McGregor, Diaz agree to fight again in deciding third fight

MANILA, Philippines – It appears that a rubber match between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz is inevitable as both fighters have agreed to face each other again inside the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s Octagon. 

Diaz won the first meeting by submitting the 28-year-old Irishman with a rear-naked choke in the second round this past March.

On the other hand, McGregor avenged his defeat by defeating Diaz via majority decision in the main event of UFC 202 on Saturday, August 20 (Sunday Manila time).

Cageside officials Derek Cleary and Jeff Mullen had 48-47 in favor of McGregor, while judge Glenn Trowbridge had it even at 47-47. 

Diaz, who survived 3 knockdowns early in the 5-round welterweight bout and came back roaring in the third frame, demanded a third encounter with McGregor. 

“I came to this fight worse off than last time. I didn’t get to train. I had injuries. I’m not making excuses, but you should have finished me off. I’m ready for [number 3]. I gave you [number 2],” Diaz said in the post-fight interview. 

McGregor gave a thumbs up to Diaz’s request for a trilogy, but he stressed that it would not take place again at 170 pounds as he would like to have it at lightweight, which has a weight limit of 155 pounds. 

“All I know is that it’s 1-1. I came up to 170 to test the bigger man [and] face adversity. I want the trilogy, but it’s on my terms. Come back to 155. Let’s do it,” McGregor stated.

Diaz has fought the majority of his prizefighting career at 155 pounds and is currently ranked as a number 4 lightweight competitor in the UFC. 

“I have been 155 for my whole career. I will fight him at 155. It’s all good,” Diaz stressed in a separate interview with FOX Sports.

Despite threats from UFC president Dana White to strip him of the organization’s featherweight championship, McGregor is noncommittal about the weight at which his next match will occur after beating Diaz. 

McGregor has not defended the UFC featherweight title since knocking out Jose Aldo in just 13 seconds in November 2015. 

“We got a lot to talk about and I’m in a beautiful, beautiful position right now. And that was built through hard work and I’m going to capitalize on that. We’ll see. There’s a lot of stuff in the pipeline,” McGregor said during the post-event press conference. – Rappler.com