Footage captured the moment Nate Diaz began Conor McGregor rivalry with X-rated call out
Conor McGregor's rivalry with Nate Diaz is one of MMA’s best.
The UFC legends have famously swapped punches, kicks, and insults over the course of their two fights which have left fans desperate for a trilogy bout.
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However, it all started with one frustrated man and a microphone.
By December 2015, McGregor was the undisputed featherweight champion and the biggest star in MMA by knocking out Jose Aldo in 13 seconds at UFC 194.
One week after ‘Notorious’ picked up his most memorable win, Diaz beat up lightweight fighter Michael Johnson over three rounds before delivering an iconic post-fight speech.
Frustrated with McGregor’s quick rise from being on the dole to UFC superstardom, Diaz looked into the camera and sent an expletive-filled message to the Irishman.
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"Conor McGregor, you're taking everything I worked for, motherf*****. I'm gonna fight your f****** ass,” he shouted.
“You know what's the real fight, what's the real money fight - me, not these clowns that you already punked at the press conference.
“Ain't nobody want to see that. You know you can beat them already.
"It's an easy fight. You want the real s***, [I’m] right here."
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The callout, while entertaining, initially fell on deaf ears as McGregor pressed ahead with a lightweight title fight against Rafael dos Anjos who had recently beaten Diaz.
Just days before UFC 196 in March 2016, ‘RDA’ withdrew from his fight with McGregor due to an injury and Diaz’s recent rant earned him a short-notice shot at the ma he called out.
‘Mystic Mac’ was so confident he would handle Diaz, he agreed to take the fight at welterweight after spending his entire UFC career 25lbs below the division's weight limit.
On fight night, McGregor came unstuck as Diaz survived shots that had previously knocked everyone else ouy, forcing the fight to the floor in round two and locking up a rear-naked choke submission win.
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Several months later, the future Hall of Famer got his revenge but was made to work for it as Diaz pushed him to a five-round majority decision at UFC 202.
Seven years on, MMA fans are still clamouring for McGregor vs Diaz III.
The American recently distanced himself from the fight by leaving the UFC and agreeing to box YouTuber Jake Paul on August 5 in Dallas.
McGregor is still signed to the UFC, but his fighting future is unclear due to an ongoing injury layoff that started when he broke his leg at UFC 264 in July 2021.
The 35-year-old is booked to face Michael Chandler in his comeback bout, although that fight seems unlikely for 2023 due to an issue with the former dual-weight champion and USADA.
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McGregor recently suggested he’s open to switching his return opponent as he called out Justin Gaethje after he brutally knocked out Dustin Poirier at UFC 291.
It appears he would also be willing to fight Diaz if he re-signs with the UFC.
