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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Farah Hannoun

Nate Diaz: Conor McGregor beats Michael Chandler, should fight Justin Gaethje instead

Nate Diaz thinks Conor McGregor should turn his attention to Justin Gaethje.

McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) is expected to square off with Michael Chandler following the conclusion of “The Ultimate Fighter 31,” which airs Tuesdays on ESPN until Aug. 15.

Not only does Diaz see Chandler losing to McGregor, he doesn’t think the fight will ever happen.

“Chandler is a nice a guy, but he’s going to get… he’s not going to win,” Diaz said in an interview with Mirror Fighting. “I don’t think they’re going to fight though. I don’t think those guys are going to fight. You think those guys are going to fight? There’s no bout agreement and just like the ‘BMF’ belt, they have nothing to entertain nobody.”

Following Gaethje’s (25-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) knockout of Dustin Poirier to claim the “BMF” title in Saturday’s UFC 291 headliner, McGregor expressed interest in facing “The Highlight,” and Diaz thinks that’s the direction his former rival should go.

“I think Conor and Gaethje should fight,” Diaz said. “I think that will probably be nice but Gaethje might just act like he’s too cool or something – but it shows how much of a nerd he is.”

Diaz isn’t sold on Gaethje and Poirier as “BMF” title challengers, and hasn’t changed his mind despite Gaethje’s spectacular finish.

“No, him and Poirier are dorks,” Diaz said. “They don’t fit the description in any way and Masvidal, too. The champions, they’re all kind of lame right now. There’s (Israel) Adesanya and Jon Jones. Besides that, there’s nobody that’s entertaining to watch.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 291.

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