Nate Diaz was at the UFC 200 launch presser in Las Vegas on Friday, with UFC President Dana White saying Diaz wanted to remain on the card after McGregor was pulled so they’ll give him a new opponent.
However, Diaz himself wasn’t too keen on any other opponent.
“I came to fight Conor McGregor, and I don’t really have too much interest in anybody else,” he said. “I don’t really have any interest in fighting at all, but if that’s what we’re going to do, we’re doing it… If that ain’t happening, then I’m going on vacation.”
There were lots of questions about whether or not the UFC would just make the Diaz-McGregor anyway despite McGregor not showing up this week, but Dana White tried to argue against it.
“I just don’t see how that’s fair,” White said. “[Diaz] came in from Stockton. [Jedrzejczyk from] Poland, [Jose Aldo from] Brazil. These people have come from all over the world… The fight’s three months away, that’s why we try to do this early so we don’t interfere in their fight prep. You think I don’t want to see Conor fight? But It’s not right; you can’t not show up for this stuff.”
Penick’s Analysis: Taking the hardline stance that “it’s not fair” and that “it’s not right” to book McGregor because he didn’t show up seems ridiculous. Dana says he didn’t want to screw Diaz over in the situation, but by not having that fight happen, Diaz loses his biggest payday and the main event slot on this card. The UFC is hurting themselves to spite McGregor and not give up any control.
[Photo (c) Mark J. Rebilas via USA Today Sports]
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