Conor McGregor Sends a Crystal Clear Message About His UFC Future, Nate Diaz Trilogy
Conor McGregor might have one of the biggest fights of his career coming up in just over a week, but he already has his sights set on his future in the UFC. McGregor spoke to The Mac Life ahead of his bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 257, and he dropped a few not-so-subtle hints about his upcoming plans.
Conor Mcgregor set to return to the octagon
After yet another retirement announcement and a lengthy hiatus from the UFC, Conor McGregor is set to return to the octagon on Jan. 24 at UFC 257 to face off against Dustin Poirier. The fight will mark McGregor’s first appearance since a year ago this month. McGregor knocked out Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in just 40 seconds back on Jan. 18, 2020.
McGregor’s upcoming bout against Poirier will be a rematch from the duo’s first fight back in 2014 at UFC 178. McGregor won that meeting via knockout within the first two minutes of the first round.
Conor McGregor reveals his future UFC plans
Ahead of his highly anticipated fight against Poirier, McGregor spoke to The Mac Life this week about the bout. During the interview, McGregor also dropped a major hint about his future plans after UFC 257.
“I would like to put a stint in at 155 pounds, for sure,” McGregor told The Mac Life. “I came into the UFC as a featherweight and I went through the division. I gave it my all in that division and I tore through it like a chainsaw through butter. Interim title, then unified title. Then I went up and reached for greater heights, went to the lightweight division, became lightweight champion and became the first dual-weight champion in the company’s history.
“Then obviously other things presented themselves, the Floyd fight and where it went. Then I went to the welterweight division, also. I never got a good stint at 155 pounds, a consecutive stint like I’ve done in the featherweight division. I would like to do the same here in the lightweight division that I’ve done in the featherweight division – give it a good run and tear through the division. There’s many good competitors, good fighters, in there, and I feel levels above them all. So I would like to put that stint in.”
McGregor: ‘I’d love to compete against [Nate] Diaz’
McGregor has accomplished plenty in his legendary UFC career, but one loose end has yet to be tied up. UFC fans have been begging for a rubber match between McGregor and Nate Diaz. And according to McGregor, they might be getting it soon.
“There are dangling carrots … treasure chests that get presented to me,” McGregor told The Mac Life. “We’ve got world titles in boxing now, there’s talks of … I hear Dana [White] talking [about] Nate Diaz coming back down to lightweight. I love that. I’d love to compete against Diaz. We will compete again. If that happens at lightweight for a title, that would be something special, also. So there’s many great options that are in the works and let’s see what happens. I am ready.”
Diaz got the best of McGregor in the first matchup back in 2016, but McGregor got revenge in the rematch a few months later. The trilogy seems to be in the works.
“If it’s going to be 155 we could possibly do that for the belt,” McGregor said. “If not, I’d probably just fight Nate at 170 pounds again. The reason being we fought at 170 twice. Why mix it up for the trilogy? But, if there’s belts and titles and loftier things on the line, I’m certain a 155-pound challenge with Nate would be something. So, many great fights and many great options, and I’m pretty excited about every single one of them.”
