Nate Diaz says UFC babies Conor McGregor, gives him whatever he wants

Nate Diaz has fought 22 times in the UFC against 21 different opponents while compiling a 14-8 mark in the promotion. After each of those eight losses, to Clay Guida, Joe Stevenson, Gray Maynard, Dong Hyun Kim, Rory MacDonald, Benson Henderson, Josh Thomson and Rafael dos Anjos, he wanted a chance at revenge.

The only time, though, he got it was when he met Maynard, but it was nearly four years before he got the chance to make amends.

Diaz became animated when asked if he respected Conor McGregor for seeking a rematch against him at the same terms as they were in their bout in UFC 196 on March 5. Diaz submitted McGregor with a rear naked choke in the second round of that fight, leading to a rematch on July 9 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas which will headline UFC 200.

"It's the biggest fight out there," said Diaz, who has made it clear he only wants big fights.

But Diaz wasn't about to pat his opponent on the back. McGregor is the featherweight champion, which has a limit of 145 pounds, and agreed to fight Diaz at 170 on March 5 after dos Anjos broke a foot and had to pull out just 11 days before the fight.

Diaz isn't thrilled with the questions he's gotten since the rematch was announced Wednesday about McGregor insisting upon the rematch.

Specifically, he's been asked if his respect for McGregor has increased since McGregor demanded a rematch under the same terms he lost at UFC 196.

"[Expletive] no, it doesn't," Diaz said. "[Expletive] no! I'm sick of hearing this shit. Everybody's talking that. Even [UFC president] Dana White is pushing it out there that they admire this. Yeah, 100 percent he wants redemption, but guess what? I've been 100 percent on redeeming myself in every loss I've had. They were like, 'Don't even call. You're not getting a rematch.' It wasn't even a consideration. I don't want to hear any more praise about that [expletive] wanting a rematch. Or course he wants a rematch, which is how you should be if you get your ass whipped by anyone.

"If you don't feel like that, you shouldn't even be in this [expletive] game. Redeem himself? [Expletive] no! He's lucky he's getting a second chance. Me and a lot of other people who have lost before have never gotten that second chance. One and done. Lose a fight and you'll never see that guy again. I wanted 10 rematches and I didn't get those. So [expletive] no. He's like a spoiled little kid. He should be thanking me for this [expletive] rematch."

In the aftermath of UFC 196, White had mentioned Diaz might make a good challenger for welterweight champion Robbie Lawler. And Diaz said he'd brought up a rematch with dos Anjos, who defeated Diaz in 2014.

Dos Anjos now holds the lightweight title and a bout with him would give Diaz the opportunity to avenge that Dec. 13, 2014, defeat as well as give him another crack at the championship. DIaz lost to Henderson for the title in 2012.

He said he mentioned dos Anjos to UFC officials, but got nowhere with it.

"Without a question [I asked for a dos Anjos rematch], but they [expletive] want to baby McGregor," Diaz said. "They give him whatever he wants. I decided I'm not going to hold out like everyone else. I'm going to get down to business, slap this [expletive] and then be on my way and get my rematches."