Is it confirmed? No — but if McGregor, who has fought once already in 2020, wants to fight three times this year, he'll need to book his second bout before the summer.
Why it's great: Earlier this year, there were multiple opponents lining up to challenge Conor McGregor.
Jorge Masvidal was ever-present in Las Vegas ahead of McGregor's quick-fire win over Donald Cerrone at UFC 246, even though he wasn't competing at the event, and told Business Insider he'd put his "Baddest Mother F----" in the game belt on the line if McGregor put forward a stake in his Proper no. Twelve whiskey brand.
Manny Pacquiao's manager Sean Gibbons also helped spread rumors that Pacquiao and McGregor could headline the under construction 65,000 Allegiant Stadium in Vegas.
Those options are crumbling away. Masvidal is now challenging Kamaru Usman for the UFC welterweight title, likely at UFC International Fight Week in Las Vegas, which Business Insider will be attending, while Pacquiao has instead been linked with fights against Errol Spence Jr. and Danny Garcia, ESPN reports.
With Nurmagomedov already fighting Ferguson in April, McGregor will want to stay active while he waits to fight the winner.
There's an existing two-fight rivalry which will always have a trilogy option with Nate Diaz, but a bout — at lightweight or welterweight — against Justin Gaethje will provide fans, the media, and the industry at large with an all-action striking masterclass.