Conor McGregor announces ‘rematch’ with rival will happen after Dana White confirms 2024 UFC return
CONOR MCGREGOR has announced he will have a trilogy fight with Nate Diaz before he calls it a day.
The pair, 35 and 37 respectively, took part in two of the most memorable fights in recent UFC history in 2016, with Diaz taking home a shock second-round submission victory in their first meeting.
McGregor levelled their series with a majority decision victory in their rematch five months later, a result Diaz still fumes about to this day.
In response to his rival’s recent tweet about the scoring of their second fight, the fan favourite tweeted: “When I killed you off, I should’ve never gave you a rematch.
“I never get a rematch especially when I don’t really lose like in our 2nd fight or my last fight.
“I just let u p****y run off into [the] sunset like you won .. Live with it ur both p*****.”
It didn’t take long for McGregor to get wind of his long-time rival’s response, which he placated by insisting they will have a trilogy bout.
He replied: “You’ll get your rematch, lad.”
Former two-division champion McGregor recently revealed a rubber match with Diaz is part of his three-fight plan, which is set to kick off with a showdown with Michael Chandler.
He told talkSPORT: “Chandler next. I have to fight him. Then it’s [Justin] Gaethje & then the Nate trilogy.”
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McGregor’s showdown with Chandler – his rival coach on season 31 of the Ultimate Fighter – was announced back in February.
But the Irishman‘s continued absence from the USADA testing pool – which he must be in for a minimum of six months before being eligible to compete – was seemingly to blame for the delay in announcing the official date.
The UFC brass could, however, have had their poster boy headline their final pay-per-view card of the year on December 16.
It was thought they would grant him an exemption to the six-month written notice rule in order for him to make an blockbuster end-of-year return.
But the Dubliner won’t be in action on the Sin City card, which UFC president Dana White announced will be headlined by Brit Leon Edwards‘ welterweight title defence against Colby Covington.
He said on Thursday morning: “At UFC 296 on December 16, in Las Vegas, Leon Edwards versus Colby Covington will headline our last pay-per-view of the year.
“With the welterweight title on the line.
“The champ hasn’t lost a fight in eight years and is coming off back-to-back wins over the greatest welterweight of all time – Kamaru Usman.
“He is defending his title against Colby Covington, a relentless pressure fighter with unstoppable cardio.”
McGregor hasn’t set foot inside the octagon since breaking his leg in his Las Vegas trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier over two-and-a-half years ago.