Conor McGregor has three options for next fight after Dustin Poirier defeat

Don't assume Conor McGregor will be back.

One minute he was pencilling in his next fight – a rubber match with Nate Diaz, perhaps – the next he admitted he was "lost".

On one hand he was certain his inactivity was to blame for his second-round knockout, the next he offered nothing in mitigation.

"It's the highest highs and the lowest lows in this game," he said. "I don't know where I'm at, at the minute, to be honest."

Even his latest in a long line of offers to Khabib Nurmagomedov was tired and half-hearted.

"If he wants to have his disrespectful comments, come back and let's go again," he offered.

There will be no rematch with the lightweight champion who will surely now give up his title in the coming days.

There will be no immediate trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier given the conclusive nature of this defeat.

The former interim champion chopped away at McGregor's lead leg until he could barely stand before raining down punches until the Irishman fell away.

There are only three viable fights on McGregor's radar; Diaz, Justin Gaethje and Tony Ferguson whom he has joined down the pecking order.

But when the UFC circus leaves town and McGregor wakes up on his yacht surrounded by riches, will he really fancy the long road back?

Will the desire to compete be enough to drag his ageing body through another gruelling training camp?

These are questions only he can answer but it is difficult to see him plotting out a route back to the top.

That is, however, exactly where Poirier is headed.

He has ruled out a fight with Michael Chandler despite the promotional newcomer's stunning first-round KO of Dan Hooker.

That leaves Charles Oliveira for the lightweight title later this year – and who wouldn't tune in for that.