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.
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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.
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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.
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"My opponent that I had scheduled, [Michael] Chandler, has got matched [with former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira in November]."
"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.
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"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.
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"I'd like to get that squared away, I wish him well against [Charles] Oliveira, but let's see how it goes."
Topics: UFC, Conor McGregor
Luke Davies