CONOR MCGREGOR has the chance to kicks off a run to lightweight greatness this weekend.
In the early hours of Sunday morning, the Irishman will make his long-awaited return to the octagon – which he hasn't graced in over a year – in the main event of UFC 257.
The man tasked with the job of welcoming McGregor back to the cage is one he knows all too well – former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier.
Six years ago, McGregor locked horns with the pride of Lafayette, Louisiana, at UFC 178 in Las Vegas.
That night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena was a short one at the office for The Notorious, who knocked out Poirier in just under two minutes to cement his status as a feather title contender.
McGregor is eyeing an even better performance second time around, recently vowing to dust The Diamond inside 60 seconds.
And a second devastating win over the fan favourite has the potential to begin a run to two titles: the lightweight belt and that of the greatest 155-pounder of all time.
Last weekend, UFC president Dana White revealed the promotion's reigning, but currently retired, lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is open to returning the octagon.
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The Russian, however, will only reverse his retirement decision if one of the four lightweights competing at UFC 257 does something 'spectacular.'
But make no mistake about, he means if McGregor does something to get his competitive juices flowing again.
And another stoppage of Poirier – who has come on leaps and bounds since the pair's first meeting in September 2014 – would do just that.
If McGregor were to get the jump on Poirier in spectacular fashion, the win would likely tee up the biggest fight in UFC history.
And it would provide him the opportunity to avenge his 2018 loss to The Eagle, which he's often attributed to a lack of focus and poor preparation.
And if he were to do what a staggering 29 men have failed to, he would not only reclaim the lightweight throne, he'd become the greatest 155-pounder of all time.
In order to cement the latter status, he would, however, have to defend the belt in a trilogy fight with Nurmagomedov.
And if he were to get through that rubber match, subsequent title defences against Justin Gaethje and Charles Oliveira would be required to truly earn the accolade.
McGregor's route to lightweight supremacy is clear and apparent.
But before he can think about returning to the summit of the division, he must first get past a former champion who has won ten of his last 13.
That will be easier said than done, though, as Poirier has beaten not one, not two, not three, but FOUR former world champions since losing to McGregor.
Poirier's drastic improvements in recent years, however, will further McGregor's bid for lightweight greatness should he get the job done.
And if he does, we could perhaps see the run we all wanted after he spectacularly dethroned Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 to become the promotion's first simultaneous world champion.
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