Nate Diaz Explains Decision To Decline Conor McGregor Trilogy

The rivalry between Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor is one of the most famous in UFC history. Nate Diaz beat Conor McGregor at UFC 196 in March 2016. This was a surprise because McGregor lost for the first time in the UFC. Just five months later, McGregor avenged the loss at UFC 202, earning a hard-fought majority decision in a closely contested rematch.

Now it is one win for each of them. People who like UFC have been waiting to see Nate Diaz and McGregor fight again. Will we ever see a third fight between them?

Diaz Shares His Perspective

During an interview, Nate Diaz spoke about the reason why he does not want to go for the third fight against his old rival. His reasoning centered on timing, competitive integrity, and respect for both fighters’ current situations.

He wants to fight people who’re at their best. He thinks McGregor is a great fighter, but he is not at his best right now. Nate Diaz does not want to fight him when he is not doing well. He does not want to be the one who ends McGregor’s career when he is not strong.

Nate Diaz also thinks it could be bad for him to fight McGregor now. Even if McGregor is not doing well, he could still be very dangerous because he wants to win badly. Nate Diaz and McGregor are two of the most well-known and strongest fighters in the UFC. People want to see them fight again, but this time, the priorities and interests do not align.

No Urgency To Settle the Score

Nate Diaz seems fine with how things are between him and his rival. They each won one fight, so he does not think they need to fight to see who is better. He is confident in his abilities; thus, he wants to have more bouts. For him, it is tied more to the quality of opponents than to revisiting past rivalries.

Since they last fought, much has changed. McGregor got hurt, including a leg injury, and he has also been working on other business endeavors outside of fighting. Nate Diaz became a free agent and parted ways with UFC in 2022. He found an interest in boxing and other combat sports. There, he fought against Jake Paul and Jorge Masvidal.

As per his recent comments and current direction, a return to face McGregor appears unlikely. Diaz’s statements suggest that he has moved on from that chapter of his career and is no longer interested in revisiting their rivalry.

What To Expect

Fans might still want to see Nate Diaz and McGregor fight again, but Nate Diaz is clear about how he feels. He does not think it is a time for a third fight. Instead of thinking about the previous fights, he wants to focus on new challenges and fight the best people. Diaz seems focused on forging a future defined by new challenges and high-level competition.