Despite campaigning for a third fight literally moments after their second one ended, Nate Diaz appears to have lost his appetite for a third showdown with Conor McGregor.
Speaking on Chael Sonnen's You're Welcome podcast, Diaz reiterated his stance that he isn't chasing a rematch with McGregor because he believes he was the rightful victor in the main event at UFC 202 last weekend.
Both of the Diaz brothers are tough to read but, given that he likely earned in excess of $5 million for his second scrap with McGregor, you might have assumed that Diaz would be receptive to a third.
Apprently not.
I won the fight. I'm not jumping for joy for round three. I think I beat him twice and it's 2-0 as far as I'm concerned. If they want to do it down the road, I don't know but I'm not in a hurry, it's all good.
Is he playing mind games with the UFC and McGregor? Possibly so. Diaz was apparently non-plussed that he hasn't yet been offered a third fight with the Irishman, despite McGregor being offered a rematch just two days after their first fight.
I don't know. Remember the last time they rushed to his house the next morning and said he was all obsessed or whatever. I was pretty crazy about it for a couple of days. It's whatever to me.
Dana White has gone on record as saying that McGregor must defend his featherweight title against Jose Aldo next or risk having to abandon his title. 155lb champion Eddie Alvarez has also been touted as a potential McGregor opponent. Diaz thinks he knows why these fights are being linked.
[McGregor] and his coach know what happened in the fight. They're not stupid. They're going to another division and get onto a new page.
Most observers will say that a third fight between McGregor and Diaz is inevitable but both of the Diaz brothers have always been notoriously hard to read. Money talks in the fight game, so expect Dana White to have to open up the UFC's cheque book to make this one happen.
