Essentially, it's all about the ego. With the rematch against Nate Diaz officially announced for UFC 200 last night, Dana White took to the airwaves to explain how and why they're returning to Diaz and 170lb for the showpiece event.
White explained to SportsCenter on Wednesday night that the UFC didn't want the fight to take place at welterweight, John Kavanagh didn't want the fight to take place at welterweight but McGregor was insistent and, as such, that's exactly what's going to happen.
An awful lot of fans will be asking why McGregor gets to call the shots despite the fact that he's coming off a loss and White was fairly up front with the fact that they're the perks that come your way when you've done what the Dubliner has over the past couple of years.
Conor McGregor is a guy who has had fights fall out seven days before he's supposed to defend his title and he steps up and he takes on all comers.
The guy fights anybody, anywhere, anytime. He's stepped up late notice and done these things. He wants this Nate Diaz fight, we'll give it to him. We'll make Frankie and Jose the interim title. Whoever wins that fight will then fight Conor McGregor for the true 145-pound title.
Edgar against Aldo for the interim title sounds all well and good but if McGregor goes in there in July and takes Diaz apart will he really return to featherweight? Georges St-Pierre wants a piece of McGregor at 170, Anderson Silva wants a piece of McGregor at 170. So can UFC really say no to those super-fights and expect the featherweight champ to defend his belt.
White was pressed on that possibility and he laid out exactly what's going to happen in the aftermath of UFC 200.
Yes, he will. Win, lose or draw in this fight against Nate Diaz, he will go in and he will fight either Jose or Frankie, whoever wins at 200.
Cue White and co. crossing their fingers and hoping that Edgar comes out on top and they can finally get the New Jersey native into the Octagon against McGregor in Madison Square Garden.
You can watch White's full breakdown of UFC 200 here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJmV95gVWew
