It is December 12, 2015. Conor McGregor has just sent shockwaves through the world of combat sports. He knocks out longtime featherweight king and all-timer Jose Aldo with one punch, in just thirteen seconds of action. All roads lead to another megafight; McGregor wants to move up to lightweight to add a second piece of gold to his vault.

It is December 19, one week later. Another huge main event is upon us. Lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos has been forced to take notice of the scrappy Irishman, and he now stands across from the tried-and-tested fan favorite former WEC title challenger, Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone. dos Anjos proves to be up to the challenge, and then some, as he knocks Cerrone out in just over a minute. From here, the way forward is clear.

McGregor vs dos Anjos never took place. It was booked for UFC 196, but dos Anjos pulled out due to a broken foot. The Nate Diaz saga began at the event instead, and by the time McGregor made it to the final step of his journey to the 155-pound belt, Eddie Alvarez had assumed that throne. At UFC 205, McGregor took his second belt. At UFC 246 over three years later, he sent Cerrone packing in 40 seconds in a welterweight clash. It was McGregor’s first time at 170 pounds since warring with Diaz.

What if Cerrone had beaten dos Anjos, who would later challenge for a welterweight championship, at UFC on Fox 17?

UFC 196 would likely have taken place as planned. Cerrone, now the lightweight champion, would be ready to face McGregor as both men were coming off the biggest wins of their lives. In their UFC 246 meeting, each man was coming off of a stoppage loss. The event headliner would have a title on the line, which it didn’t when Diaz stepped in. While Diaz was a big fight, this one with Cerrone might have been bigger in the lead-up, not necessarily withstanding whatever would have happened after the fact.

McGregor likely becomes a two-weight titleholder at UFC 196 if he fights Cerrone. One of MMA’s best moments would have transpired eight months sooner, and who knows what kind of trajectory McGregor’s lightweight career might have gone on after the fight. Maybe he fights dos Anjos somewhere down the line, as was originally meant to happen. In this universe, that’s almost a foregone conclusion. Perhaps all of the speculated lightweight fights featuring McGregor (opposite fighters like Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje) that never happened do take place. It is also probable that the promotion would book McGregor vs Aldo 2, since that was in the cards at certain points in 2016. Fans can’t forget about McGregor vs Khabib, which might have been a cert for the UFC 205 headliner if McGregor won the lightweight belt from Cerrone.

In any event, McGregor vs Cerrone at UFC 196 leads to more McGregor, more blockbusters, and more money.