Nate Diaz brands Mayweather vs McGregor rumors as ‘publicity stunt’

MANILA, Philippines – Nate Diaz is not buying the rumored crossover showdown between unbeaten American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr and UFC featherweight titleholder Conor McGregor.

Fervent buzz of pitting the Irish mixed martial arts (MMA) superstar with boxing’s former pound-for-pound king started to swirl following a report by British outlet The Sun earlier this month.

Since the news broke out, both men kept on fanning the flames of a projected boxing match on New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

The 31-year-old native of Stockton, California described the proposed encounter as a “publicity stunt” and sees the improbability that both parties will come into terms. 

“I think the Mayweather thing is a publicity stunt. It’s great for both of them. Boxing followers will start following Conor, [and] MMA followers are going to start following Floyd. They’re all benefiting, and no one is losing, so they’re going to keep the ball rolling,” Diaz said an interview with The MMA Hour.

Diaz, who recently sparred with former boxing middleweight champion Andre Ward, stressed that he is wiling to trade punches with Mayweather and guarantees that he will perform better than McGregor. 

“I call your bluff, fight that mother (expletive) then I’ll be right here,” he stated. “I’m the only one out of the three of us who can say that I’ll whoop both of their (expletive) in one night. Cause Conor can’t say that. Floyd definitely cannot say that, you know what I’m saying? You want a real fight you (expletive) put me in with one of them boxers then, I guarantee I could beat them in boxing, at boxing.”

Diaz, who scored a second-round submission victory over McGregor this past March, revealed that he is already in talks for a welterweight rematch with the 27-year-old Irishman at UFC 202, which is expected to take place on August 20 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

The second meeting between Diaz and McGregor was originally penciled to happen at UFC 200 on July 9, but it was cancelled after the latter refused to fulfil media and promotional obligations. 

Diaz believes that the fanaticized fight between Mayweather and McGregor will not spoil the negotiations of getting inside the Octagon with the reigning UFC featherweight kingpin once more. 

UFC president Dana White and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta met Diaz in his hometown last week, but they could not agree to financial terms for the rematch.

“Nothing is done, but I don’t think any damage was done,” Diaz shared. “We’re still on good terms. I’ve been texting with Dana. He’s real cool. I’m sure he wasn’t the happiest at the moment, and I was thinking, ‘Wow, I might have pissed him off.’ But I just said what I had to say. I told him at the end, ‘I don’t want to piss anyone off. I’m just trying to get mine, because it’s time to get mine. It’s been a long road. I need to get mine while I can. If not, I don’t think I ever will.’ – Rappler.com