Conor McGregor targets more UFC gold and Nate Diaz trilogy after Chandler fight

Conor McGregor is targeting a title shot at welterweight should he get past Michael Chandler in his comeback bout later this year – while he says a trilogy bout with Nate Diaz will happen.

The former two-division champion, 34, will make his highly anticipated return to the UFC against Chandler after this summer, with the two just wrapping up filming the next series of The Ultimate Fighter, in which they serve as rival coaches.

Although there has been no confirmation of where and when the bout will take place, and at what weight, McGregor said on Wednesday that 170 lbs is most likely. The former featherweight and lightweight champion has not competed since sustaining a serious leg injury in July 2021.

Speaking to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, McGregor said he planned to attend this weekend’s UFC 286 in London, where welterweight champion Leon Edwards defends his crown in the trilogy clash with former belt-holder Kamaru Usman.

“Yeah, I’d like [a welterweight title shot],” the Irishman said. “I would like that.”

McGregor, who has competed three times previously at welterweight, said the fight with Chandler could be held in Las Vegas, New York or AT&T Stadium in Dallas, or even London. He also said he could envisage competing in the UFC twice before the year is out.

McGregor’s most recent appearance was at UFC 264 in Las Vegas two summers ago, when he suffered a broken leg right at the end of the first round in his third encounter with Dustin Poirier.

Conor McGregor is carried off on a stretcher following an injury suffered against Dustin Poirier during UFC 264 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Conor McGregor after suffering an injury.
Conor McGregor moves in for a hit against Dustin Poirier during UFC 264.
Conor McGregor lands a hit against Dustin Poirier.
Conor McGregor following his ankle injury.
Former US President Donald Trump attends UFC 264.

Meanwhile, McGregor is confident he will close out his rivalry with old foe Diaz. The pair traded victories in two of the most high-profile UFC bouts in history, in 2016, although Diaz has since left the promotion.

On Wednesday, McGregor said he and Diaz were initially approached to coach opposite one another on the upcoming The Ultimate Fighter 31. The series is set to begin airing in May.

“The Ultimate Fighter just kind of presented itself,” McGregor said. “It was originally for me to be against Nate. It was me versus Nate. I did not mind who it was against, to be honest. Nor do I mind who I compete against, that’s widely known.

“I had agreed to it, it was Nate. It was a day or two before and now it’s Chandler. I’m not sure what went down on that end. It was me versus Chandler and I have no problem with it; I’m happy with it. It’s going to be a good bout for sure.”

On the Diaz trilogy, McGregor added: “No, I’ll get that again. That trilogy will happen at some stage, for sure. He was gone [from the UFC], but he was still doing the show. That’s all politics.

"We must fight. We’re one-apiece. It’s a great rivalry and it was a great fight. We’ve got to square that away, for sure. Am I a person not to get the fights made and done and happen? Look at all the fights I’ve had.

"When I say it, it happens. I have a load of bouts left in me. A lot of [my] story is incomplete. I’m excited to continue on and get them done.”

Results

5pm Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m

Winner No Riesgo Al Maury, Szczepan Mazur (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)

5.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m

Winner Marwa W’Rsan, Sam Hitchcott, Jaci Wickham.

6pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m

Winner Dahess D’Arabie, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi.

6.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m

Winner Safin Al Reef, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi.

7pm Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 2,200m

Winner Thulbaseera Al Jasra, Shakir Al Balushi, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.

7.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh 80,000 2,200m

Winner Autumn Pride, Szczepan Mazur, Helal Al Alawi.

Traits of Chinese zodiac animals

Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent

UAE SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Ali Khaseif, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Adel Al Hosani

Defenders: Bandar Al Ahbabi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Mohammed Barghash, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Hassan Al Mahrami, Yousef Jaber, Salem Rashid, Mohammed Al Attas, Alhassan Saleh

Midfielders: Ali Salmeen, Abdullah Ramadan, Abdullah Al Naqbi, Majed Hassan, Yahya Nader, Ahmed Barman, Abdullah Hamad, Khalfan Mubarak, Khalil Al Hammadi, Tahnoun Al Zaabi, Harib Abdallah, Mohammed Jumah, Yahya Al Ghassani

Forwards: Fabio De Lima, Caio Canedo, Ali Saleh, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue, Zayed Al Ameri

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat

The Settlers

Director: Louis Theroux

Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz

Rating: 5/5

While you're here

Gavin Esler: Will 2021 be Boris Johnson's worst year?

Thomas Harding: US relations with Europe could change

Brodie Owen: How England’s new lockdown rules work

Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi

From: Dara

To: Team@

Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT

Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East

Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.

Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.

I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.

This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.

It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.

Uber on,

Dara