Former two division UFC champion Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz have fought each other twice before in the UFC, with Diaz winning at UFC 196 and McGregor winning at UFC 202.
While a third fight between the two hasn’t been announced yet, both do have a mutual goal, which is to see more weight classes added to the UFC.
“This is the game we’re in (weight cutting & media obligations). It’s a horrible, horrible part of the business, and if I could come in and help a situation like that, I believe I would like to come in and spearhead many more divisions in the game. So we can figure this whole situation out. There should be many more weights to choose from,” McGregor said to The Mac Life. “155 to 170, it’s a 15-pound gap. There’s definitely space for more divisions, and something needs to be done. Where we can keep an eye on the way people are cutting weight, and manage it. And make the sport more enjoyable for the athletes that are actually competing.”
The UFC currently has twelve weight classes, ranging from heavyweight (207 pounds and up) to women’s strawweight (115 pounds).
Diaz also would like to see more weight classes added to the UFC, which is something he says the promotion is planning on doing anyway.
“We’ll see [if I return at UFC 230], the ball’s in their court,” Diaz said to TMZ Sports. “We’ll see. I’m training to fight though, for sure. I’m trying to fight. They don’t want Dustin Poirier to fight at [165-pounds]. I’m like, ‘what the f*ck?’, alright well, who do you guys want then? Whoever wants it come get it. If they’re (UFC) trying to have me headline Madison Square Garden they don’t got nobody else. But they don’t want Dustin to fight so I’m down for whatever they want. All comers, bring it the f*ck on. No lames though. I’m starting a new weight class because I heard they already wanted to do it anyway, I’m like let’s get it poppin’. Now there’s a ruckus, they don’t want to do 165 I’m like, ‘what the f*ck? Because I said it? That’s what it is?’ Anybody who wants it at 165, we can do that because I’m training to fight and they’re trying to act like I’m not trying to fight or something. I’m like, ‘let’s do this sh*t’. So all comers bring it on.”
McGregor is returning to the Octagon for the first time in almost two years at UFC 229, while Diaz is back for the first time in over two years at UFC 230.
