Conor McGregor-Nate Diaz II to headline UFC 202
After weeks of negotiating and a number of hurdles along the way, the rematch between Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor is set for UFC 202 on Aug. 20 the UFC announced on Saturday night during UFC 199. While the location hasn’t been confirmed, it will reportedly take place in Las Vegas according to MMAFighting.com.
McGregor will look to get revenge after Diaz submitted him as a short notice opponent in the second round of their 170-pound fight at UFC 196 back in March.
The highly anticipated return bout was originally scheduled for UFC 200, but it ended up being canned when McGregor refused to travel to Las Vegas for a press conference surrounding the UFC’s huge event. McGregor infamously tweeted that he was retiring young and sent the MMA world spiraling out of control. Just when it appeared that McGregor and the UFC were on good terms, a bizarre rumor started by The Sun tabloid in the United Kingdom suggested that McGregor would be facing Floyd Mayweather in a boxing match.
Neither Mayweather nor McGregor allowed the rumor to die, both taking turns at fanning the flames despite the likelihood of a fight between the two coming to fruition was slim to none. In the interim, Dana White travelled to negotiate the rematch with Nate Diaz but came away dejected after negotiations reportedly went awry.
Over the past week, McGregor seemed to recommit himself to the idea of facing Diaz again and stated his desire to get redemption under no uncertain terms in an interview with ESPN. However, White suggested that it might be time to find a new opponent for McGregor if a deal couldn’t be done.
But at UFC 199 Saturday night, a promotional video played and cemented the rematch. The fight will be contested again at the 170-pound weight limit, as McGregor will again fight two weight classes above the division where he currently holds a world title. Diaz campaigns regularly at lightweight but agreed to a fight with McGregor at that weight because of the 10-day short notice. McGregor has made it clear that the only fight he wants with Diaz would have to take place at the welterweight limit.
