If we believe Ariel Helwani, it's going to be McGregor vs Diaz II at UFC 200 and it's going to be at welterweight once again. If we believe Nate Diaz, that decision on the weight class is entirely up to McGregor and his ego.
There's absolutely no reason to doubt Helwani. He may have been the first to report it but everyone else with any credibility has rowed in behind and it's a matter of when and not if the rematch is announced. The weight class is yet to be finalised but, once again, it looks like McGregor is aiming for 170.
Why?
That's the question that's on so many fans' lips. Why would he give the advantage to Diaz? On the face of it, for those looking in from the outside, it makes no sense. Diaz was speaking between adverts on Fox Sports last week and even he appeared to confirm that he wants the fight at lightweight with only McGregor's ego seemingly standing in the way of the (presumably) natural weight class for the rematch.
There needs to be a healthy dose of scepticism when it comes to a leaked conversation like that but, if we're to take it on face value, it would certainly fit in alongside the narrative that we've been given. McGregor is seething at the defeat and wants the chance to get over it, and he wants to do it at the welterweight to prove he can.
In truth, even the most ardent of McGregor fans would have to question the wisdom of that. For MMA fans in general, it's borderline nonsensical, particularly when you see Gunnar Nelson, McGregor's SBG teammate, suggesting that he should take a step back down to 155.
The Icelandic welterweight was speaking to Sky Sports today and he was asked about those rematch reports and whether the bout would be at lightweight or welterweight. Nelson was fairly clear about where he sees his teammates immediate future.
I think lightweight would be good. It's not too much of a cut for him, and it's a step up from featherweight. I think lightweight is a nice weight for Conor, I believe that's his weight class.
That's an opinion that an awful lot of fans will agree with and much like Owen Roddy stated last week, even if McGregor does head up to welterweight once again, that's not necessarily an admission that his spell as featherweight champion is at an end.
Addressing the possibility of McGregor cutting weight back down to 145, Nelson believes 'he can make it again, if he wants to' and you'd have to think that the 'if he wants to' is the most important part of that statement.
