MMA sensation Nate Diaz has raised his voice, urging the UFC to ‘free’ his longstanding rival Conor McGregor. The Irish MMA star has been grappling to secure his much-anticipated comeback bout.
Following his tibia fracture during his clash with Dustin Poirier in July 2021, McGregor took an extended hiatus from the MMA scene in order to recover. Recently, he has been vocal about his frustrations with the promotion and wants to return to the Octagon.
In a recent social media post on X, Diaz expressed solidarity with McGregor’s plight. He reposted a statement made by McGregor, drawing parallels to his own journey.
Reflecting on his struggles, Diaz wrote: “This was me for years before Conor even got there. They want u to die before u get out [of] these contracts it’s up to u to make something pop. No one gonna help you but you.”
He continued: “Free Conor. It’s St. Patty’s day in this b**ch”
McGregor’s comeback match is anticipated to feature him against Michael Chandler, who is currently ranked sixth in the lightweight category. The two appeared in the TUF reality series in 2023 as coaches for opposing teams. After the show ended, the two rival coaches were expected to face each other in a match.
In a previous announcement in December, McGregor had disclosed plans to face Chandler during International Fight Week in July. However, the UFC has yet to confirm the match officially. Furthermore, McGregor hinted at a desire to confront Chandler in July before concluding his trilogy with Diaz on Mexican Independence Day at the Sphere.
Expressing his frustration, McGregor stated: “I was hoping for a December date, then a January date, then it keeps getting pushed back. Then I lose interest and stop training for a while. Not stop [completely] stop training, I’m always training, but stop full training and [start] drinking a little bit.”
“So I’m going to go back, regroup, get full tested, and get ready to rock. The date’s going to come and then I’ll be ready to rock.”
Their storied rivalry between Diaz and McGregor traces back to Diaz’s call out to McGregor in 2016. He then stepped in for Rafael Dos Anjos. Diaz surprised the world by submitting McGregor in the second round.
However, McGregor swiftly evened the score four months later against Diaz. He ended up securing the match by a majority decision and later winning the lightweight title against Eddie Alvarez.
During McGregor’s hiatus, Diaz bid farewell to the UFC after winning against Tony Ferguson in September 2022. Since then, he has ventured into boxing. He recently faced Jake Paul and is currently scheduled to lock horns with former UFC star Jorge Masvidal on June 1.