Odds and Predictions for Three Potential Matchups for Conor McGregor in 2024

It's confirmed that The Notorious Conor McGregor will be returning to competition in 2024. This is great news for the UFC as well as any other boxing organizations that might be able to work out a deal.

I even heard rumblings about the Irish superstar rematching Flord Mayweather in the boxing ring. If those two go again, McGregor might be a good underdog bet. The odds of that fight happening again, though, are quite slim.

He is supposed to be fighting Michael Chandler before anyone else. I'm sure he would like to walk right back in and challenge for the title, which is a big reason why he isn't the champ.

There is plenty of material I could ramble on about regarding the Irishman, but today, we have 3 different lookahead betting lines for potential opponents. These aren't the betting odds on who his next opponent will be.

We will be handicapping and predicting 3 potential matchups for McGregor in 2024.

Get sports picks for every league and nearly every matchup on Doc’s free picks page.

Justin Gaethje vs Conor McGregor

Betting Odds

Gaethje: -330

McGregor: +255

Justin Gaethje is peaking right now, and McGregor is coming back from more than two and a half years away. So, I can see what the oddsmakers are thinking here. However, this line is off.

It just is. If they do make this fight McGregor's next, money will pour in on the popular underdog, and a lot of the value will be lost.

It definitely isn't the time to bet on Gaethje here. If you like the Colorado native, I would wait.

You will then be able to get him at (-230) or below, a dollar better than where he is right now.

As for how these two strikers match up, you have to imagine the focus of the game plan for Gaethje will be to attack the lower leg of McGregor. The last time we saw the Dubliner inside the UFC Octagon was July 2021. That night, he snapped his left tibia and fibula early on in the main event opposite Dustin Poirier.

To commit to a leg kick, which Gaethje certainly does, you leave yourself susceptible to the counter. If both fighters are orthodox, the rear power punch counters the rear leg kick from the other fighter.

McGregor is a southpaw, though, and yes, he does switch, but I would think he would want to keep the bad leg in the back. A lead leg kick to the outside of your opponent's lead leg while in an opposite stance is a no-no.

You're setting yourself up to get hit with either the straight right or straight left. Gaethje is hittable but durable...until he isn't.

As for the gameplan of the underdog, well, it’s the same as it’s always been. That’s his biggest problem. If he doesn’t get the knockout, then what? Fade and fade fast. That is what we are used to seeing from him.

If you want to wait and see if you can get Gaethje at a somewhat affordable moneyline price of (-220) or lower, do that. Even better, wait on the method of victory props to be released. Play Gaethje by KO/TKO.

If you already have McGregor at (+255), you can likely guarantee profit. You would need to hit it early, but you could get Gaethje by KO/TKO for plus money if that moneyline is in that (-220) range.

It will be 5 rounds and for a million reasons, it isn’t going the distance.

Mike Perry vs Conor McGregor

McGregor: -150

Perry: +130

Mike Perry, yes, the "GOAT" for those who didn't know, has betting odds to fight McGregor. If you are familiar with Perry, you're probably wondering why these betting odds are as close as they are.

While being a thousand times tougher than his potential opponent, Perry is also a thousand times more hittable.

These odds aren't for an MMA fight, though. They're for a bare-knuckle boxing match. Perry is currently the titleholder at BKFC, the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. He had a staredown with McGregor at one of their shows, and each fighter entertained the idea afterward.

If you’re Perry, why not? Everyone knows that McGregor is the money fight.

As for how they match up, McGregor is too technical for Perry. The latter is so tough, though, and one of the most durable human beings we have ever seen take a beating.

My money is on the 60% favorite if this fight ever happens. It would be one of the biggest clash of styles between two knockout artists we have ever seen.

Michael Chandler vs Conor McGregor

McGregor: -115

Chandler: -105

That is the most likely matchup we see first for McGregor, and as you can see, it looks to be a good one!

These two coached against one another on the most recent The Ultimate Fighter show. They were supposed to have already fought, but there was a lot of drama with McGregor and USADA, the United States Anti-Doping Agency, the now former governing body for drug testing in the UFC.

The UFC has recently cut ties with the company, and the path is clear for McGregor to return to action. Will he be making that return with some pharmaceutical help? Maybe Michael Chandler gets a boost.

Who knows? I continue to remind myself to keep the potential of performance enhancers out of my handicapping because we don't know how this will play out.

How do we see this fight playing out? Both men like to get after it early. They are each incredibly explosive. That lends itself to a lack of endurance. It's just the way it is. They design the fastest car, and by doing that, their gas tank is tiny.

Chandler does a better job of recovering in fights, though, because he is a disciplined hard worker in training. The opposite is true for McGregor. Chandler also shows a ton more heart in his fights.

He is hittable, droppable, and was finished in 2 of his previous 3 fights.

If you like Chandler, wait. The money will come in on McGregor, and you will get a nice plus number next to his name. It probably won't climb higher than (+130), but that is more than a 30% higher payout than it is now.

It would be a great arbitrage betting opportunity If you can get plus money on both fighters to win by KO/TKO. Much like the Gaethje fight or any McGregor matchup, it most likely isn’t going the distance.

Couple that with the fact that neither Chandler nor Gaethje go for submissions, and you have your bet. I also know their personalities. They want to smash his face.

I like Conor at even money, but I would wait for an inside-the-distance play on him.

Generally, you have to go against the narrative to find value in a method of victory play. If you're early to the party and get ahead of the market, however, you can find some nice spots. That's what we did today.