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Dana White All But Confirms Conor McGregor's Next Opponent

Dana White All But Confirms Conor McGregor's Next Opponent

And it won't be Nate Diaz

Joe Baiamonte

Joe Baiamonte

For those of you who were hoping to see Conor McGregor's return to the octagon come in a trilogy fight against Nate Diaz, prepare to be disappointed. Although not TOO disappointed, as the fight UFC fans will likely be getting instead could be a potential fight of the year candidate.

Following McGregor's venture into the squared circle to earn the biggest payday of his career against Floyd Mayweather, it was expected that the Irishman would return to the world of Mixed Martial Arts to conclude his unfinished business with Diaz, with the pair owning a victory over each other.

However, with McGregor not having defended his Lightweight title since he won it from Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 in November, Notorious is now expected to defend his title against interim champion Tony Ferguson, who chalked up his 10th consecutive victory, over Kevin Lee at UFC 216, this past weekend.

Ferguson submitted Lee with a triangle choke in the third round of their main event clash on Saturday night in Las Vegas to win the interim belt and now UFC President Dana White expects El Cucuy to be McGregor's next challenger.





Speaking to the press after Saturday's Pay-Per-View event, White said, "Nobody's talked about Diaz. Diaz has never been talked about. That's internet bullshit.

"Tony's the interim champion, Conor's the champion, that's the fight that makes sense. It's the fight that has to happen, it doesn't 'make sense,' it's the fight that has to happen."


Commenting on McGregor further, White confirmed that the Lightweight champion wants to fight again this year, which could set up a December clash with Ferguson at UFC 219 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on 30th December, with no main event currently set in stone for that card. Although a bout between Holly Holm and Cyborg has also been touted for to main event the end of year show.

"[McGregor] wants to fight again this year. He does want to fight again this year so he went and partied in Ibiza for a while, went back home for awhile, you gotta let him blow off some steam and then figure it out.

"Tony's a busy guy. He keeps coming forward, he keeps throwing all kinds of different things at you. And Conor's awesome.

"There's no way that's not a great fight. Impossible."

Ferguson himself fuelled talk of a bout with McGregor even further by calling out the Irishman immediately after his victory over Lee.



What do you make of White's plans? Would you rather see McGregor take on Diaz or Ferguson first?

Have your say in the comments section below and on our Facebook page.


Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Conor Mcgregor, Tony Ferguson, UFC, MMA, Dana White