Cormier roots for McGregor vs. Diaz added to UFC 300

Former UFC champion, Daniel Cormier has suggested that Conor McGregor’s return should be headlining UFC 300 in a blockbuster fight, insisting on the need for a significant backstory and bad blood to draw in viewers. Already, a welterweight rematch between Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad has been linked to UFC 300, but Cormier does not believe the matchup has what it takes to be the main event for the day. 

In Cormier’s view, McGregor, the sport’s biggest star, should take the spotlight at UFC 300. He points to the potential trilogy with Nate Diaz, who recently hinted at settling the score in a face-to-face image with McGregor. Cormier sees the history and intrigue surrounding their previous bouts as a compelling storyline that would generate substantial interest.

“Regardless of who he would fight, the attraction comes with him,” Cormier states. “But if McGregor fights Diaz, that is what I believe draws the general fan in as much as anything that they could do in the UFC right now.”

Citing the financial success of their previous encounters and the allure of a rubber match, Cormier emphasizes that McGregor and Diaz, despite their evolved careers, still hold immense appeal. 

He said: “These two men, when you put them together, make a lot of money, and it is far enough out there to be considered an attraction. I also believe at this point in their careers, sure, Nate Diaz isn’t the guy that he was before. He’s not the guy that fought the most beautiful striking exhibit against Michael Johnson in Florida, where he went and said, ‘Conor McGregor, you’re taking everything I worked for.’ He’s not that same guy, but neither is Conor McGregor.”

Cormier is certainly not wrong about how appealing or attractive such a fixture would be, given the reputation of both fighters. Even though McGregor has been out of the sport for over two years now, he still continues to generate headlines and remains as controversial as ever. Diaz has been out since 2022. 

But as both men prepare for their return, doing it at an event like UFC 300 is what the UFC needs to win back fans who have been put off with subpar fixtures and want something fresh and exciting. 

Leon Osamor