The UFC lightweight title clash between Conor McGregor and Rafael dos Anjos is OFF.
The Brazilian broke his foot in training last week, forcing him to pull out of one of the most-anticipated bouts in the promotion’s history.
The UFC are now trying to find a replacement to fight McGregor with less than two weeks’ notice.
And fear not, there are options on the table. Here are the fighters who could take on McGregor:
Donald Cerrone
As far as a replacement goes, Cowboy is likely the best option at this point.
Cerrone is fresh from a dominant win in his welterweight debut last weekend, just two months after losing his own UFC lightweight title fight with Dos Anjos in 66 seconds.
Cerrone’s management revealed he is interested in flying to Las Vegas next week and he is on what is a short, shortlist, to take on McGregor.
Of course, this a clash that will soften the blow for MMA fans as the pair stoked the flames for a future bout at the UFC’s Go Big press conference last September.
“Conor has no right coming up to 55,” Cerrone said at the conference.
“There’s no way. He’s not gonna stand a chance. We’re too big for him, we’re too strong.”
That fuelled a back and forth between the pair, peeking fans’ interest, until Dos Anjos’ emphatic victory over Cowboy.
Nate Diaz
Diaz is another fighter game to fight on short notice.
After returning from a year lay-off with a huge win over Michael Johnson on the undercard of the Dos Anjos v Cerrone fight, Diaz called out McGregor.
His profanity-laced post-fight interview had led many to believe he would be next in line to welcome the Irishman to the lightweight division.
Indeed, he did, too.
“He (Joe Silva UFC matchmaker) said (the McGregor fight) is on, we’re going to do this,” Diaz admitted in the aftermath of UFC on Fox 17.
“Hell yeah, they want it. Everybody wants that fight. It’s what they want.”
He may now belatedly get that opportunity.
Diego Sanchez or Jim Miller
Diaz and Cerrone are the clear frontrunners at this time but if the UFC were to look elsewhere then both Sanchez and Miller are on the current UFC 196 card.
The lightweight pair are due to square off on the featured UFC Fight Pass preliminary card but could be asked to step up and take on money-making machine McGregor.
Wildcard – Anthony Pettis
The man deposed of the lightweight belt by Dos Anjos could also be an option.
‘Showtime’ is booked to take on Edson Barboza at UFC 197 on April 23 but that’s a clash easy to reshuffle should the promotion give him the nod now.
He is coming off the back of a split-decision defeat to Eddie Alvarez last month but given his desire to climb back to the 155lbs summit, this could be a fight he takes.
Pettis has said in the past he’d be happy to face McGregor.
Last summer he said: “Conor McGregor, I heard he’s moving up to 155, so I’ll welcome him to one of the hardest weight classes for sure.”
