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Lightweight bout between GSP and Nate Diaz in the works for UFC 227

Dana White has confirmed that the UFC is working on a fight between the pair in Los Angeles later this year.

NATE DIAZ’S FIRST fight since his defeat to Conor McGregor could see him take on another former two-weight UFC champion.

UFC president Dana White has said that the organisation is currently working on a match-up between Diaz and Georges St-Pierre.

UFC 217: Bisping v St-Pierre Georges St-Pierre Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC / Zuffa LLC

Diaz (19-11) has been absent from the octagon since August 2016. After submitting McGregor in the second round of their first bout, which took place five months earlier, the popular Californian dropped a majority-decision loss to the now former featherweight and lightweight title-holder in their rematch.

St-Pierre (26-2), who was a dominant welterweight champion for over five years, voluntarily relinquished the 170-pound title in 2013 and took a break from competition.

The 36-year-old Canadian, who’s widely regarded as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time, returned to action last November, winning the middleweight title courtesy of a third-round submission of defending champion Michael Bisping.

However, it turned out to be the briefest championship reign in UFC history. After just 31 days at the summit of the 185-pound division, GSP vacated the belt in order to focus on recovering from a bout of colitis.

Despite most recently competing at middleweight, GSP would fight at lightweight [155 pounds] for the first time in his professional career if the clash with Diaz is booked, according to Dana White.

Nate Diaz — whose older brother Nick lost a 170-pound title bout to GSP in March 2013 — has competed at welterweight on several occasions (including both of his bouts with Conor McGregor) but the 33-year-old has been at lightweight for most of his career.

UFC 202: Diaz v McGregor 2 Nate Diaz Brandon Magnus / Zuffa LLC Brandon Magnus / Zuffa LLC / Zuffa LLC

“We are working right now to try and put together a GSP versus Nate Diaz fight,” White told the UFC Unfiltered podcast. “It is true, and they would fight at 155 pounds.”

White is hoping that such a bout will take place in Los Angeles on 4 August at UFC 227, which is currently due to be headlined by the bantamweight title rematch between defending champion TJ Dillashaw and former team-mate Cody Garbrandt.

The UFC boss also mentioned the possibility of a light-heavyweight bout between Alexander Gustafsson and former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold being booked for UFC 227.

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