Conor McGregor next UFC fight: Jorge Masvidal, Jose Aldo to face 'The Notorious'?

Conor McGregor may be, technically, retired from the professional mixed martial arts scene. But his scene is still one of the most talked-about in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Aside from fans wanting to see him back in the octagon, several active UFC fighters also want to set a match with him.

UFC athletes see fighting McGregor in the octagon as an opportunity to either raise their status in the league or to cash in a huge payday. The latter is an obvious reason because, as mentioned, McGregor remains one of the most popular mixed martial artists. Getting on a pay-per-view event against him assures a lucrative paycheck whether his opponent wins or not.

Conor McGregor vs. Jorge Masvidal: Is it ever going to happen?

Masvidal has gained plenty of media attention since the UFC 239 event last July. He defeated Ben Askren via knockout within five seconds — the fastest record ever in UFC history. And not surprisingly, that victory made Masvidal one of the top fans choices to fight McGregor once he decides to return to the UFC.

Most recently, Masvidal told TMZ Sports last week that his challenge to McGregor still stands. The 34-year-old Miami native also recognized McGregor’s contributions to the sport.

Masvidal added, “If he feels he's not getting the money he deserves to come back, man I'm gonna be the first one to applaud him.” But he reiterated that if McGregor is looking for a worthy opponent should he decide to come back, the UFC top 3 welterweight athlete assures the Irishman will get the “type of fights that he likes.”

Unfortunately, UFC President Dana White previously dismissed the chances of a McGregor vs. Masvidal from happening. White explained that he is unlikely going to approve the match considering the weight class differences. McGregor fights in the lightweight division, and UFC.com shows his weight at 155 lbs while Masvidal is much heavier at 170 lbs.

McGregor, Jose Aldo rematch is possible?

With White seemingly closing the doors on the McGregor vs. Masvidal fight, fans might welcome the idea of a rematch between The Notorious and Jose Aldo. Some reports have also been suggesting this matchup for a while now.

Before Masvidal, McGregor once held the fastest knockout win after defeating Aldo in 14 seconds at UFC 194 in 2015. Suffice to say, it helped boost McGregor’s rankings and popularity. Revisiting this rivalry would certainly make a great comeback narrative for The Notorious.