Any talk about Conor McGregor returning to the octagon over the past few years has had to be taken with a pinch of salt, less one be continually disappointment as the former double champion has failed to make his big return to the promotion since breaking his ankle in the trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier back in 2021.
But McGregor has seemed particularly set on making his big return to the UFC at the upcoming White House card next Independence Day on July 4.
Conor McGregor Set To Potentially Return To The Cage Next Summer At The White House
Dana White has reportedly said that he “loves” the idea of the Irishman fighting next summer in the nation’s capital, and training videos featuring McGregor have been circulating online for the past few months.
However, even if the former 145 lb and 155 lb champion manages to make it to the card unscathed, the bigger question remains – who will be his opponent.
And now one man has officially thrown his name into the ring – former welterweight foe Nate Diaz, who when asked whether he would be interested in doing the trilogy fight with McGregor next summer, seemed more than willing to abide.
“Yeah, for sure.” Diaz said.
The former lightweight title contender also exercised caution about the true likelihood of a trilogy fight actually going ahead, however.
“We’ll see what happens.” Diaz added. “Time will tell, guys.”
Is Nate Diaz The Best Opponent For Conor McGregor?
The natural answer to who McGregor should fight has long been former Bellator champion, Michael Chandler, who has become a fan favorite and one of the more entertaining fighters in the sport since arriving from the rival promotion back in 2021.
Chandler and the former champ shared a season as competing coaches of the reality show, The Ultimate Fighter, back in 2023, after which the pair were set to fight. That fight was then scheduled for International Fight Week the following summer before McGregor pulled out with a toe injury.
So any opponent other than Chandler will certainly leave the American feeling fairly hard done by. Having said that, the UFC is always wanting to put on the best fights that are both merited by rankings and wins – and when that is not applicable; what the fans actually want.
Chandler is coming off of consecutive losses against Charles Oliveira and Paddy Pimblett. And although he would still make a more than worthy opponent to McGregor, there is something about turning back the clock a decade or so, back to the peak of McGregor’s powers, as he started his ascent to worldwide fame.
Diaz had that incredible underdog submission win over McGregor back in March 2016, before the Irish native got his own back in a decision win that same August, a few months later.
A third fight would not only face off two men who have both been out of the sport for multiple years – thus cancelling out any “activity” advantage one might have over the other – but would be the third and final bout in one of the most talked about, historic sagas in the history of mixed martial arts.
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