Conor Mcgregor Will Not Fight Nate Diaz At UFC 200 As Saga Concludes

 

Conor McGregor's absence from UFC 200 has been confirmed after Jon Jones v Daniel Cormier was announced as the main event. McGregor was scheduled to rematch Nate Diaz at the July 9 showpiece but, after a dispute over media obligations, was officially withdrawn by the UFC.

The Irishman tweeted happy to announce that I am back on UFC 200 last week but that was quickly refuted before Diaz dropped a vacation hint on social media. Their rematch will remain on the shelf after a new headliner was confirmed on Good Morning America.

Jones, arguably the sport's pound-for-pound king, will bid to reclaim the light-heavyweight championship from bitter rival Cormier in a rematch that was originally planned for last weekend. Cormier's injury meant Jones instead defeated Ovince Saint-Preux at UFC 197 to become interim champion, and will now make a quick turnaround to reappear this summer in a unification fight.

Jones has already dealt Cormier his only career defeat in January 2015 but then endured a 16-month absence from the cage due to suspension, meaning his light-heavyweight title was stripped. In Jones' absence, Cormier became champion and has strung together back-to-back wins against top contenders Anthony Johnson and Alexander Gustafsson.