CONOR McGREGOR IS busy focusing on negotiations for a boxing bout with Floyd Mayweather at the moment, but another interim UFC lightweight title fight should be scheduled in the meantime until the Dubliner decides to return to mixed martial arts.
That’s according to Audie Attar, McGregor’s manager, who has told The MMA Hour that while possibility of a clash with Mayweather is “trending in the right direction”, no agreement is yet in place.
Attar believes that the prospect of taking on the winner of a fight between Nate Diaz and Tony Ferguson is something that could entice McGregor to make a swift return to the cage after his potential meeting with Mayweather. McGregor hasn’t fought since he defeated Eddie Alvarez last November to become the UFC lightweight champion.
In his absence, Ferguson was due to face Khabib Nurmagomedov for an interim title last month in Las Vegas. However, the bout was cancelled at the last minute when Nurmagomedov fell ill while cutting weight. It was the second time the undefeated Dagestani withdrew from a fight against Ferguson.
Ferguson — who is also managed by Audie Attar — is keen on a bout against Nate Diaz, who has been inactive since losing a rematch to McGregor in August. Due to Ramadan, Nurmagomedov won’t be available to compete again until September, at the earliest.
Speaking to Ariel Helwani in relation to the likelihood of a bout between Ferguson and Nurmagomedov being rescheduled, Attar said: “At one end you could say that match-up would be great, but the history of what has happened — whether it’s due to injury or what have you — has really left obviously some doubt, particularly in Tony.
“He doesn’t want to just go through camps and all that money and energy, then all of a sudden that fight doesn’t happen again. The Nate Diaz fight interests him. Quite frankly, Nate is sitting on the sidelines and you’ve got to get Conor excited. If you want Conor to be excited about you, you’ve got to go in there and fight if you want to fight him in the future.
“Nate-Tony for the interim title, that creates narrative. If Nate really thinks he’s worthy of it, he gets to fight for a title. One of those guys has to come out victorious and both of them want to make Conor excited if they want to fight him.
“If this thing happens with Floyd, you’ve got to get Conor excited to get back in there with you. That’s just the reality of it. From an opportunity standpoint, Nate would be foolish not to consider taking Tony on in an interim title fight.
“Obviously it would be great if Khabib stepped up and there were some assurances, but to wait until September doesn’t interest Tony. He wants to fight this summer. He wants to get back in there. He’s been left hanging the way he was. He’s just ready to get back in there.”
