A Conor McGregor versus Nate Diaz welterweight rematch has been confirmed for UFC 200 on 9 July at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The featherweight champion from Crumlin will again fight the Californian at 170 pounds in a bid to revenge his second-round loss at UFC 196 in March.
Speaking on ESPN Sportcenter, UFC President Dana White said it’s the fight the Dubliner wanted: “He was obsessed, obsessed with fighting Nate Diaz again.
BREAKING: UFC 200 Main Event: @TheNotoriousMMA vs. @NateDiaz209 at 170lbs
— UFC Tonight (@UFCTonight) March 30, 2016
“Obviously, [UFC co-owner] Lorenzo [Fertitta] and I tried to argue with him and said, ‘Let’s go back to 145 [pounds] and defend your title. Or if you really want the Diaz fight that bad, do it at 155 [pounds]’.
“He wants the fight at 170. Even his coach tried to get him to get off the rematch and off the 170-pound fight but it’s what he wanted.”
Also confirmed for UFC 200 is Jose Aldo versus Frankie Edgar for the interim featherweight championship.
White said that McGregor's subsequent fight would be a bout against the winner of that contest for the featherweight belt, raising the tantalising prospect of rematch with Aldo, who he knocked out in 13 seconds to win the title at UFC 194 last December.
"Win, lose, or draw against Nate Diaz, he (McGregor) will go in and he will fight either Jose or Frankie," White said. "Whoever wins at 200."
