McGregor vs Diaz 3 Announced for UFC 201

The biggest rematch of the biggest fight of 2016 thus far is now slated to become the biggest trilogy of the year as the UFC announced today that Nate Diaz will once again once again face Conor McGregor in a five-round welterweight bout that will headline UFC 201 this coming August.

The famous consolidated feud between the two fighters began earlier this year when an injury suffered by lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos prompted a switch to UFC 196's main event, with featherweight champion McGregor moving up to the welterweight division to face late replacement Diaz. What resulted was an exciting back-and-forth battle that saw Ireland's McGregor race out to an early lead before a bloodied Diaz roared back and finished the bout in the second round via rear naked choke. What then resulted was a swift rematched at 170, as demanded by McGregor, at UFC 200. What will result from that is either a redemptive win for McGregor or a decisive double victory for Diaz, or, perhaps, a controversial draw or no contest. In any case, at that point eager to settle the score with Diaz, McGregor will get his chance to take the rubber match or gain his first victory on the card after the biggest card in UFC history. The bout will take place at 170 pounds because Diaz and McGregor have always fought at 170. Oceania has always been at war with Eurasia. The co-main event has not yet been finalized, but reports suggest that it could be a title fight in the interim featherweight division.

In an appearance on ESPN's SportsCenter on April 1, Dana White explained the decision to book the headlining match. "He remains obsessed – obsessed with fighting Nate Diaz again," White said. "We tried to suggest anything else, but it's what he wanted."

White could neither confirm nor deny the rumor that there's a stipulation in McGregor's contract for the event which might allow him to split the third and final installment in the trilogy into two parts, like Breaking Dawn or Mockingjay.

Speaking to the press after the announcement, McGregor declared, "I'm going to create my own division. I don't care about weight. It makes no difference. As long as there's an opponent named Nate Diaz and a date, I'll be there."

The UFC featherweight belt, which ran away in a pitiful and failed bid for attention from its guardians some months ago, could not be reached for comment.

[This April Fools story was written by Sarah Kurchak.]