If not for the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s making an example of Nick Diaz, we could have seen a very different McGregor vs. Diaz bout at UFC 196.
The main event of the March 5 card will see ‘The Notorious’ go head-to-head with Nate Diaz after the UFC were left seeking a short notice replacement when Rafael dos Anjos was forced off the card with a foot injury.
Nate Diaz hasn’t fought at welterweight in five years but will fight McGregor at 170 lbs due to his inability to cut to lightweight on 11 days’ notice.
Nick Diaz is much more at home at welterweight than his younger brother and it could well have been the more experienced sibling welcoming McGregor to 170 lbs if not for a suspension.
Diaz is currently serving a retroactive 18 months ban, reduced from five years, for testing positive for marijuana metabolites in his post-fight drug test after UFC 183 last January.
After the heated press conference on Wednesday night, Nick was asked whether he would be ready to fight McGregor if Nate were to fall out at the last minute and despite it being an impossibility due to his suspension, he certainly sounds up for it.
The ban comes to an end this summer so, who knows, McGregor could end up facing both Diaz brothers in the same year.
