THE UFC ARE understood to be planning a rematch between Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor for 20 August, but there’s no guarantee the fight will ever happen.
That’s according to UFC president Dana White, who explained today in an interview on ESPN’s SportsCenter that negotiations are still ongoing to arrange a second welterweight meeting between the former lightweight title challenger and the current featherweight champion.
“We’re working on what’s next for him,” White said when quizzed about the UFC’s plans for McGregor. “We’re trying to set up a fight right now. It’s been a little challenging. Obviously the fight he would love to do is the rematch with Nate Diaz. I’m trying to get the deal done.”
McGregor was due to fight champion Rafael dos Anjos for the lightweight title back in March. When dos Anjos withdrew due to an injury just 11 days before the bout, Diaz stepped in as a late replacement and submitted McGregor in the second round of the main event at UFC 196.
The rematch was originally scheduled to take place on 9 July at UFC 200 but those plans were abandoned in April when McGregor was punished by the organisation for refusing to travel to Las Vegas for media obligations.
“Conor is obsessed with this rematch,” said White. “I don’t know why, but he is. It’s just his type of personality. He’s obsessed with it. He’s obsessed with fighting Diaz again at 170lbs.”
Diaz has admitted that a recent meeting with White and UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta — which was geared towards finalising the rematch — didn’t go well. Diaz’s financial expectations appear to be a stumbling block, with the fighter telling Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour last week: “This is a pretty big deal so can I be compensated for this?”
When asked by ESPN this afternoon if he believes the fight will happen soon, White responded: “I don’t know if that will ever happen, but I’m trying.”
In a separate interview today with Colin Cowherd on FOX Sports, White added that the UFC is looking at other options for McGregor for August’s UFC 202 card, according to MMAFighting.com reporter Shaun Al-Shatti.
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