5 Fighters Poised To Take Conor McGregor’s Place As The Face Of UFC
Who can fill Conor McGregor's massive shoes?
At present, Conor McGregor is the biggest name in mixed martial arts and one of the most well-known athletes on the planet. Love him or hate him, no one generates more pay-per-view buys for the UFC than the Irishman.
Unfortunately, for McGregor fans and the UFC at least, evidence would suggest that the former world champ's interest in competing has dwindled. Despite being healthy, he won't be fighting in 2019 and has only set foot in the Octagon twice in the last three years.
Sure, he's very active on social media and is still generating plenty of headlines. That being said, there has to be an actual fight to promote for Dana White and company to capitalize on McGregor's online trash-talk.
The lightweight contender has also dealt with his share of issues outside the cage, which include allegations of sexual misconduct and assaulting an elderly man at a local pub.
It makes plenty of business sense for the Ultimate Fighting Championship to keep McGregor in the fold, but in light of recent events, the company needs to focus on promoting their next megastar.
With that in mind, here are five fighters who could become the UFC's next Conor McGregor.
5. Colby Covington
Yes, Colby Covington.
Welterweight contender (and self-proclaimed champion) Colby Covington is, without question, the most hated man in the UFC at the moment. The outspoken, trash-talking, Donald Trump supporter gets showered with boos everywhere he goes.
His politically-charged rants don't always come across as authentic, but they certainly have the desired effect. Covington's heel persona has helped the former interim champ earn a headlining spot on a stacked UFC 245 card next month.
The 31-year-old understands that being a major draw doesn't mean fans have to love you — they just have to want to watch your fights — even if it's to witness your demise.
Tito Ortiz is a classic example of a fighter who became UFC's top dog by rubbing a large portion of the fanbase the wrong way, and Covington appears to be using a similar playbook.
The UFC clearly sees potential in Covington. After all, UFC 245 features two bouts with more established champions (Max Holloway and Amanda Nunes), yet it's Covington versus Welterweight titleholder Kamaru Usman that's closing the show. This is due to the challenger's ability to sell their feud.
If Covington is successful, and finally becomes the undisputed UFC Welterweight Champion, he'll have an even larger platform, which in turn will lead to even more detractors tuning in to witness his downfall.