Nate Diaz has opened the door for a potential third fight with Conor McGregor, reigniting one of MMA’s most memorable rivalries.
Diaz hasn’t fought in the UFC since his victory over Tony Ferguson at UFC 279 in 2022. Since stepping away from the octagon, he has taken on a new challenge in boxing. His first bout was against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, where Diaz lost via unanimous decision. While he didn’t get the win, Diaz displayed tremendous grit, bouncing back from a knockdown to finish the fight on his feet.
His second venture into boxing was a rematch against Jorge Masvidal, a fight that drew plenty of attention due to their previous encounter in 2019. Masvidal won that UFC 244 bout, but it ended in controversial fashion when the fight was stopped due to a cut over Diaz’s eye at the end of the third round. However, Diaz got his revenge this time around, securing a majority decision win, although some questioned the result.
The potential for a trilogy fight with McGregor is intriguing, given their history. The two first clashed at UFC 196, where Diaz handed McGregor his first UFC loss with a submission in the second round. McGregor evened the score later that same year at UFC 202, winning a majority decision in a thrilling five-round battle.
Nate Diaz Welcomes Trilogy With Conor McGregor
Since that fight, McGregor has faced his own share of struggles. His last appearance in the UFC came in 2021 at UFC 264, where he suffered a gruesome leg injury during his bout with Dustin Poirier. That loss marked McGregor’s third defeat in his last four UFC outings, and he has yet to return to competition. Originally slated to fight Michael Chandler at UFC 303, McGregor had to pull out due to a broken toe.
UFC president Dana White has suggested that McGregor will fight again in early 2024, though his opponent is still up in the air. Chandler is expected to rematch Charles Oliveira at UFC 309, but he remains open to fighting McGregor afterward. Meanwhile, Diaz has also positioned himself as a possible contender for McGregor’s comeback fight, though not in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), where McGregor has an ownership stake.
Diaz Not Interested in BKFC Fight
Diaz made it clear that if the trilogy happens, it won’t be in a bare-knuckle match:
“I wouldn’t like to fight him in the bare knuckle fight, though. I’d like him in a real fight because we got history there, and we gotta finish what we gotta do, and that’s a real fight. It’s the whole package. I don’t think I’m fighting anybody bare knuckle because someone buzzed me in the face with a bare knuckle, I’m dipping them on the ass and [mess] them up,” Diaz said.
For Diaz, the score needs to be settled in a more traditional setting. Both men are tied 1-1, and a third bout could finally put the rivalry to rest.
Before any fight can happen, McGregor will need to step back into the UFC. He still has two fights left on his UFC contract, but his prolonged absence from the sport has raised questions about whether he can return to his former glory. McGregor’s opportunities outside the UFC remain abundant, with possible boxing matchups and BKFC bouts on the horizon. However, to secure those lucrative deals, he’ll need to prove that he’s still the same dangerous fighter he once was.
As for Diaz, he’s also looking for a big payday, and a third fight with McGregor would almost certainly be a blockbuster. Both fighters have massive followings, and the anticipation for a final showdown could draw huge numbers.
While there’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding McGregor’s future, a trilogy with Diaz feels like unfinished business. If the stars align, it could be one of the biggest fights the UFC has seen in years.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
