For someone who was nowhere near Vancouver during the past week, Conor McGregor's presence sure was felt during UFC Fight Night festivities.

The specter of the former lightweight champ loomed large as Justin Gaethje battled Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone on Saturday night, looking to help define the path to challenge for Khabib Nurmagomedov's crown.

Conor McGregor looks set to have the chance to avenge his loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 257 in a rematch this summer. The Irishman was knocked out in the second round by Poirier after having his mo. Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz fought twice in 2016, and each fighter scored a victory. And then you book McGregor vs. Diaz 3, knowing that fight sells, and you can turn around and sell the winner - regardless of who it is - as a future title contender for Poirier.

• Even though he’s said that he wants a rematch against Nurmagamedov next, McGregor is – according to Dana White – willing to get in line. What does that even mean? A rematch against Dustin Poirier? That’s highly unlikely. Whoever he decides to fight next, ‘The Notorious’ needs to think very carefully about who he’s going to fight next.
• Conor McGregor has also praised and said he is open to fighting Tony Ferguson, a contender whose career is also currently in doubt. Michael Chandler could be another potential opponent.

Gaethje did his part, scoring a first-round TKO to take a step closer to title contention. But will that next step put Gaethje in an Octagon opposite McGregor?

McGregor hasn't fought since losing to Nurmagomedov on Oct. 6, 2018, and he wants a rematch. But the bad blood from that event, which featured a postfight melee, runs deep, and Nurmagomedov would rather give the title shot to No. 1 contender Tony Ferguson.

UFC president Dana White opened the door for a McGregor-Nurmagomedov rematch by saying if Ferguson's bid for a title shot fell through, the rematch would make sense. It certainly would produce huge pay-per-view numbers for the UFC.

But if Ferguson does land his well-deserved title shot, the UFC will face an interesting decision in picking an opponent for McGregor's return.

Conor Mcgregor Next Fight Date

Gaethje had been mentioned as a possible McGregor opponent earlier this year, but no fight materialized. Gaethje had harsh and personal words for McGregor in the lead-up to Saturday's card, and afterward he said: 'The Irishman is retired. I want a real fighter. I want the winner of Tony and Khabib.' Later he added, 'If [McGregor is] going to fight, I definitely want to fight him. He punched an old man in the face. I want to f--- him up for that.'

A panel of ESPN experts discusses whether Gaethje should be McGregor's next opponent, and how that fight would look.

Chael Sonnen, ESPN analyst and former UFC middleweight contender

I think that Gaethje vs. McGregor would make sense in terms of the ranking and the matchup and the ability to draw. It just doesn't appear that Conor wants to fight anyone. He's doing this really weird thing where every week he's calling somebody out. He's never called anyone out who hasn't immediately accepted, giddy and excited, and somehow that turns him off and he goes and calls somebody else out. No, I would not think that Gaethje is going to fight Conor. I would argue that it does make sense, but no, I would not predict that it would happen.

If it did happen?

We don't get better as human beings with age, and we certainly don't get better at something by not doing it. Conor hasn't done it in a meaningful amount of time, while these guys are working their asses off and competing, so I think it would be pretty hard to create a scenario where you would favor Conor in a contest with Gaethje. The styles have one thing to do with it, it's like a lazy approach that everybody breaks down. It's much more about rust and activity and momentum and work ethic than it is about jabs and crosses, but stylistically it would be fun. Conor is a stand-up fighter, Gaethje is a stand-up fighter and very durable. It would be very fun to watch.

Ariel Helwani, ESPN analyst

It's impossible to say for certain right now because McGregor's next fight isn't set, but I do think Gaethje would be the perfect opponent to welcome McGregor back. First, his style suits McGregor. He primarily likes to strike and doesn't mind getting a little reckless in there. That's perfect for McGregor. Second, Gaethje has been poking McGregor a lot this year and has even made things personal lately, so this would obviously be a sellable fight. Now, I tend to think that even with his Q rating feeling a little low, McGregor vs. a broomstick sells, but if you can find a striker who will make it personal, all the better. Gaethje is that guy. I don't think McGregor should jump back in there with Khabib Nurmagomedov. Get a win, and then shoot for the rematch.

If it did happen?

It depends on which McGregor shows up. If it's a motivated McGregor, I would favor McGregor in that fight. Historically, he has done well against fellow strikers, especially ones who throw caution to the wind like Gaethje. If it's an unmotivated McGregor, all bets are off. It's hard to predict which McGregor will show up these days because of everything going on in his life and his immense fame.

Brett Okamoto, ESPN analyst

Should Gaethje get the fight? Yes. It's marketable. Conor McGregor vs. The Most Entertaining Fighter in MMA? The UFC can sell any McGregor fight, but that's a nice narrative. Not to mention, Gaethje's been rather outspoken lately on what kind of human being he thinks McGregor is. You know, Dustin Poirier just threw out McGregor's name as well, and for me, either option (McGregor vs. Poirier 2, or McGregor vs. Gaethje) is a nice fight. But it sure doesn't look like McGregor is fighting before the end of the year. And as we well know, there are no guarantees on when he's coming back.

If it did happen?

Gaethje would have the same thing going for him against McGregor that he does against all of his opponents, and that's pressure. Close your eyes and picture a McGregor fight. Where is he? He's in the center of the cage. He's not on his back foot, circling the perimeter. Gaethje forces his opponents to do just that with his constant pressure. Now, the drawback in that style is he typically takes some damage as he implements it ... and you can't afford to take many shots from McGregor. I don't care that Nate Diaz was able to take McGregor's best shots. You don't want to make a habit of it. On paper, I would tend to favor McGregor in this matchup.

Marc Raimondi, ESPN staff writer

It certainly puts Gaethje on the list of being McGregor's next opponent, and maybe even near the top. In McGregor's recent interview with our own Ariel Helwani, he said that he was in talks with the UFC to fight Gaethje back in July at Madison Square Garden before McGregor broke his hand in training. Of course, Gaethje said that was the first he ever heard of such a potential booking, so take all of that for what it's worth. If Nurmagomedov faces Ferguson, Gaethje makes as much sense as anyone for McGregor next. Should it be McGregor vs. Gaethje? It would surely be a ton of fun and no fans would complain about it. Will it be the fight? There are too many variables to say for certain.

If it did happen?

It would be very interesting to see. On paper, Gaethje's style would be an advantage for McGregor. Gaethje comes forward, pressures and throws first, while McGregor is an extremely accurate and powerful counterpuncher. Remember McGregor's 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo? That's not an exact comparison, but if there's one thing McGregor is good at, it's timing and distance. Gaethje will try to close that distance in a hurry and keep McGregor on his heels. Now, Gaethje is going to eat some shots. That's just the way he does things. He sacrifices defense at times to get into positions where he can let his hands go. A big question here is whether or not Gaethje can survive McGregor's monstrous left hand, the one that has befallen many an opponent. Nate Diaz was able to survive those shots, though he took a licking early. McGregor tends to tire in the middle rounds and he did halfway through the second in the first Diaz fight. Gaethje has cardio for days, not unlike Diaz. The other factor at play: Is this the same McGregor, the same guy who smoked Alvarez and Aldo and showed heart gutting out the second Diaz fight? If it's not that same guy, then getting into a cage with Gaethje seems like a dangerous proposition. Gaethje will test McGregor's chin and will.

Jeff Wagenheim, ESPN editor

You know the term 'addition by subtraction'? Well, this booking would be the equally beneficial mirror image of that. By adding Gaethje to McGregor's dance card, the UFC would be subtracting Conor from the conversation around Nurmagomedov's next title defense. And frankly, that is what's most important here.

McGregor surely would prefer a Khabib rematch over a fight with Gaethje or anyone else, not just because of the belt that'd be on the line, but even more so because he's not one to accept defeat and walk away. Conor is the GOAT when it comes to self-belief. Despite being thrashed by the lightweight champ last October, he wants nothing more than another shot, I'm convinced, just as he did after being choked out by Diaz three years ago. Here's hoping he gets that chance at redemption, but not just because he's a cash cow for the pay-per-view business. Let him earn it in the Octagon. A win over an all-action, high-pressure fighter like Gaethje would go a long way toward getting McGregor there. So, yeah, let's book the fight.

If it did happen?

It depends on who steps off the private jet from Dublin. Is it the same hungry Irishman who fought his way to the top by continually setting the bar higher and higher, yet somehow never out of reach? Is it the same guy who crumbled the legendary Aldo in seconds and became a two-division champion by making then-champ Eddie Alvarez look like a Contender Series also-ran? That version of Conor McGregor could very well dismantle Gaethje with breathtaking efficiency. But does that guy exist anymore?

'Precision beats power,' Conor used to say, 'and timing beats speed.' Those weren't just words. That was McGregor's inward-focused scouting report on what made him special during his rise. But does it still apply to him after three years mostly away from MMA and with his growing whiskey business on his mind? It's impossible to determine much from the Nurmagomedov fight -- McGregor got smashed, but everyone gets smashed by Khabib. Are Conor's impeccable precision and timing rusted over? They had better not be, because the all-out assault of Gaethje would be an unforgiving test.

As the biggest star in combat sports, Conor McGregor is always blessed with a plethora of options when considering his next career move. But those avenues may have reduced a little following his second-round TKO loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 257.

That defeat means that McGregor has now gone 3-3 in his past six octagon appearances, and with the welterweight and lightweight titles looking at least two fights away, the big question now concerns the direction McGregor might take next.

Will he continue on his quest to regain the 155-pound title? Will he chase another big fight in another weight class? Or could a return to the boxing ring be on the cards?

We put the question of McGregor’s next move to MMA Junkie’s Simon Head, Danny Segura, and Nolan King for this edition of Triple Take. Check out their respective opinions below.

Conor Mcgregor Next Fight

Simon Head: It's time for the Max Holloway rematch

Perhaps for the first time in his UFC career, McGregor is looking ever-so-slightly boxed in. He can’t realistically challenge for a belt next, the Khabib Nurmagomedov fight appears to be well and truly off the table, and a trilogy fight with Poirier is likely to have to wait while “The Diamond” fights for the soon-to-be-vacated UFC lightweight strap.

It means McGregor needs a big fight against a big name who isn’t likely to be tied up in a title fight in the immediate future. That narrows the field down to three men: Nate Diaz, Max Holloway and Jorge Masvidal. Given what Poirier just did to him, I’m not sure facing an even heavier striker in Masvidal is the best idea, especially at 170 pounds, while there are never any guarantees the Diaz fight can actually be made in short order. The UFC should start the ball rolling with negotiations with Diaz now, but book the fight for Q3.

The best option right now is the rematch with Holloway. Max is in a tricky spot himself, having clearly placed himself as the No. 1 contender for the featherweight title after his masterclass against Calvin Kattar at UFC on ABC 1. But, with Alex Volkanovski set to face Brian Ortega next and seemingly not that keen to face “Blessed” a third time, Max may have to sit tight and wait for his next title shot at 145. But a lightweight scrap with McGregor could give him, and McGregor, a runout both men would relish in a big-time main event bout.

The history is there, from their first meeting way back in 2013 in Boston, and both men claim to be the best boxer in the UFC. Why not put it to the test? Hell, if Dana White wanted to finally get his Zuffa Boxing venture off the ground, he could even book the pair in a boxing match and save handing one of them another “L” on their MMA records.

Whether it’s in the octagon or the boxing ring, Holloway vs. McGregor is the fight to make. Book it, Dana.

Nolan King: Tony Ferguson is the clear choice

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – MAY 09: Tony Ferguson of the United States prepares to fight Justin Gaethje of the United States prior to their Interim lightweight title fight during UFC 249 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on May 09, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775510622 ORIG FILE ID: 1223924548

McGregor and Tony Ferguson still carry major name recognition from their heydays, but what about their skills? How do their abilities compare to the peak versions of their selves? Each fighter is at a crossroad, and those questions remain to be answered. That makes a pairing between the two all the more interesting.

Both are in dire need of a bounce-back fight after recent struggles. McGregor has lost two out of three, and has only competed twice since October 2018. Meanwhile, Ferguson was dominated in his last eight rounds as he lost back-to-back fights to Gaethje and Charles Oliveira.

It’s also worth mentioning the history. Since McGregor won the lightweight title in November 2017, Ferguson has angled the fight against “McNuggets.” McGregor has (obviously) hurled his fair share of trash talk toward Ferguson, too.

Ferguson would be a rebound fight for McGregor. It’s the opportunity to fight someone who can be promoted as a formidable opponent but, who is also a step down from the Poiriers and Nurmagomedovs of the world. For Ferguson, of course, he gets the money fight.

Conor Mcgregor Vs Poirier Full Fight

Somewhat shockingly, the stars haven’t yet aligned for these two to meet inside the cage. So why not now? Better late than never.

Danny Segura: Trilogy with Nate Diaz

Aug 20, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Nate Diaz (red gloves) competes against Conor McGregor (blue gloves) during UFC 202 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports

This might sound rough, but I have to call it how I see it – McGregor today in 2021 is not a top-5 lightweight.

McGregor, who once sat on top of the MMA world holding both the UFC lightweight and featherweight titles, has experienced a noticeable drop-off in his MMA game. The division has also improved greatly since he was champion back in 2016. I do not believe the Irishman can hang with the top tier of the division such as Poirier, Gaethje, and Chandler.

McGregor is phenomenal talent, but inactivity is killing his game (as it would to most fighters).

He fought 13 times in four years and two months to become UFC champ-champ. After the incredible feat in November 2016, McGregor only comped three times in MMA over the same amount of time – four years and two months. McGregor needs to be active in order to be sharp. The combat sports star badly needs a tune-up fight, but that’s a rare practice in the UFC.

The closest thing he can get to a tune-up is a trilogy bout with Nate Diaz. The Stockton native is still very skilled, don’t get me wrong, but he’s not a top-five fighter today. It’s a tough fight to revisit, but it’s close as you can get to a tune-up fight for McGregor.

McGregor is not a bad fighter by any means and could still be championship material, you can’t rule that out just yet. However, he needs to sharpen his game through activity and the clock is ticking. At 32, he still has time to turn the corner, but the UFC needs to act now and make a “McGregor season” in 2021.

A great place to start that is doing a trilogy bout with Diaz and putting the cap on one of the biggest and most lucrative rivalries in MMA.