Conor McGregor recently joined the Weighing In podcast to talk about his upcoming main event rematch against former interim lightweight champ, Dustin Poirier, at UFC 257 next Saturday, January 23.
During the interview, McGregor talked about being open to completing the Nate Diaz trilogy sometime this year, possible opponents for him next, and the potential for a rematch with UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov.
“I also heard the other day, Dana did an interview with The Mac Life, and he was talking about Nate Diaz coming back to 155 pounds,” McGregor said. “So that would also be pretty amazing to complete the trilogy at lightweight possibly for a title.”
McGregor (22-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) added that if that fight doesn’t happen, there are still plenty of opponents that interest him coming up.
Weighing in co host, John McCarthy, asked McGregor which fighter excites him most thats ranked at the top of the lightweight division. In classic McGregor fashion, he replied “every single one of them.”
“Every single one of them John,” McGregor said. “I’d go through every single one of them back to back, and I’d have no qualms with who it is. I am happy for Dan Hooker and Michael Chandler in the co main event (for UFC 257),” adding, “If they’re next, they’re next. Obviously you got (Justin) Gaethje and (Charles) Oliveira in the mix as well. They may be competing also, and I’m excited about that. I want them all to be honest. Every single one of them.”
In addition, if UFC president Dana White can get lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, to come out of retirement in a meeting they’re supposed to have sometime this week, McGregor says that the rematch between them “must take place.”
“If the other guy (Khabib Nurmagomedov) comes back,” McGregor said. “If he has the balls to come back and step in. If he stops running away, we are here for that also. I know Dana’s gonna go over and try and speak to him and you can only pull the wool over someones eyes for so long before your true character shows. The fight must take place. If bouts are to happen, the fight must take place,” adding, “If we get to compete again, make no mistake about it, it will be a great fight and I will put on a show and I will show what’s really what. But if not, it is what it is.”
We will see what the future holds for McGregor, but first he faces a formidable opponent in Poirier (26-6 MMA, 18-5 UFC), who’s skillset has proven to be of championship caliber, time and time again throughout his 10 year career with the UFC.
The two men are set to rematch after first meeting six years ago, in a five round main event that has title contention written all over it. It will take place in Abu Dhabi’s newly built Etihad Arena. This will be one of the first fight cards to have fans in the arena since the COVID-19 pandemic started last March.
Source: Youtube.com
