‘That’s A Real Fighting Man’

Conor McGregor confirmed his appreciation for Nate Diaz’s message of solidarity on St. Paddy’s Day.

McGregor and the ‘Stockton Samurai’ are identified for partaking in one of the fiercest rivalries in UFC history. However that didn’t cease Diaz from exhibiting some help to his former foe after the Irishman expressed frustration surrounding his delayed return to the Octagon.

“This was me for years earlier than Conor even bought right here,” Diaz wrote on X. “They need [you] to die earlier than [you] get out these contracts. It’s as much as you to make one thing pop. Nobody gonna enable you however you. Free Conor, it’s [St.] Patty’s Day on this b*tch.”

Nate Diaz is aware of all too properly what it’s like attempting to e book fights and earn a living inside the confines of the UFC’s notoriously restrictive contracts. After 15 years with the promotion, he lastly broke free and walked away to pursue some big-money matchups on the earth {of professional} boxing. The TUF alumnus has since competed in a 10-round tussle with Jake Paul final August and is scheduled to run back his BMF title fight with Jorge Masivdal contained in the squared circle on June 1.

Conor McGregor was admittedly shocked to see Diaz making calls to “free” him, however the former two-division champion was greater than welcoming of the help.

“Nate is nice. While you share back-to-back knocks — we had actual, actual fights. That’s an actual combating man, the 2 brothers are actual combating males,” McGregor stated on The MMA Hour. I at all times had the best respect for the 2 lads, and f***, I used to be a fan of the lad. I used to be a fan of them, after which I bought to share the octagon with them — we had wars, we boxed one another round. And I respect it, respect [the support].

“I want him properly, at all times. I’ll at all times want to see previous opponents and future opponents — potential future opponents once more — to see them do properly. And what a monumental second that can be, after we get that [trilogy fight] accomplished. So I’m excited for it” (h/t MMA Fighting).

Conor McGregor reacts to Dana White nixing his trilogy combat with Nate diaz

With the UFC slated to make its debut inside The Sphere for this 12 months’s Mexican Independence Day celebration in September, Conor McGregor believes it might be the right alternative to close out his trilogy with Nate Diaz. Sadly, UFC CEO Dana White didn’t agree, and instantly squashed any risk of the combat occurring.

“The chilly water, [White threw] chilly water it immediately,” McGregor stated. “That’s enormous. That, to me, has The Sphere written throughout it. Mexican Independence Day. Nate Diaz is an American Mexican and a beloved fighter and an actual fighter. Now, he’s onerous to cope with with the lads [UFC executives], and I don’t know all of the ins and outs, to be trustworthy — and I do know the lads are onerous to cope with additionally. So I feel it’d be wonderful and it might swimsuit me pretty — the date in summer season and into September, I imagine I get my two fights on this 12 months.”

McGregor and Diaz competed in back-to-back bouts between March and August in 2017. The primary went down at UFC 196 when Diaz handed the Irishman his first profession loss contained in the Octagon by way of a second-round rear-naked choke submission. They ran it again 5 months later at UFC 202 with McGregor popping out on prime the second time round by way of a majority choice.

Followers have been clamoring for a 3rd combat between the 2 ever since. Whereas each McGregor and Diaz have remained adamant that they may meet once more, Dana White has expressed nothing, however disinterest in placing the competition collectively.