UFC legend Nate Diaz will not contact "mother******" Conor McGregor on the phone to secure a third fight with his longtime foe.
The American made his final bow in the UFC this weekend after over a decade with the company. He was meant to face-off with Khamzat Chimaev in his final octagon bout, but the Chechen star missed weight.
The Stockton brawler instead defeated legendary grappler Tony Ferguson by submission at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to end his long stint with the promotion on a high, but will now look to lucrative fights potentially in the boxing ring.
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During the fight week build-up Diaz was persistently being linked with a third meeting against McGregor, which could be open providing the Irishman is able to negotiate outside of his UFC contract. And the UFC veteran has revealed he would refuse to talk to McGregor personally if they are to touch gloves for a third time.
"We're supposed to fight dawg I ain't talking to that motherf*****," Diaz said when discussing a third meeting with McGregor at the UFC 279 post-fight press conference. "What you talking about? 'Hey, how you doing? Wanna fight on. F*** you motherf*****, you called my phone? Who gave you my number?' That's how the call would go. What about you? You ever set up a fight with a guy on the phone?"
Diaz first defeated McGregor back in 2016 to hand the Irishman his first loss since making his debut for the promotion, before the result was overturned later that year with McGregor outpointing Diaz. It is expected that the 37-year-old will now depart the UFC and wants to take the most lucrative fights on offer next including any boxing debut.
McGregor and Diaz have been naturally paired together for a comeback fight in the Irishman's return as he hasn't fought since losing to Dustin Poirier last July. Diaz has frequently poured cold water on the prospect of a third fight but now appears to be more open to renewing their rivalry in a new format.
He name-dropped his two-time foe during his post-fight speech following his win over Ferguson, where he said: “I want to get out of the UFC for a minute and show all these UFC fighters how to take over and own up another sport how you’re supposed to do it. 'Cause Conor McGregor didn’t know how to do it. None of these other fighters know how to do it.
"So I’m going to go out there and I’m going take over another profession and become the best at that. Show everybody I’m the best at that and then I’m going to be right the f*** back here to get a motherf****** UFC title. The best title in the world.”
McGregor quickly issued a response demanding more respect from his previous opponent, tweeting: "Ah come on bro I’m absolutely stinking. And with so much quality. This has never been seen before what I’m doing man. Please, you're nothing without me. Respect, please. I’d slap you around handy. And Tony easy. I’d have sawed Tony in half. Two ham ball heads. Respect the king."
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