Huge percentage of UFC fans think they could beat Conor McGregor in fight as new figures revealed

A staggering amount of UFC fans believe they could beat Conor McGregor in the octagon.

Action Network conducted a survey between September 13 and 19, with a sample size of 2,118 US-based UFC fans.

16% (roughly 338) of the fans voted that they could beat McGregor in a fight. Around 10% thought they could defeat Jon Jones. 8% picked UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

6% fancy their chances against Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis. With 5% of fans backing themselves to beat Ilia Topuria, and just 4% for Tom Aspinall.

However, nearly half of the participants (49%) admitted they would not last a round in the UFC octagon.

The fact McGregor has not fought since 2021 may have influenced fan’s choices.

Recency bias may have played a part in their votes, with Alex Pereira defending his title just last weekend.

The Irishman’s popularity may have also played a part, with more fans being familiar with watching him fight compared to the other UFC fighters mentioned.

As ever, McGregor’s long-awaited return is the subject of speculation. He issued an update on his future in September.

"It'll be 2025," McGregor told DAZN's Ariel Helwani.

"My opponent that I had scheduled, [Michael] Chandler, has got matched [with former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira in November]."

Conor McGregor has set his sights on a fight with Michael Chandler (Credit:Getty)

"My job is just to go to the gym, be in the gym, be in shape, and one thing is for sure, whenever it is and wherever it is, I will be 100 per cent ready. That's all I can focus on right now,” added the former two-weight UFC champion.

McGregor has publicly stated that he has just two fights left on his current UFC contract. But his next move is yet to be confirmed.

"I'm the highest generating fighter on planet Earth right now, in today's space. And what happens [when] I'm a free agent? I'm not so sure,” explained McGregor.

The 36-year-old seemed keen to fight Chandler. The pair had ‘agreed’ to fight previously, but McGregor’s plans were curtailed after he sustained a toe injury.

As a result, he had to pull out of the UFC 303 event, which took place on June 30, 2024.

"I'd like it to be Chandler [next]," stressed McGregor.

"I'd like to get that squared away, I wish him well against [Charles] Oliveira, but let's see how it goes."