Conor McGregor would welcome a third and final fight with long-time rival Nate Diaz
- Conor McGregor would welcome a trilogy bout against his long-time rival Nate Diaz.
- McGregor and Diaz have a 1-1 record against one another, with the Irishman losing by rear-naked choke in 2016 before winning a decision in a rematch four months later.
- "I'd love to compete against Diaz," McGregor said. "We will compete again. Nate's a warrior, Nate's a goer. Nate shows up, steps up and fights."
- McGregor returns to the UFC Octagon on Saturday and competes in a talent-rich division, and also said he is willing to fight everyone.
FIGHT ISLAND - Conor McGregor would welcome a third and final fight with his long-time rival Nate Diaz.
"I'd love to compete against Diaz," McGregor recently told his YouTube channel MacLife. "We will compete again. Nate's a warrior, Nate's a goer. Nate shows up, steps up and fights."
The two UFC stars share a 1-1 record against one another. Diaz won the first bout between the pair with a submission victory by rear-naked choke in March 2016, but McGregor got revenge four months later by out-pointing the Californian.
Though they have never fought since, a trilogy bout remains one of the biggest potential fights for both athletes.
McGregor went on to beat Eddie Alvarez and Donald Cerrone - offsetting losses to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Floyd Mayweather - while Diaz ended a three-year hiatus by defeating Anthony Pettis before a doctor's stoppage loss to Jorge Masvidal in the landmark "Bad Mother-F-----" bout.
The Irish striker returns Saturday for a lightweight match against Dustin Poirier for his first Octagon appearance in 12 months, competing at the newly-built Etihad Arena on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.
Though he's only twice fought in the UFC since November 2016, he said he wants to be active throughout 2021.
"There's many great options that are in the works and let's see what happens," said McGregor. "I am ready."
McGregor's 155-pound fight with Poirier is the UFC 257 main event.
The co-main is another lightweight fight between the three-time Bellator MMA champion and UFC debutant Michael Chandler and Dan Hooker, who last fought in June 2020, losing to Poirier.
The division is also home to other top tier operators like Charles Oliveira, Justin Gaethje, and Tony Ferguson, meaning there are many options for McGregor.
"I would like to put a stint in at 155 pounds for sure," McGregor said. "I came into the UFC as a featherweight and I went through the division.
"I gave it my all in that division and I tore through it like a chainsaw through butter. Then I went up and reached for greater heights. Went to the lightweight division, became lightweight champion and became the first dual weight champion in the company's history.
"Then other things presented themselves regarding the Floyd fight and everything went where it went. I went to the welterweight division, also.
"I never got a good stint at 155 pounds. A consecutive stint like I done in the featherweight division. I'd like to do the same here in the lightweight division, that I done in the featherweight division.
"Give it a good run and tear through the division. There's many good fighters, good competitors in there. I feel levels above them all," he finished.
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