Coach wants McGregor-Diaz rivalry settled at 155 lbs
John Kavanagh has found a fitting analogy for what's shaping up to be MMA's greatest rivalry.
After earning his revenge in a majority decision over Nate Diaz at UFC 202 on Saturday, Conor McGregor wants a rubber match. Diaz is just as game, stating he won't fight a soul until a tiebreaker is set.
Kavanagh, McGregor's head trainer, likened the beef to that of two iconic comic book characters.
"There's something Batman-Jokeresque about Conor and Nate," Kavanagh said on Ariel Helwani's "The MMA Hour" on Monday. "I think they're going to do this forever."
While the magnitude of the rivalry would make a trilogy seem all but imminent, UFC president Dana White has other plans. Minutes after McGregor's hand was raised in victory, White said McGregor's immediate future would involve his featherweight title, whether he defended it or vacated it.
Jose Aldo, who McGregor knocked out in 13 seconds to win the belt, claimed the interim title between the Irishman's clashes with Diaz two weight classes higher at 170 pounds. Aldo wants to avenge the embarrassing defeat in a unification bout, but Kavanagh sees little reason for his pupil to return to 145 pounds.
"With all due respect to the 45 guys, especially after that fight with Nate, what are they going to do? What's anyone going to do to him? I just think anyone he fights at that weight class, it's almost like he's cheating with the amount of power he has. He can make the weight, don't get me wrong about that. And he might do it, just to spite me."
McGregor has echoed his coach's opinion on several occasions, deeming it pointless to meet Aldo again after vanquishing him in such short order. He'd much rather settle his rivalry with Diaz at lightweight. Kavanagh agrees, although he envisions much higher stakes for their third fight.
"I think it would be nice for him to be the champion, get the belt at 55 and then defend it against Nate. I think that would be a pretty amazing fight. Maybe in Croke Park in Dublin. I'd push for that. How cool would that be?"
Of course, for Kavanagh's lofty wish to materialize, McGregor would likely have to relinquish the featherweight belt, then dethrone Eddie Alvarez for the lightweight strap.
- With h/t to MMAFighting