NATE DIAZ INSISTS that the decision to hand Conor McGregor an opportunity to avenge his recent loss is proof that the Irish fighter enjoys preferential treatment from the UFC.
Diaz submitted McGregor at UFC 196 last month but the pair will meet again in Las Vegas on 9 July in the main event at UFC 200, a bout which was announced late on Wednesday.
Writing in his column here on The42 yesterday, John Kavanagh, McGregor’s coach, said the featherweight champion chased the rematch as he’s keen to make amends for his first professional defeat in over five years. UFC president Dana White added that McGregor is “obsessed” with the idea of facing Diaz again.
However, when asked by Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports if McGregor’s desire to secure a rematch has increased his respect for the Dubliner, Diaz gave an emphatic response.
The 30-year-old explained that he hasn’t been quite as fortunate when it comes to seeking redemption for past defeats. Diaz has lost eight times in the UFC but the only result he was given a chance to avenge was a split decision against Gray Maynard in 2010. Diaz reversed that outcome via first-round TKO nearly four years later.
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“I’m sick of hearing this shit,” said Diaz. “Everybody’s talking that. Even Dana White is pushing it out there that they admire this. Yeah, 100% [McGregor] wants redemption, but guess what? I’ve been 100% on redeeming myself in every loss I’ve had. [The UFC] were like, ‘Don’t even call. You’re not getting a rematch’. It wasn’t even a consideration.
“I don’t want to hear any more praise about that [expletive] wanting a rematch. Of course he wants a rematch, which is how you should be if you get your ass whipped by anyone. If you don’t feel like that, you shouldn’t even be in this [expletive] game. Redeem himself? [Expletive] no! He’s lucky he’s getting a second chance.
“Me and a lot of other people who have lost before have never gotten that second chance. One and done. Lose a fight and you’ll never see that guy again. I wanted 10 rematches and I didn’t get those. So [expletive] no. He’s like a spoiled little kid. He should be thanking me for this [expletive] rematch.”
A dejected Conor McGregor following his defeat to Nate Diaz. Raymond Spencer / INPHO
Raymond Spencer / INPHO / INPHO
One rematch Diaz had been hoping to land in the aftermath of his triumph over McGregor was a shot at reigning UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos, who overcame Diaz by unanimous decision in December 2014.
“Without a question [I asked for a dos Anjos rematch], but they [expletive] want to baby McGregor,” Diaz said. “They give him whatever he wants. I decided I’m not going to hold out like everyone else. I’m going to get down to business, slap this [expletive] and then be on my way and get my rematches.”
Diaz was particularly critical of the UFC in a separate interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto: “I swear to God, the UFC thinks it was an accident or something,” he said, referring to his against-the-odds win at UFC 196. “They think it was an accident, and now they’re saying, ‘Let’s get Nate back in there and take him out before he gets any bigger’.
“Since that last fight, have you heard any praise for me from Dana or the UFC? None at all. How much praise has that motherfucker [McGregor] got? I’ve never lost a fight and not wanted to fight the guy 10 minutes later.
“The UFC is pumping him up again, saying he wants to redeem himself and giving him all this credit for it. It’s like, dude, I’ve been obsessed with every fight I’ve ever lost. This is a gift for him to get it right away. He’s saying he’s obsessed? Welcome to my life, motherfucker. That’s the game, and I’ve never gotten my losses back.”
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Diaz slams decision to grant rematch to 'spoiled little kid' McGregor
NATE DIAZ INSISTS that the decision to hand Conor McGregor an opportunity to avenge his recent loss is proof that the Irish fighter enjoys preferential treatment from the UFC.
Diaz submitted McGregor at UFC 196 last month but the pair will meet again in Las Vegas on 9 July in the main event at UFC 200, a bout which was announced late on Wednesday.
Writing in his column here on The42 yesterday, John Kavanagh, McGregor’s coach, said the featherweight champion chased the rematch as he’s keen to make amends for his first professional defeat in over five years. UFC president Dana White added that McGregor is “obsessed” with the idea of facing Diaz again.
However, when asked by Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports if McGregor’s desire to secure a rematch has increased his respect for the Dubliner, Diaz gave an emphatic response.
The 30-year-old explained that he hasn’t been quite as fortunate when it comes to seeking redemption for past defeats. Diaz has lost eight times in the UFC but the only result he was given a chance to avenge was a split decision against Gray Maynard in 2010. Diaz reversed that outcome via first-round TKO nearly four years later.
“I’m sick of hearing this shit,” said Diaz. “Everybody’s talking that. Even Dana White is pushing it out there that they admire this. Yeah, 100% [McGregor] wants redemption, but guess what? I’ve been 100% on redeeming myself in every loss I’ve had. [The UFC] were like, ‘Don’t even call. You’re not getting a rematch’. It wasn’t even a consideration.
“I don’t want to hear any more praise about that [expletive] wanting a rematch. Of course he wants a rematch, which is how you should be if you get your ass whipped by anyone. If you don’t feel like that, you shouldn’t even be in this [expletive] game. Redeem himself? [Expletive] no! He’s lucky he’s getting a second chance.
“Me and a lot of other people who have lost before have never gotten that second chance. One and done. Lose a fight and you’ll never see that guy again. I wanted 10 rematches and I didn’t get those. So [expletive] no. He’s like a spoiled little kid. He should be thanking me for this [expletive] rematch.”
One rematch Diaz had been hoping to land in the aftermath of his triumph over McGregor was a shot at reigning UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos, who overcame Diaz by unanimous decision in December 2014.
“Without a question [I asked for a dos Anjos rematch], but they [expletive] want to baby McGregor,” Diaz said. “They give him whatever he wants. I decided I’m not going to hold out like everyone else. I’m going to get down to business, slap this [expletive] and then be on my way and get my rematches.”
Diaz was particularly critical of the UFC in a separate interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto: “I swear to God, the UFC thinks it was an accident or something,” he said, referring to his against-the-odds win at UFC 196. “They think it was an accident, and now they’re saying, ‘Let’s get Nate back in there and take him out before he gets any bigger’.
“Since that last fight, have you heard any praise for me from Dana or the UFC? None at all. How much praise has that motherfucker [McGregor] got? I’ve never lost a fight and not wanted to fight the guy 10 minutes later.
“The UFC is pumping him up again, saying he wants to redeem himself and giving him all this credit for it. It’s like, dude, I’ve been obsessed with every fight I’ve ever lost. This is a gift for him to get it right away. He’s saying he’s obsessed? Welcome to my life, motherfucker. That’s the game, and I’ve never gotten my losses back.”
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