Tag: Nate Diaz

Conor McGregor showed his appreciation for Nate Diaz’s message of solidarity on St. Paddy’s Day.

McGregor and the ‘Stockton Samurai’ are known for engaging in one of the fiercest rivalries in UFC history. But that didn’t stop Diaz from showing some support to his former foe after the Irishman expressed frustration surrounding his delayed return to the Octagon.

This was me for years before Conor even got here they want u to die before u get out these contracts it’s up to u to make something pop no one gonna help you but you
Free Conor it’s at pattys day in this bitch pic.twitter.com/X4WQVNV79X

— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) March 17, 2024

“This was me for years before Conor even got here,” Diaz wrote on X. “They want [you] to die before [you] get out these contracts. It’s up to you to make something pop. No one gonna help you but you. Free Conor, it’s [St.] Patty’s Day in this b*tch.”

Nate Diaz knows all too well what it’s like trying to book fights and make money within the confines of the UFC’s notoriously restrictive contracts. After 15 years with the promotion, he finally broke free and walked away to pursue some big-money matchups in the world of professional boxing. The TUF alumnus has since competed in a 10-round tussle with Jake Paul last August and is scheduled to run back his BMF title fight with Jorge Masivdal inside the squared circle on June 1.

Conor McGregor was admittedly surprised to see Diaz making calls to “free” him, but the former two-division champion was more than welcoming of the support.

“Nate is great. When you share back-to-back knocks — we had real, real fights. That’s a real fighting man, the two brothers are real fighting men,” McGregor said on The MMA Hour. I always had the highest respect for the two lads, and f***, I was a fan of the lad. I was a fan of them, and then I got to share the octagon with them — we had wars, we boxed each other around. And I appreciate it, appreciate [the support].

“I wish him well, always. I’ll always wish to see past opponents and future opponents — potential future opponents again — to see them do well. And what a monumental moment that will be, when we get that [trilogy fight] done. So I’m excited for it” (h/t MMA Fighting).

Conor McGregor reacts to Dana White nixing his trilogy fight with Nate diaz

With the UFC slated to make its debut inside The Sphere for this year’s Mexican Independence Day celebration in September, Conor McGregor believes it would be the perfect opportunity to close out his trilogy with Nate Diaz. Unfortunately, UFC CEO Dana White did not agree, and immediately squashed any possibility of the fight happening.

“The cold water, [White threw] cold water it instantly,” McGregor said. “That’s huge. That, to me, has The Sphere written all over it. Mexican Independence Day. Nate Diaz is an American Mexican and a beloved fighter and a real fighter. Now, he’s hard to deal with with the lads [UFC executives], and I don’t know all the ins and outs, to be honest — and I know the lads are hard to deal with also. So I think it’d be amazing and it would suit me lovely — the date in summer and into September, I believe I get my two fights in this year.”

McGregor and Diaz competed in back-to-back bouts between March and August in 2017. The first went down at UFC 196 when Diaz handed the Irishman his first career loss inside the Octagon via a second-round rear-naked choke submission. They ran it back five months later at UFC 202 with McGregor coming out on top the second time around via a majority decision.

Fans have been clamoring for a third fight between the two ever since. While both McGregor and Diaz have remained adamant that they will meet again, Dana White has expressed nothing, but disinterest in putting the contest together.

It’s been nearly eight years since Conor McGregor last stepped inside the Octagon with Nate Diaz.

Fighting one another in back-to-back bouts between March and August of 2016, McGregor and the ‘Stockton Samurai’ delivered two of the UFC’s top 10 highest-grossing pay-per-view headliners of all time, the first going down at UFC 196 inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Stepping in on just 11 days’ notice, Diaz handed the Irishman his first loss inside the Octagon, scoring a rear-naked choke submission in the second round.

Five months later, they would run it back at UFC 202 — this time going the distance with McGregor earning a victory via majority decision.

Ever since that night, fans have been clamoring for a trilogy fight between the two combat sports icons.

Recently, Diaz commented on McGregor’s long-awaited return to the Octagon which sparked a response from the former two-division champ on Instagram, suggesting that their “iconic rivalry must be settled.”

Nate Diaz steps back into the boxing ring on June 1

Currently, Nate Diaz is not under contract with the UFC. After 15 years with the promotion, he walked away in September 2022 after earning a submission victory over Tony Ferguson at UFC 279. He has since made his professional boxing debut against YouTuber star Jake Paul. Diaz lost the bout by unanimous decision after 10 entertaining rounds.

On Saturday, June 1, Diaz will return to the boxing ring for a scrap with former foe Jorge Masvidal. The fight will serve as a rematch following their fight for the inaugural BMF belt at UFC 244 in 2019. ‘Gamebred’ took home the bragging rights belt due to a doctor’s stoppage just before the beginning of the fourth round.

Conor McGregor’s ‘Road House’ remake hits Amazon Prime Video on March 21

As for Conor McGregor, the Irishman has had a frustrating year when it comes to getting back inside the Octagon. Despite kickstarting multiple training camps, the UFC has failed to lock down a date for his quote-unquote “greatest comeback in combat sports history.” McGregor was linked to a fight with former Bellator MMA champion Michael Chandler long before their time as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter last year.

Unfortunately, we appear to be no closer to seeing that fight happen than we were during this same time last year.

On March 21, fight fans can get their McGregor fix when ‘Mystic Mac’ makes his feature film debut in a remake of the 1989 action classic Road House, which starred the late Patrick Swayze. Set for a release on Amazon Prime Video, this updated version stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Dalton, an ex-UFC fighter who takes a job as a bouncer at a Florida Keys roadhouse.

McGregor is set to play Knox, one of the antagonists of the film.