INQUISITR.COM / Sports

Conor McGregor Will Not Fight Nate Diaz At UFC 200, Dana White Says

By Lindsay McCane
Published on: 13:53 PST, Apr 23, 2016

Conor McGregor will not be fighting at UFC 200, according to UFC president Dana White.

As ESPN reported, White revealed the news during a news conference on Friday, explaining that Nate Diaz will remain on the card for UFC 200, but he would not be fighting Conor McGregor, who announced, and then retracted, his retirement earlier this week.

“Everybody knows what’s been going on with the main event for UFC 200,” White said. “Nate Diaz will fight, and we’re gonna find him a new opponent.”

On Tuesday, McGregor said he was retiring, prompting the UFC to pull him from his scheduled rematch against Diaz at UFC 200 on July 9 after he refused to fly to Las Vegas to participate in his promotional obligations.

“We try to give as much leeway as we can on things, but you have to show up and promote the fight,” White said. “Is it too much to ask to try to shoot a commercial for the fight? A lot of these guys came here from different parts of the world. But, you know, these guys all came. They have better things to do, and they’re here. It’s part of the job.

“We gave Conor every opportunity in the world to get here, too,” White added. “We get criticized a lot for bending too much for Conor, and we do. Conor is a guy who has stepped up and fought big fights on short notice, and I respect Conor very much as a fighter, and I like him, but you have to show up and do this stuff.”

Nate Diaz was also in attendance during Friday’s news conference, and said he doesn’t want to fight anyone but Conor McGregor, who was obviously absent from the event.

“I came to fight Conor McGregor,” Diaz said. “I don’t really have too much interest in anybody else or interest in fighting at all,” Diaz said. “That’s what he wanted and I’m down for whatever. Like I said, I’m going to come here to fight, if we’re going to get that fight going. If not, I’m going on vacation for real. I didn’t ask for that fight but he asked for it, he wanted it. If that ain’t happening, I’m going on vacation.”

Likely in response to White’s comments, Conor posted a message on Twitter.

Dana White said they are currently seeking another opponent for Nate Diaz, but Diaz insists he will still be taking on McGregor at UFC 200, according to MMA Fighting.

“He’s got a lot of catching up to do, so there ain’t no time for this sh*t,” Diaz said. “I’ve been dodging all this for years, I’ve been in trouble for it. So I understand, it’s all good. Let him do his thing, get his train on and get ready to fight. It’s all good with me.”

“I’m training to fight at UFC 200 against Conor McGregor,” Diaz added. “That’s what I’m training for.”

Conor McGregor shared a Facebook post on Thursday, defending his decision to not take part in the UFC promotional events. He also explained that he was still prepared to fight at UFC 200, and was not retired.

“I am just trying to do my job and fight here,” McGregor wrote. “I am paid to fight. I am not yet paid to promote.
I have become lost in the game of promotion and forgot about the art of fighting.”

“It is time to be selfish with my training again. It is the only way,” McGregor continued. “I feel the $400million I have generated for the company in my last three events, all inside 8 months, is enough to get me this slight leeway.
I am still ready to go for UFC 200.”

[Photo by John Locher/ Associated Press]

Share this article: Conor McGregor Will Not Fight Nate Diaz At UFC 200, Dana White Says
ufc mma Nate Diaz dana white Conor McGregor
More from Inquisitr