UFC Featherweight champion Conor McGregor is looking forward to returning to the octagon at the earliest to fight Nate Diaz for the second time. The Irishman was submitted by the American fighter during their main event clash in UFC 196 this month in Las Vegas.
McGregor climbed two weight classes up to take on Diaz in the main event of the UFC PPV. It was not a very one-sided fight to be honest, but the flaws in McGregor's game showed once the fight went past the first round. Diaz clearly had all the gas in him, however, the Featherweight fighter didn't.
After connecting with a left cross, Diaz, 30, submitted the 27-year-old McGregor to get the win via a Rear Naked Choke in the second round of the fight.
While it is not yet confirmed by UFC President Dana White that McGregor will face Diaz in a rematch next, rumours are surfacing that McGregor will be back to the featherweight division to either take on Frankie Edgar for the championship in UFC 200 or fight former Featherweight champion Jose Aldo for the second time after UFC 194.
For now, however, McGregor is not giving up his plans of getting into a rematch with Diaz.
"I think I'd like to see that. It's one that interests me most certainly," McGregor told TMZ Sports on being asked if he is keen on a rematch with Nate Diaz. "You know when I look at the fight [in UFC 196], I was winning the fight. I won the first round and a half."
"I'd love to get that one back. We'll see. We'll see how it goes. Life is good. I'm real fresh. I'm ready to go again. It was a good fight. A hell of a fight. I look forward to coming back with a vengeance," he added.
Diaz, meanwhile, feels disrespected by the fact that the UFC as well as certain section of fans are still cheering for McGregor despite the Irishman losing the match, and there is no amount of praise directed towards him even after getting the win.
"I don't think it's just the UFC. It's everybody. People are saying, 'Oh, [McGregor] is great, he's accepted the loss so well.' If I would have lost, people would be saying, 'piece of s*** shouldn't have accepted the fight', a visibly disappointed Diaz told ESPN.
"I don't mean to be bitter, but there are a lot of excuses being made for this guy. He's talking about winning the first round. There are five rounds in a fight. Who gives a s*** if you won a round? You lost."
