Nate Diaz on Conor McGregor Rivalry: I Beat Him Twice
Nate Diaz, perhaps in a joking manner, recently said that he was ‘obsessed’ with fighting featherweight champion Conor McGregor a third time. Now, however, it appears as if the Stockton native has changed his tune. Recently speaking with former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen, Diaz said that he’s in ‘no hurry’ to book a third bout, also saying that he feels as if he beat the “Notorious” one twice:
“It’s whatever to me. I won the fight. I’m not jumping for joy for round three,” Diaz said. “I think I beat him twice and it’s 2-0, as far as I’m concerned. If they’re gonna want to do it down the road, I don’t know. I’m not in a hurry. It’s all good.”
The two met for a first time back at UFC 196 in March in a bout that Diaz accepted on just over a week’s notice. Despite the short notice, however, the former lightweight title challenger submitted the Irishman in the second round, setting up a rematch for the ages that took place at August 20’s UFC 202 from Las Vegas, Nevada. At UFC 202, the two rivals slugged it out for five rounds in an instant classic, but it was McGregor who walked away with a majority decision victory.
With his future currently unclear, Diaz has said that he’s only interested in returning for a trilogy bout with McGregor, although he did also add that he’d follow the guidance of his older brother Nick, who recently served out an 18-month suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC):
“Nick is my fearless leader so I do whatever Nick tells me to do. But yeah, I don’t know what they’re doing with him right now, I don’t know what they’re doing with Nick right now,” Nate said. “I’m just over here enjoying the rest of this summer.”
“Nick’s the leader. If Nick tells me to go fight Joe Blow, I’ll fight Joe Blow. I’m a soldier man and that’s the general.”
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