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22nd Dec 2015

Lightweight fighter claims UFC matchmaker has already set up next fight with Conor McGregor (Video)

This would pull in huge numbers...

Ben Kenyon

Everybody wants the big money, ‘red panties night’ fight with featherweight champion Conor McGregor right now.

No less than three fighters were clamouring for the chance to take on the slick-talking, big-punching Irishman in his next fight after Saturday night’s UFC event.

Lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos, featherweight contender Charles Oliveira and lightweight loud-mouth Nate Diaz all came out and said they want a crack at The Notorious.

But Diaz – who immediately called out McGregor after winning his three-round war against Michael Johnson – reckons he’s already been chosen by UFC matchmaker Joe Silva as the next man to face the Dubliner.

LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 12: Conor McGregor plays to the camera before his featherweight title fight against Jose Aldo during UFC 194 at MGM Grand Garden Arena on December 12, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

“He said it’s on!’ Diaz claimed. ‘We’re going to do this.”

“Hell yeah (UFC bosses) want it. Everybody wants that fight. … If people want to see a real fight, they know who to call.”

The lightweight had a message for McGregor – after his post-fight, expletive-laden diatribe against the Irishman was cut from TV.

“When we fight, we’re going to fight,” he told “Fight-fight. For real, fight. He thinks he’s the ninja. I’m the ninja. Ninja Gaiden. American Ninja. Real motherf**king ninja. This (is a) ninja martial artist right here. I started that sh*t. That sh*t came from Stockton, with us – me and my team.”

“American Ninja [vs] Irish Ninja. Bring that sh*t on.”

Diaz, who is a master of trash talking himself, can pull in pay-per-view numbers and alongside McGregor’s huge PPV draw it could be the big money, bad blood, high profile fight they’re looking for.