Why McGregor vs Diaz 3 is the Next Fight to Make

| Photo courtesy of ESPN

In a time when boxing and mixed martial arts are providing us with the greatest bouts in recent history, the third fight between boxing heavyweights Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder, which took place on Oct. 9, is said to be one of the best heavyweight meetings in the sport’s history. In addition, UFC 268, which features the rematch between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington, is set to take place on Nov. 6 in Madison Square Garden, the welterweight boxing clash between Terence Crawford and Shawn Porter is scheduled for Nov. 20 and the much-awaited UFC lightweight title fight between Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier is set to headline UFC 269 on Dec. 11. 

It is impossible to avoid one name when talking about the fight game with all the hype surrounding fighters today: Conor McGregor.

Despite being absent from the octagon after breaking his ankle and losing his third fight against Dustin Poirier back in July, McGregor’s name still finds its way into combat sports conversations.

Boxing trainer and commentator, Teddy Atlas, told Submission Radio, “McGregor is a genius promoter and a great striker, he earned his right to be a star.”

McGregor’s return to the octagon is a subject of controversy and doubt. While known for his social presence, McGregor himself has not provided fans with a clear answer to this question. This leaves MMA fans and experts making speculations, one of them being a third fight against Nate Diaz.

 History and a Chance at Redemption

McGregor lost the third fight in his trilogy against Poirier in an unfortunate fashion of breaking his ankle. There is a lot of doubt that the result would have been different had he been able to continue. Many people believe that this injury saved him from a more embarrassing finish. As a result, Poirier became the clearest number one contender in the sport and finally has a chance to be crowned UFC champion in December against Charles Oliveira. 

McGregor has a chance to close out a different trilogy—one that provided fans with unforgettable moments and the itch for a third fight. The first meeting between the two happened in March of 2016. Diaz stepped in on short notice for Rafael Dos Anjos to fight McGregor at UFC 196. McGregor was known for taunting, mocking and insulting every part of his opponents’ being to get inside their heads. While these antics and clownery proved effective for most of McGregor’s previous opponents, it was not the same for Diaz  — Pennywise had met the Joker. A rematch was immediately scheduled following Diaz’s win over McGregor in the second round.

Unfinished Business 

It is safe to say that McGregor, 33, and Diaz, 36, are both nearing the end of their careers. While still showing flashes of their past selves, the two simply are not the same fighters that they were in 2016. But with McGregor coming from his loss to Poirier, and Diaz coming from his loss to Leon Edwards back in June, it strengthens the urge for both fighters to meet once more. 

To give McGregor a chance to fight for the title at this point is simply unfair to the rest of the lightweight division. While being one of the greats in this weight class and the sport of MMA in general, his inactivity and the fact that he has lost his last two fights to the same man makes him unqualified for a title shot. Currently ranked seventh in a division that includes the likes of Islam Makhachev, Michael Chandler and Justin Gaethje fighting for contention, it is going to be a tough climb for McGregor at 155 pounds. 

Diaz has also lost his last two bouts (against Edwards and Jorge Masvidal) and is currently ranked 13th in the welterweight division. While neither Diaz nor McGregor is qualified to fight for UFC gold, handling the unfinished business they have with each other will still make a great fight. 

 A Big Pay Day and a Treat for the Fans

“They paid for [Mike] Tyson even when he wasn’t a top athlete anymore” Atlas said. “Because they still wanted to see that monster, they still wanted to be entertained.” 

The same enthusiasm those fans had, in hopes that “Iron Mike” would once again knock somebody out or even bite their ear off, can be seen with Diaz and McGregor. The two were entertaining from the press conferences to TV interviews and topped it all off with two great fights in the octagon. It will be a big payday for both parties and the UFC if a 3rd fight should happen.

McGregor’s physical state is one of the few factors that could keep him from fighting.

“Physically, it’s gonna be very hard to return from that kind of injury at this point in his life,” Atlas said.

While there is some truth to this, McGregor has shown his activity through his Instagram posts. McGregor has been posting pictures of himself training, appearing to be in good shape. His eagerness to return to the octagon is still present despite his healing ankle.

“It is difficult to get up and work at five in the morning when you’re sleeping in silk sheets.” Atlas said, quoting Marvin Hagler.

This is applicable for both fighters. It is a common narrative for fighters to accumulate wealth and lose the eagerness to fight. Both McGregor and Diaz have made enough money over the course of their careers to sustain themselves and their families. For people such as McGregor and Diaz, there is little to lose when you wipe your hands with dollar bills.