Conor McGregor-Nate Diaz 3 seems inevitable after “The Notorious” evened the rivalry at UFC 202, but it’s unclear when that fight will happen.
What does seem clear, however, is that the rematch won’t be McGregor’s next fight.
Before McGregor and Diaz started throwing water bottles at each other in one of the craziest press conferences you’ll ever see, UFC president Dana White said McGregor had to defend his featherweight title next or give up the belt to interim champion Jose Aldo. And while White didn’t mention an Aldo-McGregor rematch specifically after UFC 202, he did confirm that McGregor-Diaz 3 isn’t up next.
“We’re definitely not doing this a third time right now,” White told FOX Sports after UFC 202.
But it appears McGregor does have another option, although it also would result in him losing the 145-pound belt. White told TMZ after UFC 202 that McGregor also could move down to the lightweight division and face Eddie Alvarez for the title at 155 pounds, which is intriguing on multiple fronts.
While McGregor would have to relinquish his featherweight title, he might not be without a belt for long. If he defeated Alvarez for the title, Diaz-McGregor 3 could happen at 155 pounds, a stipulation “The Notorious” set after beating Diaz by majority decision at UFC 202.
Imagine the final McGregor-Diaz fight also having a belt on the line. Does it get any better than that?
Regardless, McGregor seems in no hurry to fight Aldo again after knocking him out in 13 seconds last year.
“I don’t think they’ll do that. How can they do that?” McGregor said Saturday, via FOX Sports. “If they want to give my belt to the guy I KO’d in 13 seconds and bury that division in the prelims or the Fight Pass stuff cause that’s what they’re going to do.”
“We’ll see. How can they do that? What would that do to the division if the guy I KO’d in 13 seconds is the unified champion so we’ve got a lot to talk about.”
The options are there. Now it’s time for a decision.
Thumbnail photo via Joshua Dahl/USA TODAY Sports Images
