- Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor faced each other twice and traded victories in 2016
- McGregor broke his tibia during his fight with Dustin Poirier in the summer of 2021
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
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MMA star Nate Diaz has called on the UFC to “release” rival Conor McGregor as the Irishman struggles to book his long-awaited return fight.
McGregor, who broke his tibia against Dustin Poirier in July 2021, recently expressed his frustration with the promotion as he eagerly attempts to return to the Octagon.
On Saturday, Diaz took to X (formerly Twitter) to sympathize with McGregor. Diaz reposted a quote from his enemy and related it to his own experiences.
“That was me for years before Conor even came along,” Diaz wrote. “They want you to die before they get out of these contracts, it’s up to you to do something pop.” No one but you will help you.
“Free Conor,” he continued. “It’s St. Patty’s Day in this bitch.”
Nate Diaz sympathizes with Conor McGregor, who is struggling to book his UFC return fight
McGregor has not fought in the Octagon since breaking his tibia in the summer of 2021
McGregor’s comeback fight is expected to take place against No. 6 lightweight contender Michael Chandler. The UFC had them training against each other on a season of The Ultimate Fighter in 2023, apparently to hype the upcoming fight.
In December, McGregor announced that he would fight Iron Mike at International Fight Week in July, but the UFC has yet to make that official. Earlier this month, he also revealed that he had requested to fight Chandler in July and then close out his trilogy with Diaz on Mexican Independence Day in the Sphere.
“I was hoping for a December date, then a January date, and then it keeps getting pushed back,” McGregor said in the quote reposted by Diaz. “Then I lose interest and stop training for a while. I don’t stop training (completely), I still train, but I stop training completely and (start) drinking a little.
“So I’m going to go back, regroup, get fully tested and get ready to rock.” The date will come and then I will be ready to rock.
McGregor set to face Michael Chandler in his next fight as fans await his return
Diaz submitted McGregor at UFC 196 before McGregor avenged the defeat five months later
Their rivalry began when Diaz called out McGregor before fighting him on short notice in 2016. Diaz, who replaced Rafael Dos Anjos, shocked the world by submitting McGregor in the second round.
Four months later, McGregor earned a majority decision to even his score on his way to winning the lightweight title against Eddie Alvarez later that year.
In McGregor’s absence, Diaz left the UFC after winning the final fight of his contract against Tony Ferguson in September 2022. He has since boxed Jake Paul and recently booked to box his former UFC fighter Jorge Masvidal June 1st.
McGregor has two fights left in a six-fight contract he signed before facing Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018. After returning from his boxing bout against Floyd Mayweather, the former champion lost to Nurmagomedov and won against Donald Cerrone before a back-to-back TKO. defeats against Poirier.