So much of the focus has been on what's next for Conor McGregor after he was defeated by Nate Diaz at UFC 196, but Stockton's finest not only earned himself a bumper pay-day as he put the brakes on a seemingly unstoppable hype-train, but surely he did his title prospects the world of good too, right?
That's certainly what Diaz himself thinks, as he wants to turn his massive win over McGregor into something tangible (other than increasing his number of Instagram followers by a quarter of a million, of course) and is eyeing a rematch with lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos as his next bout.
Speaking to Rolling Stone, Diaz revealed that if the fans want the McGregor rematch next, then he will give them what he want, but considering how he was treated in the past, he feels he is owed another title shot:
I lost plenty of decisions and I've never got a rematch to this day. So that's crazy. Conor got worked over and now they're saying rematch, which makes sense, I understand that. I just think it's funny because it's like, Jose Aldo didn't get a rematch.
Whatever the people are demanding is what I want.
Fights with Georges St-Pierre and Robbie Lawler were even touted after UFC 196, but Nate is insisting that he has no plans to face either of those opponents for feat that it would hinder the hopes of his big brother Nick.
Those are both great fights, big fights, but those are both my brother's fights. I'm not going to step on his shoes.
I'm not going to into his weight because everybody wants to see Nick vs. GSP or Nick vs. Lawler. I would like to fight for the Lightweight title. But if I did the 170 thing I would like them to work out the deal with Nick and I'll take the leftovers.
Rafael Dos Anjos made light work of Nate Diaz back in 2014, but the Brazilian is believed to be open to the idea of another go around with the younger Diaz despite telling the UFC he is ready to take on Robbie Lawler at welterweight.
Ariel Helwani reported during the week that the UFC had shot down Dos Anjos' plans of a super-fight with Lawler and prefer the idea of rewarding Diaz with a title shot, which could potentially take place at UFC 200.
For Conor, that would mean his first featherweight title defence against Frankie Edgar would seem a near certainty, although UFC 200 is running out of space on the most highly anticipated card that is still yet to have a single confirmed fight.
We'll bring you more on these potential fights as they develop.
[via Rolling Stone]
