'If you're Irish this is what you must say to Conor McGregor – he needs to stop running'
Conor McGregor is running away from a coveted trilogy fight with Nate Diaz, according to Jake Shields.
McGregor first met Diaz at UFC 196 back in May 2016, where he headed into the fight as a major favourite after compiling a seven-fight winning streak under the promotion. Never afraid of playing the villain, however, Diaz shocked the combat sports world when it took him just two rounds to wear the Notorious one down and submit him with a rear-naked choke, giving McGregor the third loss of his professional career and his first in the UFC.
An instant rematch ensued at UFC 202 in the August, where McGregor atoned for his loss by securing a majority decision win over Diaz after five hard-fought rounds. And while the two have not been able to secure a rubber match in the almost-decade since, Shields believes that it's all on McGregor's terms.
The long-time training partner of Diaz and former Strikeforce middleweight champion told Bloody Elbow: "I want to see Nate and Conor fight again, but Conor is being a b***h. Tell Conor to stop being a b***h.
"If you're Irish, tell Conor to stop being a b***h, tell him step the f*** up and fight Nate. Stop running. Everyone wants to see Conor and Nate bro, it's like the super trilogy, the biggest trilogy of all time.
"Two f***ing superstars, it's the fight everyone wants to see. Make the f***ing fight UFC, stop being cheapskates and make the fight."
There are several outside factors preventing Dana White and the UFC matchmakers from booking trilogy fight between McGregor and Diaz, however. McGregor hasn't fought since his 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier in which he broke his leg, and while he was supposed to return last June to face Michael Chandler, he pulled out on short notice as a result of injury.
(Image: Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Chandler is still insistent that should McGregor make a return to the UFC any time soon, the two must have their night under the bright lights before the Dublin-born star is matched up against anyone else. Speaking to Mirror Fighting about his hopes of fighting McGregor in November, Chandler said: "I still believe Conor comes back at some point, and when he does, that road goes through Nashville, Tennessee, and Michael Chandler.
"We have to finish TUF 31, we have to get a fight poster that actually comes to fruition for a fight, we have to get a contract that actually comes to fruition for a fight but either way if the fight with Conor never happens, I am completely content – I wish him well.
"But I have a sneaky suspicion Conor does not want to sail off into the sunset the way he has right now. He wants to come back and needs to come back for Conor McGregor's legacy."
(Image: 2023 Zuffa LLC)
Many fight fans have pondered whether McGregor will actually make a return to the fight game at all, given that he appears focused on promoting his Bare Knuckle FC promotion and is entering the twilight years of his MMA career at 36.
Diaz, meanwhile – who is the younger brother of UFC and Strikeforce legend Nick Diaz – also hasn't fought in mixed martial arts since his 2022 win over Tony Ferguson at UFC 279.
No longer a part of the promotion, Diaz has since ventured into the world of professional boxing. He suffered a unanimous decision loss to YouTube sensation Jake Paul in August 2023, before achieving a majority decision win over old UFC foe Jorge Masvidal last July.
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