Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
The mixed martial arts (MMA) world is abuzz with the love-fueled return of former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight champion, Conor McGregor, who hasn’t seen action since a submission loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov in the UFC 229 main event back in October 2018.
It was the lone Octagon appearance for the power-punching Irishman since late 2016 and set yet another promotion record in terms of pay-per-view (PPV) buys. In addition, “Notorious” remains just one victory away from another 155-pound title shot, so his recent surge in media attention is undoubtedly justified.
That doesn’t mean Nate Diaz has to like it.
Don’t act like I didn’t kick this whole fight shit back in gear…
— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) January 5, 2020
Diaz split a pair of welterweight fights with McGregor at UFC 196 and UFC 202 and like his Irish counterpart, has only competed twice since late 2016 with an identical record of 1-1. After knocking around Anthony Pettis at UFC 241, the Stockton slapper was filleted by Jorge Masvidal at UFC 244.
A fight that solidified Diaz as one of the sport’s top PPV draws.
No doubt the promotion would love to book a “special” rubber match at some point in the very near future, but right now McGregor, 31, has his hands full with Donald Cerrone in the UFC 246 main event later this month, which will go a long way in determining his fighting future.
Diaz, 34, remains unbooked.