UFC star Nate Diaz has suggested Conor McGregor's famed trash talk is scripted in advance.
The American spoke to ESPN's SportNation on Thursday and is anticipating the Irishman will have lines prepared should they meet in the Octagon again. Per MMA Fighting, he said: "He's got his little moves, so he's probably got a bunch of stuff lined up. But there is not much to say."
Further, he told FOX Sports' At the Buzzer on Wednesday (h/t Marc Raimondi of MMA Fighting, contains NSFW language): "It seemed like a lot of scripted stuff was going on. Maybe he was serious about what he was saying, but it sounded like some bulls--t to me."
Here's the full video (contains NSFW language):
Come hang LIVE with @TheBuzzer's Andy Nesbitt and UFC star Nate Diaz! ????
Posted by UFC on FOX on Wednesday, 23 March 2016
The build-up to their fight at UFC 196 was punctuated by Notorious' relentless barbs at Diaz's expense, per Mike Bohn of Rolling Stone (contains NSFW language), with the outspoken and cocksure Irishman expecting to win with consummate ease.
Diaz, of course, emerged victorious with a second-round submission, per BT Sport UFC on Twitter:
Morning fight fans, relive the moment @NateDiaz209 stopped @TheNotoriousMMA at #UFC196. https://t.co/hUXlvQZwFH
— BT Sport UFC (@btsportufc) March 7, 2016
As noted by MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani, the pair are expected to fight once again with the rematch slated for UFC 200 on July 9.
BT Sport UFC shared a timeline of the two fighters' careers leading up to the possible rematch:
McGregor vs. Diaz rematch at #UFC200? ?? pic.twitter.com/T1bX9GfiO7
— BT Sport UFC (@btsportufc) March 18, 2016
According to TMZ, McGregor is open to stepping into the Octagon with Diaz once more, while the American is unlikely to turn down a hefty pay day given the hype such a fight would inevitably attract.
Bleacher Report's own Jonathan Snowden welcomed the prospect of the two meeting again and believes McGregor fared better than many fans have given him credit for:
Y'all, I love the idea of a Nate Diaz-Conor McGregor rematch. The first fight was bonkers. You can disagree w/o being rude and weird. Maybe?
— Jonathan Snowden (@JESnowden) March 18, 2016
This is legitimately baffling. McGregor did really well for much of that fight. https://t.co/bW3kHtWbrf
— Jonathan Snowden (@JESnowden) March 18, 2016
Snowden believes he could come out on top in a rematch:
I see people completely discounting the fact McGregor didn't train for or execute a plan to beat a Diaz. Within his skillset, it's possible.
— Jonathan Snowden (@JESnowden) March 21, 2016
MMA Junkie's Chamatkar Sandhu would prefer to see McGregor take on Frankie Edgar instead, while fans seem split on the issue, per BT Sport UFC:
I get why the UFC would want to have Conor McGregor vs Nate Diaz headline UFC 200. I, like many, would personally prefer McGregor vs Edgar.
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) March 18, 2016
Is @NateDiaz209 vs. @TheNotoriousMMA II a fight you want to see at #UFC200?
— BT Sport UFC (@btsportufc) March 18, 2016
It seems as though Snowden rather than Sandhu will be getting his wish. It's possible Notorious will use a different approach in the run-up to their rematch having been beaten the last time they met.
However, it's equally possible the war of words will only reignite if and when the rematch is confirmed, particularly following these comments from Diaz.
