Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz ‘set to end bitter feud and have trilogy bout on Dana White’s Fight Island’ should Tony Ferguson beat Justin Gaethje in main event at UFC 249
- Tony Ferguson’s fight with Justin Gaethje could set up McGregor vs Diaz III
- Should Ferguson win, it would cause a domino effect with future fights
- One of them would be Conor McGregor against his bitter rival Nate Diaz
- Reports suggest the two will settle their rivalry on Dana White’s ‘Fight Island’
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz could settle their bitter rivalry on Dana White’s ‘Fight Island’ this summer, according to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani.
A third fight between the pair would come as a result of Tony Ferguson’s headline bout with Justin Gaethje at UFC 249.
The event, which has been rescheduled for May 9 due to the coronavirus pandemic, is expected to take place in Jacksonville, Florida should there be no further set-backs.
Conor McGregor (right) and Nate Diaz (left) could settle their bitter rivalry on ‘Fight Island’
Tony Ferguson’s (L) fight at UFC 249 with Justin Gaethje (R) could set up McGregor vs Diaz III
If the deadly virus continues to halt proceedings, UFC president White has claimed that future fights will instead take place on a private island, which is said to be ‘up and running by June’.
Should it come to fruition, the new location will see a potential mouth-watering third clash between McGregor and Diaz.
McGregor and Diaz have a long history, having already fought twice with it level at one apiece.
Diaz choked McGregor out in their first encounter at UFC 196 before the Irishman responded with a victory of his own at UFC 202.
With the pair now back in action following lengthy absences from the octagon, a fight could now be on the cards should Ferguson win at UFC 249.
Dana White is planning to stage future UFC fights on a private island ‘starting from June’
The UFC president is looking to find a way to host fights amid the coronavirus pandemic
ESPN’s Ariel Helwani explained: ‘If Tony Ferguson vs Justin Gaethje actually happens on May 9, I feel like Nathan Diaz will be the big winner. How so? Well, let’s say Ferguson beats Gaethje.
‘That should guarantee a Ferguson-Khabib Nurmagomedov fight in the fall, right? It would also knock Gaethje out of a top rankings spot. Who was Gaethje supposed to fight in July? Conor McGregor.
‘No chance they do that fight if Gaethje is coming off a loss, right? OK, what if Gaethje wins, you ask? Then he fights Nurmagomedov, right? Again, freeing up McGregor.
‘Now, in this scenario they could do Ferguson vs. McGregor, but I also feel like either May 9 scenario opens the door to make the trilogy fight between Diaz and McGregor.
Diaz (top) choked McGregor (bottom) out in their first encounter at UFC 196 in March 2016
McGregor (right) got his revenge over Diaz (left) at UFC 202 just a few months later
‘So, if May 9 actually happens, don’t be surprised if Diaz emerges as a player in the McGregor sweepstakes.’
McGregor himself also threw down the gauntlet to his rival, who has not fought since his defeat by Jorge Masvidal at UFC 244.
‘Let’s go Nathan, let’s go brother!’, McGregor said following his stunning 40-second victory over Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone.
‘Number three, it’s always here, so, we’re right here Nathan.’