Conor McGregor, one of the biggest names in UFC, has a few potential opponents for his next fight: Michael Chandler, Justin Gaethje, and Nate Diaz. While all three matchups would be exciting to watch, UFC legend Chuck Liddell has a clear preference – he wants to see McGregor face off against Nate Diaz for the third time.
TMZ Sports caught up with Liddell at LAX this week and asked him about McGregor’s next fight. Liddell expressed his interest in seeing a rematch between McGregor and Diaz, stating, “All those would be an interesting fight, but I think Nate Diaz, run it back to do it one more time. That’d be fun to watch.”
Currently, McGregor is set to fight Chandler, who is coaching opposite him on “The Ultimate Fighter.” However, after Gaethje’s recent victory over Dustin Poirier, McGregor took to social media to call out Gaethje, sparking speculation about a potential matchup between the two.
And then there’s Nate Diaz, who recently lost a boxing match against Jake Paul. McGregor and Diaz have fought twice in the past, with each man winning one bout. Both fighters have expressed their desire to complete the trilogy, making it a highly anticipated matchup that could potentially be the biggest in UFC history.
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Liddell believes that a fight between McGregor and Diaz would be both entertaining and competitive. “It will be fun. I think it will be real competitive, I think it’s a good one to come back to,” he said. The Iceman clearly favors this matchup out of the three options.
During the interview, Liddell was also asked about Jake Paul’s claim that he could beat Nate Diaz with 8-9 months of MMA training. Liddell expressed doubt in Paul’s understanding of the difference between boxing and mixed martial arts. “That tells me [Jake] just doesn’t understand the difference. He has no clue what the difference between MMA and boxing,” Liddell said.
Liddell went on to explain some of the challenges that come with transitioning from boxing to MMA. He highlighted the different stances, the addition of kicks, and the need to adapt one’s fighting style. “There’s a different stance, everything changes. You add kicks, you gotta change your stance, you can’t stand in boxing stance. I hit you so, it hurts so bad in the first round, you got one round to knock me out,” Liddell elaborated.
Despite Liddell’s skepticism, Jake Paul has reportedly offered Nate Diaz $10 million for an MMA fight in the Professional Fighters League (PFL). It remains to be seen if Diaz will accept the offer or if the potential matchup will come to fruition.
As fans eagerly await McGregor’s next opponent, the possibility of a trilogy fight between McGregor and Diaz continues to generate excitement. McGregor and Diaz have provided fans with memorable battles in the past, and the hope for a thrilling conclusion to their rivalry remains strong.
In the end, it is up to McGregor and the UFC to decide who his next opponent will be. Whether it’s Michael Chandler, Justin Gaethje, or Nate Diaz, it’s clear that there are plenty of enticing options on the table. Until then, fans will continue to speculate and debate, eagerly anticipating McGregor’s return to the octagon.
