Conor McGregor is currently without an opponent for UFC 196 on March 5, after it was reported lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos has withdrawn from the bout due to a foot injury.
At such short notice, the list of potential replacements is not a long one.
Continue for updates.
Cerrone Among Front-Runners
Tuesday, February 23
News of Dos Anjos' injury came via MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani. He also took to Twitter to outline some potential replacements for the UFC 196 main event, insisting a showdown with featherweight star Frankie Edgar is not likely:
If you’re clamoring for Edgar, he’s unavailable, I’m told. Dealing w/ an injury. There aren’t a ton of options. You can probably guess em.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) February 23, 2016
Spoke to Cerrone’s mgmt team this morning. They are interested in taking the fight. He’s on the shortlist, for sure.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) February 23, 2016
Discussed, as well. https://t.co/qgZVBAvwKI
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) February 23, 2016
Indeed, while Edgar deserves a shot at the featherweight title, at this juncture McGregor will be well into his lightweight weight, meaning a fighter who usually fights at 155 pounds is surely the most logical choice to replace Dos Anjos.
Donald Cerrone would be a choice to keep MMA fans hooked. The man known as the Cowboy may have only fought on Sunday, Feb 21, but he’s previously shown a willingness to take fights at short notice and would surely jump at the chance to take on someone as illustrious as McGregor.
As we can see here, the two have previously shown some disdain for one another during a press conference too. *Warning, includes expletive language*:
Cerrone’s camp also hinted on Twitter that their man would be interested in taking the fight:
RDA is out of #ufc196 not fighting McGregor anymore due to injury. Well #UFC if u need a replacement we know a Guy who likes to hurt a guy!
— JacksonWinkMMA (@JacksonWinkMMA) February 23, 2016
However, former UFC middleweight Brian Stann feels at this late stage, and with Cerrone having fought at welterweight in his last bout, a catchweight limit would have to be agreed:
Have to be catchweight, better for both guys to perform, Cowboy can cut it but that is really quick https://t.co/psOQ62cL6M
— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) February 23, 2016
Should Cerrone feel as though this fight has come too soon, Nate Diaz seems likely to be the next man in line.
He’s been a regular in the top end of the lightweight division for a while now and won his most recent fight against Michael Johnson. Diaz also took Dos Anjos to three rounds back in December 2014 before losing via unanimous decision, although the Brazilian is much improved since then.
Eddie Alvarez has also recently talked up the prospect of facing McGregor. He beat former champion Anthony Pettis in January and told Inside MMA (h/t Lewis McKeever of Bloody Elbow) that the Irishman would be easy work. “I would want McGregor because it's more money and a simpler fight,” he said. “He's the easy guy and more money. Dos Anjos is a bigger challenge.”
