Nate Diaz defends Conor McGregor's 'good idea' to pull out of UFC 303 fight vs. Michael Chandler
Although the rivals may not always see eye to eye, Nate Diaz is on Conor McGregor’s side regarding his decision to pull out of UFC 303 due to injury.
McGregor, who has won and lost against Diaz in their infamous UFC rivalry, has been on a collision course with Michael Chandler since Season 30 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” The fight was finally scheduled for International Fight Week at UFC 303, but a broken toe prompted McGregor to pull out.
While many have used the injury as an opportunity to take shots at McGregor, who hasn’t competed since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in 2021, Diaz thinks the Irishman made the right move to wait until he’s healthy to return.
“I think it was just a minor thing,” Diaz told MMA Junkie. “I think they made a bigger deal out of it than it is. Good idea. If I get f*cked up, I would like to push the fight back too, but people f*cking freak out. I think I wouldn’t want to fight until I’m 100 percent ready to rock too, because in the past I’ve done all kinds of sh*t I shouldn’t have done.
“So, I think he learned from experience and all these inexperienced people out there talking sh*t, just speaking for their inexperience. They’re going to have to deal with the criticism until the fight gets done, but I think it’ll happen and it’ll all be good.”
Diaz is days away from sharing the boxing ring with Jorge Masvidal on July 6 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. It will be the pair’s second time sharing the canvas in combat sports; their first meeting took place at UFC 244 in 2019 for the inaugural BMF title fight.
If all goes well in his rematch with Masvidal, Diaz may look to finally secure a third meeting with McGregor, reigniting their rivalry that last saw the former two-division champion get his hand raised at UFC 202 to avenge a submission loss at UFC 196.
Diaz would have to work out a deal to return to the UFC, but McGregor, who is reportedly on the last fight of his current deal with the promotion, has spoken over the years about wanting the trilogy bout.
“Yeah, we’ll see what happens with time, you know?” Diaz said. “It depends on what happens with my fight, his fight, UFC. I ain’t a fortune teller, you know what I’m saying? We’ll see what happens.”