UFC star Nate Diaz had been playing hardball with the UFC over a deal to face Conor McGregor in a rematch at UFC 202.
But now he’s set to face the Dubliner in a welterweight rematch at Las Vegas’ new T-Mobile Arena on Saturday August 20.
The bout was confirmed to fans watching UFC 199 on Saturday night, but not until after a video emerged of Nate Diaz SLAPPING UFC president Dana White.
The original video shows Diaz slapping White, with the caption “#natediaz209 Getting deals done today #immagetmymoney #stocktonslapped #ufc @representltd #100”.
It also contains some extremely fruity rap lyrics, so we’ve gone with FOX Sports’ edited version instead.
Diaz and McGregor met at UFC 196 earlier this year, with the Californian submitting the Irishman in the second round after a breathless bout at the MGM Grand Garden.
It led to McGregor demanding a rematch under the same conditions, once again fighting at welterweight despite the Dubliner holding the UFC world title at featherweight – a full 25lbs lighter than the 170lb welterweight limit.
A deal was done and McGregor was all set to face Diaz in the main event of UFC 200, but after the Irishman refused to leave his training camp in Iceland to attend a press conference and promotional videoshoots in Las Vegas, UFC bosses pulled him from the fight card amid suggestions the Dubliner had retired from the sport in protest.
But after a series of social media statements by McGregor and television interviews by UFC president Dana White, the pair finally met over dinner in Los Angeles.
And following a similar meeting with Diaz and further negotiations, the rematch is officially back on.
The bout will form the main event of UFC 202 and will take place at the brand new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday August 20.
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