Poirier in 2014.
And even then, the line shifted before the opening bell and ‘The Notorious’ was favourite to take the win by the time he took to the Octagon.
Against Jose Aldo – favourite. Against Nate Diaz, both times – favourite. Against Eddie Alvarez – favourite.
But as his competition gets increasingly tricky and his ambitions grow ever loftier, McGregor is expected to encounter more resistance and difficulty going forward.
There are a number of options for the reigning, concurrent UFC lightweight and UFC featherweight champion when he makes his comeback after the birth of his firstborn next year.
Two frontrunners to share the Octagon with McGregor next are Khabib Nurmagomedov, the top contender at 155lbs, and Tyron Woodley, the UFC welterweight champion.
Not a friendly exchange https://t.co/ZLw5E6HH3x
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) November 12, 2016
If he decides to defend his lightweight strap, it will almost certainly come against Nurmagomedov and the bookmakers cannot separate the pair if that fight comes to fruition with MMA betting line website BestFightOdds.com revealing that both men would be -115 (87/100) for a lightweight title fight.
McGregor has also toyed with the idea, after a few exchanges with Woodley during UFC 205 fight week, of making the unprecedented move to try for three consecutive world titles by moving up to face the 170lbs king.
But bookmakers feel that that would be a bridge too far for the Dubliner, who would be considered a slight underdog at 5/4 against ‘The Chosen One’ (13/20).
Knowing McGregor’s unparalleled support though, who’s to say that money wouldn’t come piling in for a McGregor win which would shift the betting line in his favour.
It’s impossible to confidently predict anything in the career of ‘The Notorious’ after all.
Dick Clerkin makes his GAA Hour debut to talk about a wonderful career and argue passionately with Colm Parkinson over Sky Sports GAA. Subscribe here on iTunes.
