Conor McGregor reacts to Nate Diaz’s message of solidarity: ‘That’s a real fighting man’

Conor McGregor appreciated the assist of an previous rival in his pursuit of a UFC return.

This previous Sunday, Nate Diaz prolonged a stunning St. Patrick’s Day olive department to McGregor when he tweeted out a message of solidarity for the previous two-division UFC champion. In response to McGregor’s mounting frustrations with the dearth of reports concerning his comeback battle, Diaz known as upon the UFC to “free Conor” and expressed empathy for the Irishman’s plight. Contemplating that he and Diaz share probably the most storied rivalries in MMA historical past, McGregor didn’t anticipate finding his previous foe in his nook, however he welcomed it.

“Nate is nice. If you share back-to-back knocks — we had actual, actual fights. That’s an actual preventing man, the 2 brothers are actual preventing males,” McGregor stated on The MMA Hour.

“I all the time had the very best respect for the 2 lads, and f***, I used to be a fan of the lad. I used to be a fan of them, after which I obtained to share the octagon with them — we had wars, we boxed one another round. And I recognize it, recognize [the support]. I want him effectively, all the time. I’ll all the time want to see previous opponents and future opponents — potential future opponents once more — to see them do effectively. And what a monumental second that will likely be, after we get that [trilogy fight] completed. So I’m excited for it.”

McGregor, 35, and Diaz, 38, infamously fought twice in 2016, with Diaz profitable the primary bout through rear-naked choke as a short-notice alternative and McGregor claiming the rematch by majority resolution. Eight years later, each fights — at UFC 196 and UFC 202 respectively — stay two of the highest-selling pay-per-views in MMA historical past.

Diaz’s message on St. Patrick’s Day echoed McGregor’s latest frustrations over his lack of ability to get a date formally on the books for his UFC return. Diaz discovered himself in an analogous state of affairs on the finish of his personal UFC run — with just one battle remaining on his contract, Diaz in the end needed to publicly go to war with the promotion as a way to land his UFC 279 swan track and turn out to be a free agent. McGregor presently has two fights left on his UFC deal, and Diaz couldn’t assist however discover the similarities within the two conditions between rivals.

“This was me for years earlier than Conor even obtained right here. They need [you] to die earlier than [you] get out these contracts. It’s as much as you to make one thing pop. Nobody gonna allow you to however you.

“Free Conor, it’s [St.] Patty’s Day on this b****.”

McGregor’s fortunes seem to have modified in latest days, nonetheless. “The Infamous” informed MMA Combating’s The MMA Hour on Wednesday that he finally has a summer date set for his UFC return towards Michael Chandler. McGregor stated the battle is simply step one in all a two-step plan that he hopes will enable him to compete twice in 2024, with the second bout focused for the UFC’s debut journey to The Sphere in Las Vegas on Sept. 14 for UFC 306.

McGregor beforehand recommended that the long-awaited trilogy match between he and Diaz function the headliner for UFC 306, nonetheless UFC CEO Dana White shortly nixed that concept.

McGregor isn’t fairly positive why.

“The chilly water, [White threw] chilly water it immediately,” McGregor stated. “That’s large. That, to me, has The Sphere written throughout it. Mexican Independence Day. Nate Diaz is an American Mexican and a beloved fighter and an actual fighter. Now, he’s arduous to take care of with the lads [UFC executives], and I don’t know all of the ins and outs, to be trustworthy — and I do know the lads are arduous to take care of additionally. So I feel it’d be wonderful and it might swimsuit me beautiful — the date in summer season and into September, I imagine I get my two fights on this yr.”