UFC 249 ‘will lead to Conor McGregor vs Nate Diaz trilogy bout on Dana White’s Fight Island’
TONY FERGUSON'S potential fight with Justin Gaethje at UFC 249 on May 9 could reportedly lead to a trilogy bout between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz.
The coronavirus pandemic forced Ferguson's planned match-up against Gaethje last weekend to be postponed, with the duo expected to get in on next month in Florida.
If a dust-up in the Sunshine State fails to materialise, then Dana White could stage the events at his "Fight Island", with the UFC president claiming his private island will be ready to host fights in the near future.
And one of those potential fights could be a trilogy clash between McGregor and Diaz, with the pair both holding a win each against the other.
Diaz inflicted the Irishman's first defeat in UFC after he shocked the world to win via a rear-naked choke in the second round of their welterweight contest at March 2016.
The Notorious then won their rematch in August later that year in a bloody affair that McGregor edged out on a majority decision.
After three years of inactivity, Diaz returned to the Octagon in August last year with a points win against Anthony Petits, before he was beaten by Jorge Masvidal in November after a doctor rendered him unable to continue in the fourth round.
McGregor also returned from a break from MMA with a stunning first round knockout win against Donald Cerrone in January.
And according to ESPN's Ariel Helwani, the duo could be braced for a third fight should the bout between Ferguson and Gaethje take place.
He explained: "If Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje actually happens on May 9, I feel like Nathan Diaz will be the big winner. How so? Well, let's say Ferguson beats Gaethje.
"That should guarantee a Ferguson-Khabib Nurmagomedov fight in the fall, right? It would also knock Gaethje out of a top rankings spot. Who was Gaethje supposed to fight in July? Conor McGregor.
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"No chance they do that fight if Gaethje is coming off a loss, right? OK, what if Gaethje wins, you ask? Then he fights Nurmagomedov, right? Again, freeing up McGregor.
"Now, in this scenario they could do Ferguson vs. McGregor, but I also feel like either May 9 scenario opens the door to make the trilogy fight between Diaz and McGregor.
"So, if May 9 actually happens, don't be surprised if Diaz emerges as a player in the McGregor sweepstakes."