Conor McGregor admits that he gets annoyed when Dana White pours a tub of cold water on a potential trilogy fight with Nate Diaz.
Diaz famously submitted ‘Notorious’ at UFC 196 in March 2016 before Conor McGregor got revenge in a five-round battle with his rival a few months later.
A third fight has been talked about ever since, but Diaz seemingly ended all hope of it happening by leaving the UFC when his contract expired in September 2022.
The MMA icon is now set to box former UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal in June, but both he and McGregor have expressed an interest in headlining UFC 306 at the Sphere in Las Vegas on September 14.
Dana White shut down the potential matchup at the UFC 299 post-fight press conference, with the promotion’s CEO insisting Mexican fighters would feature prominently given the nation would be celebrating its independence.
Conor McGregor admits he was frustrated by White’s immediate and complete dismissal of a fight that could break the UFC record for best-selling pay-per-view.
“I’ve got the Diaz trilogy, and that’s what I had said for the Sphere,” he told talkSPORT in an interview for a brand new MMA channel on YouTube.
“You know, there was cold water put on that in public off the bat and I wasn’t happy with that.
“I need a discussion or conversation because if I’m not getting anything back, I’ll just drift off.
“So, I hope I can get something in and get dialled in.”
Conor McGregor, who previously claimed June 29 is his return date, still hopes to compete during International Fight Week, which is headlined by UFC 303 and takes in the Hall of Fame induction ceremony even though White has shut that idea down, too.
He added: “I have two fights left on my UFC contract.
“I hope we’ll get some clarity with a date and I can push towards it.
“I’m sure we will get something in before year-end. I would love that [International Fight Week]. If they give me that and then we can go ahead straight away
“June 29th and then the Sphere. Then what? What happens then? I wonder if they know. There’s been no talk about anything.”
The former dual-weight champion hasn’t fought since breaking his leg during a trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
‘Mystic Mac’ has been booked to face Michael Chandler for more than a year, but White is yet to announce a date for the eagerly anticipated clash.
Issues behind the scenes appear to be preventing Conor McGregor’s Octagon return, and he’s been speaking publicly about his frustration with how negotiations are going.