Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz have one of the most amazing rivalries in MMA history. Having squared off in the UFC octagon twice so far, the MMA world awaits the somewhat inevitable trilogy fight…
Back when Nate Diaz faced Conor McGregor at UFC 196, the Irishman was yet to taste defeat in the octagon. Already hyped beyond belief by the promotion, McGregor enjoyed superstar status like no man or woman before him, aside from perhaps Ronda Rousey.
On that March 2016 night in Las Vegas, Diaz threw a spanner in the works of the UFC. In typical Diaz fashion, he was brutally blunt after submitting ‘The Notorious.’ Diaz may not have been surprised, but the UFC likely were as the Stockton native came in on just 12 days notice.
Had McGregor won that fight, it would have been straight on to the lightweight title fight he was originally scheduled for. The UFC was forced to bite the bullet and pay Diaz even more for a rematch.
Trilogy Fight Discussed
Obviously, another Diaz clash has been a point of debate for many lately. While it looks as though McGregor will be stripped of the lightweight title after UFC 223, this will do nothing to the Irishman’s hefty stock.
If anything, this will make the Diaz fight even more likely as his next octagon appearance. While commenting on someone’s post this week on Instagram, McGregor offered rare support to Diaz, even referring to his rival as ‘a wrrior.’
Check it out:
@JESSECHARLESRAND EXACTLY. A TRULY BEAUTIFUL POSITION. THE MOST INTENSE POSITION TO BE IN UNDER THE LIGHTS OF THE ENTIRE WORLD. TRY AND IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD FEEL LIKE. AMAZING. RESPECT TO NATE ALWAYS AND OUR TRILOGY WILL BE SPECIAL WHEN WE DO IT 100%. THERE IS NO RUSH @NATEDIAZ209 OUR TRILOGY WILL SHOW TRUE TO US FOR WHAT WE ARE. WARRIORS. AND RESPECT ALWAYS TO YOU AS A FAN JESSE, AND THE FANS ALL AROUND THE WORLD WHO SUPPORT AND RECOGNIZE OUR WORK FOR WHAT IT IS. THE TRUEST FORM OF UNARMED COMBAT ON EARTH. THIS IS AS REAL AS IT GETS. THIS IS THE @UFC.”
Well now, that was surprising to hear. Last time McGregor really spoke about Diaz, candidly, he claimed the grappler-striker had ‘priced himself out’ of a third go in the octagon.
Read on below…
Diaz is there, Nathan is there. He’s sitting there. He’s trying to come in and make all these kind of demands,” McGregor said at a Q&A session in Scotland last week (via the Daily Star)
“But if he starts pricing himself out of an event, then I probably will defend against the winner of this interim belt or someone along that line to kind of legitimize it again.”
“I’ve already gone from the highest of the high in terms of a money fight. Now the question I always get is about defending the belt and legitimizing the sport and the rankings,” McGregor said.
“Maybe now it would be a good time for me to go do that and shut that side up.”
