Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz have been backed to complete the third instalment of their highly anticipated trilogy, but not in the UFC.
Diaz, 37, is now a free agent after seeing out the final fight on his UFC contract by submitting Tony Ferguson this past weekend. It was a fitting ending to the UFC veteran's 15-year stint in the promotion, setting a promotional record with his submission win and getting his hand raised for the first time in over three years.
Many fans were upset that Diaz's exit from the promotion means a third meeting with former two-weight champion McGregor won't take place in the octagon. McGregor, who is still recovering from his leg break and hasn't fought in over a year, suffered his first UFC loss when Diaz submitted him on 11 days' notice in March 2016. The pair met for a second time just months later as McGregor outpointed Diaz to avenge the defeat.
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Now-retired UFC legend Michael Bisping has backed the pair to complete their trilogy without the UFC's help, stating on the BT Sport post-fight show: "I don't know the status of his [McGregor's UFC] contract, but he's under contract. Until he's a free agent, they [McGregor and Diaz] can't entertain putting on their own promotion because I'm sure that's what they're thinking.
"Conor and Nate do it together, Paradigm Sports Management, Audie Attar [McGregor's manager], very smart people. Nate Diaz has probably got a great team. They could go off and do their own fight. Make it a mega-fight and split the pot, take it all to themselves. It's not that simple because Conor's still under contract. So, Nate might be sitting around for a few years. You know, there's too many pieces in the pie."
McGregor's UFC contract likely expires in October 2023, meaning until then Diaz will be able to entertain the trilogy fight with his rival outside of the UFC. Dana White insisted the idea of a third meeting between McGregor and Diaz outside of the promotion doesn't keep him awake at night and is unbothered if it did take place in the ring.
Diaz outlined his intentions to fight McGregor for the third time after beating Ferguson, but insisted it wouldn't be a trilogy if it took place in boxing as both of their previous fights took place in the UFC. "I would like to finish that trilogy for sure, he said. "But that wouldn't be a trilogy in boxing it would be a number one."
