Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz could finish epic trilogy WITHOUT the UFC and split money 50/50, says Michael Bisping
CONOR MCGREGOR and Nate Diaz could look to fight outside of the UFC, claims Michael Bisping.
The duo shared two epic fights in 2016 and only last week McGregor claimed their trilogy bout "will happen".
But now that Diaz's UFC contract has finally expired, the much-anticipated fight could take place outside of the promotion.
Diaz, 37, defeated Tony Ferguson via fourth-round submission on Saturday night and is widely expected to lace them up for a boxing match against Jake Paul next time out.
Former UFC champion Bisping, 43, believes that Diaz will look to make the most money possible - and that a quick return to the UFC may end up being the best option after all.
Speaking on his , the Brit said: "I thought he gave a great speech, I thought Joe Rogan handled the interview very, very well.
Read More MMA Stories
"He’s talking about boxing, he’s talking about jiu-jitsu. The reality is, Diaz is a global superstar, an absolute sensation, and he’s a very skilled mixed martial artist.
"So he can compete in jiu-jitsu, he can compete in kickboxing — not wrestling — but you might even see him doing bare knuckle boxing, you never know.
"He’s going to go wherever pays the most money. But the reality is… Diaz doesn’t have a lot of opportunities to earn the money that he does, outside of the organisation.
"Of course the big one, the obvious one, the one people are all talking about is boxing Jake Paul. That’s a one-off event, and who knows? It’s not guaranteed to do blockbuster numbers.
Most read in MMA
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
"It probably would. Diaz is a draw, Jake Paul is a draw, that fight would get a lot of buzz, but that would be one fight. Diaz is 37-years-old. His window of opportunity is closing all the time.
"So what? Maybe one big fight with Jake Paul. There’s not a lot of opportunity to earn blockbuster paydays, one after the other, after the other, like he does with the UFC."
Bisping then went on to add: "So that fight will probably happen, he’ll make some money, and then what? Bellator? One FC? Bare knuckle boxing? His own promotion?
"Of course there’s the third fight with Conor McGregor out there that everybody wants to see, and I’m sure he’s thinking Real Fights, that’s his promotion, going up against McGregor Sports and Entertainment.
"Them two fight each other, that’s a blockbuster fight, and then they get to split the pot 50/50, they make all the money.
"The problem is that Conor McGregor’s under contract with the UFC. I don’t know the status of his contract right now but he’s under contract and they’re probably going to offer him another sensational contract because Conor pulls in the biggest numbers of anyone.
"So what I’m saying is that fight probably won’t materialise anytime soon, and we’ll probably see Nate Diaz potentially re-sign with the UFC. That would not surprise me."
On Saturday night, McGregor, 34, took exception to Diaz's claim that he'd failed to take over the world of boxing.
The Stockton legend said: "I want to get out of the UFC for a little bit and show all these UFC fighters how to takeover and own up another sport how you're supposed to do it.
"Because Conor McGregor didn't know how to do it and none of these other fighters know how to do it."
I’d slap you around handy. And Tony easy. I’d have sawed Tony in half. 2 ham ball heads
Conor McGregor
In response, the Notorious tweeted: "Ah come on bro I’m absolutely stinking. And with so much quality.
"This has never been seen before what I’m doing man. Please, Your nothing with out me.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
"Respect, please. I’d slap you around handy. And Tony easy. I’d have sawed Tony in half. 2 ham ball heads.
"Respect the king."
