Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz could end their octagon rivalry on UFC's 'Fight Island' sometime in June, with Tony Ferguson's fight with Justin Gaethje opening the way for the trilogy.
In just under two weeks time UFC is finally set to put on UFC 249, after the originally scheduled April 19th date was finally cancelled just a week before it was meant to go ahead.
Dana White is hoping to put on more UFC cards after May 9th and has claimed events will take place on a private island from June and it could play host to McGregor vs Diaz III.
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According to ESPN's Ariel Helwani, the Ferguson vs Gaethje interim lightweight title fight hints at the trilogy fight.
"If Tony Ferguson vs Justin Gaethje actually happens on May 9, I feel like Nathan Diaz will be the big winner," Helwani said.
"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.
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"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.
"So, if May 9 actually happens, don't be surprised if Diaz emerges as a player in the McGregor sweepstakes."
Ferguson was originally supposed to take on Khabib Nurmagomedov for the lightweight title on the show, the fifth time the two men were supposed to face each other but failed to do so, whilst McGregor's next fight was expected to be Gaethje.
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As Helwani's theory explains the Notorious will need a new future opponent whatever happens on May 9th and Diaz certainly makes a lot of sense.
The Stockton Slugger handed the Irishman his first defeat in UFC in March 2016 in their first meeting, McGregor's first fight at welterweight, before the result was reversed months later in their second fight.
A trilogy fight has been talked about ever since but Diaz took three years off from competition before returning last summer to defeat Anthony Pettis.
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He faced Jorge Masvidal for the BMF title in November, when the fight was controversially stopped, but hasn't competed since.
McGregor's last fight was at welterweight as he defeated Donald Cerrone in January at UFC 246.
Will 'Fight Island' actually play host to the highly anticipated trilogy fight in some time?
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