Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz are being "groomed" to finally settle their years-long rivalry with a trilogy fight, according to UFC legend Chael Sonnen.
The former middleweight and light heavyweight title contender has said that he believes McGregor's long-awaited return to the octagon will come against one of his oldest enemies in Diaz. And he thinks that the seeds are already being planted for the fight to happen over six years after their rematch, which McGregor won by majority decision at UFC 202.
McGregor and Diaz's feud began by chance when the Irishman was set to fight for his second world title at lightweight against Rafael Dos Anjos. The Brazilian injured his foot and was forced out of their UFC 196 main event, allowing Diaz to step in and land a major upset with his rear naked choke victory.
And Sonnen thinks they could be set to reignite that old flame, saying on his ESPN show that he thinks International Fight Week, which ends with a big July 2 pay-per-view, is when it will happen. “A lot of rumours going around about International Fight Week," he explained. "Which is the first week of July.
"A very strong rumour in our industry is that Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor are kind of being groomed for that. I wasn’t so sold on it. I know that at one point, and I’m only as good as the information I’m given, he could be back in August.
"But when I look at Conor McGregor, and I look at that picture that he weighed 194-pounds eight weeks ago, and now I see this training video. This is a guy that is working hard, this is a guy that is starting to get his diet under control. I think perhaps he is targeting a return earlier than August. I tend to believe the rumour of Conor vs. Nate part three, international fight weekend.”
Would you like to see a trilogy fight between McGregor and Diaz? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
McGregor has begun training boxing again after suffering a broken leg last July at UFC 264 that cost him around a year of his career. He shared videos showing his movement with coaches, as well as returning to Crumlin Boxing Club where he trained as a youth before taking up MMA.
He told Mirror Fighting last month that he plans to get back sparring by April, when he will assess his future options. He is plotting an immediate world title opportunity, likely at lightweight, but would need to wait until the May 7 fight between champion Charles Oliveira and top contender Justin Gaethje which would all but rule out a July 2 comeback.
McGregor and Diaz are both currently riding two-fight losing streaks, and their fight would likely take place at welterweight. Diaz lost to Jorge Masvidal and Leon Edwards after his 2019 comeback win, while McGregor was stopped in both his rematch and trilogy bouts with Dustin Poirier last year.
