It appears as though UFC 200 is on the verge of getting its main event.
The UFC is close to finalizing a non-title welterweight rematch between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz for the July 9 card, according to multiple sources. If all goes as planned, the promotion is hoping to announce the fight shortly.
Earlier this month, Diaz defeated McGregor via second-round rear-naked choke in the main event of UFC 196. The fight, which was put together on just 11 days notice after McGregor’s original opponent Rafael dos Anjos withdrew due to a foot injury, was a smashing business success for the UFC. It easily eclipsed one million pay-per-view buys and was the third-highest gate in the organization’s history.
The loss marked McGregor’s first in eight UFC fights, dropping his professional record to 19-3. Diaz, a nine-year veteran of the UFC, is now 19-10 and, most importantly, more popular than ever as a result of the win over McGregor on March 5.
And while the likes of Frankie Edgar and Jose Aldo have been campaigning to fight McGregor in July, the plan right now is for the Irishman to fight Diaz again after all.
Already reported for UFC 200, which will take place at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, are Cain Velasquez vs. Travis Browne and Gegard Mousasi vs. Derek Brunson.
