The news broke on Friday that a Conor McGregor – Nate Diaz rematch was looking likely, and it seems that such an encounter would take place under the exact same conditions as previously.
That would mean McGregor remains at welterweight, 25 pounds above the featherweight division he holds the belt in.
Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com, who broke the news, was speaking on the MMA Hour today and reported that contracts have been issued for the UFC 200 main event.
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McGregor talk begins at 0:02:40.
“It’s not happening at a more natural 155 pounds. It’s happening at 170 pounds,” said Helwani.
“The contracts are already out there and that’s what they want. Make no mistake about it, the reason why this is happening at 170 pounds is because, to be frank, Conor McGregor is a bit of a wildman.
“He is obsessed with the idea that he lost to Nate Diaz at 170 pounds, he feels like he should have won and he wants the same circumstances, the same rules, the same stipulations.
“He wants to do it again and prove that he is the better man.”
It’s a fight that “all parties want”, says Helwani, but McGregor’s potential opponents for a first defence of his featherweight belt are unhappy with the news.
McGregor won that belt from Jose Aldo exactly 100 days ago and Aldo, as well as leading contender Frankie Edgar, have been leading escalating, and occasionally bizarre, online campaigns to stoke the public mood for a fight with McGregor.
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[/raw]I want it. You want it. Your coach wants it. One battle took place but the war is not over! #UFC200 pic.twitter.com/kslOseYIQD
— Jose Aldo Junior (@josealdojunior) March 21, 2016
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[/raw]What do u say @thenotoriousmma? Balls in your court, Now lets see who has a Vagina @robdrake @ShoreShot @HiHoRecords pic.twitter.com/x33DVzTqHH
— Frankie Edgar (@FrankieEdgar) March 16, 2016
Lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos, who withdrew due to injury from a 155-pound title contest with McGregor, was also critical.
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[/raw]@UFCONFOX Mcgregor vs Diaz 2 make no sense, I would beat theses 2 guys on the same night
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) March 18, 2016
If the latest reports hold true, a Diaz rematch would be another example of McGregor calling the shots.
H/T: Balls.ie
