Kevin Lee says Conor McGregor should fight Nate Diaz next, then him later this year
UFC lightweight Kevin Lee suggested that Conor McGregor should fight Nate Diaz in a trilogy next, and then later this year he can fight Lee.
Lee hasn’t fought since last March when he lost to Charles Oliveira in Brazil, but after having double knee surgery, the veteran is ready to return to the Octagon in the coming months. He has been doing the media rounds in the lead-up to his comeback, and naturally, Lee was asked about the state of the lightweight division. Namely, McGregor and Poirier potentially fighting again. McGregor has been calling for a trilogy fight with Poirier after losing to him in the rematch at UFC 257. With the pair 1-1, both McGregor and Poirier have expressed interest in the trilogy especially since it figures to be a big pay-per-view seller. However, Lee doesn’t believe McGregor deserves to fight Poirier again. Instead, Lee says that the fight that makes sense for McGregor is a trilogy with Diaz. And after that, him.
“I think it makes sense for (McGregor) to go fight (Diaz) I know they’re talking about him and Poirier again, but that would be stupid, even on his end. I don’t think a lot of people come back from being knocked out and then in an immediate rematch get to win it. And it’s like, ‘Come on.’ Can we stop giving the guy so many, I mean, he gets a lot of benefits. He gets to call all his fights and avenge losses right away. I’ve had to wait to fight Tony Ferguson three years, really it be four years by the time I fight him, and he gets to do it right away. Go ahead, give him Nate Diaz, and then by the end of the year, then me and him can get it on. That sounds good to me,” Lee said (via MMAjunkie.com).
The UFC seems to be leaning towards booking the trilogy between McGregor and Poirier and considering the huge guaranteed payday that comes with that fight, it’s not a big surprise that’s the case. However, Lee did make some good points about McGregor and that, coming off of a bad loss, he really shouldn’t get to call his shot. With Diaz also coming off of a loss to Jorge Masvidal the last time we saw him in the Octagon, this does seem like the ideal time to book the rematch. And then, if McGregor wins, Lee’s hoping he’s next up.
Do you agree with Kevin Lee that Conor McGregor should fight Nate Diaz next?
