Conor McGregor was set to face Nate Diaz in his UFC comeback fight before his rival was replaced by Michael Chandler.
The UFC superstar is finally set to return to the octagon for the first time in nearly two years since breaking his leg in a trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier. He will take on UFC contender Chandler as part of the promotion's latest series of The Ultimate Fighter, where the pair have first been put head-to-head in a coaching format.
It is understood there were a number of opponents considered to be McGregor's return challenge including former two-time rival Diaz, whose contract recently expired with the UFC. However the 34-year-old has insisted that it was his old rival he signed to face originally when agreeing to take part in the series.
“It was originally to be against Nate. It was Nate, me versus Nate,” he stated during an interview on the MMA Hour when discussing his UFC return. “So I didn’t mind who it was against, to be honest, nor do I mind who I compete against, that’s widely known. So I had agreed to it, it was Nate, it was like a day or two before, now it’s Michael Chandler.
"I’m not sure what went down on that end, but it was me versus Chandler, and that’s it. I have no problem, I’m happy with it. "I'll get that again. That trilogy will happen at some stage for sure. We must fight. We're one apiece, it's a great rivalry, and it was a great fight so we've got to square that away for sure. Am I a person not to get the fights made and done and happen? Look at all the fights I've had. When I say it, it happens."
McGregor fought Diaz twice in 2016, losing by submission before earning his revenge later that year with a points victory. The rivalry is considered one of the most iconic to ever grace the octagon, and a third meeting has been part of the Irishman's plans ever since.
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It remains to be seen if a third meeting can be arranged given McGregor's trajectory in the UFC, in comparison to Diaz's uncertain future as a free agent. However UFC legend Michael Bisping has suggested that the pair should wait and secure their final fight outside of the promotion.
He said: "I don't know the status of his [McGregor's UFC] contract, but he's under contract. Until he's a free agent, they [McGregor and Diaz] can't entertain putting on their own promotion because I'm sure that's what they're thinking. Conor and Nate do it together, Paradigm Sports Management, Audie Attar [McGregor's manager], very smart people.
"Nate Diaz has probably got a great team. They could go off and do their own fight. Make it a mega-fight and split the pot, take it all to themselves. It's not that simple because Conor's still under contract."
