White: 'After UFC 200, McGregor will defend the featherweight belt'

Conor (photo) will defend the featherweight belt only after UFC 200. Photo: Disclosure

UFC 200, an event to be held on July 9th, will feature an unusual situation. José Aldo e Frankie Edgar face each other for the interim featherweight belt, with the linear champion of the category, Conor McGregor, will also be present on the card, in a fight held in another weight division.

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McGregor will face Nate diaz in the main fight of the night, in a rematch of a fight that took place at the beginning of the month, won by the North American by submission. However, UFC president Dana White assured that this will be McGregor's last “adventure” before defending the featherweight belt for the first time. “Win, lose or draw against Nate diaz, he will face either José or Frankie next – whoever wins at UFC 200”, assured the director, in an interview with the North American broadcaster “ESPN”.

White stated that his original plan would be to have McGregor defend the belt at UFC 200, but that the Irishman's desire was different. “He was obsessed with facing Nate diaz again. Lorenzo [Ferttita, UFC partner] and I tried to convince him to go down to featherweight and defend the title. Or, if the rematch with Diaz happened, it would be at lightweight. And he wanted to fight at welterweight. Even his coach tried to make him forget about this rematch, but it was what he wanted,” he explained.

McGregor and Diaz were in the main fight of UFC 196, on March 5th. After dominating the first round, the Irishman lost his performance in the second round and was finished with a rear naked choke. That was his only defeat in the UFC to date.

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