UFC Fights 2017: What’s Next For Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, Jon Jones, Other Top Fighters?

Daniel Cormier will officially return to the octagon on April 8, taking on Anthony “Rumble” Johnson in the main event of UFC 210. While the light heavyweight champion will be back in the octagon in less than three months, the future remains uncertain for other top UFC fighters.

Cormier, UFC’s No. 3 ranked fighter, hasn’t fought since he defeated Anderson Silva by unanimous decision at UFC 200 on July 9. Jon Jones was pulled from the fight just days before the pay-per-view because of a failed drug test, though the rivalry between UFC’s top two light heavyweights probably isn’t finished.

Jones’ failed drug test resulted in a one-year suspension from UFC. Eligible to return in July, he could face the winner of Cormier vs. Johnson this summer.

But just because he can’t compete in the UFC until the second half of 2017 doesn’t mean Jones won’t fight at all within the next few months. He defeated Dan Henderson in a grappling match at Submission Underground 2, a submission-only competition promoted by Chael Sonnen. Refusing to face Cormier in a grappling match, Jones will likely face Luke Rockhold before his suspension is up.

Jones is arguably the sport’s best pound-for-pound fighter, going 22-1 in his career with his only loss coming by disqualification. He’s only fought once in the last two years because of issues outside of the octagon.

Conor McGregor took the mantle from Jones as UFC’s biggest male star in that time. He fought in the main event of the three biggest PPV’s of 2016, but it could be a while before he steps back in the cage.

With a baby on the way, McGregor plans to stay away from the sport until September. After knocking out Eddie Alvarez and becoming the new lightweight champion at UFC 205 on Nov. 12, McGregor will have several options for his next opponent.

UFC 209 on March 4 will produce two potential opponents for McGregor. The lightweight fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson is essentially a No. 1 contender’s fight for McGregor’s 155-pound title. There’s also been speculation that McGregor could move up to 170 pounds and face the winner of the welterweight title fight between Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson.

McGregor’s next fight could be against Nate Diaz. The two will almost certainly face off for a third time, though the date is undetermined. Each fighter picked up a win against the other in 2016, and the two PPV’s were reportedly the best selling events in the company’s history. Diaz had previously told UFC president Dana White that he only wanted to return if he could face McGregor, but the prospect of having to wait more than a year could force Diaz to take another bout in the interim.

The future of Ronda Rousey, UFC’s biggest draw other than McGregor, seems to be completely up in the air. The former women’s bantamweight champion returned from a 13-month hiatus on Dec. 30, only to lose in 48 seconds to Amanda Nunes.

There’s speculation that Rousey could be done in UFC for good after losing her last two fights in stunning fashion.