Conor McGregor expects Nate Diaz trilogy but Jose Aldo rematch likely next
Conor McGregor has been elusive whenever he's been asked about what comes next after UFC 202 is finished.
UFC president Dana White didn't seem nearly as unsure on Wednesday when he said that McGregor would either return to featherweight to defend his title after his rematch with Nate Diaz is settled or he would surrender the belt all together.
"Yeah (defending the title) — or giving it up," White confirmed when asked about McGregor's future at featherweight.
It appears McGregor is finally on the same page as White with his focus shifting back to the featherweight division after he attempts to settle the score with Diaz on Saturday night.
McGregor won the 145-pound title last December, but hasn't yet defended it after getting embroiled in an intense rivalry with Diaz over the past six months.
Of course, McGregor expects to beat Diaz when they meet for the second time and that will likely set up a third fight down the road if the series is tied at one win a piece.
According to McGregor, the third fight with Diaz won't happen immediately, however, because he will turn his attention to a different challenger after this rematch is wrapped up.
"It won't be straight away but we will do it three times, 100-percent," McGregor said.
Assuming McGregor goes back down to featherweight after UFC 202, he's poised for a rematch with current interim champion Jose Aldo, who he knocked out with a single punch in their first meeting at UFC 194 last December.
While the McGregor-Aldo rematch seems like a lock after Saturday night, Diaz believes this is just another set up to give the brash Irishman a way out if he loses again at UFC 202.
"They're trying to make an escape route," Diaz said about McGregor's future.
Either way, Diaz will get the next crack at McGregor on Saturday night as the two fighters square off for the second time in what is expected to be one of the biggest cards of the year.
