Who Will Fight First In 2024: Jon Jones Or Conor McGregor?

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Dustin Poirier was asked when Conor McGregor will return to the Octagon.

“Who knows with Conor,” said Poirier, who has shared the Octagon with McGregor on three separate occasions. “Who knows.”

Justin Gaethje was asked a similar question: will the proposed McGregor-Michael Chandler bout ever take place?

“It’s not going to happen,” said Gaethje. “If they fight, I really don’t care.”

McGregor is finally enlisted in the testing pool, making it appear that he will be back in competition sooner rather than later. But who will fight first: McGregor or Jon Jones?

Jones was scheduled to compete at UFC 295 against Stipe Miocic, defending his heavyweight title at Madison Square Garden. But an injury and impending surgery has erased that possibility, delaying his return to the cage until, at the earliest, next summer.

The full update from Jon Jones on his injury that forced him out of UFC 295.

(via @JonnyBones) pic.twitter.com/0HBcdRqI57
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 27, 2023

All signs point to McGregor fighting first, especially if there is a way in which the UFC can make his bout against Chandler the headline affair for UFC 300 (which would be a reward for Chandler, who has given up over a year waiting for McGregor). A summer date in Vegas pitting Jones against Miocic–the original plan for the two this year–would also make sense.

McGregor and Jones are two of the most unpredictable stars in MMA. When it comes to predicting their future, it is extraordinarily complicated. But this one seems clear: McGregor will fight first next year, followed by Jones.

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